Awake My Heart with Gladness

                                                             

Awake, my heart, with gladness, 

See what today is done; 

Now, after gloom and sadness, 

Comes forth the glorious Sun. 

My Savior there was laid 

Where our bed must be made 

When to the realms of light 

Our spirit wings its flight. 

The foe in triumph shouted 

When Christ lay in the tomb; 

But, lo, he now is routed, 

His boast is turned to gloom. 

For Christ again is free; 

In glorious victory He 

Who is strong to save 

Has triumphed o'er the grave. 

This is a sight that gladdens; 

What peace it doth impart! 

Now nothing ever saddens 

The joy within my heart. 

No gloom shall ever shake, 

No foe shall ever take, 

The hope which God's own Son 

In love for me hath won. 

Now hell, its prince, the devil 

Of all their powers are shorn; 

Now I am safe from evil, 

And sin I laugh to scorn. 

Grim Death with all his might 

Cannot my soul affright; 

He is a powerless form, 

Howe'er he rave and storm. 

The world against me rageth 

Its fury I disdain; 

Though bitter war it wageth 

Its work is all in vain. 

My heart from care is free, 

No trouble troubles me. 

Misfortune now is play 

And night is bright as day. 

Now I will cling forever 

To Christ, my Savior true; 

My Lord will leave me never, 

Whate'er He passeth through. 

He rends Death's iron chain, 

He breaks through sin and pain, 

He shatters hell's dark thrall, 

I follow Him through all. 

To halls of heavenly splendor 

With Him I penetrate; 

And trouble ne'er may hinder 

Nor make me hesitate. 

Let tempests rage at will, 

My Savior shields me still; 

He grants abiding peace 

And bids all tumult cease. 

He brings me to the portal 

That leads to bliss untold, 

Whereon this rhyme immortal 

Is found in script of gold: 

"Who there My cross hath shared* 

Finds here a crown prepared; 

Who there with Me hath died 

Shall here be glorified." 

--Paul Gerhardt 1648 ("Auf, auf, mein Herz, mit Freuden"); translated John Kelly, 1867

*Matthew 16:24-26 & Revelation 2:10

Biblical Winters

 

[Young Elihu to Job & company]

"God's voice thunders with marvelous things;

He does great things we cannot deeply know.

For to the snow He says, 'Fall on the earth,'

And to the shower of rain, Be mighty rain torrents'...

From the Breath of God ice is given,

     And the broad waters are frozen."  (Job 37:5, 6, 10)

Praise Yahweh from the earth:

Fire and hail, snow and clouds, 

Strong wind doing His will...

Let them praise the Name of Yahweh,

For His Name alone is exalted;

His splendor is above the earth and heavens. (Psalm 148: 7a, 8, 13)

He sends forth His command to the earth;

His word runs swiftly forth.

He dispenses snow as wool;

He scatters hoar-frost as ashes.

He hurls His hail as fragments--

Who can stand before His icy cold?

He sends forth His word and melts them;

He causes the wind to blow,

         and the waters flow.  (Psalm 147: 15-18)

[Yahweh says]

"For just as the rain comes down

     And the snow from the heavens

     And does not return there

     Without watering the earth,

Causing it to bring forth and sprout

     So that it yields seed to the sower

      And bread to the eater,

Thus is My Word which goes forth from My mouth:

It does not return to me void,

But does what I delighted

And advances those things for which I sent it."  (Isaiah 55: 10-11)

"Come, now, let us reason together.

Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red as crimson,

They shall be [white] like wool."  (Isaiah 1:18)

[King David leads us in saying]

"Cleanse me with hyssop* and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."  (Psalm 51:7)

(original translations c.m.b.)

*Ezov, the hyssop of the Bible-- a flowering herb in the mint family, which was used for cleansing. The plant was used to "sprinkle" liquids.  A hyssop stalk was used to life a sponge to Jesus' lips as He hung on the cross, to give Him something to wet His lips as He thirsted.

