As we approach the most glorious time in the Christian’s calendar, I’ll post some poems I have written on the subject. The first is in response to the Word that tells us Jesus still bears the wounds in His body (He showed them to the disciples when He appeared to them). The second is because we are told He is constantly interceding for us. I hope you enjoy it.
HOLY WOUNDS
Oh, to think that I, with all my stains of darkness
Could stand before a God of white-hot holiness
And not be burned.
What holy wounds that gain for me
An entrance to the King!
For Christ in all his glory, stays injured still for me
His hands and feet, though brilliant bright
Stay pierced and raw through all my sin
And plead each day my cause.
For as I sin, and blot my soul, and then repentant come
His Father from His awesome throne
Looks down and sees his Son.
He sees His Son take on my guilt and then it’s penalty
The following is a devotional companion to God in the ICU:
Chapter Two
Impartation
Quote from God in the ICU:
“History was being made. The heart, mystically associated from the beginning of time with the very essence of a person, was being given as a gift of life to a dying man. Would it work? Was it, after all, only a beautiful, intricate pump?”
————- o ————
Psalm 139: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
There was a video doing the rounds a while ago of the bereaved members of a family trying to placate a baby whose parents had been killed, leaving it orphaned. The child was crying hysterically as it was passed from person to person. No-one could pacify it. Eventually it was passed to a man standing by. As he took the infant, it gave a little gurgle, settled comfortably in his arms, and went to sleep.
Then the astounding caption spread across the bottom of the screen: “THIS MAN RECEIVED THE HEART OF THE BABY’S MOTHER IN A HEART TRANSPLANT.”
In a way we cannot understand, something of the mother was imparted to the baby through her heart in the chest of a stranger.
Contrary to what we have been taught for decades, the heart is not just a beautiful, intricate pump, as I describe in God in the ICU. It has approximately 40,000 nerve cells that are just like those in the brain, and these are connected to the brain in a nerve bundle, where 80% of the nerves carry messages from heart to brain and only 20% from brain to heart. The heart has its own minibrain, which scientists now call ‘the heart brain.’ It appears that somehow the mother’s heart brain was able to placate her baby.
What is the point of this story? It’s an introduction into the subject of impartation. You are far more fearfully and wonderfully made than you imagine or that the scientists have yet discovered.
God has implanted in your very makeup characteristics which are unique to you — not just in your personality, but in every part of you — even in your heart. And, in ways we do not fully understand, something of you can be imparted to others. There is something about your presence with another that is far more impactful than your image and voice on a TV or cell phone screen.
When I was teaching my junior medical staff, I would say, “If the sister in ICU phones you with a problem, don’t try to fix in on the phone. Go there! Something about being present at the bedside gives you a connection with the patient and an understanding of the problem that you will not get from the end of a telephone.”
The Bible has many examples of impartation. In Romans1:11, Paul writes: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.” And in many instances the apostles laid hands on others as a means of impartation. In Acts 19:2 we read of Paul’s meeting with Ephesian believers: “(He) asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
After explaining what the difference was between John’s baptism and baptism into the name of Jesus, He laid hands on them “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6)
It is a natural thing for us, in comforting someone in distress to touch them. God has put in us an instinctive knowledge that there is something imparted in touch.
Even without touch, think about your own mood when you are in the company of a depressed person. Don’t you feel a heaviness in your spirit? And what about when you are with a group of people who are complaining. Is there not a temptation to join in?
Now, lets apply that to the church. Lockdown has changed the way many of us have had to do church. The only way has been to access a service and hear a sermon online. In many ways it has made life so much easier. You can watch when you like, in your pyjamas and slippers if you so desire. You can flip to your favourite preacher at the touch of a remote. Do not be deceived, however. God has designed you to impart what He has placed in you to others and to receive what He has put in them. You can only do that by your presence. You must be present for the phenomenon of impartation to take place.
Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see Christ’s return approaching.” This is a strong word for today. There are many signs that God is preparing His church for the return of Jesus. The church the writer to the Hebrews addressed was suffering intense persecution. There would be much more incentive than we have for them to have stayed safe and remained at home, but the writer urges them to keep meeting, because he knew how important it was for them to impart to one another what God had put within them. How important it is for us to take Paul’s words to heart today.
