Devil's Wrath (Revelation 12:12)

"Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!

For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath,
because he knows his time is short."

Time is running out,
almost gone,

the devil's wrath,

sin's last hurrah,

before our Savior's sighting.

The devil dumps
the final onslaught,

wrecking relationships,

ruining romance,
between covenant beloved.

Sowing stress
and stretching beyond breaking point,

parental bonds with child.

Disrespecting venom
vomited out
on humanity,

regardless of creed or color.

Kindred consumed with hatred
that is not their own.

Potent poisons
in plentiful supply,

unkindly offered
to drown more sorrows,

sourced from the accusers armory.

Rebellion first found in heaven,
courses condemned
through Eden and beyond,

tempting humanity
to follow him into forever darkness.

The ready remedy,
blood bought
with salvation sacrifice,

can be received right now,

but the eventual ending of evil
is yet to come.

But it will come,

and usher in a peace
and rest and joy,

so unimaginable as yet.

If we could glimpse catch it now,

we would never again wish
to align ourselves

with the devil's wrath.

Hypothetical Faith

I want to try to bring

my ordered

hypothetical faith

into real life,

but sometimes it refuses to fit,

or even to comprehend

the mess it is surrounded by.

Neat arguments about
the do's and don'ts,

become undone
in the presence of fallen man.

I want to grasp faith fully
and forward step without faltering.

It sounds so simple,

yet a hundred jostling jibes
want to dissuade me,

suggesting I return another day.

Sometimes I feel like hypothetical salt
in a container whose lid cannot open,

in case some grains escape
into the community,

and cause havoc
with healing in the streets.

I look for Jesus
to wipe His feet
with my hypothetical tears,

but He is busy
about His Father's business,

and I realize afresh
so I should be.

It's Not Too Late

  It's not too late to prepare

...Until it is.

It's not too late to tell that loved one

about the Lord

...Until it is.

It is not too late to love others,

and do good,

and be the light 

we've always dreamed we could be

...Until it is.

Life and death 

pass without warning.

So many crumpled people,

hugging the ground,

unaware devastation was coming,

to their part of the world

...Until it did.

Don't let this stop us though,

from doing the most important thing

in our own eyes.

God forgive me,

and have mercy upon me,

and knowing that there will

always be tomorrow

...Until there's not.

Don't Lose Hope

Don't lose hope.

It is more vital
to you
than your daily bread.

It sustains you,
nourishes you,
cleanses you,
and refreshes you.

Don't lose hope.

You can't buy it,
borrow, beg, or steal it.

It does not come
in convenient multi-packs,
half filled to avoid waste.

Don't lose hope.

You can't quantify it, define it,
measure it with metric or imperial.

But you will be truly lost without it,
unable to move one space
forward in your beckoning life.

Don't lose hope.

We take it for granted
when we have it in abundance.

That invincibility of youth,
untainted by disappointment,
who know they can do anything.

Don't lose hope.

When disaster or tragedy
visits with unwelcome abhorrence,
and leaves you with a disgust
that life can be so.

Don't lose hope.

The disciples lost it
as they saw Jesus on the cross,

but found it afresh

on the third day

with gripping intensity.

Jesus said, "I go to My Father
to prepare a place for you."

Don't lose hope.

Hold My Hand

Hold My Hand

as we step

into this ever present unknown.

The future that does not wait gently for you,

but rises storm like ahead,

with siren sounds

igniting fear.

Hold My Hand

for I have seen the outcome,

and you can be sure

in the end,

all is well

between you and I.

Your trust will reflect

your measure of faith,

as you step forward

into the looming chaos.

Those who know My peace

will be miracle workers

of their day,

for no one else will have the strength

to reach out to others.

Hold My Hand

as we step over the threshold

into the Holy place of My presence,

where fire can burn up dross,

and chains can be broken,

where My Name is hallowed,

and I am truly your Lord.

Hold My Hand

when the night

seems so much longer

than the day,

and the shadows contort

to frighten you.

Hold My Hand

for I will never let go of yours.

Salvation Song

 More of you and less of me,

Jesus died upon that tree.

Hanging there twixt heaven and earth,

sinless life lived from His birth.

Came that we no more should die,
free salvation is the cry.
Jesus conquered sin and death,
paid for all with His last breath.

His body marred to set us free,
so we should be on bended knee.
He came near to seek the lost,
from heaven's height He knew the cost.

His life for ours He made sure,
to open glory's gate and more.
No one is beyond His salvation reach,
He has fixed God and mankind's breach.

He is our Saviour, Prince and Lord,
seated in heaven amidst praise adored.
He is the King, God of love,
we His priests can reign above.

His kingdom it is always sure,
His hand opens a welcoming door.
You can go through in Jesus' name,
and be set free from all your shame.

Take His strong hand and be set free,
and walk in perfect liberty.
His love for you will ne'er grow cold,
His care for you will make you bold.

His life will fill your life with light,
in His presence you will know delight.
He calls your heart to join His own,
and heaven one day will be your home.

Rejoice in this that you are free,

to live with God through eternity.

Psalm 23 Verse 3

My soul has been weary,

exhausted,

frazzled and fried,
troubled and tired,

worn out with other's cares.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

He restores my soul
on a narrow coastal path,
with sheer cliff face.

My stride has slowed,

watching for the time
in my over busy life,

that I can rest.

Bracken and purple tufted heather
tumble down to the
white tipped waves,
meeting billowed mist
rolling off towering rocks.

I come here
full of expectancy,

that I will somehow
find my answer
in this place.

Wild goats wander
the impossible incline,
with a sure footed
defiance of gravity.

I find myself still
in a hurry to do life,

unwilling to truly rest
for time is preciously short.

We stride out
resisting the threatening skies,

buffeted by wind,
at times so loud
we cannot hear each other's words.

South Wales nestles
in the far distance,
among cloud castle ramparts.

The late afternoon
creeps towards dusk.

I begin to find peace,

held securely
in God's strong hands,

on this winding way.

The busy past and restless future
are somehow kept at bay,

and surrounded by
His own Creation,

the Lord begins
to restore my soul.