Zion's New Name (Isaiah 62)

Do not keep silent or quiet
Until vindication comes to Jerusalem 
And her salvation shines 
Out like the blazing dawn

All nations and kings 
Will see her glory,
Bestowed with a new name 
From the mouth of the Lord

In the hand of God 
Treasured, she will be 
Crowned with splendour 
And glorious majesty 

No longer will she be known
As desolate and deserted 
But she will be a delight 
And her land will flourish 

The Lord will build her up
And rejoice over her with song 
As a bridegroom to a bride
God has sworn this by His mighty arm

Persevere in prayer to God
For that established day
When Zion is the praise of the earth
And justice, within her, prevails

Then those who labour 
Will reap their own rewards,
Feasting in the courts 
Of the sanctuary of the LORD

Enter in! Enter in!
Prepare the way for people to return
Make a clear path, 
Remove the stumbling stones

Raise a banner for the nations 
For the LORD proclaims through all the earth:
See, your Saviour comes
To reward those who have served 

God’s Holy People, they will be called,
Those Redeemed of the LORD
And Zion will be Much Desired, 
No Longer Forsaken, Forlorn
—-

August 27, 2017

Reflections of God's Radiance

How often have I lived
With my back towards the sun,
Marvelling at my self,
Cemented in the shadows

If only I would turn 
To find illumination 
For the path
Set forth by our Creator

You change not,
Like phases of the moon,
Which orchestrates
The times and seasons

May the brilliance of Your glory
Be not eclipsed by me;
Help me bow down,
Your radiance see
As I reflect upon 
Your holy majesty 
---
August 24, 2017

War No More

The Word of the Lord 
Came through prophets of old:
In the latter days, it shall unfold
That the house of the Lord 
Shall be established on high
And all nations shall flow into it, every tribe
Many people shall come, 
Saying, "Let's arise and go
To learn God's ways, His paths to know"
For His law shall go forth from His holy hill
And He shall judge between many peoples
Into plowshares they shall beat their swords
Nations shall, no more learn war
Everyone shall to their own garden tend
And walk in the light of the Lord
Whose kingdom of peace has no end
---
Isaiah 2:2-5, Micah 4:1-5

For People From Every Tribe, Language and Nation

With Christ’s blood, God has purchased salvation 
For people from every tribe, language and nation 
A kingdom of people that will soon reign on earth
To serve God, on the throne, who, alone, is worth 
All the glory and praise from His sons and daughters
Whom He created, along with stars, earth and waters;
The redeemed of the Lamb have received the good news
But God’s judgement will come to those who refuse 
To bow their knees and confess Christ as Lord
With blessing and honour, to Jesus, outpoured 
To the glory of the Father, our Ruler Supreme;
His image we bear, for by Him, we’re esteemed
---
(Revelation 5, 7 & 14)

The Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)


Reflections From Psalm 22

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Christ cried out in anguish from the cross
My God, I cry out by day but You do not answer me
When darkness covers all the land, rest is lost

Yet, You are enthroned as the Holy One,
The One whom Israel gives praise
In You, our ancestors put their trust
They cried to You; You delivered and saved

But, I am a worm, spit upon and crushed
While upon the cross, in agony, I writhe 
Unrecognized as human
Scorned by all, by all despised

All who see me at this crossroad mock me
Hurling insults, shaking their heads
"He trusts in the LORD,
Let the LORD rescue him," they said

Yet You brought me out of the womb
You made me trust in You even as I nursed
I have always been cared for by You, my God
Do not be far, for only You can help me, now cursed

Many bulls surround me
Ferocious horns of power oppress
Roaring lions that shred their prey
My back is a blood-scourged mess

I am poured out like water, emptied of life
All of my bones are in disarray
Like wax, my heart has melted
Like a broken jar, in the dust of death, I lay

They pierce my hands and my feet
A pack of villains stare and gloat
They divide my garments among themselves
And cast lots for my seamless clothes

But You, LORD, do not be far from me
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid
Deliver me from the sword, my precious life
From the power of savages, rescue and save

I will declare Your name to my people
In the assembly I will praise You
Children of Israel, honour and revere Him!
You who fear the LORD, praise Him, too!

