Lily

A rather poor attempt at painting a lily… but probably my first attempt to use water colours since, oh, elementary school.

Parables of Earth – Part V

If rocks or thorns are left upon the ground
by those who have been hired to tend to
his field, the Farmer won’t keep them around
very long. Instead, He will look for new
farmhands who will care for the land. The crop
is, after all, the purpose of His field.
He will seek for workers who will not stop
striving to find ways to increase the yield
produced by the land. Labourers like these
are worth every penny that they are paid,
but woe to those who do not seek to please
the Farmer. They have cause to be afraid!

Without care taken to help the plants thrive
The crops that grow will struggle to survive.

~~

Just a note about the image:  I decided to try my hand at drawing a thistle.  I’ve never been much of an artist, but had the desire to try anyways.  Watercolor pencils on paper.  I utilized the “watercolor” aspect of the pencils in the top of the thistle only.

Philipians 2:6-11

In the church that I attend, or pastor taught us that many scholars believe that Philipians 2:6-11 was actually an early church hymn. I wanted to try my hand at turning the text into a poem/song. I haven’t set this to music yet, but here are the lyrics:

You were in very essence God
and could have worn a crown
but that’s not why you came to earth
and so you set that glory down

Becoming nothing for our sake
the flesh of man you wore
you chose to fill a servant’s role
though you were worthy of much more

Chorus:
In heights above and depths below
and here upon the earth
let each knee bend down at the name
and ev’ry tongue and voice proclaim
let praises and Hosannas flow
extolling Jesus’ worth

To please your Father was your aim
with each and ev’ry breath
you humbly sought to do his will
obeying even in your death

Willingly you faced the cross
and willingly you died
so God exalted you on high
to where you sit on His right side

Chorus:
In heights above and depths below
and here upon the earth
let each knee bend down at the name
and ev’ry tongue and voice proclaim
let praises and Hosannas flow
extolling Jesus’ worth

Pyramids

do
you think
that the pyramids
were constructed to make
us wonder about Egyptian technology
or would those ancient Egyptians engineers
wonder why modern technology isn’t more advanced?

Wite-Out

I could not abide your inflammatory words
your writings that went against the status quo
and so I took your pages and painted over
all the objectionable verbs, nouns, adjectives

I redacted you down to “ifs”, “ands” and “buts”
to snuff out each spark of revolution
not knowing what you were trying to teach
and not caring to understand

So now I stand back
and watch a conflagration
of my own making

too late did I learn:
my Wite-Out® is flammable too

~~

This whole piece was inspired by looking at a bottle of Bic® Wite-Out® correction fluid and seeing a label indicating “Danger: Flammable”

Shepherds: Part 5 – Bethlehem (Christmas Day)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. -Lk 2:16-18, NIV

All at the same time they began to talk
“Let us go and do as the angel said!”
They quickly found a safe place for their flock
that they might go and find the manger bed

In Bethlehem the shepherds found the boy
exactly as the angel had foretold
and when they saw him, they were filled with joy:
this was their Saviour promised from of old!

that night before the Lamb those shepherds bowed
those keepers of the sheep a Shepherd sought
and then they could not help but speak aloud
about that infant in his straw filled cot

The shepherds’ whole world changed that Holy Night
and so they shared the News with great delight!

Shepherds: Part 4 – And Then! (Fourth Week of Advent)

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” -Lk 2:13-45, NIV

The firmament exploded then in song
as Heaven’s choir filled the nighttime sky
What praise burst forth from that angelic throng!
an adoration song to the Most High!

The angels sang of peace for those on earth
for whom God’s gracious favour had been laid
when they’d proclaimed the Saviour’s wondrous birth
the impact of their message did not fade

So once again the shepherds bowed down low
but now in worship rather than in fear
their own praise song began to quickly grow
as they thought how God’s Promised One was near

and then those shepherds all with one accord
agreed to go and meet the Infant Lord

 

Shepherds: Part 3 – The Angel’s Message (Third Week of Advent)

“…I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” -Lk 2:10b-12, NIV

The angel told them that he brought good news
that on this night, Messiah had been born
the long-expected Light for all the Jews
had come as though a long awaited morn

In nearby Bethlehem the angel said
wrapped up in cloth they’d find the infant boy
laid in a trough instead of in a bed
an infant sleeps who’ll bring the whole earth Joy!

In wonder, now, they listened to the voice
that spoke to them of prophecy fulfilled
those fearful men had cause now to rejoice
and as the angel spoke their hearts were thrilled

Those lowly shepherds now stood over-awed
for they’d received a message straight from God

Shepherds: Part 2 – …An angel appears…(second week of Advent)

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news…” (Lk.2:9,10a NIV)

But then, Behold! the middle of the night
the shepherds watch lest one of their sheep stray
when suddenly appeared a blazing light:
a man who shone as brightly as the day

In dread the shepherds fell upon the ground
their terror was too great for them to flee
Struck dumb with fear they could not make a sound
nor did they dare look up that they might see

No predator had come to steal their sheep
Instead had come a messenger from God
who spoke then with a voice both rich and deep
unto those men cast down upon the sod:

“Arise dear shepherds, cast away your fear
Good News I bring tonight, be of good cheer!”

Shepherds: Part 1 – They watched their flocks…(first week of Advent)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. -Lk 2:8 (NIV)

A group of shepherds watched their flocks that night
another night like countless nights before
they had the stars and moon above for light
perhaps a fire too, but nothing more

maybe tonight they’d face a fox or bear
that they’d drive off with rocks tossed from a sling
but probably they’d face hardly a scare
they’d play their flutes and one of them would sing

like countless nights before and nights to come,
this night would surely be more of the same
while one of them tapped lightly on a drum
the rest of them would play a quiet game

not one of them would say this night was strange
how could they know that soon their world would change?