Ragamuffin Rumours

I tell you

it’s hard to know
what to believe
there’s a story flying round the town
that the Messiah’s been born
here in Bethlehem

would you credit it

right here
in this very town they say

and there are wild rumours

of angels
and dazzling stars
and choirs in the sky

it beggars belief

the Messiah

here
in Bethlehem

it’s only gossip I’m sure

let’s face it

the town’s bursting at the seams
with this stupid census
and no-one else
not one single person
seems to have heard or seen
this ‘heavenly announcement’

strikes me

maybe the wine’s been flowing
a little too freely
at all those family reunions

I have to say though

it’s certainly got folks talking

but here’s the rub

they say it started
with a group of shepherds
spreading the news

well I ask you

what a group of misfits and rogues they are
it has to be a hoax

the hope of Israel?

born in Bethlehem?
and a bunch of ragamuffin shepherds
the first to hear the news?

can’t possibly be true

 

 

The Melting

it seemed
as if the heavy weight of her weariness
melted into the straw
as her exhausted body
surrendered itself
to the makeshift bed
that Joseph had fashioned

it was done

the child was born

the promised one

was here

and a river

of unimaginable
relief and joy
washed over her and through her
like an all-consuming tidal wave

he was safely come

she knew not

what the future held

but God had come good

she knew she could trust
her Adonai

she had surrendered her body

to his purposes
and he
had delivered on his promise

and through the swirling mist of emotion

and a million unanswerable questions
through the discomfort
and after pains
of childbirth
in the total unknowing
of what came next
the whole weight of her tired body
settled into the straw
and utter joy
flooded her senses

God had come good

let it be to me

she thought
according to your Word

.

Tension

I held his gaze
for a lifetime

eternity
compressed within a second

eyes locked
in unspoken pain
and understanding

recognition
of a calling
too high
to walk away from
whatever
the excruciating cost

I knew about calling

and the cost of his
couldn’t have been higher

with every nerve in my body
I felt the inevitability of it

every
twist and turn
of the journey
every road
from the stable to now
had been leading
towards this path
propelling me
into this sword piercing pain
the agony
of watching him
steadily walk
towards his certain death

apology
love
fear
broken dreams
a lifetime of emotion
filled the air between us

we dare not let ourselves
come close
for fear
the nearness would break us
our love for each other
draw him away
from the call

I busied myself
bit my lip
got on with the difficult business
of being ordinary

Thursday Morning

this was the day

the hour
had nearly come

early in the morning
he rose to pray

slipped away
from the twelve

and watching
the gentle, soft light
of dawn
infuse the edges of the clouds
with brightness

he whispered

however you want this day
to unfold

let it be

let your glory
shine

Abide

John 15.4

abide in me

remain
in my love
let me hold you
enfold you
comfort you
nurture you
create in you
all that you might be

dwell
in my presence

rest there
remain there
abide

let me shower you with
blessing upon blessings
let me circle you
wash over you
cascade my love upon you

remain
in my love

abide

It's All For You

1 John 4.13-16

I am the complete expression
of love
greater by far
more consistent
than any other love
you’ll ever know
than any other love
that’s ever warmed
and touched your heart

imagine that
I am the complete expression of love
in all its fullness
love
as it was designed to be
wonderful
sustaining
forgiving
serving
perfect, perfect love

and I long to overwhelm you
with that love
to lavish it upon you
to swamp you with it
hold you in it
never
let you go

open your heart
to receive

there are no conditions
it’s all
for you
whatever you’ve done
whatever others
have done to you
however you’re feeling
right now
it’s all for you

open your heart
to receive

Yeshua Love

Ephesians 3.14-21

beyond my deepest need
or highest hope

able to encompass
and restore
all humankind

endless
stupendous
enfolding
upholding

astounding reach of love
at one with me

surrounding
indwelling
healing
empowering

the source of all that is
and all I am

forgiving
renewing
nurturing
enabling

drawing out potential
for the call

beyond me
within me
limitless
yet personal

seeing
all that’s needed for my life

loving
always loving
infinitely loving

loving
with a love that says

let’s dance

Who Is He

who
is this man?

miracle maker
healer
shaker of the status quo

carpenter from Nazareth
or more than that?

who is this ordinary
extraordinary man?

freedom fighter
truth teller
charismatic Saviour

or simply
son of Mary?

who is
this enigmatic man?

challenger
disturber
compassionate one

confronter
forgiver

befriender of thieves

soul shaper
peacemaker
peace breaker?

unlike any other
and yet so much
like everyman


who
can he be?

rule breaker
covenant maker

lover
teacher
friend

divinity
embodied through humanity?

who exactly is
this special man?

and who is he

for me?