tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90672934962619942992023-11-16T04:49:07.947-08:00By the Grace of GodAll that I am and all that I write is by the gift and the grace of God.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-49519652789037885472017-12-16T03:28:00.001-08:002017-12-16T03:28:33.641-08:00Oblivious
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as the glory
of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">illuminates
the night <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and
shepherds <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">tremble <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">before
angelic choirs <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the rest of
the world <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">remains
oblivious <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">whilst a
young mother <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and an
awestruck father <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">take in the
miracle <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and the
mystery <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the rest of
the world <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">continues
unaware <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">unaware <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that
everything <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">just changed
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">a gift of
Love <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">lies
sleeping in the straw <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the
greatness of God <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">takes baby
small breaths <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in the hay <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the Prince
of Peace <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">peacefully
sleeps <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God has come
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God has come
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">to us<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and almost
no-one<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">notices</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-9776463001022236052017-12-16T03:25:00.000-08:002017-12-16T03:25:19.515-08:00Ragamuffin Rumours
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I tell you<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it’s hard to
know <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">what to
believe <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">there’s a
story flying round the town <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that the
Messiah’s been born <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">here in
Bethlehem <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">would you
credit it <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">right here <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in this very
town they say <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and there
are wild rumours <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of angels <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and dazzling
stars <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and choirs
in the sky <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it beggars
belief <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the Messiah <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">here <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in Bethlehem
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it’s only
gossip I’m sure <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">let’s face
it<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the town’s
bursting at the seams <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">with this
stupid census<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and no-one
else <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">not one
single person <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">seems to
have heard or seen <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">this
‘heavenly announcement’ <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">strikes me <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">maybe the
wine’s been flowing <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">a little too
freely <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">at all those
family reunions<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I have to
say though<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it’s certainly
got folks talking <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">but here’s
the rub <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">they say it
started <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">with a group
of shepherds <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">spreading
the news <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">well I ask
you <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">what a group
of misfits and rogues they are<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it has to be
a hoax<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the hope of
Israel? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">born in
Bethlehem? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and a bunch
of ragamuffin shepherds <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the first to
hear the news? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">can’t
possibly be true</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span></span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-31625729259440148882017-12-16T03:20:00.001-08:002017-12-16T03:20:41.469-08:00The Melting
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it seemed <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as if the heavy
weight of her weariness <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">melted into
the straw <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as her
exhausted body<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">surrendered
itself <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">to the
makeshift bed <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that Joseph
had fashioned <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it was done<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the child
was born<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the promised
one<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">was here<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and a river <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of unimaginable<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">relief and
joy <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">washed over
her and through her<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">like an
all-consuming tidal wave<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he was
safely come <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she knew not
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">what the
future held <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">but God had
come good <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she knew she
could trust <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">her Adonai <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she had
surrendered her body <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">to his
purposes <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and he <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">had
delivered on his promise <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and through
the swirling mist of emotion <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and a
million unanswerable questions <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">through the
discomfort <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and after
pains <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of
childbirth <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in the total
unknowing <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of what came
next <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the whole
weight of her tired body <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">settled into
the straw <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and utter
joy <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">flooded her
senses<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God had come
good<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">let it be to
me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she thought<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">according to
your Word</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-50816117516588281022017-06-03T02:08:00.000-07:002017-06-03T02:08:35.436-07:00Holy Fire
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">it came <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">out of nowhere<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">a great thunderclap of sound <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and a rushing roaring wind <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">powering through the room <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">like the stormiest gale on a wave-whipped sea<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">swirling <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">deafening <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">threatening <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">pure unadulterated power <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">ripping through the space<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and a great explosion of fire <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">saturating the senses<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">blowing apart all concepts of God<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">tongues of flame <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">raining down on us <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">vibrant infusions <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of red, orange, gold<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">heavenly spotlights<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">homing in <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">on their targets<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and then <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">a long, loud silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">as