Dungeon Beneath House of Caiphas

For Monday, February 29, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: alfa-img.com

THE DUNGEON

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

There is a pit

beneath the House of Caiphas

a once dark, dismal, terrifying hole

into which prisoners

were lowered by ropes

under their armpits

Our Lord Jesus likely

was brought here directly

from the Garden of Gethsemane

on the night He was betrayed by Judas

The scene seems less horrific today

than when I was here in 1986

Then, it was easier to imagine

a terrifying incarceration

of a prisoner, especially

an innocent prisoner, alone

amid ominous dampness and vermin

in the very bowels of the earth

The pit is located beneath a church—

the Church of Saint Peter of Gallicantu

(of the cock’s crow)

named for where, in the courtyard

Peter denied knowing Jesus three times

It’s been spiffed-up—

It’s brighter. The descent, easier

It’s not nearly as dismal

but, back in eighty-six

as Rev. Wayne Monbleau read Psalm 22

in that detestable dungeon

…they pierced

my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones…^[1]

I closed my eyes, and literally

trembled…trembled…trembled

imagining how terribly Jesus suffered

to wash my sins away

Maude Carolan Pych

---

[1] Psalm 22:17-18 NASB

The Spotless Lamb

For Sunday, February 28, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: joelstrumpet.com

THE PASSOVER LAMB

Abba went into the sheepfold to choose a spotless lamb,

as Moses gave instructions that he got from the I Am.

Our lamb, indeed, was spotless, so I named him Wooly Bright;

we brought him inside to live with us, morning, noon and night.

I ran my fingers through his coat and fed him from my hand,

I put fresh water in his trough; he’s the best lamb in the land!

Today he’ll be our sacrifice. Moses said this must be done.

He must die that I may live, for I’m a firstborn son.

We’ve been oppressed by slavery; Pharaoh will not let us go,

but God’s mighty arm will save us. We’ll watch His power flow.

Moses told us, take lamb’s blood, and brush it on the lintel

then we will be protected; it almost sounds too simple.

Tonight we will leave Egypt and journey far from home,

but I’ll remember Wooly Bright wherever I may roam.

Someday the world will see in this, God’s salvation plan;

God’s Son will be the sacrifice, the great Passover Lamb!

For as God will use blood of lambs to set His people free,

the precious Blood of Jesus will save sinners…you and me.

Maude Carolan Pych

A New Creation in Christ

For Saturday, February 27, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: school.trinitydowntown.com

METAMORPHOSIS

Once I was a caterpillar, dwelling upon the earth,

Crawling along day by day, adept at feigning mirth.

I only knew the earthy life, I thought that that was it;

I took what terra firma gave, the pleasures and the grit.

There was no beauty in me.  No one ever looked here twice,

Few cared if I were evil, no one knew if I were nice.

I was only concerned with myself, what the earth could give,

Yet, inside I was sensing a far better way to live.

Instinct led me to spin a thread and weave a neat cocoon;

I became a living mummy, wrapped tight within my tomb.

What was happening to me?  I tried to kick and shout,

“Help me!  Open up this thing!  I want to get right out!”

No one heard and I was powerless, so I went to sleep,

Not knowing what was ahead of me, feeling something deep.

I don’t know how much time went by within my tiny tomb,

But sensed that I was being changed, as one inside a womb.

Finally, instinct worked in me.  There was a sudden urge

To break out of my chrysalis and from the dark emerge.

Somehow, I then received the strength to burst my being free;

Alas, the golden Light broke through and there was a new me!

I took some time to understand, some time to wonder why,

Then I just shook myself a bit and I began to fly!

And `lo, I was so beautiful, and `lo, I saw the sun...

Oh, after living on the earth, soaring was great fun!

A wretched worm was I no more, I knew that that was true,

I was reborn and I became a creation wholly new!

A butterfly!  A butterfly!  I received my wings,

Glorious splendors of the Heavens, all the higher things.

All old things have passed away, they’ll never come again;

I’ve set my mind on things above, on these I will attend.

Now, even when I swoop to earth and walk upon the ground,

I’ll never be a worm again...I’m Butterfly...glory bound!

Praise God for metamorphosis, it’s by His loving grace

That I’m a new creation now, and I shall see His Face.

Maude Carolan

At Golgotha

For Friday, February 26, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: panoramio.com

THE PLACE OF THE SKULL^[1]

“O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor 15:55

Israel Pilgrimage—1987

We gather at the base

of a mountainous rock

into which time has carved

the natural image of a human skull

…hence, its chilling name:

Place of the Skull

Above this mound lies Golgotha

where on the most significant day

in the history of the world

Jesus of Nazareth was crucified

between two thieves

I stare into the hollow eyes

of this ominous image

and am reminded of Ezekiel

and the dry bones

bones that took on flesh

and blood and breath

and came to life

before his very eyes

Life.

