I Have Some Wonderful News for You...

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WONDERFUL NEWS

I have to share the most wonderful news with those I love most in this world.

The news I have is more precious, by far, than diamonds or rubies or gold.

There was an enormous void in my life. “Is this all there is?” I would ask.

I searched far to find some meaning in life. It seemed an unknowable task.

One day someone shared the Gospel with me, and I learned that Jesus is real.

I prayed to invite Him into my heart and was filled with astonishing zeal!

The day that He gave His life on the Cross, to save all mankind from our sin,

He opened to us salvation by grace; life eternal, the prize that we win.

You know that I share the best that I have with my cherished family and friends,

so listen, dear one, to this wonderful news upon which ever-after depends.

Just open your Bible to the Gospel of John, third chapter, verse number three,

then read of God’s love in the sixteenth verse to learn what has happened to me.

Some people grow up with Bible in hand, without Jesus burning in heart,

some haven’t explored the true meaning of life, some wouldn’t know where to start.

Whether you’re Protestant, Jewish, my friend, Catholic, Muslim, atheist,

my news is for you and all who will hear, who long to receive of God’s best.

You needn’t become a fanatic or prude, I’ve no list of do nots and dos.

God’s Spirit will teach you all you need know. The offer’s too good to refuse.

Although tribulation may take you by storm and trials may bring a hard test,

God’s greater, He’s faithful, He’ll bring you through to victory. You’ll shine in His rest.

This can be the greatest day of your life, the day you receive the New Birth.

This can be the day you begin to know why we’re the happiest people on earth.

Like me, you will yearn to share the Good News with all of the people you love.

Like me, you will want all those you meet to be touched by our Great God above.

Maude Carolan Pych

I Like to Think Jesus Laughed...

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JESUS LAUGHED

Each of us has our own concept of Jesus—

As for me, I like to think He laughed a lot

Yes, I picture Jesus throwing his head back

with a wide winsome smile

and laughing heartily from the gut

and I think He did it often

I know it doesn’t say so in Scripture

but still, I imagine the One

Who hung out with the twelve

shared some mighty amusing stories

around the campfire
on starry summer evenings

I figure He even occasionally bore the brunt

of good-natured razzing by the brethren

as they passed around roasted fish

and barley loaves on the shore of the Galilee

A guest at parties and weddings

Jesus was actually accused

of being a winebibber and glutton

He wouldn’t have received

those kinds of invitations

and that kind of reputation

if He had been solemn and grim

and speaking of wine, I’m quite certain

no somber individual would have

turned H2O into the fruit of the vine

so a wedding feast could proceed

with expected merrymaking and

no embarrassment for the host

Oh! I’m sure Jesus was great fun to be with—

that mothers handed babies to Him

that He kissed them, blessed them

chucked their chins and tickled their tummies

causing them to giggle and coo

I picture children climbing up on His lap

and being bounced on His knees

as He told stories about Jonah and Daniel

I’ll bet He even tossed a leather ball

back and forth with the neighborhood lads

and when someone approached Him

with despair and grief and longing

my mind’s eye sees Him

wrapping His loving arms around

the one in need—

turning sorrow into hope

Oh! It’s true, Jesus got plenty stirred up

with righteous indignation—

even knocked over vendor tables

in the Temple courts

and vented his anger vehemently

at hypocritical Pharisees

but this was the world His Father created

and loved so much

that He sent Him here

to save

Yes, I’m sure He laughed a lot

in spite of the fact

the dreaded Cross stood before Him

because He knew His mission

and of the joy to come

Indeed, the joy

for what He would accomplish for us

was already in Him

Yes, Jesus knew there was a time to laugh

and a time for anger

as well as a time to weep

Oh! I am touched by His humanity—

No wonder I love Him

Maude Carolan Pych

At the Mount of Beatitudes

Mount of Beatitudes, Israel
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BLESSED AT THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES

Israel Pilgrimage—1986

At the Mount of Beatitudes

Wayne^[1] suggests we each find

a quiet spot to spend

time alone with God

so I stroll along a pathway

surrounding the church

built in the name of

the Lord’s great message

to the multitudes

In a few moments I hear baa baaing

and follow the sound to the top of a hill

with sheep and a shepherd in view below

I sit on a low wall

to watch and carefully listen

for the voice of my Shepherd

amid plaintive bleating

I, too, am one of His sheep

I, too, have things to tell him

and don’t want to miss

anything He might have to say

This is communion—

a lamb with her Shepherd

I bask awhile in sweet serenity

aware of a holy presence

as the sheep graze

and the shepherd, like Jesus

carefully tends his flock

Afterward, we pilgrims come together—

No one else heard the sheep

No one saw the shepherd

The interlude was for me alone

a gift from my God—

a simple blessing

to one little lamb He loves

Maude Carolan Pych

---

[1] Wayne Monbleau—Pilgrimage leader and host of “Let’s Talk About Jesus”radio program.

A Resolution for 2017

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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 a magnificent plan

in this tome of Our Savior, God and Man.

Well, now that Twenty Seventeen is 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 God’s love and grace and how to grow.

You’ll read the story beginning to end

of your Sovereign Savior and closest Friend!

Maude Carolan Pych