the fireball <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">dispersed itself<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and we were left with <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">flickering dancing candle flames <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">resting <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">on each one of us <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">with the gentle hypnotic beauty <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of fire that danced and blazed <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">yet did not burn <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">flames that covered <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">but didn’t consume<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and after the moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of shock-filled fear <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">a sense of quiet wonder<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">rippled through the room<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and someone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew I think it was <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">began to smile <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">a warm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">relaxed <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">bringing a sparkle to the eyes kind of smile <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">as the huge relief <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of recognition <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">came upon him<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">the fire of God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">he whispered <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">it’s the fire <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of God <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">the burning bush that does not burn<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">he’s done it again <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">he’s kept <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">his promise <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">remember what John said?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">he will baptise you <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">with fire<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">with the Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and with fire<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and suddenly we were laughing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">dancing <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">embracing each other <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">not understanding <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">but knowing <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">knowing this was him <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">this was the gift he’d promised <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and we were touching the flickering fires<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">daring to hold <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">their flame dancing beauty <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">entranced <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">in wonder-filled moments<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of joy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and recognition <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and indescribable <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">holiness<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and humility<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">the Spirit <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">was with us<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and power <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">rippled through us <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">with all the grace and wonder <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and profound simplicity<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">that we had to come to expect <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of the Master<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and everything <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">changed<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-67566512144022494392015-12-16T11:02:00.000-08:002015-12-16T11:06:52.449-08:00A Christmas Prayer<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Baby-small </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">vulnerable </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">risk-taking
God, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">re-enter our
hearts </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">as we ponder
your coming amongst us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Holy and
beautiful </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">radiant God,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">shine in our
dark </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">as we think
of your birth in the stable. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Peaceful and
merciful </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">all-loving
God,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">pour your
compassion out through us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Let us love
like you,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">live like
you ,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">bear your
Good News to our world. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Let Emmanuel
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">live on
through us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Baby-small </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">vulnerable </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">risk-taking
God,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">re-enter our
hearts </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">as we ponder
your coming amongst us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: x-small;">Amen</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-64903436345967393182015-12-16T10:54:00.001-08:002015-12-16T10:55:16.589-08:00Spirit of the Incarnation<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">Spirit
of the Incarnation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">Holy
birther <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">of
possibility<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">rushing
wind <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">dancing
flame <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">seed
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">within
the womb<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">gentle
whisperer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">promise
nurturer<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">midwife<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">of
change<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">in
this flawed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">and
wounded temple <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">of
my being <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">
be the energy of God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">within<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">dismantle
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">my
resistance <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">to
your flow,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">break
through <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">with
power and wisdom,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">and
shine<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">gloriously
shine<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">Spirit
of the Incarnation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">be
fully enfleshed<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">in
this place<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">this
time<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10pt;">in
me<o:p></o:p></span><br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-11553305124896036882015-12-16T10:37:00.000-08:002015-12-16T10:37:49.864-08:00A Whisper in the Night
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">He
came<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">out
of nowhere,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">like
a whisper in the night,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">delivered
the message,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">the
truly astounding message,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">and
then<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">like
a half forgotten dream in the morning <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">he
was gone <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">as
if he'd never been, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">leaving
me wondering <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">pondering
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">wrestling
with questions unanswerable,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">knowing
that everything <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">every
single thing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">had
just <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">changed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I
had said my yes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">and
now <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">there
was no turning back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I
rested my hand <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">on
my belly <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">and
pondered <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">the
mystery of it all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>.</o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-13220063370733437622013-05-18T08:45:00.001-07:002013-05-18T14:41:30.993-07:00The Longing<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt;">The
Woman with Bleeding - Mark 5.21-34<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">no-one knows what it’s like
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">inside this blood-stained
