Tag: love

2015.03.13: love through the cross

Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mk 12:29-31

the kingdom of God
comes through the cross

love pouring down abundantly
must freely flow back up

at the intersection lies the heart
that bridges heaven and earth

with arms out stretched
horizontally diverting the flow

Emmanuel is God with us
Love through the cross

2015.03.02: boundless giving

For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you. – Lk 6:38

all water flows to the ocean. what matters
is the path that water takes to the ocean.
some runs off rocks and sodden fields
into streams and rivers back to the ocean.
others are soaked into parched land turning
once desolate lands where seeds are hopefully
planted into fields of bountiful harvest. water
that is poured into the ocean is pointless,
perhaps even wasteful, but hoarding water
keeping it from flowing in containers is
selfish, the ultimate act of pride. no matter
how big the container is the water will
become stagnant, tepid, and poisonous.
likewise love should be free and
flowing as boundless as the
Giver from which it came.

2015.03.01: the Lord is enough

He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? – Rom 8:32

you are enough for me, Lord
if i have you what else do i need?

since i found you i can see
not just with my eyes but with my mind
i am aware of things i’ve never noticed before
i can find joy
even in the most ordinary of things

since i found you i can hear
not just with my ears but with my soul
i have learned to treasure the stillness
before your spirit moves me
i have found peace within
that none can take away

since i found you i can love
with a heart that’s not my own
my very being is flooded
with a compassion for those
that i had never noticed
i have cried with tears more than just my own
springing from a well much deeper than my soul

Jesus, since i found you
i have joy, peace, and love
i have life that is abundant to the fullest
if i have you what else do i need?
you are enough for me, Lord

2015.02.15: a love like no other

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” – Mk 1:40-42

ignorance taught me
that to avoid the fires of hell
i must:
obey the commandments
follow the precepts and
believe the doctrines

pride told me
that i can do it
on my own

just like the leper
who was condemned
to hell on earth
for sins he may or may not
have committed
i lost all hope

from the depths of despair
with much wailing
and gnashing of teeth
i cried out for help

even though i had
no right to hope
you came to me
any way

you touched me
and made me clean
you flooded me
with forgiveness
and overflowing love

no longer am i condemned
to isolation
but in deserted places
i will you stay with you

for who will believe
the words of a sinner
but castaways and other sinners
who are ready to be saved
by a love like no other

2015.02.02: Lord of the temple

And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple; The messenger of the covenant whom you desire — see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:1

as Anna and Simeon waited
in the Temple for your coming
the presentation of the Redeemer
the Keeper of the Covenant
so i wait in my temple
small and imperfect as it may be
a visitation from my Savior
not because of my merit
but because of your grace

as Simeon held the babe high
your glory shines brightly
“a light for revelation to the Gentiles”
Justice in the form of Mercy
Truth in the guise of Love
my heart leapt with joy
and the rivers run freely