Lifting Him Higher

Lift Jesus higher, lift him high

The King who placed his glories by

Upon a lowly donkey came

“Hosanna!” they cried, “Praise his name!”

Enwrapped in stunning robes of light

His face shone like the sun, so bright!

His glory unveiled, fleetingly

His majesty, prophetic'lly!

He came to earth to bleed and die

Was lifted between earth and sky

God's sacrifice on Roman pole

Behold, behold--hope for man's soul!

“As Moses lifted up the snake”

Upon a pole of brass, he made

Lifting one's eye of faith, death stayed

By death, the power of death was slain.

God lifted his Son from the tomb

Its earthly sorrow and its gloom

Welcomed him back to gloryland

Enthroned him, crowned at his right hand!

Someday, forever He will reign

Victorious, his foes all slain

While He's rejected, let us raise

Praise, adoration to his name!

Although it's not all about us

Exalting Jesus lifts us up

Upon the wings of faith, we fly

To unknown joys, above the sky!

vi-Vi-VI-O-LENCE!!

Crack-----Thud, Crack---Thud, Crack-Thud, Augh! thump

Ringg...''Mom, come get me, I've been shot!”

 Kill to win game! Zoom! Reload Gunz!

“Live report of further on-slaught

Death count rises, rescue's begun.”

Saw-saw-saw, Thump! Hammer-bang! bloop

Bleat-bleat-bleat! Neigh! Whinny-squeak! Screech!

  Spack-a-speck! Drip... Splatter! Boosh-whoosh!

Ssshblamm-blam-Wham! Boom-boom-boosh! Eeek!

Deluge rocks zoo—Noah's wild cruise...

Cooing dove loosed, streaked rainbow's cheer!

Pah-pa-rah! Pah-pa-rah! God's trump!

“Arise, my love and come away!”

Bbbrrummblee!  Creak!  Crack! Whee-up!

But, earth, who can endure those days 

When God unfurls his judgment cup?

Slays violence.  Relief... peace reigns!

Simply “Br-Ringing!” 

Riding my bike in this suburb

 Soaking my Lord's warmth, loving care

Reverberating, happy birds

Breezes whisking, soft, through my hair

Canvas blue, bright, lacking one fluff

Euphoria in this day stuffed!

Contentment scampers, bounces on

Jasmine scents escape their fences

Manicured, pretty, sprawling lawns

Flowered patches crawl round edges

Satisfaction on my taste buds

Sparkling bubbles, floating soapsuds!

Who's this glowing artist of bliss

Transforming ordinary, this

Marvels streaming from fingertips

Gentle kiss from heavenly lips?

Jesus, my ever-present friend

On my life's bike, to journey's end!

From Storm to Shore

The one who had gone up to pray

For them as through the night, they toiled

And just before breaking of day

Came to buoy his lost envoy!

Upon the surf, He walked on by

His loving heart bursting, yearning

Good cheer and peace to calm their cries

Courageous faith, Peter learning.

A slap of wind flapped Peter's clothes

Cold blast of waves whipped at his feet

Dull blurry figure like a ghost

And muffled voice called, “Come, it's me!”

But, dark ferocious storm distracts

His wand'ring eyes off Jesus took

Would Jesus' care now for him lack

As doubting fears his resolve shook?

Jesus held sinking Peter up

Restored him to the ship...stilled, hushed

Rough swelling billows hear, “Enough!”

As wonder from disciples gushed!

Towards heaven, Christ ascended

 Now He intercedes there for us

Through life's storms, our faith's bombarded

Soon, rapture breaks...peaceful, lustrous!

Our tiny testimony floats

As through dark turbulent days, thrust

Our eyes focus on Christ, alone

Expectant, joyfully, we trust!

Embracing Empathy

In our place of pain and heartache

Jesus is waiting to embrace

As moans and wails burst from our souls

Our broken spirits, He consoles

Our trembling bodies still with peace

Tormented minds calm, fears release.

Once in a garden, Jesus wept

As evil forces round Him crept

Sweat, pain and blood oozed from his pores

Dripping full of horror, sorrow

His soul He poured out on the ground

For Him, relief could not be found.

With wails and tears, He sobbed and prayed

“Remove this cup” Could it be stayed?

But He must drink each bitter glob

God's judgment on our sins exhaust

His sacrificial heart, resigned

“Not my will, Father” I'll bear thine.

They nailed Him to a cross of shame

We'll never know his depths of pain

And as we anguish here below

We feel He cares and that He knows

Just how it hurts us to core

For He has suffered much, much more!

My Soundtrack

Composer chose my life to write...

Hearing my music, in his heart

Stanzas, instruments of his art

Cantata arranged with all parts.

Signature on the staff began...

With simple scale and catchy runs

Salvation, childhood, carefree fun

With allegro, begun, soon done!

Chords and triads grew more complex...

Strong disciplines with practice, learned

Depth and beauty enhanced, discerned

Biblical highlighted patterns.

Harmony then morphs to discord...

Tempo steps to agitato

Affliction, painful, dark shadows

Hard, sad valley of death's sorrows.

Chromatically with semitones...

God's compassion enwraps my soul

Rich rhapsody, empathy flows

God's solace for others to glow!

At length, the tone melts to mellow...

The volume softly fades away

Our story music'lly conveyed

The glory of God's love displayed!

Two Ways to Age

Love poured from family on him

Laughing the lonely hours away

All reminisce to hearts' full brim

Yesteryear blending with today.

He used to skate and throw baseballs

Played with his kids, and then their kids

With walker now, he dare not fall

Towards heaven, his spirit skips!

His loved ones pray for one more day

To hear his soft and tender voice

To feel his shaky grasp again

Soon, they will weep, but he'll rejoice!

Arthritis stabs and so he jabs

Pushing his loved ones out the door

Waning strength fades and so he grabs

Dangling threads still in his control.

Retired, his miserly arms grasp

Pinching each penny, lest he lose...

Dependent on others? Ah...gasp!

Plan B stinks, foolish, watch him prove.

His loved ones pray, “Lord, how's today?

No pain or misery's above”

Not his way but heaven's highway

This grumpy one, all try to love!