[Thee God I come from, to Thee go]

                                                           

Thee, God, I come from, to thee go,

 All day long I like fountain flow 

From thy hand out, swayed about 

Mote-like* in thy mighty glow.         

Hopkins in his early years

What I know of thee I bless, 

As acknowledging thy stress 

On my being and as seeing 

Something of thy holiness.     

Once I turned from thee and hid, 

Bound on what thou hadst forbid; 

Sow the wind I would; I sinned: 

I repent of what I did. 

Hopkins as a young priest

Bad I am**, but yet thy child.

Father, be thou reconciled. 

Spare thou me, since I see 

With thy might that thou art mild. 

I have life before me still 

And thy purpose to fulfil; 

Yea a debt to pay thee yet: 

Help me, sir, and so I will. 

Hopkins in later years

But thou bidst, and just thou art, 

Me shew mercy from my heart 

Towards my brother, every other 

Man my mate and counterpart.

--Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J., 1885

                                                                 

*speck-like

**should not be taken as a call to wallow in poor self-esteem; rather, this recognition of original sin helps us understand the lack of perfection in all of us and our need for God's forgiveness.  We all want to go off our own ways, and we are not naturally altruistic and loving towards others. 

Gerard Manley Hopkins: Poetry Foundation

Prayer Answered by Crosses

 

I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow

In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace,

Might more of his salvation know,

And seek more earnestly his face.

‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray,

And he, I trust has answer’d pray’r;

But it has been in such a way,

As almost drove me to despair.

I hop’d that in some favour’d hour,

At once he’d answer my request:

And by his love’s constraining pow’r,

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this. he made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart;

And let the angry pow’rs of hell

Assault my soul in ev’ry part.

Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d,

Blasted my gourds*, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d,

Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?

“‘Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d,

“I answer pray’r for grace and faith.

“These inward trials I employ,

“From self and pride to set thee free;

“And break thy schemes of earthly joy,

“That thou mayst seek thy all in me.”

     --John Newton (1725-1807); author of "Amazing Grace" and many other poems & hymns  

*Book of Jonah:  God dried things up to prove a point to Jonah about Jonah's hardness of heart towards the Ninevites

Lamb of God

 "Look, the Lamb of God,

Who takes away the sin of the world!"  

      (John 1:29b, 36b)

So said John the Baptist,

The voice of one who calls out. (Isaiah 40:3)

He is the Lamb of God,

Not the Ram of God.

"Your Lamb must be unblemished,

A one-year-old male..."  

     (Exodus 12:5a; Leviticus l4:10; Ezekiel 46:13)

Most things are cleaned with blood:

Without the shedding of blood,

There is no forgiveness.  (Hebrews 9:22)

Make One still young the offering,

The last of such bloody suffering; (Daniel 9:27)

Yet His soul shall rise to see

The spiritual children He brought to be.  (Isaiah 53:10)

The Ancient Lamb not very old;

With blood worth more than even gold:

It sets the human captives free

From sin's eternal misery.  (I Peter 1:19; Exodus, etc)

How much more will the Blood of Christ,--

He who offered Himself to God

Through the Eternal Spirit

As an unblemished sacrifice--

Cleanse our consciences from dead works

To serve the Living God?  (Hebrews 9:14)

As a lamb to the slaughter He was led;

And as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

So He did not open His mouth.  (Isaiah 53:7b)

"And I, 

If I be lifted up from the earth,

I will draw all people to myself."  (John 12:32) 

So taught the Lamb

Before His time had come.

"The Son of Man 

Must suffer many things.

He must be killed,

And on the third day raised to life."

  (Luke 9:21, 43, 18:31; Mark 9:32; Matthew 17:23)

Myriads of myriads, 

Thousands of thousands,

Angels and elders 

All saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb,

Who was slaughtered,

To receive power and wealth and wisdom

And might and honor and glory and blessing!"  

