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Posts Tagged ‘Poems of faith’

Teach Me to Examine My Ways

Posted in Poem, tagged , , , on November 27, 2023|

Teach me, Of God to examine my own ways and to return to You, to the safety of Your arms.

-Lamentations 3:40-41

Many call to me
their beauty bewitches me
their mystery intrigues me
their allure seduces me

their promises fade
like grass under the early summer sun
turning to browns and faded yellow
leaving my heart distraught, empty, disillusioned

I long for their excitement
the lifting of my heart
the lightness of my countenance
the momentary thrill

but nothing and no one lasts
nothing and no one is faithful
You alone! My God!

You alone, keep Your promise
You alone, are forever green with new life
You alone can fill and thrill my heart

How did I wander off again?
In my mind’s eye
–seeing things I was not meant to have
–wanting what is not ordained for me

set my feet again, my Lord,
to the narrow way
to the paths You’ve laid
to the heavenly highway

Hedge me in with Your love
tether me with your commands

Mary Beth Copyright 2022

Petra, Jordan

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My Soul Opens

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on August 6, 2023| 1 Comment »

My Soul Opens

O how my soul opens to You
as the worship chorus rings out
a thirsty flower spreading itself
before Your living water

In a beautiful garden
I am planted
much and various are Your folks
yet I ne’er escape the gardener’s eye

rooted in the primordial clay
fed with sun and brightest day
my life shall bloom as you see fit
Your glory shown in all of it.

MaryBeth 2022

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The Elixir

Posted in Poem, tagged , , on October 9, 2022|

By George Herbert
1593-1633

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything
To do it as for Thee.

A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye:
Or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heav’n espy.

And may of Thee partake:
Nothing can be so mean,
Which with his tincture– “for Thy sake”–
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
Makes drugery divine:
Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,
Makes that and th’action fine.

This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold;
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.

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Worship

Posted in Poem, tagged , on September 25, 2022|

By Robert Whitaker (1863-1944)

Teach me the ritual that runs beyond
The rote of words, the flexing of the knee;
Let me be always, Lord of Life, with Thee!
In all my motions ready to respond
To Thy unveilings, though in Scripture conned.
Or in the mid-night’s insect melody,
The scent of bloom from desert bush or tree,
The dawn’s reflection in the blushing pond.

How shall I worship only for an hour?
How think Thee present under dome and spire
Or sense Thee in the wafer and the wine
Except the common bread and cup are Thine,
Thine shop and street, the hearth-stone and the fire,
Thine all the ministries of natural power?

 

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A Prayer

Posted in Poem, tagged , , , on September 18, 2022| 1 Comment »

by Rev. Marion Franklin Ham (1867-1956)

I pray not for the joy that knows

No saving bension of tears;

The placid life of ease that flows

Untroubled through the changing years.

Grant me, O God, the mind to see

The blessings which my sorrows bring;

And give me, in adversity,

The heart that still can trust and sing.

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Thy Word is Like a Garden

Posted in Poem, tagged , , , on July 11, 2021|

by Edwin Hodder  (1837-1904)

1 Your Word is like a garden, Lord,

with flowers bright and fair;
and everyone who seeks may pluck
a lovely cluster there.
Your Word is like a deep, deep mine;
and jewels rich and rare
are hidden in its mighty depths
for every searcher there.

2 Your Word is like a starry host;
a thousand rays of light
are seen to guide the traveler,
and make his pathway bright.
Your Word is like an armory,
where soldiers may repair,
and find, for life’s long battle day,
all needful weapons there.

3 O may I love your precious Word,
may I explore the mine,
may I its fragrant flowers glean,
may light upon me shine.
O may I find my armor there,
your Word my trusty sword;
I’ll learn to fight with every foe
the battle of the Lord.

Source: Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #139

 

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Small

Posted in Poem, tagged , , on May 30, 2021| 1 Comment »

I was nearly made small
surrounded
hemmed in
by small thinking
midget musing
narrow knowledge
reactionary reason
inside-the-box
the cardboard box
lunch box
thinking

absence of thinking
nil
none
null set

my thoughts grew small
sympathetic response
to puny pundit
ready to retaliate

I tried to be small
to crawl into that place
of lower-level logic
sub-basement sentiments
tunnel ideation

that’s what they did
how they responded
what they understood
low–lower
base–baser
small–smaller
almost shut
closed mind

enter
arrow of light
spark of above wisdom
words spoken over me,

“Smallness is their distinctive
understood only by the puny.

