Flurry of Jingles

My beloved Coco used to run down stairs when the sound or smell of food emerged from the kitchen, and with her collar, she would jingle her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. It was a flurry of jingles as she would bound her way down with all enthusiasm. This is a little poem of this memory.

Flurry of jingles, it was time to go,

Running down stairs, how I miss you so.

Flurry of jingles, as I start to eat,

Miss sweet little face, pressed up on my knee.

Flurry of jingles, the years went by fast,

I'd hoped you stay longer, I'd hope you would last.

Flurry of jingles, I thank God for you,

The years were so many, yet now they seem few.

Flurry of jingles, so much did you give,

God taught me so much, of Him as you lived.

Flurry of jingles, it is a goodbye,

I'll miss you, my pup, and now I'll go cry.

Flurry of jingles, no more suffering,

Run free and run fast, what you're made to be.

Sermon on the Mount

Oh no! The perfect law of God

That makes such strict demands

Reflect it does His character

His perfect, holy hands.

There is no way to satisfy

For me to make me right

To do a thousand good things but

Still sinful without light.

And when I read the words of Christ

In Sermon on the Mount

I’m even further than I think

More red in my account.

Be perfect as your Father is

Lust, hate are from the heart

You break his law when only you

Have thoughts, no action start.

You may have heard that it was said

Stay faithful to your mate.

But I say that you break your vow

When lust towards others make.

It’s also said that murder is

A thing you must not do.

But I say hate inside your head

The same as action too.

Be perfect as your Father is

For holy you must be

Approach Him not without clean hands

And heart that is washed clean.

I sit and cry, my God how do

I measure up to you?

How can a filthy man become

So pure and clean and new?

But God in mercy knew my state

In bondage and in sin

He knows there is no way for me

On own to enter in.

And thus He sent His only Son

To step into my place

Receive the condemnation that

Was due without His grace.

Jesus did pay all that was owed

God’s holy, righteous call

Because of Christ, I am made right

Not dead because of law.

And now I read the words of Christ

Through Him the standard meet

No longer do the words condemn,

In Him alive and freed.

Abide

This is based on the early verses of John 15.

Abide in me and I in you

Said the Lord Jesus Christ as He spoke the truth.

 

The love of the Father and love of the Son

Have finished the work, it is paid for and done

 

A branch cannot live unless through the vine

To produce the good fruit that is made into wine.

 

I’ll prune you and trim you says the Lord Jesus Christ

It will likely feel painful but it is worth the price.

 

Let my words deeply sink as nutrition for branch

Accept them and live them without any catch.

 

The pruning and shaping not punishment sake

But done out of love, more fruit will you make.

 

My desire is you to abide in my love

As I in the Father who lives up above.

 

Let my words and commands flow into your heart

Let them transform and change and provide a new start.

 

I am good and love you, I do what is best

I’m always vine dressing, I never will rest.

 

So find rest, oh soul in that I will provide,

As you live out my words and in me do abide.

Goodbye, Fantasy

Goodbye to fantasy that please
And promises a life of ease
You make me think that’s it all fun
That I will never have to run.

You promise that love easy be
And any problems fix it me
You take a wish, a dream that’s true
And blow it up and make it huge.

You say that it will all feel good
And yet you steal and take what could
Be joy, life in reality
You rob of life and I’m not free.

The Pleasure Isle does promise all
It cries out loud, with tempting call
Pulling on wounds that lie so deep
And yet at end my soul does keep.

I’ve bought your lie that you can be
All that my heart did long to see
And yet at end all that I know
Despair, there is no place to go.

You say that just the corner round
Happiness is and will be found
But round the bend the lie does wait
And real is lost, what’s left is fake.

I needed someone as a friend
I opened up and let you in
You came to kill, steal and destroy
And thief you are against this boy.

Attractive was your promise to
Fulfillment give, it sounded true
Sign here on dotted line but don’t
Read fine print cause you’ll find it won’t.

You whisper soft with words so sweet
Come play, have fun, it will be neat
But at the end lies guilt and shame
You laugh and play again your game.

