Calming the Storm

Everybody on the ship with the fleeing prophet Jonah
Knew that there was something wrong, just like this  VirusCorona.
The captain demanded of the sailors, to your  god you must pray.
On your knees, intercede, or we 'll  surely die today.  
Jonah slept, crusty

sailors wept, which made the captain say
How can you, Jonah,  sleep, when the ship is rocking this way?

The crusty sailors knew, this storm that brewed had an eerie, unearthly feel.                                        Casting lots to confirm their suspicions well earned, drawn lot  the answer  revealed
Jonah pulled the shortest straw, and when they questioned him just why.
Jonah confessed, I am the man causing  stress and to you I will not lie.

I’m trying to flee from the great  God above, who reigneth up on high
The ticket I bought  bringing you such bad luck is the reason that you might die.
To stop this dread,  just pick me up, throw me into the roiling sea.
But the sailors' compassion and fear of depression said, No, we'll stand united with thee.

As the sea  grew rougher, this decision was tougher,
The sailors asked the fugitive once more,
Jonah what is it  that we can do to make it safely to shore?
 The fleeing prophet said this is my fault, so overboard I must go
The sea will not quiet while I reside here,  there’s no other way I know.
The sailors panted, groaned and strained with the oars to row back to some land
Giant angry monstrous waves hit the deck, announcing that this was God’s hand.

With very heavy panicky hearts, but fearing for their lives
The sorrowful sailors took the prophet up, and flung him out to the skies.
Looking below, with amazement they saw when the ocean Jonah hit,
The sea calmed down, the waves were still, which stabilized their ship.

More frightened now than ere before, to God the sailors prayed
They made a sacrifice to the God Jonah introduced to them earlier that day.
Vows to change their lives they took, for they indeed  had survived.
Those sailors knew they’d never had such a wild,  extraordinary ride.

And Jonah lived to meet the whale and take a stranger trip
Than any sailor ever had on that tossing, bucking ship.

What is the lesson we should learn from Jonah’s life today?
Stop and ask why this turmoil now,  as to God we humbly pray:
Open our eyes Dear Lord above and Help us all to see
Where we went wrong and point us to where  now we need to be.
Lord we repent all options spent, no other help we know
Our heads we bow, we’re listening now, we whisper very low:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be they name
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day Our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory,
Forever, Amen.

March 22, 2020

A Tribute to the Stillborn and Miscarried

God knit me in my mother’s womb He worked me head to toe.

God shaped my features from His plan. God knew to heaven I’d go.

                 I rode along within my mom,  her womb was warm and soft

        A fluid filled my earthly home. I felt so close to God

God took me from this safe place and took me home above.

My first breath was of heaven’s air. My first step was on golden sod

My first taste was of angel’s food. My first seat was at the Throne of God.

My first home were mansions, where no sin has ever trod.

The first words that I learned to say were praise, and hallelu’

The first time that I raised my hands was to praise God as I do.

Joy and gladness everywhere, such grandeur all in view

I’m privileged to be safe in heaven. I’m waiting here for you.

When I think of earth below, I know that you feel sad

But if you could but see my home, oh my, you’d be so glad.

I’m sure I’d loved to have been a part of your circle too

But, I made no stops there on the earth. I came, God, straight to You.

I came early to this place of everlasting rest.

From womb to heaven God did take me to heaven by express.

So now I’m waiting for the ones who’ll come from earth below,

But in heaven I’m best friends with my Jesus here,  you know

Yes, I’m best friends with Jesus now and I’m waiting here for you.

By Patricia Simpson Newton     January 26, 2004

A Different Kind of Easter

No new outfits needed,

Though they never were.

No showing of fashions

Or preening in fur.

No big family gatherings,

Though some never did.

No Easter egg hunts

Or eggs to be hid.

No time for excuses,

Though some surely will.

It's time to reflect

 on Calvary’s Hill.

No time to ignore that Christ 

Hung on the cross.

Christ  paid the price

So your soul won’t be lost.

The tomb is now empty

And so are the pews.

A different kind of Easter

The decision is on you.

No music here to move you,

No offering you need bring.

The question I ask you.

Will you Make Christ your King? 

Happy Different Kind of Easter!!! 

Written 4/12/2020 as Covid 19 wreaks havoc on the earth

God Travels Incognito

God is traveling incognito observing us all

He may look weak or appear six feet tall.

We in our self-will and insolent pride

Don’t see God traveling with the poor at His side.

We’re haughty, disdainful and judging each man.

Not realizing one missed paycheck and there we could stand.

We have our excuses and we pull them all out

To explain why the poor don’t deserve a hand out.

Go get a job, your choices were bad,

And when you say it you don’t even feel sad.

If you planned for the future you wouldn’t be poor.

Not knowing poverty could be at your door.

What I read in the Good Book does not ask me to say

Why in the world are you living this way?

It does say to give to those who ask,

Questioning why, is just not our task.

Now I know it’s hard to hear these strange things

When  the poor are viewed as lazy and deserving of shame.

But God’s riding incognito throughout this land

Are you willing and able to give God a hand?

"God didn’t say that," I hear in response.

Look it up for yourself,  God said it more than once.

It’s embedded in Scripture for all to see

When you give to the poor, you have given to Me.*

*Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

 and he will reward them for what they have done.