I want
More money
Better health
Longer life
Friendlier neighbors
Clearer mind
Stronger arms
Better planning
Stronger concentration
Deeper spirituality
Less troubles
More praise
…
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want (lack).
And yet …
(With due apologies to Psalm 23. Featured image generated by Jetpack AI.)
Rules of proper life
Springs forth from gracious giver
Life freely nurtures.
(With apologies to Psalm 119:124 and Psalm 1:1-3.)
Let your voice be heard!
Don’t hold back!
Announce it with fanfare.
Tell my people they’ve left,
Veered right off the path.
Even so, they keep looking for me,
as though they really like my way.
They act like they’ve been righteous,
Coloring inside my established lines.
They want me to judge righteously,
as though they really want to obey.
“We’ve fasted. Why don’t you reward us?
We’ve humbled ourselves. Why don’t we get credit?”
Because you fast for your own reward,
and oppress those who serve you.
You fast to pick quarrels,
To strike with your wicked fist.
This kind of fasting
won’t get you heard where I live!
Do I like a day used to showcase humility?
Your head bowed down like a broken stem?
You lying around in rough cloth with ashes on you?
You call this a fast, a day I’ll accept?
No! Here’s the fast I choose —
Removing unjust bonds
Undoing burdensome yokes,
Letting the oppressed go free,
Even breaking the yokes!
Even more …
Sharing your bread with hungry people,
Bringing the homeless into your home,
Providing clothing to those who are naked,
Being there for your kin.
When you do these things …
Your light will burst like the dawn,
You will be healed quickly,
Your vindicator will lead,
God’s glory will be your rear guard.
Even more …
You will call, and God will answer;
You’ll ask for help, and God will say, “I’m right here!”
If you quit putting yokes on your people,
No more pointing your finger, speaking evil,
If you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of those who are suffering,
Then your light will shine in darkness
even your gloom will seem like a sunny noon!
God will guide you continually,
satisfying your needs in the wilderness.
God will strengthen your bones.
You will be like a watered garden,
like a water spring,
one flowing year-round.
You’ll rebuild old, despairing ruins;
You’ll restore ancient, strong foundations.
You’ll be called the one who repairs broken walls
and restores streets lined with homes.
If you don’t trample on my day of rest,
not pursuing your own interests on my time;
If you call that rest day delightful
God’s holy time, worthy of special honor.
If you show by your actions that it’s special,
By not going your own way,
serving your own interests,
or doing your own stuff —
Then you’ll be delighted in your God,
and God will make you ride on the heights.
I, your God, will feed you as I fed your Ancestor.
God, your God, has spoken.
We believe God is omnipotent,
but not that God is adequate.
We believe God is omniscient,
but not that God understands us.
We believe God is omnipresent,
but not with us in our time of need.
We believe God is all gracious,
but not that it applies to us.
We believe that God is everything,
but not anything particular.
So do we really believe at all?
(Featured image credit: Image by reenablack from Pixabay)
Why?
… says Jacob.
… asks Israel.
My Lord doesn’t even notice
As justice slinks away.
Don’t you know?
Haven’t you heard?
Eternal God, Creator of the Universe
Doesn’t tire
Doesn’t wear out.
Just try to find something
God doesn’t understand!
Giving strength to the weary
Great power to the powerless
Even the young tire out,
Young men stumble and fall.
Those who depend on God
Renew their strength.
Rise like eagles in flight.
Run without getting tired.
Walk without wearing out.
We are weary.
We can’t fly.
We do wear out.
We can’t see that God sees.
How long, Eternal God?
Hear our prayer for strength!
(Adapted from Isaiah 40:27-31. Image credit: Openclipart.org, imposed on one of my own photographs.)
Everything has its season.
Each purpose has its time.
A time for birth,
a time for death.
A time to put in,
a time to pull out.
A time to kill,
a time to heal.
A time to demolish,
a time to construct.
A time to cry,
a time to laugh.
A time to lament,
A time to jump for joy.
A time to scatter stones,
A time to gather them up.
A time for embrace,
a time for distance.
A time to search,
a time to let go.
A time to protect,
a time to throw away.
A time to tear,
a time to mend.
A time to shut up,
a time to speak up.
A time to love,
a time to hate.
A time for war,
a time for peace.
–Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A calendar divine
with blocks of time for all,
on every page a plan,
a way to rise or fall.
They say it’s very great,
God’s timing never fails.
His planning fills the need,
that nothing ill derails.
But when I check the list,
there’s war and death and weeds.
Along with planting seeds,
There’s room for angry deeds.
I’d like a plan with peace,
with laughter, rhyme, and life.
I want to plant and grow,
but never spark such strife!
So why does God send death,
to follow after birth?
And why a time to smash,
To weed or foster dearth?
But then I hear a voice,
that asks me how I live.
There’s time for war or peace,
but which one will I give?
God’s plan has lots of space,
to fill with what will last.
Or not! He makes you free,
to kill or break or blast.
And though it’s true that birth,
in death will always end.
The way you fill that space,
Will echo without end.
Asaf’s Song
Yahweh, God over gods spoke
Summoning the world
from farthest east to utter west.
From Zion, his perfect beauty
Blazes out everywhere.
Our God is coming, and will not be silenced
Devouring fire leads,
Powerful wind surrounds.
He calls to the skies above and the ground below
to judge his people.
Gather to me
my faithful friends,
my covenant-bound,
my full worshipers.
They will proclaim my justice to the skies,
that God is the one who judges.
Listen to me, realms above, and I will speak.
Attend, Israel, and I will give you my testimony.
I am the God over all gods.
It’s not for your sacrifices that I will find you right,
Nor your continual burnt offerings.
I won’t take a bull from your house,
Nor sheep or goat from your fold.
Each animal living in the forest is mine,
Flocks and herds on unnumbered hills.
I know each and every bird in the wild,
Even the crickets are in my care.
If I get hungry, I won’t tell you,
Because everything in the universe is mine!
Do you think I eat bulls?
Or drink goat’s blood?
Offer God your thanks,
Keep your word for God Most High!
Then call on me when you’re in trouble,
I’ll save you and you’ll honor me.
But if you’re wicked, here’s my message:
Why are you talking about my commands?
Why do you even mention my covenant?
You hate to be corrected,
You discard my words like garbage.
To see a thief is to love him.
Adulterers are your best friends.
Your mouth is evil’s publicist,
Lying is your tongue’s vocation.
Your brother is a favored target,
and your sister is not exempt.
You did these things and kept silent.
You thought I was like you.
But I’ll rebuke you and confront you face-to-face!
Understand this, you who forget God,
Lest He destroy you and there is none to save.
The one who honors me offers thanks,
Following my path.
I will show him my salvation.
(Featured image credit: Openclipart.org)
Sad cat, empty dish.
I put fish in special dish
Restored is cat joy.
Just for fun! Image Credit: Openclipart.org.
Like David, I can
Approach God
Because God is
Giving
Loving
Forgiving
Fully cleansing.
Confess
Because I am a
Sinner
Displeaser
Prisoner
Veteran wrongdoer.
Rejoice
Because God
Teaches
Enlightens
Washes
Songs restores.
Be restored
Because God is
Creator
Restorer
Granter
Willing deliverer.
Proclaim
Because I’m
Singing
Praising
Sacrificing
Witness giving.
Be family
Because I am
Blessed
Prospered
Restored
Fully offered.
(Copyright 2018, Henry E. Neufeld. Image credit Openclipart.org.)
