PRAISE GOD MOST HIGH FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

Praise to you, God Most High,

For hearing prayer on the fly…

And your delight

Being quiet in your Sight,

Bringing us into your Light.

–

You would talk with us,

Yet we put up the fuss…

Ne’er slowing down

Nor coming around,

In ways that are not just!

–

Walking with your children in gardens,

Seeing our eyes at Thee widen…

drying our tears

and calming our fears,

Joy at mutual abiding!

–

We don’t model for kids,

the closeness and joy you give…

But stay away–

Asking others pray–

Misunderstanding God’s writ.

–

Pray for me, said like Simon,*

The sorcerer on his own ladder climbing…

Unwilling to claim

Given to him in God’s name,

What Christ, without his help, did buy for him!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

•  Simon the Sorcerer…see  The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (or  simply…”ACTS”)  8:9-24.

TIME TO CONFESS AND REPENT

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  He’s not trying to grandstand—just admit to his guilt of certain motives and conduct and ask forgiveness of those he has wronged–whether or not they feel they were.  It is a part of his Christian belief…being reconciled to God and the ones he has wronged asking forgiveness of both.  There is a Bible basis to all this, which the author believes by faith to be the transcribed word of God to be followed and obeyed.  Especially when he doesn’t!  Questions/Comments are always welcome.

–

Writer of poetry,

The “fashion” got away from me…

Chasing skirts

Many women hurts,

Of this I am guilty!

–

Sought “readers” unsuccessfully,

The hidden motive–to see…

What interested

Where saints shouldn’t tread

And pester them endlessly!

–

The many unreturned visits,

Prove out how wrong is it…

I know my sin

Repenting therein,

Stop this practice is the solution exquisite!

–

I will  stillreach out,

In subjects not ruled out…

Walk in the flesh

Heavily risks death,

Gotta pull some hot irons out!

–

The upshot–some I’ll follow–

The rest–if they visit tomorrow…

I’ll respond graciously

But not the pest–not me–

I’ve sinned–I repent in sorrow!

–

My actions toward those of whom I’ve spoken,

From now on–contact is broken…

This I must do

So they’ll feel safe too,

No need of me in their business poking.

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

I HEARD THE LORD…

I heard the Lord call my name,

But I pulled back in horror and shame….

He mustn’t see

My humanity,

Because I’ll be blamed!

–

The Lord then said to me,

Believe Christ’s Deity….

Put Christ on–

Your sin is gone–

Then you can appear before ME.

–

Christ who lives in you,

By His Spirit shines through…

Stay under His wings

And endure all things,

God’s throne room’s wide open to you!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

DAY-BY-DAY GOD LEADS

After the Child was born,

Joseph was duly warned….

Warned in a dream

Of Herod’s blood scheme,

Traveling far from harm!

–

Believers today face the same,

Sudden deliverance named…

Listen each day

Finding the way,

Keeping their new faith from harm!

–

As Joseph, so should we,

Do what’s necessary…

Shielding one’s faith

Moving where it’s safe

Escaping Herod’s fury.

–

Then when The time is right,

Let Christ within you shine bright…

Obedience true

Is up to you,

If Christ would be your light!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

CHURCH ATTENDANCE–A HYPOTHETICAL POEM

He rarely attends now,

It’s gone and got diff’rent somehow…

He feels pushed aside

Not welcomed inside,

No one’s been direct with him, anyhow!

–

They used to go faithfully,

Found the spirit there strong and free…

The Pastor moved on

And a preacher took on

Things with his own personality.

–

With his circle of friends,

For our subject, being close to a pastor ends…

You know his pride

Didn’t like “outside”

But he wanted to attend.

–

Then he and his wife

Both saw ill health in life….

Comparison

With others is sin,

And churned up internal strife!

–

The preacher/teacher and he,

(Too much alike?) weren’t happy…

It shifted into

“An authority over you”

Which wasn’t as healthy!

–

Various dissatisfactions

Led to complaints and  feigned actions….

Poor communication

Led to frustration,

In mutual distraction.

–

So now he stays at home

Sundays, with his wife alone…

No need to go

Taken for granted so,

But he’s stuck–this was his church home.

–

Socially depended on her,

His wife, for communication stirred…

When she took ill

He didn’t have the will,

To see that his opening up occurred.