Be BIG–bigger
big-hearted
big-minded
gi-normous

cast off smallness
every shred of stingy
faulty generosity
overlook wrongs
put asunder
live above
live in wonder.”

smallness
is the space inside us

greatness
takes the space beyond us

 

MaryBeth 2021

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Relinquishing Idols

Posted in Poem, tagged , , on August 5, 2020|

Standing alone
gripping the metal piece
to my sobbing breast
precious it was
loathe was I to part with it

Once highly polished
varnish worn
exposing human manufacture
hope dashed
my idol would never
return all I’d invested
money
time
talent
health

Why would You ask for it?
why ask me to give it up?
it’s nothing, really–

You persist
Your hand extended
to receive
my arm extended
to give

Light exposes
its sad condition
object of misplaced adoration
edges worn
paint thin, chipped
lusterless

My heart lurches as You take it–
prying open my fingers
I release
forlorn

Your tear catches my eye
realization stabs
reality intrudes
I float up from waking sleep
heart hurting
You would shed a tear for me?

I reach to touch the wet on Your cheek
to feel the evidence of Your devotion
You pull me close
to let me hear Your heart–
to know life
with You

I see now
all You’ve done for me
a film playing silently
on the screen of heaven

my idol
never answered a single prayer
never extended one moment of comfort
never spoke one word of guidance
never provided one moment of protection

only lies
false hope
false security

it was You
Adonai
Y-H-V-H
Yud-Heh-Vah-Heh
Adonai Elohim
Adonai Yir’eh
Adonai Nissi
Adonai Shalom
Adonai Tsidkenu

It was only ever You.

MaryBeth Mullin

Copyright

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Small

Posted in Poem, Uncategorized, tagged , on July 29, 2020|

I was nearly made small
surrounded and hemmed in
by small thinking
petty thinking
reactionary
narrow
inside-the-box
the cardboard box
thinking
or the absence of thinking

I felt my thoughts grow small
puny
longing to retaliate
in small-mindedness
crawl into that place
with its sub-basement conduct
underground deportment

after all–that’s what they did
that’s how they treated me
that’s what they would understand
low
lower
base
baser

Into my plans
shot an arrow of light
a spark of wisdom
from above

smallness is their distinctive
small-minded actions
puny-minded words
only confirmed I was one of them

but I didn’t want to be
that’s not who I’m meant to be

The only way to communicate
with the puny mind
is to be big
bigger
big-hearted
gi-normous

put aside every bit of smallness
every shred of puny thinking
be generous to a fault
overlook the wrongs
live above
live big

smallness is not a question of size
smallness is inside
a state of mind
and the state of living that follows

No one can make me small.

by MaryBeth Mullin

Copyright 2020

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Rescued

Posted in Poem, tagged , , on July 1, 2020|

What is this darkness that descended?
I barely discern its grasp
so wrapped in hypocrisy and self-righteousness
dark forces slither in unnoticed

my heart was glad
my sorrow banished
my thoughts on the future
my life re-engaged

I saw You, a blur on the side of the road
a speed limit sign I was going too fast to register

I ignored the initial pricks of Your correction
and later the thud of Your body thrown under my tires
to slow me down

You sent counselors
they spoke truth
but I could not hear
I would not hear
I refused to heed

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft
Rebellion a power so great it blinds
my rebellion, cloaked in justification
and false purity blinded me to Your truth

the corrective measures,
designed to redirect me
provided only my temporary awareness of being off the path
the rough terrain, the lack of smooth pavement
only provided a twinge of consciousness of my sin
as my focus sharpened on the sin of others,
of my adversary and of my friend,
the log blinded me to my own wickedness

But in Your mercy
You persisted

Your promises were uttered
You would not relent
You would keep me
You would hedge me in
you would deliver me
from my strong enemy
the enemy within

You know my frame
You know my ways
You know the plans
You know my future
so you woke me from the dullness
You re-sensitized my conscience

My eyes flew opened
I saw the great precipice on which I tottered
the great fall I was about to make
I was suddenly aware of the danger
I was confronted with the evil
I had been nursing and enjoying in my heart
all the trappings and disguises peeled away
the black darkness of my sin
threatening to pull me in became clear

I had almost stumbled
I had almost caused another to stumble
O God!

My heart is crushed by my betrayal of You
You coax me back from the edge
My tears flood my shoes
I grieve but You are close
You never let go
I step behind the protective fence of Your law
safe once again

Teach me anew, O God
Keep me from evil,
from enemies, within and without
Protect me
Forgive my trespasses
Be my God
I need You
Every hour I need You

Copyright

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