It's New Year's Resolution Time...

This poem contains my recommendation for a New Year's Resolution for 2016:

Image Credit: newyearsimages2016.org

COVER TO COVER II

Among my most meaningful things to do

while reading the Holy Scriptures through

is write Messiah's Name in the margin

of the Old Testament, where'er I find Him.

Of course, I do not find Jesus' Name,

but I certainly find Him, just the same.

I find Him in the Lamb and the Lion,

foreshadows of the Temple in Zion,

find Him in Joshua, David, Passover,

in the Song, the whale, cover to cover.

I've thumbed through pages and jotted a few

Messianic treasures to share with you:

Messiah's birth’s foretold in Micah, five;

seven centuries later, Jesus arrived;

virgin birth proclaimed, Isaiah seven,

a Son to be fathered by God in Heaven.

Kings would bow down to Him and nations serve,

Solomon's Psalm Seventy-two observed.

He'd be pierced and mourned, said Zechariah;

Our Redeemer, fifty-three, Isaiah,

who prophesied resurrection glory!

Genesis to Revelation, God's true story!

The Word reveals His magnificent plan

in this tome of Our Savior, God and Man.

The year Twenty Sixteen is almost here—

I’ll suggest a resolution without peer:

Resolve to read before this year’s over,

the Holy Bible, cover to cover.

It contains everything you need to know

about Love, Salvation and How to Grow.

You’ll learn God’s story beginning to end

and about your Sovereign and closest Friend!

Maude Carolan Pych

In a few days, before 2015 ends, I will read the amazing concluding chapters of "Revelation". What is next on my reading list? That's simple. I will open my Holy Bible and start all over again. The Bible is so rich that there's always more to glean no matter how many times I read it through. Have you read your Bible yet? It's the all-time number one best selling book in the entire world!

Christ, the Savior is Born!

It's Christmas Day!

Day #27 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: Christcenteredmall.com

THE BABY NEXT DOOR

I saw him the other day

the baby boy who lives next door

His parents are poor Hebrews, like we are

He’s swaddled the same way we swaddle our babies

and he cries and coos just like our babies do, yet—

the brightest star I’ve ever seen

shines down upon him every night

and shepherds have left their fields

just to take a look at him

exclaiming all the while

about angels singing in the sky

Really? Angels in the sky—

One day I saw wisemen from afar

dressed in finery, ride in on camels

They were bearing costly gifts to honor him

and actually bowed prostrate

before his little cradle

I met his mother at the well, yesterday

Her name is Miriam (Mary)

She told me they’ve named him, Yeshua (Jesus)

Yeshua is a fine name. It means savior

Savior. We’ve been waiting for a savior—

Hmmmmm…

Maude Carolan Pych

I Wish You a Blessed Christmas...

I Wish You a Blessed Christmas!

Day #26 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: deliveredbygrace.com

SIMEON & ANNA

Simeon wondered

if he were seeing things

He rubbed his tired old eyes

squinted and peered again

at the little family

that came through the Temple doors

The Sanctuary

was shadowy and dim

Flames from the oil lamps

were flickering

Were his eyes playing tricks?

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?

…a couple like any

ordinary Jewish couple

here to present their firstborn son

holy to the Lord?

Nothing special about them

Just poor folk

with two lowly turtledoves

for the sacrifice…yet?

Perhaps this was wishful thinking

Perhaps, his imagination

He needed to be sure

Simeon moved a bit closer

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently

for the fulfillment of the promise

of the Lord to comfort Israel

He knew He would—

for the Holy Spirit

assured him

he absolutely would not die

until he beheld the Messiah

…but that was long ago

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening

began rising up in his spirit…Yes!

…O Glory! Glory!

He bounded

toward Mary and Joseph

with arms outstretched

and swooped up

their swaddled infant son

uttering prophetic proclamations

jubilant and terrifying

I behold God’s salvation!

A light to the Gentiles

The glory of God’s people Israel

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

…a sword will pierce your soul

She shuddered…

for she knew God had a plan, but…

What could this mean?