–

He’s given his life for her,

Literally as it were…

Goes it alone

Reaching out he’s done,

Elsewhere–little left at “home”.

–

Options to go elsewhere?

Feels bound by his wife–so there!

Decision paralyzed–

Easier to survive

By himself, ‘though few benefits to share!

–

A “hypothetical poem”–which means it is just a poem….!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

 

 

 

GENTLE WARRIOR!

(The Book of Genesis 32: 22-32)

–

Jacob renamed Israel,

Strove with the Lord’s Angel…

Up went the sun

Both had won,

As Israel’s hip pain would tell!

–

Wrestled all night with God,

Stubbornly living abroad…

Planted when

They were then,

God’s loving shoulders are broad.

–

The “Liar” became the “Winner”,

In faith so can all sinners…

Truly find cleansing

Relationship mending,

To break out of spiritual winters!

–

A new Creation was he,

The lying was gone you see…

In its place

Active holy grace,

The Angel brought him to his knees.

–

The Bible says he strove with God,

Not a man or a vision odd…

The pre-incarnate Christ

Before His birth night,

Was the Angel of God!

–

God striving with man,

Doesn’t flatten us although He certainly can…

But gives choice

Listening to His voice,

Instead of a absolute demand!

–

God wants love voluntary,

Not robotic or ancillary…

Jacob renamed

By the Most High Name,

Became a friend of God, not adversary.

–

–Jonathan Caswell

(Caught from a recent WALK IN THE WORD Radio broadcast series)

ENIGMA WITHIN FAITH

Enigma within Christian faith,

Keeping “short accounts” being safe…

Living holy lives

By spiritual eyes,

Not the purview of apes!

–

Self effort has nil effect,

But the One Way through Christ accept…

To each other confess–

Pray to God, He’ll address–

But self pride for confession God rejects.

–

Security through faith, says Paul,

When law is removed Christ is all…

Act by Christ’s love–

God’s hand in your glove–

Walking more and more by Spirit’s call.

–

Spend much more time with Father, Son,

Live in the Spirit–three in One…

Bible study and frequent prayer

The tools to travel there,

To live in grace, “Thy will be done!”

–

–Jonathan Caswell

STICKING WITH LOVE

Martin Luther King Junior,

Was of a Godly humor…

In love he fought

That Christians ought

To walk by the Bible not rumor!

–

Willing to face,

Human kind’s racial disgrace…

Christian “saints”

Who said other “paints”

Were not of the human race!

–

Battled until he died

for his Lord crucified…

Hate didn’t win

when it killed him,

God’s love will never subside!

–

How many would lay down their life,

For Lord , for justice and wife?

He followed through

As I do too,

Who does all for the Lord gains new life!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS!

Cities have their  “First Night”

A multi-culture delight…

Oft fireworks

Are among the perks,

In all a beautiful sight!

–

The wife and I will be home,

Like Christmas, pretty much alone…

Community dinner

Will warm our winter,

TV programs mostly for the young!

–

On Cable we’ll find a movie,

Or go to bed early (so groovy!)…

A time slot we’ve made

For the Rose Bowl Parade,

After that, we’re not as choosy!

–

Praise God for another year,

To grow in the Spirit to hear…

His inner voice

And making the choice

To grow closer to Him so dear!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

Picture from a recent Worcester, Mass. First Night celebration.

EXCUSE ME…!

Since when was this holiday

A Christian jamboree…

And when was it about Christ’s birth

Exclusively?

–

According to those who should know,

It was Winter Solstice time…

The sun was at its lowest point

And then began to climb…!

–

Christians–former pagans most–

Denied their revelry…

Church leaders wanted evangelized

Pagans who would see…

Christ’s birth celebrated

In holiness and respect,

Become interested and

Come into the church direct.

–

When the church went political with Emperor Constantine,

Everyone had to join the thing…

It wasn’t necessarily by choice or belief–

You HAD TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING!

–

Nonbelievers too

Had their own “underground” pews…

The “old ways” by the faithful stays

But not in public view.

–

Are the roles reversed,

When Christians can be cursed…?

The church’s power can’t make them cower

Or defeat  a pagan purse.

–

Most do not see the fetters–

Getting worse before it’s better…

Christ is King but suffering

Is for those whose faith matters.

–

Keep then looking up,

Your redemption draweth nigh…

We will share the communion cup

Till anew with Christ, alive!

–

–Jonathan Caswell