A Hand Along the Journey: Poems for the King from One Pilgrim to Another

His Story

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 06:38:15 +0200

“But our God is in the heavens:
He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” – Psalm 115:3

Alive and quite active, my Father reigns
Over every day of every year.
No matter what happens, this truth remains:
He is the Lord; Scripture is clear.
Whether obvious or hidden,
Providence is at work;
He cannot be stopped by evil and sin.
History becomes His scribal clerk;
What may when in process seem foggy, unclear
In retrospect often is understood best.
Master of All, He stands without peer;
His children can trust Him no matter their test.
Many dismiss His authority to rule,
But hatred and scorn will do them no good.
Psalm 2 states that God will them ridicule;
The Sovereign Son reigns as He should.
This God of all history is also my Friend;
From big to small things He sees all with care.
Puzzles and mazes are all solved in Him;
His gift is the knowledge that He’s always there.

Something for All of Us

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 09:42:19 +0200

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” – John 20:31

Wise Solomon wrote eloquently:

“The thing that hath been, is that which shall be.”*

People today are, as in Bible days,

Desperate for help in identical ways.

John’s gospel records key miracles that give

Courage to trust as our lives we live.

There’s something for all, for all have a need

He can take every problem, and solve it indeed.

This poem is for those who are already saved;

Their bridge to heaven is already paved.

So start there if you’ve never His gift received;

John 14:6 tells what must be believed.

After that’s settled, read on then below,

There’s truth in these miracles that we ought to know!

John 2:1-11 – Financial Distresses

In what should have been a gala affair,

Shortage and lack caused worrisome care.

But behind the scenes a miracle He’d do;

Servants and disciples His glory knew.

Then let us seek Him as Mary of old,

Willing to do whatever we’re told.

Our financial troubles His wisdom can see;

Gracious and generous He’ll always be.

John 4:46-54 – Life-threatening Sickness of Loved Ones

A dad’s desperation for his dearly loved son

Who lay at death’s door after all had been done…

How many times have his feelings found echoes

Within our own hearts for the ones we hold close?

That dad came to trust that even over distance

Jesus’ word could be trusted without resistance.

Through His yes’s and no’s we likewise believe this;

Signs and wonders are sidelined – He is Who He is.

John 5:1-15 – Decades-old Problems

Thirty-eight years an infirmity he’d had.

He’d given up hope; life would always be bad.

And from words Jesus spoke to this man later,

It seems that sin was the real instigator.

As flawed human beings, it’s encouraging to know

God can change time’s deep faults His glory to show.

Bad habits and sins His power can transform

Life now made whole can be our new norm.

John 6:1-14 – Ministry Limitations

Challenged by an impossible question,

Philip must have thought, “What a suggestion!”

But Jesus already knew what He would do;

He took what was offered…see, how it grew!

And often in history, yes, in our own time

What God’s servants dare defies reason and rhyme.

His provision may not be quick or dramatic,

But of this be sure: our God is not static.

John 6:15-21 – Calamities in Nature

Even the most well prepared among men

Can be rendered helpless time and again

By nature’s calamities surprising and fierce,

As sky, sea, and land with fear the heart pierce.

Yet "what was over their heads was under His feet,"**

Creator o’er creation holds dominion complete.

When disaster strikes, we need not stay dismayed.

Find courage in His words, “It is I; be not afraid.”

John 9 – “Why” Mysteries

When bad things happen and we don’t know why,

Playing the blame game is an easy reply;

But in healing the man who was blind from birth,

Jesus taught that some things are for God’s work on earth.

Then let us let Him make manifest His ways,

Through questions and trials that pepper our days.

If we’ll trust Him though blind, He’ll give us our sight

Perhaps now, but for sure, in eternity’s light.

John 11:1-46 – Death

The enemy none can evade

Before Him in the dust is laid.

The Resurrection and the Life

Brings end to death’s oppression rife.

Lazarus reminds us Jesus wins;

In Him eternal life begins.

As our tears fall, they fall in faith;

We trust the words that our Lord saith.

John 21 – Failure

Dawn’s brightness was clouded only by failure

Added line by line in his mind’s ledger.

To the Friend that he loved, Peter hadn’t stayed true;

The night’s work of fishing had been fruitless, too.

Then he saw Jesus, Who in a very real way

Spoke straight to his heart that His call would stay.

Across the millennia His whisper still mends

His servants’ hearts, for they’re His to the end.

