Behold the Lamb with me...

 On this beautiful summer day I'm seated outdoors, squinting in the sunlight. Next to me is my lamb planter bursting with blooms. Not surprisingly, I've selected a Lamb poem to feature on my blog this week. I hope you enjoy it...

THE LAMB THREAD

Inspired by the April 2, 2021 message

delivered by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

at Beth Israel Worship Center, Wayne, NJ.

 

Rabbi Jonathan delivers

his Good Friday message

with passion that is contagious

and just happens to be

about my favorite thread

in Scripture…the Lamb

 

He begins in Genesis 22

where lamb and love

are mentioned for the first time

It’s that mind-blowing chapter

when God put Abraham to the test

by telling him to sacrifice his only son

whom he loved, as a burnt offering

on Mount Moriah

 

so Abraham bound Isaac

and obediently raised

the glinting blade above the boy

but was stopped by the angel of the Lord

 

God provided

a substitute sacrifice that day

a ram—

 

Abraham named that place

Jehovah Jireh, God will provide

and in the fullness of time

God does provide a Lamb

on that very same mountain

 

I follow my rabbi’s thread

to Exodus 12, the Passover

as the Lord brought His people

out of bondage in Egypt

and saved them by the blood of the lamb

 

then listen as he speaks of sacrifices

in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers

and the cleansing blood sprinkled

upon the mercy seat by the high priest

every year, on the Day of Atonement

 

The mystery continues to unravel

in Isaiah 53 with the astonishing foretelling

of the sacrifice of the Suffering Servant

 

Who was…pierced through for our transgressions

Who was crushed for our iniquities…

 

Who…Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter

and like a sheep that is silent

before its shearers…He did not open His mouth

 

The thread weaves its way to Daniel 9

the mystery of the Seventy Weeks

and the coming of Messiah

Who would be cut off/Crucified

 

I follow along, eagerly

flipping through pages of the Gospels

and listen afresh as John the Baptist proclaims

 

Behold the Lamb of God

Who takes away the sin of the world

 

remembering, the place, in the land of Moriah

where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son

is the very same location

as the Place of the Skull, Golgotha

where the Lamb God provided

was Crucified and died

 

Enthusiasm rises in Rabbi’s voice

and in my heart as he nears the end

of the thread that runs so true

without any loose ends

all throughout the Scriptures

 

He sums up his message

in the Book of Revelation

as the voice of many angels proclaim

 

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power and riches and wisdom

and might and honor and glory and blessing

 

where resplendently jeweled

the New Jerusalem comes down out of Heaven

shining with the glory of God

 

where God Almighty and the Lamb

are its temple and the lamp is the Lamb

 

Hallelujah! Praise God Almighty—

 

God has provided His Glorious Lamb…for us!

 

Maude Carolan Pych

More poems?

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

Poems about the Birth, Death & Resurrection of Jesus

by Maude Carolan Pych

is available online

at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net

I Am

 

I AM WHO I AM

Exodus 3:14

 

God said—

I Am

 

He was utterly

straightforward

 

Exists—

 

Is

Am

 

The most important

question

            answered

in the audible voice

of the Almighty

Himself

 

even without

the asking

 

Tell them, He told Moses

 

I Am

sent you

 

That He Is

Was

and Ever Shall Be—

 

is

 

the greatest

            manifestation

                        of our peace

 

Maude Carolan Pych       

Books by Maude Carolan Pych:

"Wonderhoods"

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

www.maudecarolanpych.net

"Worshipful Contrasts, Ocean Grove"

The Cross on Ocean Grove Beach

WORSHIPFUL CONTRASTS, OCEAN GROVE

 

9 a.m. Sunday—

Contemporary worship. Boardwalk Pavilion, Ocean Grove

This is where we worship with snare drums and guitars

funky drama and spontaneous praise dance on the boards

facing sand and spray and rising sun

This is where we lift our hands and shout "Hallelujah!"

louder than the rousing rhythmic praise

of the waves crashing in our midst

This is where families come in tees and tank tops

cut-off denim, wrinkly cotton shorts

bare feet, sneakers, flip-flops

It's where we fan ourselves with song-sheets

chug from Poland Spring bottles

and flip through the pages of our Bibles

It's where we greet strangers, unabashedly

with "Praise the Lord!" and hugs and exit

faces shining with Moses-glow

 

