Christian poetry

He is Here (Revelation 3:20)

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , , ,

jesus_knocking_at_your_door

Forgotten first love, our hunger is lacking

We’ve left Him adrift in a sea of disdain

He stands at the door, awaiting the asking.

 

We no longer see what with Him we obtain

The Vine feeds the branch, but we want our poison

We’ve left Him adrift in a sea of disdain.

 

Hold tight to the Vine, we’ll rejoice in union

Yet faith is belief, expecting in unseen

The Vine feeds the branch, but we want our poison.

 

We say we want God, but there’s dogma between

He longs to come and with us break bread

Yet faith is belief expecting in unseen.

 

If we’d just focus on seeking him instead

The door only opens from inside to out

He longs to come in and with us break bread.

 

We’re filled with self-made doctrine leading to doubt

Forgotten first love, our hunger is lacking

The door only opens from inside out

He stands at the door, awaiting the asking.

His Embrace

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , , , , , ,

father-holding-newborn

When we search His call, abide in love,

as we open all to God above

in our praise and prayer, we worship and declare

our God none to compare,

we feel His embrace, feel His embrace.

 

If we see neighbors through Father’s eyes

(neighbors – those heirs who we may despise),

it’s not “them” we see, but seeds of Diety

Who made us family.

We feel His embrace, feel His embrace.

 

And He loves without prerequisite

even though we doubt and won’t commit.

There’s plenty of space to make enough mistakes;

He gives mercy and grace.

We feel His embrace, feel His embrace.

 

His command: we are to love bar none

no matter what our likes, says Savior Son.

We have a choice, yet His will remains unmet;

in this will we regret?

We feel His embrace, feel His embrace.

 

Open hearts and heads to Life and Light;

His lavish grace will spread to all in sight.

As we pass kindness along, we become blessed,

have moved to His likeness.

We feel His embrace, feel His embrace.

 

 Luke 10:25-37

Healing Hurts

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , ,
©Wikipedia.org
©Wikipedia.org

Invisible affliction occurs

And stirs wounds, exposes scar tissue;

Those who are living outside my skin

Cannot help or hope to harbor

Empathy or like circumstances.

No, you strike it from your point of view

Granting no value to where I’ve been.

So you simply say, “Move on.”

We must both gather to heal at dawn

At mid-bridge, on love to take a chance.

Cornerstone

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , , ,

chief-cornerstone

In giving honor today,

For all who are fallen –

In remembering who are our heroes

And who is our enemy –

 

In giving honor today,

To the One who fell;

The same One who has risen

And remembering who the real enemy is

 

Let us give thanks

To all those who embody Him

Who stood and stand tall

And transmit His light and grace

 

Those who are bold and courageous enough

To fight when fighting is appropriate

To be living sacrifices

To never hate and always love

 

To those who raise His standard

And rush in to be His hands and feet

Lay their bodies and hearts on the line

Thank you.

"Tribute in Light" memorial
“Tribute in Light” memorial

This is what the Almighty Lord says:

I am going to lay a rock in Zion,
a rock that has been tested,
a precious cornerstone,
a solid foundation.
Whoever believes in him need never be shaken.” (Isaiah 28:16)

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’ (Psalm 118:22-23)

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.” (Matthew 21:42-43)

 

Thank you to John Lewis at Not For Punks for the inspiration for this poem.

Grace of God

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , ,

Surrender

Your love and grace have set me free

You saw me broken, lost and flawed

You dried my tears, now I can see

How wondrous is the Grace of God

 

Now when you say to follow rules

I find it curious and odd

I do not mean to ridicule –

How wondrous is the Grace of God

 

When righteous living is your goal

And though the goal I can applaud

Through love the Spirit makes me whole

How wondrous is the Grace of God

 

Don’t set aside His gift of grace

By which the world would be so awed

Surrender rules to His embrace

How wondrous is the Grace of God

 

Your love and grace have me free;

How wondrous is the Grace of God

 

 

“When we make people try to follow our rules and regulations for righteous living we have a problem; we set aside the grace of God.” Daily Enduring Truth

His Glory

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , ,
© 2012 Pimmi Nag
© 2012 Pimmi Nag

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him and praise him, and you are filled with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (1 Peter 1:8)

 

Dear Father, I don’t see Your face;

But feel You in a warm embrace

In every single grain of sand;

The darkened, veined, brown, wrinkled hands dispensing grace.

 

The beating wings of birds in flight,

In rustling leaves in breeze at night,

I hear Your whisper softly say,

“I love you; please know this today; in this delight.”

 

At every turn Your glory’s seen;

Deep, lasting rain that washes clean,

To golden sun which dries and warms.

If I allow, I’ll be informed with each new scene.

 

Each day I notice more and more

My acumen increased by score

Your Word’s intentions are revealed

Which formerly were once concealed; Son, I adore!

 

And I, though I do not know how,

Can see Your splendor even now

Through eyes which see my looking glass

And realize Your Spirit’s vast Vine to my bough.