*Ecclesiastes 1:9
**Original source of this quote unknown
***Thanks to my dad for giving me the idea for this poem many years ago.

Beautiful Verbs

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 09:01:26 +0200

“But may the God of all grace, Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” I Peter 5:10-11

What a tapestry of beauty
Peter’s verses show to me,
From the Giver of favor
(Yes, this is my Father!).
His glory will last, past the eons to shine
In contrast to suffering’s small, little time.
Suffering’s heavy emotions
Can’t shake His dominion;
See now then His glory
As four verbs tell the story…

Katartizo (Perfect)
This word can also mean “restore,”
For those who’ve been wounded while serving their Lord.
Translated “mending” in Matthew 4,
When James and John fixed broken nets on the shore,
It reminds me that God is not through with me yet;
His children He’ll never set aside to forget.

Sterizo (Establish)
It’s used in Luke 9 when Jesus’ face was steadfast;
His unflinching resolve would not be cut short.
This establishing of securing support -
He steadies my toppling, like sapling stabled with cord.
Winds may be against, but His face is me toward,
So that I can stand as I gaze at my Lord.

Sthenoo (Strengthen)
Restored, established, now strengthened to move;
Effective mobility achieved in His groove.
I can walk through each day enjoying His strength,
And continue this way through all my life’s length.
I acknowledge my weakness before heaven’s Coach;
He gives me His strength without reproach.

Themelioo (Settle)
Founded on the rock, as in Matthew 7,
“Grounded in love”, “in the faith” later written.
These things won’t change, no matter my feeling;
That bedrock is stable, though all the world’s reeling.
I don’t have to know the “why’s” and the reasons;
He settles my heart in all of life’s seasons.

My God is the One Who does these good things!
Even over hard times, He is King of Kings.
I can always find shelter under His wings;
He enacts these good verbs, and my soul to Him sings.

Ages & Stages

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 05:22:53 +0200

I John 2:12-14,17

“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake…you have known the Father.”

Little children hold His hand,
Whose love, by faith, they understand;
They smile and trust that all is well,
Because they with the Shepherd dwell.
To the Father’s open arms they run;
With joy’s abandon see them come,
For full forgiveness set them free
By what Christ did at Calvary.

“I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him Who is from the beginning.”

Fathers, too, have known Him Who
Already was when all was new.
His friendship true they’ve known for years,
His presence what they hold most dear.
Their walk is steady; He sets the pace,
And they’ll rejoice to see His face.
His promises are always sure;
With settled peace they will endure.

“I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

Young men made strong by God’s own Word
That lives in them and is their sword.
With fortitude and zeal they fight
And conquer evil by His might.
They dare to live by what He says;
Neither toil nor pain can them dissuade,
These ones whose Captain fought and won
And gives His victory to His sons.

“…he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Father, keep me as Your little child,
Smiling back to You though storms are wild.
And as I age steadiness increase;
I’ve known my God and have His peace.
And always help me wield Your sword,
For You, not sin, shall be my Lord.
More than life, You are my greatest Treasure;
To be with You my joy forever!

Christmas Villains

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 06:24:45 +0200

“The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.” – John 1:5 (NLT)

I have hated Christmas from the first time I heard of it.

To be specific, I hate Him - that baby, that rival to where I sit.

I am king, and I will be king no matter who stands in my way.

I’ll kill anyone to ensure that I live to rule another day.

Jealous fear holds sway, ever cruel,

Over my enemies, imagined or real.

I am Herod, the Christmas villain of competition.

To be quite honest, we are apathetic regarding Christmas.

Prophecies in dusty scrolls mean nothing to us.

Holy curiosity? Humph, merely for youth.

Prestigious position has dimmed the light of truth.

When answers are demanded, we’ll rattle them off;

But at peasant dreams, our hearts will scoff.

We are the chief priests and scribes, Christmas villains of complacency.

Too busy to notice, too busy to care –

Our days were chaotic, so we didn’t share.

Some of us made money, others tried to survive

The influx of stress the decree brought to our lives.

But this is for sure, no matter our reason,

Giving less than our best was, in effect, treason.

We are Bethlehem’s villagers, Christmas villains of circumstance.

I am Jesus; I am undefeated -

The Victor of Christmas Whose plan was completed.

Those villains may echo in your world today,

Just as fierce now as when I was cradled in hay,

But of this be sure: I am the Light shining in darkness,

That nothing, no nothing, can ever extinguish.