Then the widow Anna approached

Bent and grey and pious

she was a prophetess

who dwelled in the Temple

most of her life, praying

fasting and serving the Lord

with a joyful heart

Spontaneous praise

sprang from her lips

as she beheld the babe

Then Anna proclaimed

to all who would listen:

Come and see…

This is our newborn redeemer!

…from that day forward

Jesus grew

in wisdom and grace

the Cross before Him…

…and a sword did pierce

Mary’s soul

Maude Carolan Pych

Photo Credit: freebibleimages.org

A Christmas Poem to Read to the Children

Day #25 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: deviantart.com

‘TWAS THE NIGHT…OF ALL NIGHTS!

Children, gather round. It’s time for a story,

one that’s filled with hallelujahs and glory.

It’s about the glorious night of all nights,

angels and magi and sight of all sights!

About God, a virgin, the birth of a king,

wooly sheep, poor shepherds and gift giving!

My story takes place long ago, far away

and starts with a Babe in a crib full of hay;

His mother’s a virgin, His father is God,

the birth, a miraculous Heavenly nod.

The Baby is born in a Bethlehem barn

near a few smelly animals, like on a farm.

Poor shepherds in a field shudder with fright

when suddenly the dark sky fills up with light

as beautiful angels, bright splendors winging

tell of the birth with hallelujahs and singing!

So, the shepherds and sheep the very next morn

set off to visit this special Newborn.

Rich wisemen follow a bright beaming star

to the Bethlehem barn; the journey is far.

They ride astride camels, carrying treasures

to give to the One they’ll worship forever.

Why in the world would they do such strange things?

Why travel so far? Why great treasures bring?

The reason is simple, the Babe in the hay

becomes the world’s Savior, Who takes sin away.

His name is Jesus and He loves you and me

and wants us to love Him for eternity.

That was the night of all nights here on Earth…

the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth!

Maude Carolan Pych

The Family is Coming!

Day #24 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: justjohanna.com

HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

She smiled as she dusted

the ceramic crèche

on the old oak credenza,

sang as she swept 
the kitchen floor,

even Lysoled 
the bathroom bowl

with effervescence.

Humming a Yuletide carol, the woman

rolled pastry into a thin rectangle

and cut cookies into shapes

of stars and angels and lambs.

Spontaneous praise proceeded from her lips  

as she stuffed the twenty pound turkey,

trussed it tidily,

rubbed it with butter and sage

and lifted it into the moderate oven.

She dressed the table with china and silver,

the slightly yellowed table linen

stored in her mother’s cedar chest,

and a silvery bowl of pink poinsettias

bought at the flower sale at church.

Her feet ached, but her eyes sparkled.

This was among life’s highest joys:

Her adult children would soon be at the door

bringing presents, hugs and laughter

and she would get to serve them Christmas dinner.

Maude Carolan

Gifts From God...

Day #23 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: townandcountrygazette

IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS

“Every good and perfect gift 
is from above,

coming down from the Father 
of the heavenly lights

who does not change 
like shifting shadows.”

 James 1:17

Perhaps it was a vision

or at least a vivid imagining…

It was like Christmas!

There was a great heap of presents

of various sizes,

gaily wrapped,

tied with streaming ribbons

and lustrous bows,

each with a gift tag

that bore my name.

Some presents

had already been opened,

wrappings strewn, white tissue awry,

others, wonderfully enticing,

were yet to be unwrapped.

In my spirit I knew

they were gifts of God,

the spiritual blessings

of my life.

The open ones

represented gifts already acquired.

Some bedazzled,

those, the granted yearnings

of the prayers of my heart,

others were blessings also

though never sought in prayer,

still others were gifts

I never wanted,

gifts I’d have preferred

to return or exchange.

In time I understood

each was perfect,

selected by the Source

of all wisdom

with me alone in mind,

loving graces

spiritually working in me

creating the me

I am becoming in Him.

I look to the future

anticipating

wondrous gifts

still unopened.