 

So grateful You did gift me grace

And unrestricted loving space

To come to You; You set me free.

In freedom, now I hear, I see; You rescued me.

 

Now all of us, with our faces unveiled, reflect the glory of the Lord as if we are mirrors; and so we are being transformed, metamorphosed, into His same image with ever-increasing glory, just as the Spirit of the Lord accomplishes it. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Shadow

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , ,

Shadow-Man

When we are faced with choosing love

Our gazes do not see

The precious ones God placed on earth;

Our heart gives breach entrée.

 

A neighbor we ignore today

Expands the fissure’s gap.

The less we love, the more we’re prone

To Shadow’s fearful trap.

 

The less we love, the less we love

‘til friends and kin laid bare.

Susceptible to darkened heart

We even cease to care.

 

And enemy – well, who could love

Such wretched sinners strayed.

Yet, Jesus did; forgave them, too.

Could he your heart persuade?

 

We boast of being Christians, but

Our acts his words demean,

His call to love, to walk his will

Create a vast ravine.

 

Shadow-personAs shadow overtakes your heart

And chasm seems no end

The answer is to love and hear

Both enemy and friend.

 

The more we love, the more our heart

Desires to love free.

The love of God takes over and

We love our enemy.

 

We see beyond the surface; yes

We see the tears below.

Our heart sees pain and hurt and wounds

The heart denies to show.

 

And as we’re willing to accept

God mercy, love and grace,

Outside of Shadow’s grip we rise

Into the Light’s embrace.

 

Thank you, Little Monk, for the inspiration for this poem.

Learning the Verses of Bird Song

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , , ,
©pbs
©pbs

You carry your love song to me

Through the verses of the day’s bird song

As I learn to hear your sweet voice

I’m carried by you all day long

 

If flitting on some finespun fronds

Or balancing on highest limb

Your voice arrives in known refrain

Ethereal and graceful hymn

 

Ah, robin, wren or nightingale

At sunrise or sundown you greet

This concert strums my strings of heart

And calms me with enchanting tweets

 

Your harmony restores my soul

The gentle notes speak of your grace

This feathered melody lays soft

The tender fleece of your embrace.

 

My heart is full, my peace complete

In this life only partly known

But summon me and I will hear

The love song from your voice intoned

 

For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Zephaniah 3:17

 

Thanks to John Blasé at the beautiful due for the inspiration for this poem.

Give it Away

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , ,

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

©susanirenefox
©susanirenefox

When your love came and healed my broken heart

You lifted me up, gave salve to each bruise,

The promise of granting a brand new start.

I was flat on my face, how could I refuse?

Heart to heart you said you’d never depart

And I wonder what in me made you choose

To hold me so tightly, to embrace me;

To hold me so tightly, to embrace me?

 

Your love did snatch me from death’s calling door

And poured in me the Holy Spirit’s guide.

Now I, with his eyes, can your words explore

And meaning becomes clear as I abide

And see your love’s the answer evermore,

Yet I wonder still when did you decide

To forgive me so completely with grace;

To forgive me so completely with grace?

 

As I ponder your love, vital, profound

It leaves me in wonder times I am in doubt.

Your gentle grace speaks in ways that astound

I don’t worry what your thoughts are about.

With no condition or laws to confound

Your love is forever there to give out,

To love me so boldly, without restraint;

To love me so boldly, without restraint.

 

FlowerHeart

 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

Steadfast Faith

Susan Irene Fox Susan Irene Fox , , , , , , ,

The Bible

In steadfast faith I love my God

Though prayers sometimes hang in midair

As I remain imprisoned here

And feel as though He does not care.

 

So many others rise to fame

While wealth and power still do reign

Yes, eating with the poor is nice

We’re occupied, there is no gain.

 

I baptized You and called You Lamb

Did I not read the signals right

Oh, Jesus, tell me, did I fail

Where is Your army, strength and might?

 

Or is there something I don’t see

Authority and mastery

Is grace and mercy what I’ve missed

Is love the greatest mystery?

 

My Lord, please tell Your cousin truth

I knew You ‘fore we both were born

Please let me know You once again

To You my faith will be foresworn.

 

John, meanwhile, was still in prison. But stories about the Anointed One’s teachings and healing reached him.

Quite frankly, John is perplexed. He has been awaiting the Anointed, but he believes that person will be a great political ruler, a king, or a military hero. Jesus seems to be all about healing people and insisting that the poor and the meek are blessed.

So John sent his followers to question Jesus.

“Are You the One we have been expecting as Savior for so long? Are You the One Scripture promised would come? Or should we expect someone else?”

 “Go back and tell John the things you have heard and the things you have seen. Tell him you have seen the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers cured, the deaf hear, the dead raised, and the good news preached to the poor.

“Tell him, blessed is he who does not take offense because I did not meet his expectations of what the Messiah would be.” (Matthew 11:2-6, The Voice)

 

Inspired by a post by Jason Bradley.