In Memory of Mary Leak

In Loving Memory of

Mary "the Hugger" Leak

1933-2019

A PLACE PREPARED

For Mary Leak, 1933-2019

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would

have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare

a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where

I am, there you may be also." John 14: 2-3 NKJV

You dwell now in a place prepared, by God with you in mind;

a place of exquisite beauty, pastoral and sublime,

a place no earthly eye has seen, no ear has heard about…

Beyond our wildest imaginings…Of this, there is no doubt.

God has given glimpses of our home in Eternity;

The Bible says the streets are gold. There is a crystal sea.

It speaks of emerald rainbows and it speaks of no more tears.

We are told there is no darkness, no trouble, pain or fears.

Trees are laden with luscious fruit, high walls of jasper gleam,

wide open gates of giant pearls…It's true! It's not a dream!

Foundations of chalcedony, beryl, jacinth, and sapphire,

amethyst, emerald, sardonyx, topaz…jewels afire!

In the midst of this wonder sits the Lamb upon the Throne.

No need for blazing sunshine…He is Heaven's Light alone!

I wish I could see you, Mary, beholding this great bliss,

seen your joy inexpressible, at God's tender first kiss!

I know there are many mansions in our Heavenly home.

Jesus prepared one for you. It was He Who bid you, "Come."

When I speak of you in Heaven, folks think I'm being brave.

but I know you dwell in Glory, not in a dismal grave.

Can't picture you wearing a halo, strumming golden strings,

reclining on a fluffy cloud. No! God's planned greater things!

Can imagine you at a gate with Mary, Martha, Paul

praising God and thanking Him for Calvary, love and all.

I miss you, my dear friend, and ask Jesus to fill the space

that in me is empty since you went to that prepared place.

Jesus is so faithful. He gives comfort that does not cease.

Believing you dwell near His heart fills my soul with peace.

I know you rest in God's bosom, dream of you bathed in Love,

believe you’ll have a hug for me, when I join you above.

I know for sure big rolling tears would saturate my socks

if I did not believe, Mary, you're in Heaven and it rocks!!!

Maude Carolan Pych

The above poem was adapted for Mary Leak

from the original version, written in 2004.

The LOVE of GOD

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Alleluia!
He is Risen!!!

Happy Resurrection day!

Image credit: awesomebestpictures.com

GOD’S UNFATHOMABLE LOVE

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His

only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him

shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NASB

For God—

The Majestic Almighty, Omnipotent, King of Kings

Ancient of Days, Elohim, Adonai

my beloved Abba Father

so loved—

with the bigness of His gracious agape heart

a love unfathomable, unconditional

and abounding in mercy

the world—

the whole wide world and everyone in it

in Israel, Jordan, Iran, Russia, Nigeria, China

in Ireland and Italy, where my ancestors came from

in HochHausen, Germany, where loved ones reside

where we’ve been on vacation, Aruba and Bermuda

and all of us right here, in Wayne, New Jersey

that He gave His only begotten Son—

given to us, freely, our Father’s extraordinary gift of Yeshua/Jesus

His sinless Son, to save us from punishment we deserve

for sins we have committed

that whoever believes in Him—

so all we need do to receive this wondrous gift

is believe God’s trustworthy Word

believe that Jesus was born into the world

and that He is our promised Savior

shall not perish—

because of Jesus’ sacrifice upon Calvary’s Tree

and because His Most Precious Blood atoned for all our sins

death has been swallowed up in victory!

but have eternal life—

because of Jesus’ miraculous Resurrection from death

we live because He lives

and will dwell with Him

in the Kingdom of Heaven

to enjoy unimaginable splendors

forever…forevermore

Praise the Lord!

Maude Carolan Pych

Two Easter Poems

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: factsandfaith.com

I am pleased to post two Easter poems today:

RISEN

It’s Holy Saturday

Dough is rising

on the kitchen counter

filling me with thoughts

of rising

helium balloons

set free

sunrise

over the Sea of Galilee

waking up

rising

soap bubbles

floating skyward

seagulls soaring

fireworks

booming and bursting

jet planes at take-off

rocket ships

with long trails of fire

zooming to the moon

O, but nothing

nowhere

and no one

has ever done it

or will

…like Jesus

Maude Carolan Pych

My friend, Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC, is a fellow member of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group. In 1965 she wrote the following Easter poem. She brought it to this month's meeting for critique by our group, then made a few changes and sent it to me to post on this blog. It's very musical and meaningful. Read, enjoy and REJOICE! 