     (Revelation 5:12)  

For the Lamb,

The One in the center of the throne,

Will shepherd them.

And He will lead them 

To Living Fountains of Waters.  (Revelation 7:17a)

                 --translations & short verse c.m.b. (c) 2024

Perfect Love

     This is another year that Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday.  A real reminder of the sacrificial love of all the Saint Valentines.  (See also my other blog for some Valentine's thoughts)

A Mighty Fortress

 

     October 31st is Reformation Day for Lutherans*.  In honor of this, here is the best known hymn by Martin Luther for you to read as a poem.  It is based on Psalm 46 and was written around 1529.  Some people think Luther wrote it in remembrance of his friend Leonhard Kaiser, who was martyred due to the Reformation.   

     The translation from German included here is closer to the original German, a little less like the modern hymn.   It is based somewhat on literal translations and somewhat on the known translations, with adaptations by this blogger.

     The picture included is the Luther's Rose**, designed by him.  It is rich in symbolism.  

1) A mighty Fortress is our God,

A good Defense and Weapon.

He helps us free from every need.   

That has us now o'ertaken.

The old evil enemy

Works still more earnestly.

His pow'r and ploys are great;

His armor is cruel hate:

On earth is not his likeness.

2) With our own strength is nothing done,

Else quick our loss effected.

But for us fights the suitable One, 

Whom God Himself elected. 

You ask who is He who came?

Christ Jesus is His name,

Of heav'nly hosts the Lord, 

God's only Son adored:

The battlefield He must hold.

3)  Though all  the world with devils were filled

All threat'ning to devour us,

We would not fear, for God has willed

They cannot overpow'r us.

The prince of worldly power,

Howe'er he might glower,

We will not be budged:

Since he's already judged,

One little word can bring him down.

4) The Word they still shall let remain

And not be thankful for it.

He is with us according to plan

With His good gifts and Spirit.

Were they to take our life,

Goods, honor, child and wife,

Let them go away.

They still will have no sway:

The Kingdom shall remain for us.

     ---Martin Luther, c. 1529; translation by various; adapted c.m.b., 2023

*Reformation Day, October 31st.  Centuries before this, the Roman Catholic church had taken over the Druid observance of Samhain. The Druids believed the barrier between the worlds of dead and living was "thinnest" at midnight on October 31st. The Church repurposed November 1st as All Saints' Day. October 31st became known as "All Hallows' Eve" in English. Luther chose the day before All Saints Day, by tradition, to post his 95 Theses (statements) in German on a church door, calling for a debate among church leaders and scholars. These were translated and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

**Luther's Rose:  this was first sketched by Luther around 1516 to 1520 and fully designed at the request of Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony. The black cross represents Jesus' sacrifice, the blackness symbolizing our sin. The red heart symbolizes our faith; Luther said that because of our sin, the heart ought to be black, yet, due to Christ, the heart is not utterly destroyed.  The heart is on a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort and peace:  white is the color of angels and spirits.  The sky blue field symbolizes joy and that faith is the beginning of future heavenly joy.  The gold ring symbolizes precious eternity, which has no beginning and end.  

This rendering has the triple phrase often used by Lutherans, sometimes written in Latin: sola fide, sola gratia, sola Scriptura.  A fourth could be added:  solus Christus, Christ alone.

What Child Is This*

 

1. What Child is this, who, laid to rest,

In Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherd guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2.  Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?**

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading. 

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail, the Word made Flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh***

Come, peasant, king*** to own Him.

The King of Kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

--William Chatterton Dix, 1865

*usually sung to the English folk tune "Greensleeves"

**It's not known for sure what animals were present at Jesus' birth.  The Luke 2 account says He was laid in a manger, so people assume He was born in a stable where other animals were present.  Some people feel Mary rode a donkey down from Bethlehem to Nazareth, though the Bible doesn't say this either.  Still, these animals make it into much of the religious art and into Nativity scenes.  

