the cross

The Nature of Man and God

Again and again
We return to sin
It is our nature
As men

Again and again
God points to the cross
It’s in his nature
To love

The challenge for the final day of Na/GloPoWriMo2017 was to write a poem about something that happens again and again.

It is Fulfilled #Holy Week #Good Friday Tanka

The Scriptures fulfilled
Thirst quenched with wine vinegar
Never forsaken
Jesus took on the world’s sin
His life and mission, complete

She Did What She Could

She broke the nard’s jar,
And she perfumed his head;
She did a beautiful thing,
Did as much as she could;
She prepared Him for burial,
And in the next days,
That scent fought the stench
Of betrayal, and of blood,
Of despair, and Calvary’s gore;
The aroma changed that atmosphere
Of a death which changed this world
And wherever the gospel is preached
What she did has been told

– inspired by Matthew 26:6–13

Humbled and Crowned

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
– Micah 6:8

Humbled for a season
To win eternal victory
He calls out to each of us –
Walk humbly with Him

Condemned though innocent
In obedience to our Judge
He bids us protect the weak –
Stand proud in justice’ name

Mercilessly crucified
To save us from death in sin
He commands us love the unworthy –
Show mercy to our enemy

Crowned in royal splendour
In the princely place of honour
In grace He calls us each by name
Into shining glory, by His side

‘The Burden Bearer’ by Lonnell E. Johnson

The following was posted by its author, Lonnell Johnson, of Dr J’s Apothecary Shoppe in response to my own post, My Burden is Not My Own. Please go and have a look at what else Lonnell has to share.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,
When I lay my burden down.

I stumbled up the rugged road;
I almost fell beneath the load
And spurned the pain inside my head,
Recalling words of one who said
“Come unto me, and I will give you rest.”

The yoke I bear cannot compare
With all he took upon Himself:
All sins, disease, and guilt, despair
That I could not forebear myself.

His burden was not made of wood,
His cross beyond all words can name.
Have I resisted unto blood?
Could I for joy endure such shame?

From a glimpse into his face
I’m strengthened by a second wind;
My mind’s renewed to keep the pace
The load is lightened by my friend.

I feel better, so much better
since I laid my burden down.

– Lonnell E. Johnson