          Victim’s Victory

            An Easter Song

The Sheep sleeps:

The meek Lamb who did not speak

before His shearers; Who without shout

under the rod of His branders was led

to His death ‘mid jeers of bystanders;

with only tears for the clotted crowd

and a cry as He felt abandoned

even by God. He sleeps now,

in peace, after the shock,

in the bed of the rock.

He is dead.

The weak Lamb, the meek Man,

meek and weak for love none can speak,

for people no Lamb but Love

could ransom and re-seek.

Bound around, wound in white,

found in the ground, the Light hid from sight.

while in the night, guards watch in fright,

minding the stone, tightly sealed,

for dread lest friends His Body steal

and then propound to all around:

“He is risen from the ground.

He is risen from the dead,

truly risen as He said.”

Then, on the first day of the week,

while still in sleep the people lay,

women came to seek the grave

and, with fragrance sweet, array

the Lamb weak, the Man meek—but

He was not there!

That same daybreak did He speak

to His Mother and to another with her name

when that Mary came to weep and pray.

His life of glory

He’d begun to share.

Redeemed People, Graced Race,

Hear and praise!

The Lamp is light with new fire bright,

Light of a New Day.

The Lamb leads the way

to keep the sheep in the sight

of His Father’s Face.

Crucified, died, from Whose spear-slit side

came streaming blood, a cleansing flood

to wipe away the pride of sin and win again

the sons and daughters of men

by the tides of saving grace.

The sleeping Sheep arises.

He leads the lambs to the land of brightness

where He stands at the Right Hand

of the Most High.

They hymn to Him, the Victim,

praise for so great a Victory,

by which He gained the glory

that sets women and men free.

“Lamb without stain, Who died in pain,

slain to save the race from Satan, pride, and shame:

To You we raise our acclaim of praise.

May You reign for ages of days!

All raise to the skies praise to You on high.

We cry: You rose alive!

Truly, truly, You are alive!

Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Sr. Jane Abeln, SMIC 

Easter, 1965

The Important Thing Is...

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: constancedenninger.blogspot.com

HE IS NOT HERE

Israel Pilgrimage--2006

Some believe

the Body of Messiah was placed

in the highly venerated

tomb located in the Church

of the Holy Sepulcher

Some believe

He was buried

in a pastoral place

known as the Garden Tomb

The important thing is—

He died. He rose.

He’ll come again.

The important thing is

as a placard proclaims

at the entrance

to the Garden Tomb:

He is not here—

He is risen from the dead

and the important thing is
our sins are atoned--

We live because He lives

so there’s nothing

left to say, except

Hallelujah!

Praise be to Jesus, Our Risen Savior!

Maude Carolan Pych

Mary's Unfathomable Grief

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: excerptsofinri.com

THE PIETA

After the earthquake

the peals of thunder

the flashes of lightning across the sky

After the curious crowds dispersed

Mary sat in ominous dimness

upon a mound of earth

at the base of the Cross

clutching the body

of her Son

She cradled Him

in the hollow of her lap

close to her bosom

as she had

when he was

her baby boy

Mary removed

thorns of mockery

that encircled His forehead

and tossed it to the side

Straining to see in the shadows

she carefully picked

fragments of thorn needles

still stuck in His lifeless flesh

although they couldn’t hurt Him

any longer

With her fingertips

she tenderly closed the lids

over His dark, vacant eyes

and smoothed

the disheveled, matted hair

…then she kissed Him

O, my beautiful Son…

Tears flowed

down her face onto His cheeks

mingling with dried blood

With the edge of her garment

she wiped some blood away

John came

and rested his hand

upon her trembling shoulder

He was now her son

She was now his mother

Mysteries

too deep to comprehend

swirled in her mind

like the flap and flutter

of wings and overshadowing

Son of the Most High

and David’s throne

like pregnant Elizabeth’s joy

when the baby leapt in her womb

and the Baptizer himself, when grown

proclaiming his younger cousin

“The Lamb of God, Who

takes away the sin of the world”

and Simeon’s prophesy

that Jesus would be

a Light of revelation

to the Gentiles and the glory

of the people of Israel

Where is the Light?

Where is the glory?

Where is the throne?

Overwhelmed by sorrow

so intense it stabbed her

deep, deep in her inner parts

Mary cried out in anguish

and rent her robe

Was this what old Simeon meant

long ago in the Temple

when he held Jesus in his arms

and said a sword would pierce

my very soul?

