Wrath

    After last week's Revelation study of God's final judgments, this week's lesson is about why they are deserved. I have often read about sin's downward spiral in the latter half of Romans 1, but this time I felt compelled to write it in, if not poetry, a more fitting format for mankind's driven descent into darkness.

Wrath

Because people--

 

 suppress truth,

knew God but didn’t

thank or glorify.

So, thinking became futile

hearts darkened.

Claimed wisdom, became fools.

Exchanged the glory of God

for images of

men, birds, animals, reptiles. 

 

So God gave them over--

to sinful desires

sexual impurity.

Exchanged truth about God for a lie

worshiped created, not Creator.

To shameful lusts

homosexuality

depraved minds

every kind of wickedness,

evil, greed, depravity,

envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice.

Gossips, slanderers, God haters,

insolent, arrogant, boastful.

Invent ways of doing evil,

disobey parents.

No understanding, no fidelity,

no love, no mercy.

Know such deeds deserve death,

 continue doing them,

 approve others who do.

And that is why—

Wrath.

Romans 1

Married Musings

   For Valentine's Day, my Facebook post was a love poem I wrote in 1978,  Precious Gifts. In the spirit of, if not the depth of, that poem, I offer this new, lite version.

 

Married Musings

 

The things I may have gone without

because I married you

were things I never thought about,

or too grand to come true.

 

My childhood dream of traveling

was surpassingly fulfilled.

Jewelry, besides my wedding ring,

has never been my thrill.

 

I love the gifts you've given thus far

because your heart insists,

for a showpiece home or fancy car

weren't even on my list. 

 

You could have bought more guns and tools

I'm sure you would agree,

but joy from mere possessions cools

without a family.

 

So if, my dear, you muse about

how changed your life might be--

there's love you would have gone without

if you hadn't married me. 

2/16/25

 

 

 

 

 

Still My Valentine

     For the first time since Tracy died, my Valentine card for Reed did not begin with expressing how hard the past year has been. The sorrow over Tracy is still there, especially during the sentencing of the dealer and at Christmas, but its shadow no longer covers the whole calendar. The softening of grief I have heard about seems to be happening. So this year's card is more like those I have written in the past. About love, not loss.

Still My Valentine

In the early years--

The strands of your hair

were gold back then.

Your body strong and thin.

Your face unlined by tracts of time

your hands had smoother skin.

 

Yet I feel no regret

that the boy I met

has changed with the winds of time,

for the years that we've had

make me more that glad

that God chose to make you mine.

Happy Valentine's Day Reed!

2025

Revelation Poem of the Week Club

     This time studying Revelation in BSF, I have been processing what I am learning through the lens of poetry. I often share the results with my classmates Tuesday morning when we discuss our answers to the questions, taking advantage of the loophole that says we should listen to those who share without criticism or correction. If anyone is foolish enough to request a clone of my brain child, I attach it Reply All fashion to the email the leader sends with our weekly prayer requests. My discussion group has unintentionally subscribed to Connie's Revelation Poem of the Week Club. The question that provoked a poetry spasm in my brain this week was:  When you think of all God is, has done, and will do, how will you praise him today? This poem was the only way I could answer something that close to my heart.

From the Frail to the Faithful

All my life you have been faithful

to me and to those I love,

because you are a faithful God.

 

Thank you that I can trust you with the future--

mine, the world's, everyone's.

Thank you for choosing me,

not just for salvation before the world began,

though that is a thought beyond comprehension,

but thank you for choosing every morning,

to spend the day with me

despite all you know 

about my frailty, failings, and futile thoughts.

 

I have only these weak words 

to offer as praise to you,

but I will have all eternity 

to come up with the right ones.

Though they will never be worthy of you,

at least they are mine to give--

a gift from my heart to yours

because I love you so much.

 

2/13/24

Psalm 23 and Me

     One of the many references in this week's Bible study was Psalm 23. Though it is very familiar, and a great work of poetry as it is, this time I found myself making it personal to my own life and testimony. Another attack of poetry through my Revelation study. I was brought up in a works based religion, though that is true of all religions except Biblical Christianity, mine was Mormonism. But then I got exposed to God's word at a youth group Bible study. Though I did not know at the time that it was the Spirit's enabling, when the Bible conflicted with what I had been taught in my church, I was inclined to believe the Bible. Then my friend Donna died when we were both 15, and I needed to know for certain if what I was learning was true. Death no longer touched only old people, it had taken Donna, it could come for me. But the Good Shepherd does not go home without his lost sheep, so in spite of the odds, and my own reluctance, He made me His own. This poem is my testimony of salvation against the backdrop of Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 and Me

 

Even in the years before you found me

(and I was not looking for you, 

I wanted to be my own shepherd)

even in those lost lamb times,

you provided all that I needed--

food, drink, rest and safety.

It wasn't until you found me

that I even knew I needed

refreshment for my soul,

guidance to the right path,

a cause and a name

worth living for--Yours.

 

But when I lost a friend my age

to the valley of death,

 suddenly I was afraid.

I needed to know what

was on the other end of that path,

I knew I could not face it alone.

 

When you chose me as your lamb,

you not only comforted me,

you made my soul beautiful.

It did not matter what the other kids

thought of me because your love

filled me, poured over me.

From that time on

your goodness and love 

have been with me wherever I go.

And will be with me 

for the rest of my life,

until I come to live with you--

forever.

2/2/25