Tuesday, September 3, 2013

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

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

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

Saturday, January 26, 2013

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