Maude Carolan

A Poem About the Wisemen

Day #22 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: churchtoday.tv

THE GIFT BEARERS

Cosmic wonders
whats and whys

whirl in the East

as a singular 
mysterious luminary

beckons in the heavens

Is it brighter 
than the other stars?

Does it pulsate? Does it bounce?

Does it shoot across the sky

like a flame-tailed comet?

Does its lustrous splendor

rival the glow of the moon?

Gentile magi who study stars and Scripture

see it and curiously mount their camels

to follow it across the desert. But, why?

They say they are seeking

the King of the Jews. Why would they?

They say they want to worship Him

Why Him?

What do they know that the High Priest

the Pharisees, Sadducees

and all the Jews of Jerusalem

who are awaiting the coming of Messiah

do not comprehend?

King Herod summons them, diabolically

Feigns sincere interest in their mission

urges them to return with details

so he, too, may worship the King

A sinister plot forms in his evil mind

for even he knows…

there is something about that star…

Continuing on

the irresistible starlight shines ahead

until it shimmers above a humble house

in the village of Bethlehem

It stops, still…absolutely still

The magi realize they are at

destiny's door

They knock

and are welcomed, when

Suddenly

their eyes behold

a Boy Child

and their hearts leap!!!

and whether it makes sense or not

(whether any of this makes sense or not)

the magi, in rich array

fall prostrate

on the earthen floor

and fill the little house

with hallelujahs!!!

They draw from their saddlebags, treasures…

          Gold…for surely this little family can use it

          Myrrh…fragrant foreshadow of suffering

          Frankincense…for a sensing in the depths

          of their God-given wisdom

          of a significant anointing

          somewhere in time

Mission complete

the gift bearers mount their camels

and still attentive to God's spirit

(this time in a dream)

do not return to Herod

The magi…

diligent seekers who found

Treasure

infinitely more valuable

than the precious gifts they bore

Maude Carolan Pych

Yesterday, at the Ant in Clifton:

Peter DiBella, Victoria Warne, Maude, Rikki Woods

Thank you to James Gwyn and Victoria Warne for coordinating a delightful evening of Christmas poetry & music at the Ant Bookstore & Cafe in Clifton.

Angels...Messengers of God

An Invitation:
Holiday Poetry & Music Tonight 

7 p.m., at the Ant Bookstore & Cafe

345 Clifton, NJ

Come...Enjoy!!! It's free!

Day #21 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo Credit: hafapea.com

THE WINGED ONES

As Zacharias tends

the temple altar of incense

there’s a sudden swirl

of fragrance and smoke

Lo! A resplendent angel

appears before his very eyes—

It is Gabriel

who stands in the presence of God

The winged one startles the old priest

by proclaiming—

Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son…

He will be the forerunner of Messiah

Astonished at the announcement

(for his wife is advanced in years)

Zacharias dares question

God’s messenger

and is duly struck dumb—

and will not utter another word

until the Heavenly proclamation

comes to pass

As grey-haired Elizabeth blossoms

with approaching motherhood

Gabriel alights again

all wings and gleam and glory

in a visit to Mary, a Nazarene maiden

He foretells that she, too, is with child—

chosen to be the virgin mother

of the Holy Son of God—

Breathless, Mary runs

to Joseph, her betrothed

eager to tell of the angelic visitation

and Gabriel’s marvelous word to her

but it is too much for him to comprehend—

Feeling deceived and disheartened

he considers ending their engagement

until one night, while tossing in sleep

an angel of the Lord appears in a dream

to assure him

Mary is indeed pure and righteous—

miraculously overshadowed

by the Holy Spirit of God

so Joseph marries her

and together they await the coming

of The Savior of the World

and when that wondrous event occurs

a multitude of angels fill the Heavenlies

with most glorious splendors

The Bethlehem night becomes brilliant

startling lowly shepherds

reclining in fields with their flocks

and all the beautiful celestial beings

with wings and robes and gladness

proclaim good news of great joy

for all people:

Glory to God in the Highest—

Jesus, The Messiah, is born!

Maude Carolan Pych