I am Jesus; “I have overcome the world.”*

Then come now, O Christians – faithful, joyful, triumphant!

Adore Him again, the God-Man Incarnate!

Tyrants can’t crush Him, the elite can’t dismiss Him,

The busy can’t ignore Him; let us always love Him!

With steel in our souls, and a spring in our stride,

We joy in this fact: Immanuel’s by our side.

The Victor is Jesus!

*John 16:33

Charlie

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 05:15:38 +0200

“And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a

The color of butterscotch and just as sweet,

Is Charles A. Hamster, with his tiny feet,

Curious nose and whiskers sniffing the air,

And dark, friendly eyes that seem to say, “Hey, there!”

You can hold him in your hands, a small furry ball,

All snuggled up sleeping, and loved by Peter Hall.

He runs on his wheel, inside or on top;

Chuck A-for-Awesome Hammie’s acrobatics don’t stop.

Peter’s made toys that keep him entertained:

Swinging ladder, bridge, and treat balls – a few to name.

Taking care of Charlie never seems to be a chore

For the boy who loves all animals created by the Lord.

Our Father Who sees sparrows of this hamster surely knows;

I’m glad He gave us Charlie, another way His goodness shows.

You Have Spoken Well

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 22:09:58 +0200

“Then some of the scribes answered and said, ‘Teacher, You have spoken well.’” (Luke 20:39, NKJV)

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, HCSB)

“For a Child will be born for us,…He will be named Wonderful Counselor…” (Isaiah 9:6, HCSB)

Knots and perplexities, tangles and questions

Leave me often bewildered in tough situations.

Not just for myself, but for ones that I love;

To know what to say, I need help from above.

I come to Your word, amazed at Your wisdom -

Straight to the heart, You spoke truth that would help them.

Always the best words, excellent answers,

Not what they expected, but just what they needed.

Now again at Your feet, dear Master, I kneel,

Searching Your face for wisdom still

To know how to pray, and what words to say

To help family and friends who face difficult days.

Wonderful Counselor and Wisdom of God,

Who can untangle knots with only a nod,

Step into our midst and breathe peace, I pray,

In love and obedience we’ll follow Your way.

Brothers and Sisters

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 04:10:03 +0200

I Kings 19:18 – “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elijah was talking to God one day

When evil over his land held sway.

“I, I alone, am left,” he did pray,

“And they seek my life to take it away.”

The Lord replied with jobs for him to do,

Then revealed a fact that only He knew:

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand who

Haven’t bowed or kissed Baal;” He wasn’t through.

Those seven thousand, less than one percent,

Wouldn’t give in no matter how culture went.

Belief in Yahweh they did not relent;

His one sentence applauded lives well spent.

And the eyes of the Lord still run to and fro

Throughout the whole earth, His strength to show

In behalf of those who truly yearn to Him know.

In the night He sees their faith’s steady glow.

Today once again, sin seems to be winning,

But yet there are some who like you are standing

For Jesus, His Word, and His way of living;

All steadfast allegiance our God is counting.

Pockets of people scattered here and there,

Brothers and sisters who for holiness care;

Though we know not our number, His name we share.

Rise up then encouraged to meet the world’s dare!

To My Father

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 03:33:18 +0200

“For the Father Himself loves* you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” – John 16:27

The nail scarred hand holds mine

As we walk up to Your throne,

And there a smile of welcome I find

From You whose holiness has always shone.

The Spirit in me echoes Scripture

That says You love me as Your friend.

And there at last my searching ends.

Perfectionism’s struggles I leave undone;

You see me as You see Your Son –

That’s good enough for me.

Anxiety over future loss

No more controls my thoughts;

You love me and You’ll never leave –

That’s good enough for me.

Again and again we make that walk,

The nail scarred Son and I,

And every time Your kind reply

Is that I’m Yours and all is well.

There is no joy that’s quite like this:

To stand there loved by Trinity,

And know that it shall always be.

Then Father…my Father…thank You

For loving me the way You do,

For Your Book that breathes life in my soul,

For Your patience in all of my wrestling,

For Your Spirit and Son – ever prevailing.

Please let me never lose this wonder:

My Father phileosme!

*The Greek word Jesus uses for love in this verse is phileo, the warm friendship kind of love.

