What was it like, Father?

What was it like when you realized?

When you knew there was no other way?

Did you sit Him down and look into His eyes?

Did He flinch at the price He would pay?

Did a hesitant note manifest in His tone

When He said “OK Dad – I’ll go”?

Was there no hesitation at leaving His throne?

Did you know that He wouldn’t say no?

What was it like when you bid Him goodbye

To descend to the world as a man?

Did He depart with a tear in His eye

Or was He eager to see out the plan?

Did He know that His love would come under attack

From those He was trying to save?

Did He know that the flesh would be stripped from His back?

That His grief would come wave after wave?

What was it like when the moment arrived?

When our sin tore your eyes from His face?

Did you look away with a tear in your eye

When He carried our marks of disgrace?

He knew that the blood from the thorns on His brow

Was the only way we could be freed

Could He see through the pain? Was He looking to now?

Was it then He was looking at me?

What was it like when He let out that cry?

Was the silence in Heaven profound?

Did the wind hesitate? Did the earth give a sigh?

As you thundered and shook the ground?

Did the heavenly legions show poise and control

As the soldier thrust into His side?

Did they yearn to ride out and exact their own toll

And avenge Heaven’s King as He died?

What was it like when He silenced the cries?

When the stone was rolled back from the cave?

With your plan of perfection no longer disguised

Jesus holding the key to the grave?

Was the shouting in Heaven like nothing before?

Did the Universe shake from the din?

Did the devil turn tail when he heard them all roar?

When he lost his firm grip on our sin?

What was it like when He rose through the sky?

Was the reception committee well planned?

Was there ever a word to describe such a high

As He took His seat at your right hand?

I just can’t imagine such love overflow

When you took Him back into your arms

That same force of love that caused Him to go

To fetch me back home, safe from harm

THE GOOD TENANT

Ladies and gentlemen – may I present

My newest friend – He’s such a gent

He knows you all to some extent

But wants much more, with your consent

When Jesus rose to Heaven's sky

And seven weeks went passing by

Our Father, with a gleaming eye

Sent down this awesome other guy

With a mighty rushing wind he came

To take the place of grief and shame

To show us how to best proclaim

The mighty roar of Jesus name

He’s looking for some folks to tell

The deepest things He knows so well

He’s looking for a place to dwell

You and He will really gel

If you let Him in – Yes, right inside

He’ll pay His rent and He’ll provide

The service of a lifelong guide

He’ll take you on the wildest ride

He’ll pay His rent in Godly style

Revealing things that make you smile

He’ll walk you through your greatest trial

And accord you Heaven’s rank and file

And that’s not all that He can bring

Presents too – He’ll give you things

The greatest gifts to give us wings

For the glory of our Christ – The King!!!

If you truly want to know you’re free

Repent for Christ, The Tenant’s key

Ask Him in and then you’ll see

He has to come – It’s God’s decree!

Choose not to be an ‘also ran’

This friend of mine’s your greatest fan

The cheat sheet for our life exam

He’s God in us – The Great I Am

Truth Be Told

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God

And when the Word spoke, it was a good time to nod

When a sound left His lips, all things paused to hear

Then exclaim with delight as a new thing appeared

The Father and Son worked together in splendour

The Spirit was moving – they had an agenda

A love infused thought followed by a decree

No buttons to press, just the words “Let there be………”

The Heavens were born with a thought then a sound

They were put in their place and by laws they were bound

More words that emerged brought the universe forth

He spoke some things South and sent others up North

He thought of a sun and an orbiting rock

From the heart of His hearts He imagined a flock

With a light in His eyes, our loving God spoke

In His own mighty image, His children awoke

When His word comes to light, the outcome is sure

The Almighty declares it - there is no detour

Though Heaven and Earth may fall to decay

His word is eternal and won’t pass away

When we’d messed it all up and to start us afresh

He sent us His Son and The Word was made flesh

He spoke and He told us, He talked and He said

If you pick up the bible, it’s written in red

He told us of life as we run down the clock

Of our journey to Heaven, our stumbling blocks

Of a love that assures that we don’t walk alone

Of a pardoning grace that is calling us home

He gave us the handbook, His Spirit filled key

He taught us of love and of how to be free

He said not to let the deceiver persuade us

He used the same voice as He did when He made us

That wonder filled voice that tells stars how to burn

That power filled voice that makes galaxies turn

That wisdom filled voice that declares right from wrong

The voice of our God that sets angels to song

It’s a light to our path and a lamp to our feet

A word for all time and it’s still on the street

It cannot be twisted or changed or postponed

For if our God said it, then it's set in stone

Back To The Front

As I watch through smoke filled eyes

And strive to peer through clouds of black

I scan the East and Western skies

And brace against the next attack

The few of us that still remain

Rally to defend our keep

Some wonder if it’s all in vain

For most, conviction’s running deep

We hammer dents out of our shields

We sharpen swords and check supplies

We turn to face the war-torn fields

Our enemy is on the rise

The flaming darts come driving through

Our shields we lift to stay the blows

We yell defiance, though we’re few

And stand up tall to fit our bows

Returning fire, we loose our flight

Our arrows punching fast and low

With words of God, they take our fight

And slam into our deadly foe

The ranks of black recoil in fear

They flee the power and its’ source

Though hatred drives them ever near

In vain they march to reinforce

The distance yields a cry for aid

A broken creature tries to run

We leave defence behind to raid

And lift our swords to save just one

We break our lines and dash towards

Paying no heed to Sirens’ song

Our flag reveals The Lord of Lords

We smash into the darkened throng

We find the one whose soul was lost

An empty husk, a wretched waif

She’s done with evil and its’ cost

She’s searching for a haven safe

We enfold her in a ring of steel

And cover up her naked plight

Our foes resist with fervent zeal

And strike to halt her desperate flight

We rush her back to safety’s keep

And teach her of her life, the lie

She knows now that she’s been asleep

She marvels with an opened eye

She marvels at the love around

The friends, the Church, the place called home

The forgiving grace that’s so profound

She marvels that she’s not alone

Arising from a cleansing stream

Her sin and guilt are washed and gone

Dressed in white, her eyes agleam

Her loving Saviour gazing on

She grabs a shield, picks up a spear

And wraps herself in Holy Word

Armed with His sword she holds no fear

Her steel resolve no longer blurred

She marches hard and leaves the Keep

Even though the war is won

She joins me in the trenches deep

The sounds of battle raging on

With vigour we defend our prize

Waiting for that day avowed

When angels’ armies fill the skies

And Jesus comes on Heavens' clouds