Tuesday, April 18, 2017

"Don't Leave Me!"...a poem with a promise

Jesus' disciples were heart-broken when He was killed. "What are we ever going to do without Him?"  They didn't understand until later, when they saw Him with their own eyes and remembered what He had said.

Not long after that, they were about to lose Him again!  Their best friend!  Did they once again think "What are we ever going to do without Him"?  He had promised them the Spirit, the Comforter, but I wonder if there was a part of the disciples' heart that knew they would miss Jesus as a person, as the Friend who had eaten, worked, prayed, wept and laughed with them.                                                                                                   ***************************

They may have remembered that God said to Joshua, "Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:9)   God told Moses He would be with him, and it was so important that Moses replied, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15)  But those words were said centuries before...and not by this Man who was their Teacher!  They needed to hear those words NOW...from Him.

What did He say personally to his disciples...his friends?  Let's read this poem, and see that what He said to his disciples He also says to us today...no matter what, no matter when, no matter where.


                                      DON'T LEAVE ME!

                    Sly hunter-eyes glowed, and I was their prey.
                    They saw me alone, saw me weaker than they;

                    seeking to siphon off all of my peace,
                    to gloat if they managed to make my joy cease;

                    stalking me, taunting, and circling 'round,
                    awaiting the moment for pulling me down.

                    Then, on heavenly steed, He raced up to my side:
                    royal Rider, his Name and his banner flown high!

                    The beasts froze...then uneasily snarled at the One
                    who with only his look left each creature undone.

                    They spun 'round then and scattered, unable to stay.
                    "Why?  Lion of Judah, why did they run away?"

                    "They take pride in their prowess and relish their game,
                    but when I appear, they all cringe at my Name.

                    "When they feel my Power, their bravado grows thin.
                    They know they can't have you; they know they can't win."

                     I hungrily grasped at the promise implied:
                     His Presence my refuge!  "Don't leave me!" I cried.

                      "Please stay with me, Lord; keep your banner unfurled!"
                      He said, "I'm with you always...to the end of the world!"
            
                                             ********************                                  -Becky Rhon

That's what He said to his disciples.  I suspect He also, on a human level, felt a little sadness at leaving these men who had been his closest friends and allies. He knew how they felt...it would be a challenge to continue the spreading of the Kingdom of God without his physical presence, but He promised them what He promises every person who claims Him as Savior and Lord:

     "And be sure of this - that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." *    
                                                     AMEN!
                                             ***********************
*Matthew 28:20) 





Thursday, April 6, 2017

"Ambisinistrous": what Garfield wasn't (the president, not the cat).

The picture at the left can portray either an ambidextrous man or an ambisinistrous one...which means that they are opposites. An ambisinistrous person is clumsy with both hands!  (When referring to the lower extremities, it's known as "having two left feet"!)
                          ********************
                             
The 20th U.S. president, James Garfield, was the first ambidextrous man to fill the position.  (So he was not ambisinistrous.)  In fact, I read that he was able to write in Greek with one hand and in Latin with the other hand - at the same time. (I couldn't write in Greek no matter which hand I used!)                             ********************

This made me think of Someone else's hands.  Someone who is never ambisinistrous, and is ambidextrous (so to speak) to an exponential degree. God's hand and his arm are:

STRONG:  "Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for You."  (Jeremiah 32:17)

"In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."  (I Chronicles 29:12)

FAITHFUL: "If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  (Psalm 139:8-10)

"I will cling to You; your right hand upholds me."  (Psalm 63:8)

TENDER: "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young."  (Isaiah 40:11)

"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear: I will help you."  (Isaiah 41:13)

PROTECTIVE:  In the words of Jesus: "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."  (John 10:28)

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.  You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand You save me."  (Psalm 138:7)
                           *******************************************

A few days after I had given birth to my firstborn, I was resting, exhausted, on the bed, and suddenly I felt two enormous, gentle, loving arms reach down and enfold me...just like I cradled my new baby, He cradled me.  If I had been able to see the palm of his hand, I would have seen my name. **

These verses are only "the tip of the iceberg".   Again and again God assures us that the very best possible place for us to be is in his arms.  His mighty hand is one of our greatest resources!

                                           Father, what better place to be?  
                                             Hold me close to your heart, 
                                    where I can feel the love that moved You 
                                 to write my name on the palms of your hands!
                                               **********************



**See, I have written your name on the palms of my hand."  (Isaiah 49:16)