Walk On

                                                               Photo by Beth York Bonham

Night shed your heavy skin

lay aside your dagger and cloak

your forever nagging silence

withstanding any oak.

For summer like an old man
 left rocking on the porch

 is creaking with the memory

and blind without a torch.

His years are pushing on
as tides without a shore
 wings of life bequeathing
the pattern evermore.

Wounded spirit in the eyes
dim window of a soul

walk on, oh weary traveler
though blackness takes it toll.

L. Paddock

*

"Meaningless!  Meaningless!"

says the teacher.

"Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless."

*
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
 he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

Ecclesiastes 1:2  Psalms 9: 9, 12

Little bird

Photo by Beth York Bonham

That little bird has chosen his shelter. Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of the worlds.  Yet he is rocking himself to sleep without caring for tomorrows lodging, calmly clinging to his little twig, and leaving God to think for him.                                                        Martin Luther

Tired the Worm

crafted canyon's so deep

sculpted alps at your feet
why won't you move
why won't you speak

marrow and soul
sinew and bone
where is the mercy that
flows from your throne

weary of days
born for defeat
why won't you move
why won't you speak

broken broken
crippled and lame
isn't this why
you humbled and came

herald the news
echo, repeat
why won't you move
why won't you speak

tired the worm
from unanswered prayer
lifeless and limp
in the dirt of despair

we wait for you now
a miracle to meet
why won't you move
why won't you speak?
     
            L. Paddock

Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the weights of heaven...Upon whom does his light not rise?  If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is but a maggot--a son of man, who is only a worm!"

Job 25:6

Though he slay me, yet I will praise him.  

Job 13:15

For the Lord does speak, now one way, now another--
though man may not perceive it.
Job 33:14

The Gate

                                                       

                                                            

                                            

Photo by Beth York Bonham

The Covenant.
The very gate of  heaven.
"Blessed is the man who truly knows God as his covenant God...To many a man , who has never thought much of  "The Covenant";  a true and living faith in it would mean the transformation of his whole life.*

                                                                     +++

The New Testament word for covenant is diatheke, it means a contract, or will. Did you ever think of taking out a "will" with God?  He has provided one for you, you know. It's the gift of eternal life though  belief  in Jesus and his sinless sacrificial death on the cross for you.

A covenant is defined as a pact or agreement between two or more parties.  It is not something to be taken lightly. It is binding. Scriptures account of the covenant of salvation is eternal.

What does this covenant look like? 

...declare this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways...

...confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.

"I am THE GATE; whoever enters through me will be saved."  John 10:9

Did you confess your sins? Believe Jesus to be who he says he is? Sign the "covenant" with faith?

                                                                        THEN:

Because you are now a new creation in Christ and hold an irrevocable contract in your soul.

*Andrew Murray
The Two Covenants

Deuteronomy 26:17   

Romans 10:9-10

2 Corinthians 5:17

Faithful. Forever.

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress,

                                                        I will never be shaken.

                                                                  Ps. 62:1-2

I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN, BECAUSE:

I am yours.                                                                                         Isaiah 43:1

You hold my right hand.                                                                       Isaiah 42:6

You promise to be with me always.                                                       Matthew 28:20

You will be with me in trouble.                                                              Psalm 91:15

You will contend with my contenders.                                                   Isaiah 49:25

No weapon formed against me will prevail.                                            Isaiah 54:17

You pray and intercede for me.                                                            John 17  

You have a plan for my life.                                                                 Jeremiah 29:11           

The number of my days are determined.                                               Job 14:5   

You go before me.                                                             Is. 45:2   Ex. 13:21    Deut. 1:30

Your glory is behind me.                                                                       Isaiah 58:8

Your banner over me is love.                                                                 song of songs 2:4

You broaden the path under me.                                                            Psalm 18:36

My sins are as far from me as the east is to the west.                             Psalm 103:12

You remember my frame.      (a sinner yet still cherished)                        Psalm 103:14  

You are my fortress and hiding place.                                                     Psalm 91:2

You will never forget me.                                                                       Isaiah 44:21

You ransom me unharmed from the battle waged against me.                   Psalm 55:18

Greater are you than he that is in the world.                                             1 John 4:4

You will never leave me or forsake me.                                                   Hebrews13:5

You never slumber or sleep and watch over me always.                           Psalm 121:3-4

THE LORD IS FAITHFUL FOREVER.

Psalm 100:5

Father,

I thank you that nothing is too hard for you....jeremiah32:17

Great are your purposes and mighty your deeds...Jeremiah 32:19

What you have planned, that will you do...Isaiah 46:11

No plan of yours can be thwarted...Job 42:2

                                                          Amen.  and    Selah.

prayer

                                               


                      Random Thoughts on Prayer


Simply to say prayers is not praying...
Confession and penitence are its threshold
Adoration its sanctuary
Presence, vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine.
                                                                                          * C.S. Lewis


For some it is simply sloth, it is easier to pray on whim and impulse than to apprentice oneself to the master.                                                                               * Eugene Peterson



Who can know the lifespan of a prayer?
                                            Aunt Vera

It does seem an incredible thing that such guilty nothings should have the power to move the arm that moves the world.                                                                * Charles Spurgeon

The broken down, sinful, ragamuffins of Israel flocked to Jesus (for prayer). They tore apart roofs, climbed trees and formed huge crowds to see him.             * James Bryan Smith



Intercession is not the breathing out of pious wishes,  its aim is to bring down Gods blessing through believing, persevering prayer.                                            *Andrew Murray


If God commands me , unfit as I may be, I will creep to the footstool of grace, and since He says pray without ceasing, though my words fail me and my heart itself will wander,  yet will I stammer out the wishes of my hungering soul and say; O God, at least teach me to pray and help me to prevail with you.
                                                                                          * charles Spurgeon

                                                   

I cannot tell why there should come to me

A thought of someone miles and years away,

In swift insistence on the memory,

Unless there is a need that I should pray.

Perhaps just then my friend has fiercer fight,

A more appalling weakness, a decay

Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right;

And so, in case he needs my prayers I pray.

                      Rosalind Goforth

                               Pray without ceasing...for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.                          
                                                          *Paul; 1 thessalonians 5:17-18



Challenge; Think of the last thing you prayed about--were you devoted to your desire or God?
                                                                  * Oswald Chambers

Aaron and Mary

I need an Aaron. Someone to be my voice. Someone to temper my words and reflect my heart. Someone to deliver the goods.
You need a Mary. Someone to be your prayer warrior. Someone to stand in the gap. Someone to cheer you on.

You need a jonathan. Someone to be your friend. Someone true. Someone to lend a shoulder and an ear.
I need a David. Someone to encourage. Someone strong. Someone with a heart after Gods.

I need a John.  Someone to stop and soak it in when I want to jump headfirst into the tomb.
You need a Peter.  Someone to run when you can only crawl.  Someone to lead when you lag.

                                                           

I got an Adam. You got an Eve... submission vs. seduction

You got a Rahab.  I got a Jeremiah... prostitute vs. prophet.

I got an Abraham.  You got a Thomas..... disciple vs. doubter.

You got a Job.  I got an Esther ....oppression vs. obedience.

I got a Judas.  You got a Hosea....betrayal vs. bride.



                         We got a Saviour  He got a sinner.....

                                              *Selah*



                              Yep, life isn't fair.