loneliness <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">twelve years <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">of ‘unclean: don’t touch’ <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">a decade and more of
discomfort <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">my body drained <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">by the constant issue of
blood <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">hard edges of rejection <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">chiselling away <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">at my self-respect <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the whispers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ruthless <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">unforgiving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">keep away <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">don’t touch <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">she is unclean <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">heavy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">with the pain <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">between my loins <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">tired of being ostracized <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">weary <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">of the fruitless search for
help <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">my spirit hemorrhaging <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">with the blood <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I long <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">for the bleeding to stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-44738157669158811502012-12-09T03:47:00.001-08:002012-12-09T03:47:58.021-08:00Headlong to Christmas
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the rush </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">has begun </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and we know </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it can only
get worse</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as we race </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">headlong </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">towards </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">what passes </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">for the
celebrations of your birth </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">holy child </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">give us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">islands of
stillness </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in the
frenzy of preparation </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">give us
snatches </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of peace </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">amid the
tensions </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of others’
expectations </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and in the
excesses</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of the
shopping mall </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">remind us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of the
simple poverty </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of the
stable </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">holy child</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as we rush
towards Christmas </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">give us your
stillness </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">your peace </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">your
simplicity</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">give us
especially </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the gift of
yourself </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"> </span></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-39064061865716544892012-12-09T03:44:00.000-08:002012-12-09T03:44:24.861-08:00Almost Unnoticed
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">an angel <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">interrupts <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">an ordinary day <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the Holy Spirit <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">comes upon a simple girl <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a pregnancy begins <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">almost unnoticed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">everything changes <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in a hidden corner <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">of a city that had no room <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a birthing struggle <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ends <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a Saviour <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">lies in the straw <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a new world order <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">dawns <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">almost unnoticed <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">everything changes <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">heaven’s announcement <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">is placed in the hands <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">of those <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">whom society rejects <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the first shall be last <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and the last <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">shall be first <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">almost unnoticed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the Living Word, Prince of Peace <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Promised Saviour, Mighty God <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">slips into the world <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">with flesh and blood skin on <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and everything <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">everything <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">changes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-45069600360574661632012-12-09T03:39:00.003-08:002012-12-09T03:39:55.732-08:00And a Child Will Be Born
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And a child will be born<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">to Mary;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">fragile,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">vulnerable, weak<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in his humanness;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">wonderful, strong,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">life-changing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in his divinity;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">unlike any other <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in his power <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">to shape creation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A child will be born to Mary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">he will be<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Emmanuel,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">with us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p>.</o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-28597941654570050652012-12-09T03:34:00.000-08:002012-12-09T03:35:55.331-08:00Perfect Place<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">coincidentally
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it was just the
right size</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and it was
the cleanest place </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in the
stable </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the hay was
fresh </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">warm </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">sweet
smelling </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it was
perfect </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">for the
little chap </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">though not
what Joseph had thought </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">his
carpenter’s hands </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">might
fashion for the boy </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">but under
the circumstances </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it would
have to do</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he took the
child </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">from the
breast </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and laid him
in the feeding trough</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and the new
little life </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">who had
turned the man’s world </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">upside down </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">rested </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">sleeping the
sleep </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of newborns
everywhere</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">together </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the new mum
and dad </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">watched him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">marvelled at
him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">felt their
love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">rise up for
him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and wondered</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">what the
future </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">held for him</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God had come
good</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God had
provided</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">just as the
angel </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">said he
would</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">somehow they
too </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">ordinary though
they were </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">somehow they
too </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">were now