"Please, Show Me Your Glory!”: Moses’ Faith in Moses’ Words

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 07:54:00 +0200

Last spring my husband developed and taught an eight week study called “Great and Marvelous: Moses and the Nature of God.” It was “a life of Moses study focusing on the relationship between Moses and the Lord God Almighty” (Bill Hall). The idea for this poem grew from insights gleaned from taking his class.

A beautiful baby hidden in Nile’s reeds; Exodus 2:1-3

Rescued, became mighty in words and deeds. Acts 7:22

Yet pleasures and treasures and fame he would trade,

For the reproach of Christ their value outweighed. Hebrews 11:24-26

He knew by his hand God would set Israel free,

But the “how” of God’s plans would unfold differently

Than Moses could guess or ever have chosen. Acts 7:23-30

His faith through his words is passionately woven,

Genuine and growing through decades of living. Psalm 90

Read then, my soul, his words in your wrestling,

And echo the faith of the faithful again. Romans 15:4, I Cor. 10:1-13

I will now turn aside, and see…Here am I. Exodus 3:3-4

Please, show me Your glory!

Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh? Exodus 3:11

Please, show me Your glory!

What is [Your] name? What shall I say unto them? Exodus 3:13

Please, show me Your glory!

Please, Lord, send deliverance by someone else’s hand. Exodus 4:13

The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go... Exodus 5:3

Please, show me Your glory!

Lord, why have You caused trouble for this people?

And why did You ever send me? Exodus 5:22-23

Please, show me Your glory!

Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews… Exodus 10:3

Please, show me Your glory!

Remember this day…by strength of hand the LORD brought you out. Exodus 13:3

Please, show me Your glory!

I will sing unto the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously:…

Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness?...

The LORD shall reign forever and ever. Exodus 15:1-18

Please, show me Your glory!

Show me now Your way, that I may know You. Exodus 33:13

Please, show me Your glory!

If Your Presence doesn’t go, don’t bring us up from here. Exodus 33:14-17

Please, show me Your glory!

PLEASE, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY! Exodus 33:18

Please, show me Your glory!

So Moses made haste, and bowed his head…and worshiped. Exodus 34:5-9

Now Moses was mortal and he made mistakes, Numbers 20:7-12

But His yearning to know God nothing could shake. Hebrews 11:27

And one day he’d stand with Jesus talking

About His soon death, Passover’s fulfilling. Luke 9:28-31

From the oldest psalm in Scripture recorded Psalm 90

To Revelation’s refrain of worship afforded, Revelation 15:1-4

His songs honor the One he spoke to face to face Exodus 33:9-11

Yahweh that called him and extended His grace. Exodus 33:17

Then, Lord, help me likewise to never stop seeking

To know You regardless of how things are going. Matthew 7:7-8

Please, show me Your glory!

The Yellow Shirt Caper

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 23:27:32 +0200

There is no joy for a Christian quite that like of Resurrection Sunday morning. Jesus wins! He defeated everything, and because He lives in us, we win, too! There is no darkness or death that can separate us from victory, and eternity with him. Hallelujah! Christ the Lord is risen today!

The color yellow is often associated with spring and Easter. In contrast to the dreary hues of winter, spring’s bright sunshine and yellow flowers warm our hearts. According to goodhousekeeping.com, “In a religious context, gold represents joy, victory, and triumph, as in the resurrection's triumph over death.” For the ladies of Grace Baptist Church, yellow and Easter became connected in a unique way this year, as “The Yellow Shirt Caper” occurred.

It all started March 27, 2022, when Jen Greve shared a video clip from Lighthouse Baptist Church in Florida. The ladies there pranked their husbands into all wearing the same shirt, so Jen wondered if we’d all like to try it at Grace. Everyone thought it would be fun, and the target date and color were set: Easter Sunday, yellow shirts. Thus, the caper commenced.

Some wives weren’t sure if their husbands would wear yellow. Then, too, finding yellow shirts was a bit tricky. The plan was messaged, texted, and passed along by word of mouth. Amazingly, the secret remained concealed, and excitement grew as the date approached.

Around fifty men/boys arrived at church April 17, 2022, wearing yellow shirts! There were pale yellows, bright yellows, yellow and blue plaids, yellows with stripes, short sleeved and long sleeved shirts. Some men also wore a tie, bowtie, or suit jacket. There was even a baby boy with a yellow onesie. The caper had been successful!