10:30 a.m. Sunday—

Classic worship. Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove

I walk briskly from the Boardwalk Pavilion

(with my Moses-glow) to the old Methodist edifice

with its prominent Cross facing the Atlantic

This is where thousands gather

facing a purpose spelled out in lights:

Holiness to the Lord—So be ye holy

This is where worshipers arrive in crisp pressed cotton

and wrinkle-free polyester, strap sandals, pumps and pearls

where we rise and sing on key, hymns by Wesley and Crosby

where we utter printed responses by rote and in unison

Here, to the accompaniment of a historic pipe organ

we hear a traditional choir sing traditional hymns

and accomplished tenors and sopranos

and some of the greatest preachers on earth

do magnificently what they have been magnificently trained to do

This is where we pray quietly, reverently, solemnly

hands folded in our laps, as 100 silver-haired ushers

process prominently with collection baskets

wearing white slacks, dark jackets and red ties

with white carnations pinned to their lapels

This is where Gordon Turk, the organist

presents a resounding recessional

as we nod at one other warmly

and walk out edified into a balmy afternoon

 

Maude Carolan Pych

 

The Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove

Photo credit: foursquare.com

Books by Maude...

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

"Wonderhoods"

www.maudecarolanpych.net
 

Boardwalk Pavilion, Ocean Grove

 Let's worship the Lord

by the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea...

The Boardwalk Pavilion, Ocean Grove, NJ.

THE BOARDWALK PAVILION

 

This glorious summer Sunday morning—

 

We’re drawn eastward

from north, south and west

by the magnetic pull

of God’s love-force

 

Drawn, to the old wooden pavilion

to the Atlantic, the Jersey shore

to the boards at God’s Square Mile—

Ocean Grove. Drawn

 

wearing khaki and denim

tees and tanks

sundresses, flip-flops

carrying water bottles

carrying Bibles

fanning ourselves

with song sheets

 

We fill the benches

then spill over

into the periphery

onto folding chairs, lawn chairs

beach blankets. Some stand

Some look for shade

 

It’s 80-plus and breezy

The sky, clear

The sea glistens

Waves slap the shore

merrily. We’re merry

 

Vacationers stroll past

Some peer; some stop

some smile; some don’t

Bikers pedal by

joggers jog

 

Hymnsong; guitar-strum

Son-smiles; praise dance

heart-moves; Kidz church

Gospel-preach

 

Agape flows outward

aboutward

 

Sea mist rises like incense

upward, Heavenward

toward the One

enthroned

 

We bask in the warmth

of His smile

 

of His warm, sunshiny love

 

Maude Carolan Pych

 

 

Cross, Ocean Grove Beach

Photo by Maude

For information about how to obtain Maude's books,

"Wonderhoods" and

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

visit her website at: www.maudecarolanpych.net.

Praying for Revival in America

Pray with me for a true Revival this 4th of July...

PRAYING FOR REVIVAL IN AMERICA

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble

themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from

their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I

will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

 

I grew up loving Jesus

and blessing the USA—

With my classmates every morning

I’d bow my head and pray.

 

God Bless America we’d sing

with heartfelt awe and pride

aware that God Almighty

was our nation’s Holy Guide

 

Our churches were full of people

and from our homes flags flew;

we saluted veterans, and

respected leaders, too.

 

We knew America was beautiful,

“God shed His grace on thee!”

then took that grace for granted

and failed to bend a knee.

 

The years have led us far off course;

and faith in God has waned—

Our leaders now get less respect.

The Bible’s been profaned.

 

In the shadow of 9/11

we live every day.

Many hearts are downcast;

many folks have lost their way.

 

So I’m praying for revival—

We need it desperately!

Let us repent before our God

with true sincerity.

 

When we return to follow Him

He’ll restore His loving grace.

From sea to shining sea, our Lord

will shine again His Face.

 

Oh, come and join your prayers to mine,

let’s do it every day.

Ask God to heal this troubled land

and vow to live His way.

 

Maude Carolan Pych

Happy Independence Day!

Photo credit: Familyhood Central

Here I am reading from my book,

"Behold the Lamb...poetically"

by Maude Carolan Pych.

You can order the book online

at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

www.maudecarolanpych.net