“You see the so-called coaster ride
It’s great, “ you say, to take you high
But you don’t say what’s at the end.
Destruction death, you’re not a friend.

When all is done at end of day
You leave and laugh, you’ve had your play
You leave behind an empty heart
Intention was to drain from start.

You poison everything you touch
For joy is lost in things so much
You take me up then throw me down
I toss and turn, am thrown around.

Your promises counterfeit claims
They take and steal and rob my name
My life of joy and freedom too
I’m left empty and feeling blue.

And when I try with all my might
To leave and get out of your sight
You yell and scream, “You’ll never leave
I own your soul, in traps I weave.”

I’ve given you so much my strength
In thirst to quench I drink and drink
Yet quench not does, nor satisfy
I’m left alone, in shame and lies.

I choose to turn my life away
And start anew, this brand new day
Embrace the real, walk in the true
Rejoice in that I am made new.

For Christ has set me free from sin,
It’s in his love that I can win
And live without the shame and lies
To see myself with brand new eyes.

The door is there, it’s time to leave
Take all your empty melodies
My heart though stays, not yours to take
As it in Christ has come awake.

Renounce do I no longer in
I will not trust and you’ll not win
Embrace will I the truth of life
The state of joy, but too the strife.

Renounce I do the lies believed
Go fantasy, you must now leave
In name of Christ, the Chosen One
Bought with a price and now his son.

I turn and view all that I’ve lost
Expensive is, oh what the cost
And yet, in Christ redeem He will
His promise that my heart to fill.

I mourn the loss of fantasy
I know that it can never be
I say goodbye to this old friend
Away you go, I’m on the mend.

Your lies no more believe will I
No more will I left out to dry
I want the source of life and joy
Not empty, false and deadly ploy.

The real, the true, the beautiful
Make my heart sing and with it full
To love with heart redeemed and new
Embracing all that’s real and true

My God in your forgiveness found
How long I’ve been to come around
And yet Father, tender and true
You love and cleanse and make me new.

Oh Christ may I walk in your love
Shown on the cross and by your blood
Your life you lived that I might be
Unchained, unlocked and truly free.

Oh praise the One who entered in
Not to destroy, but ransom sin
And sets me free to live the real
Embrace His life and fully feel.

My Jesus guard my heart today
Always with me each step of way
Keep searching and know well my heart
Be always there, at each new start.

Prayer for a Friend

Oh Lord, I pray for my dear friend
Who runs and kicks and hides
I want to see in freedom live
And not in Satan’s lies.

It hurts to see this friend of mine
With unacknowledged pain.
I have been there, know what it’s like
With things that were the same.

What wounds exist that cause the heart
To build walls large and strong?
Which causes none to penetrate
So nothing will go wrong.

I pray that you, dear Son of God
Would come and set one free
That you would open friend’s eyes wide
So that the heart might see.

What pain is there, what hurt from past
What things are there before?
What unresolved and unaware
Prevent an open door?

Lord I pray for healing and
For light to shine in face
That sight be giv’n, and heart made whole
As you pour out your grace.

Oh Lord I know, in my own life
The lies that I’ve believed.
Impacted they to partial life
The state that I did lead.

Your heart is large, your arms are wide
And you do not condemn.
Anyone can come to the cross
Which frees from any sin.

I long to see this friend of mine
Live freely through what’s true.
I pray that you will bring to friend
A heart and mind made new.

Also dear Lord protect my heart
From being too involved
Let me just pray, support and love
And trust you’ll catch a fall.

Another Poem

My Father is so patient
So gentle and so kind
I am always loved by Him
He has me on His mind

He sent His Son to die for me
That through His death my sin
Is borne upon the cross and paid
So my life He might mend

By faith I’m saved in Jesus Christ
His power set me free
His resurrection life and love
Gives hope eternally

The death He died He died to sin
And so like Him I do
My flesh is crucified with Him
My heart and mind made new

With grateful heart and happy voice
I praise His holy name
Blessing, glory, honor, and power
That He remains the same

Oh wondrous love, oh great divine
That you my God would save
A wretch like me, a sinner bound
Your name I lift and praise

Today is new and with it comes
Temptations, flesh, and sin
In Christ my mind must be renewed
He says Abide in Him.