Life is what happens at Golgotha

Life that is victorious

over the skull and bones. Victorious

over the ominous face of death

Life. Everlasting life—

for all atoned of sin

who believe

Maude Carolan Pych

---

[1] There are two locations worthy of serious consideration as the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, the traditional site lies within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the other is Gordon’s Calvary (Golgotha/The Place of the Skull) and the Garden Tomb. Ref. Grace Communion International

Some Call Him Yeshua

For Thursday, February 25, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: tshuvah.weebly.com

YESHUA^[1]

Yeshua

Yes, You are

The Blessed Offspring

Of I Am

Yeshua

Yes, You are

The Paschal

Lamb

Yeshua

Our Atonement

Flowed down

Crossed

Wooden beams

Ebbing Life

Became

Our Great Salvation

Yes, it did

Suffering Servant

Lion of Judah

Sar ha Shalom^[2]

Yeshua

Yes, You are

Ha Mashiach^[3]

Yes!

You Are.

Maude Carolan

---

[1] Hebrew for Jesus

[2] Hebrew for Prince of Peace

[3] Hebrew for the Messiah

The Lamb...Cradle to Cross

For Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

WHAT'S THIS I SEE?

What's this I see in a feeding trough?

A lamb asleep in a bed of straw

without any blemish to behold…

The Lamb deserves a crown of gold.

What's this upon crossbeams, I see?

A lamb impaled…sacrificially!

I fall to my knees before His Grace.

The Lamb looks down...

                              I see God's face.

From blood that on the lintels be,

from cradle to cross the Lamb I see.

The whole Word holds a mystery…deep!

The Lamb is slain. We are His sheep.

The Heavens proclaim the newborn Lamb,

only offspring of the great I AM,

Who from that humble bed of straw

became our Savior…

Let's bow in awe!

Maude Carolan

The Love of God

For Tuesday, February 23, 2016...

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: bereabaptist.org

SOMETIMES I WISH…

How can I tell

how can I show

how grateful I am

that You are my Savior?

Sometimes I wish

it were possible to

leave the roast in the oven

the suds in the sink

and follow my heart’s cry

to the land of the Bible

to climb Calvary’s hill

in beautiful Zion

Oh! I’d fall to my knees

at the foot of the Cross

and wrap my arms tightly

‘round its stained wooden base

and press a trembling cheek

against the old splintered grain

and thank You for Love

so wide and so deep

beyond what I can fathom

then I’d kiss it and weep

kiss it and weep

and whisper, I love You

from the depths of my being

for I’m eternally grateful

My Savior, My Lord

Maude Carolan Pych

What is Truth?

For Monday, February 22, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Sunday

Image credit: www.viralnovelty.net

WHAT IS TRUTH?

John 18:38

I first learned

the importance of truth

at my mother’s knee

My children

learned it at mine

Life has taught me

truth is truth, even

if no one believes it

if no one wants to believe it

if every man is a liar

What’s true is true, even

if millions is spent

to disprove it

if it’s argued against

lobbied against

debated against

railed against

voted against

legislated against

Truth Is

absolute—

even if it’s watered down

to make it acceptable

skirted around

to soften its appeal

lubed with oil

so it goes down

nice and easy

sugar coated

to make it palatable

even if it looks

soooo, soooo good

Truth is Truth

whether it’s popular

or unpopular

…even

in the face

of persecution

Pilate asked,

What is truth?

The Psalmist wrote,

The sum of God’s word

is truth

Jesus said,

I Am the Truth

He also said,

Everyone on the side

of truth

listens to Me

I believe the supreme

Truth is a Man

and His unchanging Word

…even though    

He be crucified

Jesus—

Salvation Truth

Resurrection Truth

Living Truth

Truth—

I can stand up for

Maude Carolan Pych

The Lord Our God is Holy

For Sunday, February 21, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: youtube.com

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 radiant 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

Beautiful Savior

For Saturday, February 20, 2016

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: oneyearbibleblog.com

BEAUTIFUL

It’s not a pretty sight -

It’s beautiful.

            Crimson streaming

            From His crown

                        Hands,

                                    Side,

                                                Feet,

            Onto my head,

                        Flowing down my face,

                                    Over my body,

                                                Covering my feet,

                                                            Making me whiter than snow.

It’s not a pretty sight -

It’s beautiful.

            It’s agony.

            He calls for His Father,

            Writhes, gasps.

                        Oh, the weighty burden

                        Of sin upon the Sinless One,

                                    The world’s,

                                                Mine,

                                                            Yours.

            Agony,

            Ushering the covenant of salvation -

                        The world’s,

                                    Mine,

                                                Yours.

It’s not a pretty sight -

It’s beautiful.

            It’s finished.

            They take Him down

                        From the good and terrible Cross.

            Hastily,

                        They place Him in the tomb.

            Securely,

                        They seal the rolling stone.

                        They guard His grave

                                    In awesome,

                                                Tremulous,

                                                            Expectant

                                                                        Stillness.

It’s not a pretty sight -

It’s beautiful.

            His Body, gone.

                        Gone!  With power

                        In one resplendent moment -

                        Seal unsealed,

                                    Stone rolled,

                                                Earth jolted on its axis.

                        Angels appear, hallowing -

                                    Alleluia!  Alleluia!

                                                He is risen!

                                                            We live

                                                            Because He lives.

                                                                                    It is beautiful.

                                                                                    Beautiful.

Maude Carolan