Look up! Your redemption draweth nigh!

Tens of millions will be watching
craning necks and looking up
to observe what has been promised in the sky.
It will be a holy moment
when the sun at last appears.
Wearing shades approved by NASA, we will spy.

But, that solar-studded Monday
(hyped by media galore)
will one day be dwarfed by something far more great.
When the Son of God returns to reign,
He will eclipse that day.
When He comes again the world will celebrate!

He is coming on the clouds, we’re told.
O what a glorious day!
“Look up for your redemption draweth nigh!”
But unlike Monday’s light show,
we won’t know the day or hour
when the Son makes His appearance in the sky.

Knowing that, we’d best be ready.
Yes, today might be the day
when the Son will rise with healing in His wings.
Trusting Jesus as our Savior,
we will glimpse His Majesty
as we join the chorus all the world will sing…

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!”

Check out this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ3H3lg9NZM

Contemplating the beauty of our family tree

Creator of our family tree
(especially the branch called “me”)
please let our roots grow deep and strong
so it will stand secure.

From limb to limb our tree has grown.
And, Lord, You’ve seen how winds have blown.
But, by Your grace strong storms could not
uproot what You preserve.

Allow the blossoms on our tree
to scent our world most fragrantly.
And may the fruit that we will bear
help nourish those You love.

Within the shadow of our tree,
may friends and strangers come to see
the love that binds each one of us
in spite of miles and years.

What we can learn from Steve Bartman about grace

Steve Bartman was the butt of jokes.
To Cubbies fans, he was a goat
who jinxed Chicago’s Series dreams
some fourteen years ago.  

His urge to catch a foul ball fly
(that left his critics cursing “why?”)
spelled doomsday for the hated lout.
Steve Bartman was Black Bart.  

And though he loved his Northside team,
Steve was a hated man it seemed.
He took his life into his hands
whenever he went out.  

And then this week redemption came.
A Series ring with Bartman’s name
was given to the Foul Ball Boy
to say that all is well.  

It is a picture of God’s grace.
The guilty one (once deemed abased),
is now included in the clan
that claims the victor’s crown.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/sports/baseball/steve-bartman-chicago-cubs-world-series-ring.html

A resurrection of sorts

The kid was collapsing.
No hope is in sight.
His Open was shutting.
His knuckles were white.

The Ghost of Augusta
was gripping his throat.
We knew what was coming
while watching him choke.

And then Jordan rallied.
His passageway cleared.
His instant recovery
assuaged all our fears.

It’s one for the ages
(an Open now closed)
as one we watched dying
revived and arose.

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/07/23/jordan-spieth-wins-british-open-dramatic-fashion-gutsy-performance-royal-birkdale

Asking God to heal a Senator and his colleagues

God, beam your grace to John McCain
as he looks up to You
acknowledging dependence on Your care.
Remind him when he’s weak You’re strong
and willing to draw near
whoever seeks Your face through trusting prayer.

Be near his wife and family
and give them means to hope
that all things work together for our good,
that crises come to test our faith
and focus our belief
that we have strength to do the things we should.

And may John’s cancer call to mind
the need to unify
divided men and women and The Hill.
May senators and congressmen
admit their arrogance
while praying for a colleague who is ill.