No longer law, no longer rule
No longer legal bound
But in relationship with Christ
Is where I am now found.

The Prodigal Son

Father, give my money to me
Inheritance as son to thee
For I can’t wait until you die
To distant lands with cash I fly.

Rebellious friends, enchanted foes
Exciting place, this land impose
What time have I with all of these
In carefree life, with total ease.

How dull, dreary, was life before
At home with Father, what a bore
My nights now late, my days so long
With each new day brings heightened throng.

The money flows, the friends crowd round
So popular, I’m to be found
Bartender give new friend a drink
Come join, this band, comp’ny I keep.

What’s this you say, my bank o’er drawn?
How can this be? My money gone!
Oh friends, may I borrow from thee
To pay the bar, my tab you see?

No cash to spare, have you for me
Where do all go, now friendless be
Outside I sit, where once I tread
And now next meal, I look in dread.

Farmer, oh help, or starve will I
I need a job, your pigs look dry.
Feed, water, care and in exchange
For bread and drink, to keep my name.

Now here I sit, in muddy ground
Filthy, covered, in pig slop mound
Only to eat, what’s left for swine
When formerly I used to dine.

At Father’s house, the slaves do eat
Better than I, this place my seat
Return will I, to beg for grace
Not as a son, but slave in place.

Far up ahead, my home I see
This speck now grows, what memories
Exhausted, sore, and hungry kept
My heart, in hope as quick I step.

Surprise the door flung open wide
Father, in tears, runs to my side
Embrace, my filthy body, he
New clothes, a ring, he puts on me.

Alas my son was lost but found
Prepare the calf, go trumpet sound
Rejoice alive and son shall be
Restored with love and grace is he.

Unforgiving Servant

A man who is so deep in debt,
The notes his master still has kept
What man does owe cannot be paid
It is his fault, a mess he's made.

The master calls, the note is due,
Summon the man, all he has too.
The time is up, it's time to pay,
The note came due, on this today.

The man he comes before the throne,
Falls on his knees, he cries and moans.
I cannot pay, please spare my life,
My children too and also wife.

The master sees the man before,
Fallen prostrate on marble floor.
Compassion feels and full of grace,
He steps forward and lifts mans face.

Cancel the debt, this what I'll do,
I'll set you free, your life made new.
You go and live, now free and well,
Show grace to all, your life must tell.

The man does leave, with happy heart,
He feels he has a brand new start.
And bumps into one who owes him,
A small amount, tiny and thin.

Pay what you owe, now I demand!
The other falls on dusty sand.
I cannot pay, please spare my life,
My children too, and also wife.

The man has him thrown into jail,
No payment made, now he did rail.
The master's servants saw and went,
Back to the throne, in shock and spent.

The master rages, just how could he
Not give same grace, that he received.
Bring him again, and throw him down
He'll pay until what's owed is found.

How much like man I tend to be,
Is what this story helps me see.
Oh Christ, my heart so full of sin,
Come wash and cleanse and enter in.

I am me

I am me
I'm what you see
My heart on sleeve
It's loud and free
I am me.

I am me
Romantic I
Movies I cry
Passion does fly
I am me.

I am me
My voice is loud
I am too proud
By life I'm wow'd
I am me.

I am me
Opinions too
I have a few
Reduce I do
I am me.

I am me
Slurp through a straw
With loud guffaws
Without much cause
I am me.

I am me
Work in progress
I do confess
Imperfect, yes
I am me.

I am me
Not change will I
To satisfy
Where mind might fly
I am me.

I am me
To live as free
Not people please
But just to be
I am me.

I am me
From this my heart
It is a start
To show a part
I am me.

I am me
This I must stress
Not to impress
Nor make you less
I am me.

I am me
All I can do
Is say to you
That this is true
I am me.

I am me
Within His love
Covered by blood
Scrubbing the mud
I am me.

I am me
I am in Christ
Bought with great price
By love enticed
I am me.

I am me
Imperfect be
Finish will He
This work to free
I am me.

I am me
Jesus in thee
Does make me see
That you are you
And
I am me.