O my Son, my beautiful Son…

I cannot fathom the ways of God, but

I do know this cannot be the end

Maude Carolan Pych

The Last Supper

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: messiahjesuschrist.org

COMMEMORATING THE LAST SUPPER

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

We realize this is not the actual place

where Messiah celebrated

the Passover with His disciples

on the night before He suffered

not the very place

where He took bread and broke it

took the cup and shared it

not the room in which He said:

Do this in remembrance of Me

but here we are in the Land

here we are in the relative vicinity

We know the actual Upper Room is long gone

but this is a room and it’s upstairs

as near as we can possibly get

besides, in the spirit

we are here, transported

so this is plenty good enough

We break into praise and worship

to celebrate the Passover meal

the taking of the towel

the washing of feet

the reclining at the table

the dipping of the bread

the very first communion

and another noteworthy occasion—

Pentecost

The presence of the Spirit

falls so mightily upon us

we expect blazing tongues of fire

to tumble down from Heaven

and alight upon our heads

Maude Carolan Pych

Sunflower Sunshine Along Emmaus Road

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: 123rf.com

SUNFLOWERS ALONG EMMAUS ROAD

Israel Pilgrimage—1986

A field of big, bodacious sunflowers

seem to be a great cathedral choir
singing the Hallelujah Chorus
with exultation

while sun-shining millions

of dazzling petal spires upon 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

"Along Emmaus Road"

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: gregolsen.com

ALONG EMMAUS ROAD

Luke 24 & Isaiah 53 NASB

I’m sitting in the kitchen

with my Bible open

reading about the men

who were walking to Emmaus

the Sunday following the Crucifixion

thinking how bewildered they were

and dismayed that the one

they supposed was their savior was gone—

He died upon that Cross on Friday

leaving their hopes completely dashed

and I’m thinking about Jesus

joining them on their journey

as a complete stranger

bringing the hope of the Gospel

as He explained about Himself in the Tanakh

without revealing that they were actually walking

the seven miles to Emmaus

with their newly Resurrected Lord

I flip through the pages

and see Jesus handwritten in the margins

of the Old Testament, over and over

wherever I’ve discovered Him anew

and recall each exciting revelation

and imagine their amazement

as they listened to Jesus

revealing Himself as He spoke

about Moses and the Prophets

particularly when He came to the part

about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53

How exciting it had to have been to hear it

from the lips of the Suffering Servant, Himself—

Despised and forsaken

a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief

smitten of God and afflicted

pierced for our transgressions

crushed for our iniquities

by whose scourging we were healed

Who like a lamb was led to the slaughter

Who like a sheep, was silent before its shearers

assigned a grave with wicked men

but was with a rich man in death

He rendered Himself as a guilt offering

and God would prolong His days

Jesus…Jesus…Jesus

I visualize the men

clutching their burning hearts

When they reached their destination

they invited the stranger to stay with them

because the hour was late

and as they gathered around a table

to partake of an evening meal

Jesus lifted a loaf to bless—

Suddenly their eyes beheld

His nail-pierced hands!

and as He broke their humble bread

they recognized Him

In that instant Jesus vanished!

but the words He spoke

along the road that day

were permanently seared

upon their hearts

so they rose from the table

and hurried off that very hour

all the way back to Jerusalem, in the dark

to tell the disciples of all the wonders

that happened that remarkable day

Maude Carolan Pych

Walking Along the Via Dolorosa

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: pixabay.com

AT THE VIA DOLOROSA

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

Twelve feet below

the hustle and bustle and hawking

the crowds, the spices, the wares

of the present Via Dolorosa

lies an ancient pathway

of trodden stones

Yeshua walked upon

in sandaled feet

on His way to Calvary

2000 years ago

ancient stones

stumbling stones

stones Yeshua, weak and weary

likely fell upon as He carried

the cumbersome crossbeam

along that terrible path

to Crucifixion

I remove a shoe

to feel the coolness

of hallowed ground

against my bare sole

We begin singing

Were You There When They

Crucified My Lord

and tremble

tremble, tremble

at the reading

of the Suffering Servant

in Isaiah 53

Millenniums

seem to disappear

It almost feels

like it’s happening here

now—

There’s something

timeless

about it

isn’t there?

Maude Carolan Pych

NOTE: Yeshua is Jesus' Name in Hebrew.

The Holy Name of God

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

Image credit: pikepress.wordpress.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/Yeshua

The Messiah

Maude Carolan