December 15, 2011
After God’s Own Heart Publishing presents…
Vol. 14 Issue 4
It’s All About…The Lamb
MAUDE CAROLAN PYCH/QUARTERLY POETRY LETTER
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB
IT’S ALL ABOUT…THE LAMB is a quarterly publication for lovers of the Holy Lamb of God, who also enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the lover of our souls…
SOMETHING NEW: COME VISIT MY POETRY BLOG…
In October, at the encouragement of fellow members of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG), I began posting inspirational poetry online, to a blog. The word blog actually means web log; it’s a type of website.
One of NJCWG’s experienced bloggers, Susan Panzica (eternitycafe.blogspot.com), generously shared what she knows at an informal workshop held at a local Starbuck’s, one Saturday morning. Voila! After much trial and error and many communications with Susan, I’m creating a new blog post each week. It’s creative, fun and an up-to-date way of telling others the good news about Our Wonderful Savior.
Check it out and leave a comment. I’m hoping to draw readers and increase subscribers. Go to: maudespoems.blogspot.com.
IT'S COOKIES & POEMS TIME…
It’s that time of year…The hand-painted ceramic manger scene is prominently displayed on the old pine hutch, the Norwegian Pecan Sugar Cookies, Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti are baked and stored in big red tins and I’m trying to figure out when the rest of the cookies will be baked and when there’ll be time to wrap presents. My 2011 Christmas poem, Mary & Elizabeth, has been artfully arranged on holiday paper and mailed to family and friends with much love and joy. I have Jesus on my mind…It’s Merry Christmastime!
My nearly eight year old grandson sent me his first ever email containing his very first poem, a haiku. He decorated it with clipart of Jesus, an angel and a crèche. It certainly warmed my heart. I’d like to share it with you:
HAIKU
Jesus is the best.
God gives us His son, Jesus.
Santa gives us gifts.
Logan Muniz
2nd grade
FEATURED POET: ANN CREDIFORD
Ann is a long-standing member of NJCWG. She composes poetry and writes and charmingly illustrates stories for children and adolescents.
I asked Ann to provide a brief testimony. She said, "I was a secular humanist until middle-aged. Then I was led to the Lord by a very special pastor. This happened after our two teenage daughters started attending a Bible church. Concerned about that, I started attending with them, to check out the church. After many, many salvation messages, finally I believed. Now I attend an Assembly of God church in Wanaque, NJ. In addition to our daughters, we have four grandchildren in Rockland County, New York."
The title of Ann’s poem is The Christmas Deed. It tells of an unexpected act of kindness that occurred in her neighborhood during a raging snowstorm, last Christmas.
I’ll also include my new poem, Mary & Elizabeth.
+++ THE POEMS FOLLOW +++
THE CHRISTMAS DEED
Christmas day began with thunder and rain.
Then hail fell from the sky.
When a layer of ice covered the road,
a snowy mist began.
By midday, snow drifted down like feathers.
It accumulated on the ground
and clung to the westward side of trees.
All day the wind was strong.
Would-be travelers stayed home
and admired God’s great white gift.
They opened presents, feasted
and wished one another well.
As evening fell, candles flickered,
mechanical reindeer nodded their heads,
and plastic puff snowmen
lifted high their candy canes.
The temperature dropped and
the wind and snow continued.
Doors were tightly closed
and homes were warm and dry.
A young man remembered his older neighbors.
He kissed his wife and son goodnight,
went out, started the snow blower,
and crossed the road to their home.
In the dark of the night he worked almost silently,
the snow and wind covered the sound.
Face to the wind, back to the wind,
he dug out two cars and cleared a path to the doorway,
a Christmas deed done in the spirit of Christ.
He left for work the next morning at five,
and a prayer went with him from the woman across the way.
She’d pulled aside the lace curtain and seen him working.
With a grateful heart she asked God to bless his day.
Ann Crediford
© 2011
MARY & ELIZABETH
A lovely young virgin
from Nazareth, was roused
by the flapping of wings
a manshape in moonbeams
and a perplexing salutation:
Greetings, favored one!
The Lord is with you
It was Gabriel
an angel sent by God
who told Mary she would conceive
and bear a boy child, Jesus—
the Son of the Most High
He spoke of the Holy Spirit
and overshadowing
and of her relative, Elizabeth
who though barren
conceived in her old age—
for nothing is impossible with God
Awestruck, trembling
needing to tell someone
who did Mary go to first?
Her mother? Father?
How would they receive such news?
Or did she run to her betrothed, Joseph
expecting him to understand?
Oh, he wanted to understand
wanted to believe, but
it was unbelievable, preposterous
So, stunned, disappointed
feeling utterly deceived, Joseph
contemplated quietly sending her away
Then Mary remembered the angel
had spoken of her dear cousin, Elizabeth—
Is that why Mary hurried off
on a brave trek to the hills of Hebron…alone?
Of course, it had to be Elizabeth
aged, wise, expecting
and now acquainted, herself, with miracles
When Mary arrived at the home
of Zacharias and Elizabeth
Elizabeth’s unborn baby
leapt for joy! in her womb
and in a whirl of wondrous ecstasy
Elizabeth knew of Mary’s pregnancy
before being told
…then a psalm-like lilt of praise
sprang from Mary’s lips
extolling the great things
the Mighty One had done for her
Tender were the next three months
as the household awaited Elizabeth’s travail
(and the birth of John, the baptizer)
The women prepared their layettes
folded the swaddling clothes
shared their magnanimous miracles
and confided maternal aspirations
as their bellies swelled
…and I like to think
Joseph ran all the way to Hebron
one day expressly to announce
his own angelic vision in a dream—
that he was to take Mary as his wife
that they would await
the miraculous birth of Jesus—together
Maude Carolan Pych
© 2011
Dear Subscriber,
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!
It’s time to celebrate these glorious festivals of Light…
and have a blessed New Year…
Maude
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MAUDE’S CHAPBOOKS…Ordering Information:
From My Heart to Yours at Christmas…Cookies & Poems: 32 pages, $7.00*
The Widow’s Song: 47 pages, $8.00*
Mail a check made out to Maude Carolan Pych to the P.O. Box below.
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Permission to forward or copy is automatic and encouraged as long as credit is given.
Comments are welcome and appreciated.
After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
maudespoems.blogspot.com