For He has not despised or scorned
The suffering of the afflicted one
He has not hidden His face from him
But has listened to the cry from His Son

From You comes the theme of my praise
Before those who fear You, I will fulfill my vows
The poor will eat and be satisfied
Those who seek the LORD will praise Him anyhow

All the ends of the earth will remember and repent
All the families of every nation
Will bow down before the LORD
Who rules over all of His creation

All the rich of the earth will celebrate and sing
All who go down to the dust will kneel
Posterity will serve Him;
To future generations, the LORD will be revealed

They will declare His righteousness,
Proclaim to those who have yet to leave the womb:
He has done it! It is finished!
He is risen! Christ has left the tomb.
---
September 16, 2015

Musings from Morning Meditation (Mark 7:33-37)

Lord, help me hear and speak
Clearly what You've done -
Amazing things
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who opened ears
And loosened quiet tongues
That they might join the chorus
Where endless praise is sung
With people from each nation,
Every tribe and every tongue
Giving glory all together
To the One who strung
The stars up in the heavens;
Upon the earth, Christ hung
Where His lifeblood for ours,
Out of Him, was wrung
As He spoke forgiveness 
Until the last breath in His lungs;
Lord, help me clearly hear Your voice
And speak Your truth with grace 
While there is breath within my lungs
Until I see You face to face
---
August 21, 2017

Shout for Joy, You Pure in Heart

Oh, what joy for those whose sin is forgiven, 
Whose disobedience is put out of sight,
Whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
Whose lives are lived in God's light
When I adamantly hid my wrong
I groaned with guilt all day long
Day and night I felt Your hand 
Heavy upon me
My strength dried up 
Like pools in the summer heat
I finally admitted all my sins
And stopped trying to flee
You forgave my rebellion;
From my guilt I am free
Let all the godly turn to You,
Confess and repent
That they may not drown 
In Your judgement 
You hide me from trouble
And You protect me
You surround me with songs
Of triumph and victory
The LORD says, "I will show you
The best path for your life
I will advise and watch over you,
And keep you from strife"
That to the wicked abounds;
Those who trust in the LORD,
Know His unfailing love surrounds
They are not like senseless mules
That need to be kept under rein
Nor do they regret being led 
By the LORD who rules and reigns 
Rejoice in the LORD;
Be glad, you who obey
Shout for joy, you pure in heart
Shout, "Hallelujah, hooray"
---
Psalm 32

Shout to the Lord

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Was blind Bartimaeus' loud vocal plea

Some people there told him to be quiet 
But he shouted even more; it was quite a riot

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here to Me."
So they called to him, "Cheer up! Get on your feet!"

Bartimaeus tossed his cloak aside and jumped to his feet;
When Christ asked what he wanted, he said, "I want to see."

Jesus declared, "Your faith has healed you; you may now go"
But when he saw Christ, he followed Him along the road

May God grant us vision to see where we've been blind, 
To fervently call out to God and follow Him closely behind 
---
Mark 10:46-52

Genealogy of Grace

Adam = Man
Seth = Appointed
Enosh = Mortal
Kenan = Sorrow
Mahalalel = The Blessed God
Jared = Will come down
Enoch = Teaching / education
Methuselah = His death shall bring
Lamech = The despairing
Noah = Comfort

From our genesis, man was appointed mortal sorrow
But the Blessed God, would, a virgin's womb, borrow
So God could come down and be with us
Through His only Begotten, His Son, Jesus
Who taught us how, to perfectly love
And preached peace with our Father above
Christ's death shall bring the despairing, comfort
Trust Him with your heart and all of your hurt 
For sons of Adam, indeed will die
But Christ is risen; He's alive 
He's broken the chains of death and sin
And He will lift you up, welcome you in
To His promised land where a rainbow shines
Around His throne; this hope is mine

Psalm 27 Meditation

Why would I let fears abound
When I know that the Lord surrounds?
He is light and He sees all
He won't let me stumble and fall
My heart will not fear
For I know God is near
I wish I could always feel this way
Delighting in His perfection all day
He will hide me in the shelter of His wing 
In His sanctuary I will joyfully sing
Hear me, Lord, in Your mercy, reply
You call to me; I know You are nigh
Do not abandon me; hold me close
Protect me from unrighteous foes
I'm sure of Your goodness
So I patiently wait for You,
While encouraging others 
To put their trust in You

Prophecy is Unfolding (Matthew 24)

Prophecy is unfolding Before our very eyes   A new world  order  is coming    Ruled by deception and lies Do not be alarmed    When wars and...