part of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God’s
unfolding purposes and plans </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">just like
Abraham and Isaac </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">like David
and all the prophets </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">their story </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">was now part
of God’s story </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">would be
told </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and re-told </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">generation
after generation </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">just like
the scriptures they had learned </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">at their
mother’s knee</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">once again </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as with the
manna in the desert years </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">God had
provided</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and as the
new </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and nervous
parents </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">talked of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the wonder
of these things </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">they sensed </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">for a brief
moment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the faintest
whisper of a smile </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">on the face
of the baby</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the one who
was to call himself </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in later
years </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the Bread of
Life </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">rested </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">in a feeding
trough </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it was</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the perfect
place</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-19163965668490961152012-12-09T03:26:00.001-08:002012-12-09T03:36:27.225-08:00Encounter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">hail</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">o favoured
one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the Lord is
with you</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">little more
than a whisper</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the voice was
clear </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and steady </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">do not be
afraid </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">easy for him
to say that</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">this radiant
dazzling figure </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">who’d
mysteriously appeared </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">out of
nowhere</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she began to
tremble </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">felt her own
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">sharp intake
of breath </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">before this
strange figure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">who’d rudely
interrupted </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">her
daydreaming</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he had the
shape and form </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of a man </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">yet was </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">so very
different </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">nebulous</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">shining</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">his features
softened </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">by a
shimmering glow </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and he
carried a presence </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that
emanated </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">an
extraordinary peace</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">every nerve
in her body </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">felt on edge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">adrenalin </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">coursed
through her </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">like a
mighty waterfall </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she felt in
the presence </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of something
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">terrifyingly
beautiful </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">spell bindingly
powerful </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">hugely frightening</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and he said </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">simply</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">do not be
afraid </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">absolutely
nothing</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">could have
prepared her </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">for what
came next </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">you are to
bear a son </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">one who will
reign </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">over Israel </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">forever </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he will be
the Son </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">of the Most
High </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">you are to
call him </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Jesus</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">her mind raced
into overdrive </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">a heady cocktail
of confusion, questions </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">arguments</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">random
tumbling thoughts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and then </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">after a
split second </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that felt
longer than a lifetime</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">relief </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it was all a
mistake </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">this
terrifying encounter </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">had to be a
mistake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he had the
wrong girl </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">it couldn’t
possibly </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">be her </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she’d never
slept with a man</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">but he
ignored her protests </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">carried on </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the power of
the Most High </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">will
overshadow you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and make you
pregnant </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">your baby
will be holy </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the Son of
God </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the power of
the Most High?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">a holy baby?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">a million
emotions </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">battled for
attention within Mary </span><br />
s<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">he wanted
to run like the wind </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">from this conversation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">pretend it
never happened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">get back to
being ordinary</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and then an
echo of ancient scripture </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">voiced
itself in her head </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">the virgin </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">will
conceive a child<span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and suddenly
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">this crazy
scenario </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">all seemed impossibly
possible </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">could it be
true</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">that she was
the chosen one </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and though
she didn’t begin to understand it</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">knew she
could never deserve it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">had no concept
of the consequences </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she wanted
to laugh, cry, dance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">all at once</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">wanted to tell
everyone </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">about the
angel</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">and she knew
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">there was
only one response </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she could
make </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">she heard
herself speaking</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">I am the servant
of Adonai </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">let it be to
me </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">as you have
