 |
| Photo by: Maude Carolan Pych
SUNFLOWERS ALONG EMMAUS ROAD
Israel Pilgrimage—1986
Big,
bodacious sunflowers
live
up to their name
sun-shining
a million
dazzling
petal spires at us
along
Emmaus Road
It
is fitting
because
I am ablaze
with
Jesus-joy
to
be here
as
I think about my newly
Resurrected
Lord, vanishing
at
the very breaking
of
the bread
astonishing
the disciples
who
sat with Him
at
table
Those
utterly bewildered disciples
whose
hearts thumped
and
blazed
with
glory fire
as
He walked with them
as
He explained to them
the
Holy Scriptures
2000
years ago
somewhere
along
this very road
Maude
Carolan Pych
|
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Bedazzled by Sunflowers!
Are you like me? Are you bedazzled by the sight of giant sunflowers along the road this time of year? The following poem is about a field of those glorious wonders in full bloom along Emmaus Road during a pilgrimage to Israel in 1986. Those beauties were just one stunning example of Our Creator's majesty! Praise Him!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
"The Watchman"
 |
| Photo credit: www.pinterest.com |
THE
WATCHMAN
Perhaps
the Mashiach[1]
is on
His way,
ready
to lead
us
to the
Promised Land.
There
have been signs
of His
coming
that
haven’t been reported
in the
papers
or
radio or TV newscasts.
I’m a
watchman.
I wait.
I
prepare,
knowing
not
the Day
or the Hour.
I plant
my rose bush
at the
gate,
sup,
rinse
my bowl,
retire--
trying
to live
His
Great Command
as best
I can.
Perhaps
He’ll come
tomorrow.
It’s
possible.
Maude
Carolan
Sunday, August 16, 2015
The Name Above All Names--YHVH
 |
| Photo Credit: Godisreal.today |
THE
NAME
YHVH
the tetragrammaton
the unutterable
four consonants
of the Most Holy Name
of the Great I Am
Who was, Who is
Who is to come
Whose shining Face
eyes of mortals
could not behold
and live
Whose Holy Ark
mere mortals
could not touch
and live
until He
Who always was
came in the Person
of His Son
and mortals flocked
to hear Him speak
children climbed
upon His lap
sick and lowly
sought His touch
even grasped
at His hem
By His Word
even the dead arose
When He
Who always was
shed His innocent Blood
upon Calvary’s Cross
the thick woven veil
to the Holy of Holies
tore top to bottom
that all may enter in
By His Holy Name
Salvation comes
Now we know Him
as our Brother
Savior, Friend
We call Him
Jesus—
the Christ
Maude Carolan
Sunday, August 9, 2015
The Blessing of Friendship with God
 |
| Photo Credit: tommyboland.com |
MY FRIEND
"…there is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:34
Sometimes
I go to God's house, sometimes He visits mine;
He often
comes to work with me and helps me pass the time.
He's with
me in the kitchen when I cook and as I scrub;
I
meditate upon Him while lolling in the tub.
He keeps
me company driving and when I take a walk;
God and I
stroll quietly and other times, we talk.
God's
there when I am shopping and watering my flowers;
He
inspires my writing, in computer weary hours.
He's in
me as I minister and hears me as I pray,
lifts me
up when I am downcast and helps me through the day.
He sups
with me at table and He joins me in my rest.
Oh, when
we are communing, they're the times I like the best.
God loves
it when I worship Him and glorify His Name;
He shines
His face upon me and ignites me with His flame!
I read to
know God better, for He knows all about me;
fills
sleepy thoughts at bedtime with His sweet tranquility.
How
blessed I am to know Him! Love overflows my heart!
I count
upon His faithfulness and know we'll never part.
My heart
is filled with gladness every moment that I spend
with the
Creator of the Universe, Holy God, my Friend.
Maude Carolan
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Christian Rock Concert--Ocean Grove
 |
| Photo Credit: examiner.com |
ROCK
CONCERT,
GREAT
AUDITORIUM, OCEAN GROVE
It was good for us to be there
even though our silver pates pounded
and our ears were so deeply
traumatized
by each deafening decibel
our hearing actually dulled,
temporarily
The thundering beat bounced off
walls and rafters, ceiling and floor
reverberated in our seats
and sent tremulous vibrations
through our entire beings
It was a rock concert of worship
music
with smoke and strobe and spotlights
PowerPoint and praise to Jesus.
Hallelujah!
Amplified drums and crashing cymbals
the resounding cymbals the Psalms
speak of
It's the very same music we enjoy
over the radio
when we have control of the knob
There was no adjusting the volume
tonight
The lead singer leaped across the
stage
and sang so loudly we couldn't hear
words
We attempted to sing along as best
we could
we clapped and shouted and raised
our hands
along with thousands, mostly young
with wonderful innate enthusiasm
and accustomed, receptive ears
We even did "the wave"
with them
until we all were reminded
of the balcony's 100 year old
fragility
We were reminded of our own 60ish
fragility
We really wanted to stay. We really
wanted to enjoy
We really wanted to span generations
with great jubilation
We didn't mean to weenie out, but
looking one to the other
realized our pinched faces weren't
reflective
of the fired-up ones one third our
ages
so we ducked out midway through the
second performance
Tomorrow we'll go to church
We'll sing, "Come, Thou
Almighty King"
Number 392 in the frayed pew hymnal
but we'll treasure aspects of
tonight
like the little girl in ribbon-tied
pigtails
both hands raised way up high
like the cool guys with their big
silver crosses
their earrings and bandanas
black tees emblazoned with The Name
like the twelve year old in the row
in front of us
who kept spinning his green glow
stick
as he danced in the bleachers
praising his Jesus
with all the fervor of the
shepherd/king of long ago
who led that remarkable gambol of
wild abandon
before the Holy Ark
Maude Carolan