Surprisingly, the men still didn’t realize what was going on, that it had all been planned. Some of them commented after the service to their wives that though they had noticed several others wearing yellow shirts, they didn’t think anything of it. One gentleman thought people were wearing yellow to show solidarity with the Ukraine. There were a lot of smiles amongst families as the ladies revealed the plot in the foyer and hallways.

“The Yellow Shirt Caper” has an interesting parallel with a profound spiritual truth: the life of Christ lived through us can be manifested in different ways according to our different personalities and circumstances, yet the undeniably recognizable trait of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” shines forth (Col. 1:27). The men at Grace Baptist Church wore all different combinations of yellow, but there was a common point on the color spectrum at which they coincided. Likewise, I think of many people in my life through whom I have seen a glimpse of Jesus. Far from being cookie-cutter Christians, they are unique individuals of varying ages, interests, skills, and stations in life. In each of them, I have seen His flash of glory shine forth. All of them have encouraged me in one way or another, sometimes without their even realizing it. True Christians are part of the same plan with the same goal: loving our Lord with all that we are, and being transformed into His image so as to reflect His glory that others may know Him / know Him better. To quote Twila Paris, “How beautiful is the body of Christ!”

So, as “The Yellow Shirt Caper” goes down in the books, how shall I remember it? It has definitely been a time of enjoyable comradery making a good Easter memory (two Easters ago, our church was hit by a tornado on Easter night, and we are still in the rebuilding process). Doubtless, anytime today is recalled, there will be smiles. And when I think of this Resurrection Sunday’s events, may I also grow in my desire to let Him shine through me. My husband Bill wrote today, “The resurrection is the exclamation point of history.” If that be true, and it is, then surely that vibrant exclamation point should make a difference in my thoughts, words, actions, and reactions (see Psalm 96:2).

Hallelujah! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Today

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 06:28:47 +0200

“…He has made everything beautiful in its time...” Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Colorful shafts of light skate across the sky

Marking the brilliant orb’s descent; night is nigh.

Let not the coming darkness steal enjoyment

Of God’s good gift of beauty in this moment.

Ahimaaz and Jonathan: Loyal Servants

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 04:31:17 +0200

Everyday Heroism

At the forefront of my mind the last several days has been the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Several times throughout the day, I find myself looking up the latest news to stay abreast of developments. Here and there I read snippets of stories of Ukrainian citizens stepping up to the plate in practical and heroic ways to defend their homeland. These inspiring glimpses into real individuals’ lives remind me that there are still people who believe in ideals greater than themselves, and are willing to sacrifice for those ideals.

I wrote the poem below describing another set of heroic deeds by everyday people when their national government was experiencing an attempted overthrow. May it encourage us to be faithful to our King – Jesus – Who is worthy of our highest loyalty. We never know when/if we may be called upon to do a heroic deed, but if we are faithful to Him in the little things, we will be faithful in the crisis moments.

Ahimaaz and Jonathan

“And the king’s servants said to the king, ‘We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.’” 2 Samuel 15:15

To read more of their story, see 2 Samuel 15:13-29, 17:15-22, 18:19-30.

His was a treacherous conspiracy well planned;

Absalom plotted to be king of the land.

In stark contrast to his name “Father of Peace,”*

Suave looks and actions were but a pretense

Designed to win hearts away from King David.

Yet there were some who the rightful king aided,

Whose loyalty was stronger than self-preservation.

Ahimaaz and Jonathan, without hesitation,

Looked danger square in the eye, then took steps forward.

We read of their tale in Scripture recorded.

Fleeing Jerusalem, David left priests** there

With instructions to send news of how events fared.

Ahimaaz and Jonathan, the priests’ sons, would stay

At the edge of town to secretly slip away.

After Absalom’s council made their battle plan,

A girl warned the young men, and their trip began.

But a boy saw them and told Absalom,

So they hid in a well in Bahurim.

The lady of that home covered the opening;

Ahimaaz and Jonathan’s hearts must have been pounding

While she talked to Absalom’s servants above them.

When the enemies were gone, they went to King David;

Because of their message, disaster was avoided.

Then let us rise up in our day without fear,

With derring-do loyalty to our King Who is near.

Whether it seems important or not,

Be faithful to stand in your God-given spot.

The priests, their sons, Hushai***, the girl,

The lady who put corn over the well –

You join in their ranks when you cannot be bought,

When in little or much, you do as you ought.

