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| Yes, Arizona. |
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Thanksgiving
The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
.jpg "Cornucopia")
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway --
Thanksgiving comes again! ---Old Rhyme
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Song of the Three Young Men
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Extreme Northwest Arizona
Click below or left-hand links [web version] for "desert" to find poems that are reminiscent of this area near Chloride, AZ.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Come Unto Me, You Weary
“Come unto Me, you weary,
And I will give you rest.”*
O blessèd voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts oppressed!
It tells of consolation,
Of pardon, grace and peace,
Of joy that has no ending,
Of love which cannot cease.
"Come unto me, you wanderers,
And I will give your light."
O loving voice of Jesus,
Which comes to cheer the night!
Our hearts were filled with sadness,
When we had lost our way;
But He has brought us gladness
And songs at break of day.
And I will give you rest.”*
O blessèd voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts oppressed!
It tells of consolation,
Of pardon, grace and peace,
Of joy that has no ending,
Of love which cannot cease.
"Come unto me, you wanderers,
And I will give your light."
O loving voice of Jesus,
Which comes to cheer the night!
Our hearts were filled with sadness,
When we had lost our way;
But He has brought us gladness
And songs at break of day.
I will not cast him out."
O patient love of Jesus,
Which drives away our doubt,
Which, though we be unworthy
Of love so great and free,
Invites us very sinners
To come as we may be!
--William C. Dix, ~1867; adapted c.m.b., 2014
Dix wrote of this hymn:
I was ill and depressed at the time, and it was almost to idle away the hours that I wrote the hymn. I had been ill for many weeks and felt weary and faint, and the hymn really expresses the languidness of body from which I was suffering at the time. Soon after its composition I recovered, and I always look back to that hymn as the turning point in my illness.*"[Jesus said]' 'Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.'" (Matthew 11:28-30)
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Creator Spirit
(Blessed Pentecost)
By the Word of Yahweh were the heavens made,
And all their hosts by the Spirit of His mouth. (Psalm 33:6)
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)*
By the Word of Yahweh were the heavens made,
And all their hosts by the Spirit of His mouth. (Psalm 33:6)
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)*
*Biblical Translations by Marie Byars
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Song (Two Doves Upon The Selfsame Branch)
Two doves upon the selfsame branch,
Two lilies on a single stem,
Two butterflies upon one flower:--
O happy they who look on them.
Two lilies on a single stem,
Two butterflies upon one flower:--
O happy they who look on them.
Who look upon them hand in hand
Flushed in the rosy summer light;
Who look upon them hand in hand
And never give a thought to night.
--- Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)
(Although this poem is not specifically Christian, the poetess was)
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Holy Saturday
O night more dazzling than the sun,
O night more sparkling than fresh snow,
O night more brilliant than all our lamps!
O night that is sweeter than Paradise,...
O night delivered from darkness,
O night that dispels the sleep of sin,
O night that makes us keep vigil with the angels,
O night desired by all the year,
O night that leads the bridal Church to her Spouse,
O night that is mother to those enlightened!
O night in which the Devil, sleeping, was despoiled,
O night in which the Heir brings the co-heirs to their heritage.
(Asterius of Pontus AD 341-400)
Friday, April 4, 2014
Jesus, and Could It Ever Be?
[based on Mark 8:38. Regarding being ashamed of Jesus before others now.*]
Jesus! and could it ever be
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
Ashamed of Jesus? Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star.
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
Jesus! and could it ever be
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
Let evening blush to own a star.
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
.jpg "Sunset at Thumb Butte") |
| Sierra Prieta Mountains; Prescott,Arizona |
Let midnight be ashamed of noon.
'Tis midnight with my soul till He,
Bright Morning Star, bids darkness flee.
Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend?
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I forgot His precious Name.
Ashamed of Jesus? Yes, I might
When I've no guilt in Yahweh's sight:
No tear to wipe, no joy to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
Till then--nor is the boasting vain--
Till then I boast a Savior slain.
And oh, may this my glory be:
That Christ is not ashamed of me!
--Author: Joseph Grigg, 1765; Adapted Benjamin Francis, 1787; cmb, 2013
*from Mark 8:31, 34-38: "[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the [religious leaders]. And that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He called the crowd and said, 'If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For what does it profit a person to gain the whole world & lose his own soul? What will a person give in exchange for his own soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes back in His Father's glory with the holy angels.'"
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Me and Baby Jesus
(A Houston Christmas)
A Way in a manger,
No hat for my head,
The little lord Jesus
At least had a bed.
The street lights above
Dim the stars in the sky....
Can He see me down here
As I close my eyes?
"Hark" the corner carolers sing
And Army bellers with baskets ring.
Sirens sounding break the night,
Wholly, wholly, wholly fright.
Be near me lord Jesus
I beg you, I pray.
Don't ever leave me,
Or at least til it's day.
Bless me Father for I have sinned.
Come Lord Jesus, Be our Guest,
Quickly, Amen!
No crying He makes
Tho He took All our pain.
He's the Joy in my world,
A warm heart in cold rain.
Dogs bark, and babies wake,
Here I lay for Heaven's sake.
From Heaven He came,
To Heaven He'll take -
Me, and Baby Jesus.
--Carolyn Crandell Koch (c)2013
Author's commentary: I was inspired to write this while at church I sat and sang, yet I thought about the men on the corner looking for work, or the homeless. I felt in contrast yet I also felt hope, as I know Jesus came down to save us from our lowest points of grief, pain, sin, and ultimately death.
A Way in a manger,
No hat for my head,
The little lord Jesus
At least had a bed.
The street lights above
Dim the stars in the sky....
Can He see me down here
As I close my eyes?
"Hark" the corner carolers sing
And Army bellers with baskets ring.
Sirens sounding break the night,
Wholly, wholly, wholly fright.
Be near me lord Jesus
I beg you, I pray.
Don't ever leave me,
Or at least til it's day.
Bless me Father for I have sinned.
Come Lord Jesus, Be our Guest,
Quickly, Amen!
No crying He makes
Tho He took All our pain.
He's the Joy in my world,
A warm heart in cold rain.
Dogs bark, and babies wake,
Here I lay for Heaven's sake.
From Heaven He came,
To Heaven He'll take -
Me, and Baby Jesus.
--Carolyn Crandell Koch (c)2013
Author's commentary: I was inspired to write this while at church I sat and sang, yet I thought about the men on the corner looking for work, or the homeless. I felt in contrast yet I also felt hope, as I know Jesus came down to save us from our lowest points of grief, pain, sin, and ultimately death.
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