His lips are like concrete cracked beneath a florescent sun
my hands are gloved blue to hold one more moistened sponge
not hyssop or wine, nor vinegar,whiskey or the enemy gall
just one drop of water, i say …” one drop , the physician says that all.”
his eyes draw open , a pool of blue thanks ,reflecting Our distant light
His eyes flicker as sparks of joy like darting fire flies in the night
The sponge falls from my shaking fingers onto a blanket of white
” A drop is enough for now” he says”the physician may be right”
The sponge I toss with its debris to fellowship with waste
Ive so many more patients ,my care is killed by haste
The drawing of blood and plans,injections , bedpans and pills
Thinking “Is not this thirst of his the least of many ills ?”
But ….,
His “Thankyou, ” I hear follow me like a clinging child
“That will last me for today” the man said so softly and mild
I stop with pill and pan and blankets towels pillows and sheets
There comes this moment where pride drops all at Jesus’s lips and feet
“Oh have mercy my God our Father on these and mine parched soul
Oh have mercy God our Father on both us whom the “bell doth toll”
Oh have mercy God our Father, we feel one drop from you as a stream
One drop from you is a river, breaking through heart’s concrete seams.”
For I know there’s a physician Lord over this parched nurses heart
Who gives manna and water for souls daily start
And on this very morn , I, ungrateful for a drop of blood
Still jesus quenched my lips and now to my soul ,His body , He floods
Notes:
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”Isaiah 41:17
We all are the ” poor and needy” and God has “answered us ” by His Living water , His Son.
“I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
Isaiah 41:18, 20
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'””
Reformation is Revival. And so , now in these “last days”when The Holy Spirit yearns to make The Bride the One Pure reflection of the Bridegroom, we press in prayer for Revival . We need no longer to be “formed” and “transformed “and “re-formed” , we need to be regenerated Alive !!! I repost this poem to burn the two most hideous cancers in the Bride of Today, PRIDE and HYPOCRISY. I repost that we may … that I may …agree with the Father to be purified and Revived!
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the DEVOURING FIRE? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Isaiah 33:14 And the Lord answered me; and said . . Behold His Soul is puffed up and not upright , BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH. Habakkuk 2:4
Pride and Hypocrisy dressed for church one day.
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway .
Both went to church and both were invited to stay.
Early one morning they rose from their bed
Hypocrisy and pride shook their sleepy head.
They looked at each other, no need for a mirror.
There is nothing to see when you are without error.
Emotionless they spoke, the princess and the knight.
“we must be in love because we look so right”
Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway
Both went to church and were invited to stay.
No need to rinse the white wash face of last week
One splashed on “bold “and the other splashed on “meek”.
Buttoned and blinged in the finest of coat,
one dressed as sheep the other as goat.
He ,with Pocket full of bills ;Her ,with purse and phone
Morning Offerings were made ready to the god called “unknown”
Tithes were first to be paid to their Facebook and text.
Then God given affections were paid to seculars and sects.
Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day .
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway .
Both went to church and were invited to stay.
Into the church , how their ears itched and burned
Their lips greeted the “whole” but, the “broken” they spurned .
From their pleasantries they chose only a few.
like “halleluiah ” and “amen” and “may the lord bless you”.
Then, they hurried to sit near the altar before the curtain most thick
Intending to not be “too cold or too hot ” lest Jesus get sick.
Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway
Both went to church and were invited to stay.
Each Song they sang with right pitch and key
as their Hands raised ready for everyone to see.
The Words they sang their mind soon forgot.
The Words they sang their heart knew not.
For Pride and Hypocrisy were dressed with a grin
allowing no pain or tear to move from within.
for Pride and Hypocrisy had forgotten they sinned.
Pride and Hypocrisy dressed for church one day
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway
Both went to church and were invited to stay.
Now, everything was the same as of Sunday before.
Except for a Holy gentleman who walked through the door.
He stealthily walked by every person and pew.
Looking intently for a likeminded soul or two.
None could be found from the door to the altar,
Except one or two who cried from the psalter.
In fury His feet marched forward and His eyes burned Fire.
Till he came to hypocrisy and pride and shouted “Liar!”
He saw Pride and hypocrisy in church on that day
Pride with his swagger and hypocrisy with her sway
Both were in church and were held hostage to stay.
A flame released from The Holy man’s eyes like a torch.
And the flame soon caught the thick curtain to scorch.
The curtain became like a track and the fire like a train.
Flames kindling clothes while the “few” cried for rain.
Yet hypocrisy curled inward and clung to her cape.
And pride shouted loudly while looking for an escape.
While the fire glistened like mirrors showing death all around.
Hypocrisy and Pride could only look up as they fell to the ground.
Flames quickly burned every garment and burned every door.
And left hypocrisy and pride as a heap of ashes on the floor.
Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day.
Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway.
Both went to church and were invited to stay.
REFERENCE :
“So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
“In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.”
“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.”
“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;”
Revelation 1:14 KJV
http://bible.com/1/rev.1.14.kjv
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
2 Timothy 4:3 KJV
http://bible.com/1/2ti.4.3.kV
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
This poem was written Sunday Oct 2 before I heard of the Las Vegas shooter. It is not about the shooting in Las Vegas but about what happens in spiritual space when we gather in our churches to WORSHIP on Sunday. Satan becomes an indiscriminate destroyer of a distracted crowd.
Sunday Shooting ( a poem)
No need for guns no need for missiles
Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!
Oh Lord , Our Lord
sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!