said</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"> </span></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-40297701242787744322012-07-23T10:20:00.001-07:002012-07-23T10:21:18.448-07:00Flashes of Beauty<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">flashes of beauty </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">touch my soul </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in the stillness </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">glimpses of holiness </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">pour </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">unbidden</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">into </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the silent void </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">permeate my emptiness </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">with your fullness </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">touch my senses </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">with the presence of God</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">awaken me </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">to your reality </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">we are </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">as one </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in the stillness </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I in your rhythms </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and you </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in mine</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-74231185676665437182012-07-23T10:13:00.000-07:002012-07-23T10:16:37.009-07:00Awesome God<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">awesome</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">unfathomable God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">majesty, mystery, complexity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">truth, Word<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">simplicity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">architect <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of all creation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">ever-present <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">intimate friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">awesome God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">nurture my soul <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in the stillness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">touch me tangibly <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">in the silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">reveal a little more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">of the mystery of yourself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">reveal your will<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">for me</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-84523416503823741892010-06-24T03:45:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:46:46.028-07:00Profound Simplicityas simple <br />as washing one another’s feet <br /><br />Lord, forgive us <br />when we make discipleship <br />difficult<br /><br />that was never <br />how you taught it <br /><br />when I search your gospel teachings <br />I discover nothing more <br />and nothing less <br />than great simplicity <br /><br />a basin and a towel <br />bread and wine <br />a simple touch <br />a word of forgiveness <br />a rhythm of prayer <br /><br />take nothing for the journey <br /><br />a grain of wheat <br />a mustard seed <br />the profound simplicity <br />of love <br /><br />as simple <br />as washing another’s feet <br /><br />forgive us <br />when we complicate discipleship <br />help us instead <br />to simply serve <br />out of your great love<br />and our <br />naked vulnerabilityUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-30900597353808768022010-06-24T03:43:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:44:37.685-07:00Spirit's Flowthe world <br />keeps turning<br /><br />life <br />is probably <br />unfolding as it should<br /><br />accept and embrace<br />what is<br /><br />offer yourself <br />to life’s unfurling;<br />let it carry you in its flow<br />to where<br />you are meant to be<br /><br />all <br />will be well<br /><br />let go <br />of all that is not<br /><br />accept and embrace what is:<br />this situation<br />this now<br />this state of being<br /><br />love yourself<br />love others <br />love God<br /><br />accept<br /><br />embrace<br /><br />let go<br /><br />be at peace<br /><br />open yourself <br />to the Spirit's flowUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-23879972005848729582010-06-24T03:36:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:38:48.293-07:00Inward Looksometimes <br />loneliness consumes me <br />until I look inside myself <br />and find You there <br />source of life <br />living Christ <br />love everlasting <br />ground of my being <br />knower <br />of all thingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-2626904004028552492010-06-24T03:34:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:36:24.721-07:00TensionI held his gaze <br />for a lifetime <br /><br />eternity <br />compressed within a second <br /><br />eyes locked <br />in unspoken pain <br />and understanding <br /><br />recognition <br />of a calling <br />too high <br />to walk away from <br />whatever <br />the excruciating cost <br /><br />I knew about calling<br /><br />and the cost of his<br />couldn’t have been higher <br /><br />with every nerve in my body <br />I felt the inevitability of it <br /><br />every <br />twist and turn <br />of the journey<br />every road <br />from the stable to now<br />had been leading <br />towards this path<br />propelling me<br />into this sword piercing pain <br />the agony<br />of watching him <br />steadily walk<br />towards his certain death <br /><br />apology<br />love<br />fear <br />broken dreams <br />a lifetime of emotion<br />filled the air between us<br /><br />we dare not let ourselves <br />come close<br />for fear <br />the nearness would break us <br />our love for each other <br />draw him away <br />from the call <br /><br />I busied myself <br />bit my lip <br />got on with the difficult business <br />of being ordinaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-88224498201928637862010-06-24T03:32:00.000-07:002010-06-24T03:34:27.852-07:00Thursday Morningthis was the day <br /><br />the hour <br />had nearly come <br /><br />early in the morning<br />he rose to pray <br /><br />slipped away <br />from the twelve <br /><br />and watching <br />the gentle, soft light <br />of dawn <br />infuse the edges of the clouds <br />with brightness <br /><br />he whispered <br /><br />however you want this day <br />to unfold <br /><br />let it be<br /><br />let your glory<br />shineUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-31052525970231540962009-12-16T14:09:00.001-08:002009-12-16T14:11:58.598-08:00Conceptiononce upon a time <br />a young girl <br />gave herself<br />to a labour of love, <br />a labour <br />characterised by struggle, <br />the eternal struggle <br />between darkness <br />and light, <br />the struggle that light <br />and truth <br />wholeness <br />and beauty <br />were destined <br />eventually <br />to win <br /><br />the battle <br />between exquisite peace <br />and sword piercing pain<br />that began to reveal its destiny<br />through the young girl’s<br />labour <br /><br />quietly<br />secretly <br />imperceptibly<br />Light <br />was coming,<br />on its way <br />across time and space, <br />to make itself known<br /><br />and it made its first appearance<br />with a sign<br />the shimmering ethereal <br />radiance<br />of an angel <br />bright <br />clear<br />unmistakable <br />softly entering <br />into an ordinary day<br /><br />an angel who said<br />will you lend <br />your love <br />that God might birth <br />a greater Love <br />through you<br /><br />and Mary said <br />yes <br /><br />tell God <br /><br />I say yesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-21777568803515367832009-12-16T14:08:00.001-08:002009-12-16T14:08:42.761-08:00EngagementI want to meet <br />with Him,<br />this Christmas.<br /><br />I want to engage <br />with that baby who was God, <br />connect <br />with the God <br />who came as child.<br /><br />I want to experience him, <br />be loved by him,<br />and welcome him this Christmas.<br /><br />I want to encounter<br />the new-born Christ <br />with every ounce of my emotions <br />every portion of my soul.<br /><br />I want to anticipate nothing <br />and expect <br />more than I can possibly <br />imagine.<br /><br />I really <br />want to meet with that baby <br />in a radically new way<br />this Christmas.<br /><br />I’ll start<br /><br />by kneeling …Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-15423456282242525352009-12-16T14:00:00.001-08:002009-12-16T14:01:00.353-08:00Risk-Taking Saviourrisking it all <br />on the ‘yes’ <br />of a Jewish teenager,<br />staking his plans <br />on the equally difficult ‘yes’<br />of a carpenter <br />disgraced,<br />breaking <br />social conventions <br /><br />he came<br />with forgiving love<br /><br />choosing to enter history <br />in the midst of political turmoil, <br />risking the dangerous anger <br />of a king<br />crazy for power<br /><br />he came <br />as a helpless baby<br /><br />conceiving himself <br />in the womb of a girl, <br />risking a difficult birth <br />in the dirt <br />of an animal stall<br /><br />he came<br />with complete humility<br /><br />seeking the costliest gift <br />he could bring <br />he offered us <br />simply<br />himself <br /><br />entering human life <br />in all of its raw <br />and complex messiness<br /><br />he came<br /><br />because he caredUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-22521839616021738902009-12-16T13:57:00.000-08:002009-12-16T14:12:21.791-08:00The Mysteryunlike any other <br />and yet <br />so much <br />like every other <br />newborn babe <br /><br />the visible image <br />of the invisible God <br />suckled at the breast <br /><br />drew his nourishment <br />from the one <br />whom he’d chosen <br />to mother him <br /><br />utterly transcendent <br />wholly dependent <br />thoroughly human <br />completely divine<br /><br />God <br />suckled at the breast <br /><br />and Mary <br />once more <br />gave her body in love <br />and pondered <br />the mysteryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9067293496261994299.post-17132807069367255982009-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:002009-12-16T13:55:05.939-08:00This BabyHe challenges me<br />this baby:<br />I cannot kneel by his manger <br />and not <br />be changed, <br />I cannot gaze into those beautiful eyes <br />and stay the same, <br />I cannot hold him close<br />and fail to be aware <br />that his purpose in coming<br />is for him <br />to hold me, <br /><br />I cannot welcome this new life <br />without acknowledging <br />that this baby <br />invites me <br />to radically new ways of being;<br /><br />I simply cannot find the words <br />to express <br />how the coming of this child <br />challenges me <br />to change.<br /><br />A Saviour is born <br />and life <br />will never be the same again.<br /><br />He challenges me<br />this baby.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0