*The literal meaning of the name Absalom

** Zadok and Abiathar

***David’s loyal counselor who attended Absalom’s strategy meeting

The Captive Maidservant: Heroine of Forgiveness

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:38:58 +0200

And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." 2 Kings 5:2-3

Two verses…sharp cliffs of contrast in a child’s life:

One side her worst nightmare, caused by national strife;

The other a result of her choice to forgive,

And make the best of where she now lived.

To be torn from her parents she’d never have chosen,

Yet faith’s warmth in her soul could not be frozen.

Jehovah was with her in new land and language,

And her choices would give to her captor Truth’s knowledge.

Remarkably, she came to genuinely care

About Naaman and his wife and how they would fare,

And one day in heaven, we’ll meet all three there.*

Then from Scripture’s portrait of this captive girl rare,

Let us also have courage to do as she dared.

When life takes us down paths of which we’re most scared,

Seek His grace to forgive and serve with compassion;

So the maiden’s true Master His likeness will fashion.

* In 2 Kings 5:15-19, we see Naaman’s faith. Per Acts 16:31 (“and thy house”) and numerous Biblical examples, when the father of a family makes a life-changing faith decision, his family follows the vast majority of times.

The Bible

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 06:33:11 +0200

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8

A truer compass never marked

Directions on which to embark;

The finest map of great detail

Next to His Book loses all scale.

Eternal destiny and faith

Are based on “Thus the Lord saith.”

His Words the daily bread we crave

For here and now, and past the grave.

From strength to strength we travel on

Undaunted, in our hearts His song

That stills our souls when storms arise:

His promise true, though dark the skies.

Then steady on, we bank our all

On Him Whose Word can never fall.

With love we linger in His pages,

To know Him more, God of the Ages.

An Open Letter to Parents

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 04:38:55 +0200

Chattanooga, TN

October 22, 2021

  Early yesterday morning I mentally revisited events of twenty-five years ago. Then a sixteen year old, I sat in the back of the family mini-van with my two brothers and two sisters on the way to school. Now a mom in the back of an SUV, I looked at my two sons and two daughters. Then, we had recently found out my dad had cancer. Now, we were on the way to drop off our children so my husband and I could go to his first cardiologist’s appointment. Then, I remembered the unwavering faith of my mom. Now, I was the mom.
            So, I have decided to write this open letter to any parent who will read it. These thoughts have been a fire in my soul since November 28, 2018, but, perhaps, now is the time to share them. I pray they will make a difference.
            The core of the matter is this: the best gift you as a parent can give your children is to put something in them that will get them through the hard times. They have to know God. They will go through times you can’t rescue them from, times you would do anything to remove. They have to have a real faith in the God of the Bible that’s deeper than anything else. The younger that is begun, the better, for it’s built over the long haul.
            It is not the church’s job to instill this kind of walk with God. It is ours as parents (see Deuteronomy 6). It is our duty and honor to be reflections of Jesus’ love and stability to them. It is our privilege to sacrifice our aspirations to pour our lives into theirs, to really value and listen to them. And sacrifice doesn’t mean buying them the coolest toys and trendiest clothes; it means slowing down long enough to really know them and teach them to know God. So many Christians treat their kids like a nuisance, and then wonder why the kids treat them that way later. On the contrary, they are your most important ministry. Expect and encourage greatness from your children. My husband likes to say, “We are raising generals.” It doesn’t matter what their vocation is, they can be warriors in the kingdom of God, and they will need to be warriors to come out on top of life’s challenges.
            The best way to help build this kind of faith is to put Scripture in them. Like, chapters of Scripture. God’s Word is what will see them through (Matthew 4:4). Take Psalm 46, for example. It’s eleven verses. Take one verse a week or a month, and say it or talk about it just for a couple minutes every day. Ask them what it means, and how it applies to their lives. Think of illustrations of its truth from history, have them draw pictures of it; relate it to whatever interests and personalities they have. You’ll have the whole chapter memorized in eleven weeks/months. You can memorize the entire book of Philippians in two years by learning one verse a week. No storm can take away the jewels of the very Word of God hidden in their hearts.
            Be real yourself. I’m not talking perfect, just genuine. I remember my dad telling us he was sorry when he messed up, and I respected that a lot. Let your kids see you choosing to trust God when you’re in a hard place. Let them see you getting up to go to church when they know you’re tired. Let them see you treat their other parent with respect. Let them ask tough questions about any subject, and study the Word yourself to find God’s answers. Let them hear you worship even if it’s off-key. Let them hear you pray for them. Something I’ve always admired about my husband is that in our family prayer time each night, he prays specifically for each child. I hope they never forget those incredible prayers. Let them know you’re proud of them, and your love for them will never change.
          I could go on, but that’s enough for now. Look up Genesis 18:19, Psalm 78:4-7, Deuteronomy 6, and 3 John 4. Please, don’t let the most important things slip through your fingers.