Cauterize our culture
kill what we horde
Sunday morn we enter in the precious door
holding free tickets as we hope with hope for more
Maybe something will lift our loud silence
a Song, a Shout, a Word without violence….
A peace from breaking pieces, a gathering for the Son
A place from the places where Satan steals our fun
No need for guns no need for missiles
Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!
Oh Lord , Our Lord
sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!
Cauterize our culture
kill dreams we horde
Surely here we have no need for missles and guns
As our band prepares to kill all our bored humdrums.
Empty yet rich we always offer change from our jar
and dream days not as now, but brilliantly afar
our jeans and leggings dance both free and tight.
hands hallowed raise our waving rite.
No need for guns no need for missiles
Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!
Oh Lord , Our Lord
sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!
Cauterize our culture
kill sins we horde
Your bishop ,he warned us to not be unaware.
Yet ,distracted ,our gaze goes here and there
Till one so small slithers invited on our scene.
Trailing grass from A garden where he first did glean.
Hell without hands he cocks missle and gun.
Loading venge filled bullet for both dead and undone.
No need for guns no need for missiles
Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!
Oh Lord , Our Lord
sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!
Cauterize our culture
kill self we horde
Who crouches in the windows above the scene?
And rapid fires these bullets to destroy God’s redeemed?
While one shoots back with a word from above
And minstrels sing a muted song about Everlasting Love.
Likewise the door of heaven swings to receive this earths Cry
Of those few and bended singing
” Mercy! Mercy from the Most High”!
As He ,the One of the One, saddles Donkey and Horse
With Wind and Water, We feel the move of His Force
boldly He barrels to the certain and few
commanding “NOW bread NOW wine to all Satan slew!
He Speaks:
There is no need for guns or for these missals
I AM the sickle and harvest both wheat and thistles
I AM sharper than any of your knives or sword
And I pull angel armies from on high downward
I lift every soul as it drops to the floor . . .
And I quicken , I gather , saying mine and mine ,forevermore’!”
Post note:
Every Sunday If our eyes are not on Him and Him alone , we become a casualty…….
Even in church . In essence we are a casualty whenever we take our worship casually. In these moments, we are a wide target for Satan. He takes opportunity to shoot at our faith leaving us weak wounded unbelieving hypocrits.
It has happened to us all. Parched wounded dying from thirst we can barely pray.
Strangely, after reading this a week later, I could see that the shooter in Las Vegas and the Enemy have much in common …the same way of operating. The tragedy felt ,in my soul ,like a picture of an invisible spiritual reality.
In as much as we recognize that there are evil people, we must recognize there is an Evil One, the Devil. And , in as much as we recognize that an evil person can invade an area without our knowing so, we must recognize that the Father of Evil tries to get into every good place. Even church.
It may seem we are as helpless as the victims in Las Vegas. And were it not for Jesus in us and the Holy Spirit for us we are victims!.
But true Worship is the rise of the voice of the Son in Us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He who is Our Praise is Jesus and the Joy of our praise is the Spirit.Together, United with Chist in us , the Spirit moving us, is the FAthers Greatest Praise! May The Bride , The Church , Take time before Sunday to see how this Beautiful Saviour Stands ready to release all of Heaven to purify us as we worship.
Behold, How He comes when we stand at His door singing of Him to Him for Him and through Him !In this moment …..
Sunday worship , despite the Enemy attacks, there remains the greatest concert of our worship. God delights to send His Spirit and all of heaven to join a church looking to its Head ! While our hearts and hands and heads are up , the Father releases armies upon armies of angels.
These angels not only sing but fight to fight for us to sing with them ! Perhaps they are singing our songs as they fight for Jesus’s Bride.
And without ceasing,in prayer and worship may we be one in praying for the victims in Vegas . May we pray and praise our Father in Heaven as He works against this tragedy that interrupted a concert. May we be certain the Perfect concert awaits In heaven through His Son Jesus.
So He explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.”
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from Godʼs sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the peoples. And all the ends of the earth shall see the Salvation of our God Isaiah 52:10 Outreach
Awake Oh Greenville, Jesus runs to meet you! Awake Oh Greenville, Jesus waits to hold you!
While sisters swing between the man and the wine , And brothers hide every treasure of stolen time , Jesus stirs salt and light in the chicken brine While Brother Ray sits in our park motionless and blind . Bibles stay stacked in precise stiff lines All are Aching to declare a story of The Father’s good find.
Jesus enters like a fog blanketing a town at dawn Gently,, His steps are like the sneaking of a fawn Vast His presence is thickly spreading across the lawn
Awake Oh Greenville , Jesus runs to meet you Awake Oh Greenville , Jesus waits to hold you
Jesus hovers sweetly over many hands stirring pots And beckons Himself through flyers on doors and in parking lots He prepares release of every tangled and torturous thought
He passes through doors crannied with “crack ” And inches and aches His way to every Grannie’s back. Every Preacher and pimp He presses to save He Makes salve for their eyes and a new food to crave. Awake Oh Greenville , Jesus runs to meet you Awake Oh Greenville , Jesus waits to hold you He lays down His life in Haffee Park at night Prostrate for you He puts all enemies to flight!! How Softly He reaches with Great Glory Majesty Beauty and Might.!
Awake Oh Greenville, Jesus runs to meet you Awake Oh Greenville, Jesus waits to hold you!
dedicated to All who carry “The gospel” in Greenville and everywhere. Jesus goes before you everywhere your feet are called to walk .
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:9, 18 ESV http://bible.com/59/2pe.3.9,18.esv