***It seems the Magi (sometimes called "Wise Men") came later. They have sometimes been referred to as "kings", though they were not really rulers.  [Psalm 72 has similar thoughts and refers to "kings", though.]  This, as Christ's birth itself, shows the low & high of society worshipping HIm. 

Mountain Lore

     These photos are from a recent trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado.  The dunes are some of the largest natural dunes in the US, created by unique forces working in this area of the Rio Grande.  The mountains are part of the Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ") range within the North American Rocky Mountains. (Spanish explorers applied the name centuries ago because reddish light reflecting off snow caps suggested this.)  This area is collectively referred to as The San Luis Valley.

    Included is some Biblical poetry about mountains.  

     This is a reminder of how God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as sands along the seashore (Genesis 22:17 & 26:4).

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills

From whence comes my help.  (Psalm 121:1)

Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised

In the city of our God,

The mountain of His holiness. (Ps. 48:1)

Who may ascend upon the Mount of Yahweh?

And who may stand in the place of His holiness? (Psalm 24:3)

In [Yahweh's] Hand are the depths of the earth,

And the heights of the hills are His.  (Ps. 95:4) [original translations] 

     The person who stand in the place of Yahweh's holiness is the person whose sin has been forgiven by Jesus. We see this spelled out in other places in the Bible.

     Mountains seem almost eternal and unmovable.  Yet God can move them.  Jesus spoke of having "the faith to move mountains."  (Matthew 17:20) 

     A hill is also a place which can be seen from far away on the plain.  From atop a mountain, things can be seen for miles around. Many Biblical events took place on hills or mountains.  The 10 Commandments were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Part of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness occurred on a mountain. Jesus was 'transfigured' (radiating bright as the Sun) on a mountain.  Jesus prayed with His disciples the night of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus was crucified on the hill at Golgatha.  Jesus ascended into heaven from a mountain near Bethany, traditionally the Mount of Olives. 

Ego Eimi

 

ἐγώ εἰμι

Jesus says: 

"I AM the world's Light             (John 8:12)

Who outshines eternal night."

"I AM the Good Shepherd        (John 10:14)

And the door for the sheep:      (John 10:7, 9)

The sheep hear My word

And within may safely sleep."

"I AM the Bread of Life;          (John 6)

The Way, the Truth and the Life;    (John 14:6)

The Resurrection and the Life."   (John 11:25)

"I AM the True Vine

And you are the branches--        (John 15: 1,5)

Without what is Mine,

You do only what man does."

εἰμι ἐγώ

Paul answers for all of us:

"Christ Jesus came into the world for sinners,

First of whom am I."      (I Timothy 1:15)

ἐγώ εἰμι

Jesus says:

"Before Abraham was, I AM."  (John 8:58)

"I AM" in Hebrew

Moisture Comes to Arizona

Rain, Rain,

Came again,

Came to ease our climate's pain.

Cloud, Cloud,

You're no shroud;

You're a joy to have around.

Snow, Snow,

Do not go:

Beautify us here below.

"Cleanse me with hyssop,

And I shall be clean;

Wash me,

And I shall be whiter than snow."  (Psalm 51:7)*

Grey, Grey,

Gone away:

Would you stay another day?

Sun, Sun,

Elsewhere fun,

Here you give our drought a run.

Rain, Rain,

Come again:

Leave us not with hopes in vain.

"'For just as the rain comes down

And snow from the heavens

And does not return there

Without watering the earth...

Thus is My Word

Which goes forth from my mouth:

It does not return to Me void.'"  (from Isaiah 55:10-11)*

--C. Marie Byars, (c) 2021

*original retranslations of the Bible from Hebrew

 

This poem is fourth in a series of drought & rain across Arizona.  These are the other three:

What Color is Your Christmas?

Rain Redux

Perspectives

The below links show pictures of the author (and family) sledding in the US Southwest across the past several years.

More Sledding, More Snow

Sledding