Thanks for reading,
MaryBeth Hall
1Timothy 1:17

Noah: Faithful Preacher

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 22:45:37 +0200

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8

For decades he worked with gopher wood;

As a preacher of righteousness alone he stood.

In a world where evil had overtaken good,

He found grace and obeyed and did what he could.

Surely he mourned for those who would not see

That the ark was God’s salvation for all who’d believe.

But scoffers didn’t stop him; he’d heard God’s voice clearly,

So he just kept right on building, and the rest is history.

God honored his faith; sprinkled throughout His Word

Are tributes to Noah’s obedience to his Lord.*

And in our own times, where Truth brings a sword,

God’s gracious commendation is still the best reward.

Then to the faithful: keep cutting down trees;

Endure rejection, though it drive you to your knees.

If no one follows, yet God you please,

The difference that’s made is eternity’s.

*Hebrews 11:7, 2 Peter 2:5, Ezekiel 14:20, Matthew 24:37

30 Hours*

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 04:27:19 +0200

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

– Revelation 21:5

30 hours in heaven…

What you must now have seen!

The face of the Savior, Jesus your King;

Loved ones embracing, welcoming;

Radiant brilliance, splendor, and peace;

All this world’s sorrows traded for bliss.

Oh, the unmeasured joy that must fill your soul,

As you gaze oft at Him Whose Name was your goal!

No longer a pilgrim stranded in time;

Forever at home where God’s glory shines.

Soccer mom here just a few weeks ago;

Proud of your kids – as your texts to me show.

Walking through life with Bruce your best friend;

He stayed by your side all the way to the end.

And though our hearts ache, we’d not bring you back;

For we’re also on the heavenward track.

So scope out some places to show us someday;

Give our love to our dear ones who’ve finished earth’s fray.

Enjoy the sheer wonder of beauty untold;

Your smile adds luster to heaven’s gold.

* This poem was written at the 30-hour mark of Gina Ballard Fischer’s entry into heaven. Please follow the link below to a comforting rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Most importantly, if you don’t know the Jesus Gina loved, please talk to someone who does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8AeV8Jbx6M

Amminadab's Family: Generational Leaders

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 18:16:00 +0200

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-7

A girl and a boy that had a good dad –
So starts the legacy of Amminadab.
The little girl Elisheba would grow up to marry
Aaron, who’d one day the title “High Priest” carry.
The little boy Nahshon God would choose to be
Judah’s tribal leader when the Israelites were free.
Nahshon had a son, Salmon was his name;
He married Rahab, for true faith she proclaimed.
Their son Boaz kept that faith for himself,
Though cultural confusion made the judge of “right” one’s self.
Boaz married Ruth as her kinsman redeemer,
Then came Obed, Jesse, David…all the way to our Savior.

Amminadab didn’t know what would come to be,
But what he put inside those kids became his legacy.
Then may our God raise up today in our own generation
Families who will faithful be: the greatest commendation.

Jochebed

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 05:06:54 +0200

“…and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” – Hebrews 11:23

(For more of her story, see Exodus 2:1-10)

She lived in a world not unlike ours today,

Where evil was common and often held sway.

God’s people enslaved, their unborn were threatened.

Despairing deliverance, many were frightened.

Yet in a dark time of national peril,

We read of her actions, daring and special.

With purpose and boldness fear couldn’t paralyze,

She planned and she prayed, and she saw with faith’s eyes.

Her deeds were not finished when his life was safe;

She labored to nurture a little boy’s faith,

For she knew that his time of testing would come.

What his parents instilled would not be undone.

Then rise up, dear Mamas, and dread not the foe;

Those children are yours, and they ought to know

There’s a God Who is real and still on His throne.

He never will leave us, so fight for your own.

Put Scripture inside them; it’s vital, it’s true.

They need that the most; it’s the best job to do.

The name Jochebedmeans “Jehovah is glory.”

May this way of living define your life story!