Further Bible reading:
Acts 2:42-44
Mark 1:40-41
2 Tim. 5:22
For discussion:
After the isolation of Covid, have you returned to your church or have you become comfortable staying at home and watching online?
As 2020 draws to a close, there’s hardly cause to welcome 2021 with any sort of joyful anticipation.
Many, suffering ‘lockdown fatigue’ are being more lax about the precautions set in place to stop the spread of Covid 19, and infections are soaring. In a malevolent twist, the virus has taken advantage of this and mutated to a more virulent form. Death, suffering, bereavement and fear are trampling our planet.
Until this year, Christmas, for many, has merely been a prelude to welcoming the New Year. Perhaps God is urging us, now, to focus on the real reason we celebrate, for if we do that, we can look to the future with optimism.
If God can be compassionate enough to come to earth and identify with us to the extent that He feels our pain, shares our joys, demonstrates the true heart of God and then represents us before the Father to take our punishment, He will surely see us through this turbulent time if we will entrust ourselves into His loving, capable hands.
So, let’s celebrate the real Christmas story, and let the Prince of Peace speak into our hearts.
Real Christmas
God gave His Son that all the world Would have the chance to be with Him. His glorious presence now was curled Within the confines of a womb.
His gift to Man took history And pulled its course away from Hell Unfathomable mystery A love that has no parallel.
And now to celebrate His gift Throughout the world we also give, With presents for our families With parties, food and talk of love.
Yet often in this crazy world We give our gifts, not knowing why We break the bank to buy the best We worry it won’t satisfy.
We party with our families We eat and drink and stay up late But if in this we exclude Him There’s nothing left to celebrate.
It all becomes an empty show That merely gets us deep in debt And all the feasting and the hype Can’t heal our pain, nor our regrets.
For though we share our human love Forget our woes with food and wine Our loneliness requires a heart That’s grateful for a love divine.
We need to know a God who cares Who wants us all to worship Him To celebrate the way He’s made To rescue us from all our sin.
If we party, give our gifts Ignoring Him who’s paid the way Then ‘Happy Christmas’ is just words Whose meaning fades with Boxing Day
For always when we celebrate A God who came to be with us The next act hovers in the wings A Saviour hanging from a Cross.
It’s He who rolled away the stone Conquered death and rose again Ascended to His heavenly throne And lives within the hearts of men
It’s not His birth that gives us joy But why He came — what it was for That’s why we’re grateful, celebrate The Baby on a bed of straw
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”
And Daniel 4:25 and 4:32 both say:
“… the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
For the sake of establishing the integrity and transparency of the election, I do think the allegations of fraud should be investigated. However, irrespective of the result of the investigation, as Christians, we must believe that God is in control. If Biden is president, the Word of God says that He placed him there. If the courts validate Trump’s claims and it puts him back in, we’ll know God put him back!
Either way, we must believe He gives the kingdoms of the earth to whom He chooses for His purposes. The Word of God says so.
God’s purposes are for His Church
God’s primary interest is His Church. We do not know what He is doing, but I suspect He is purifying His church for His soon coming. We know His Bride must be pure and spotless. Perhaps He will do that by creating a situation whereby we have to trust Him implicitly and be “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which we shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of Life.” (Phil. 2:15,16)
Let’s trust God’s wisdom
Let’s not behave like the world, in anger, bitterness and suspicion, but trust God’s purposes. Jesus did not create a fuss against the plotting and treachery that put Him on the Cross. He entrusted Himself to His Father, and those religious hypocrites and Judas were the agents for the greatest act of mercy and redemption the world will ever know. God is in control. Jesus is described as full of grace and truth. Let’s display those same characteristics .
The darker it gets — and it’s looking pretty dark — the brighter we can shine.
After a delay while I had stents put into my coronary arteries and looked after a four-year-old step grandson for 10 days — a full time occupation with no time for anything else — I’m very proud to announce that my new book is in print — electronically and as a paperback.
There is something in music that causes a surge in the heart
of the listener, causing emotions that fluctuate as the music varies. A good
story, well written can do that, too.
In this book, I’ve written award winning stories that will put a song in your heart, like music. Whether you find your spirit soaring like an eagle with inspiring true stories such as that of Father Damien in “Plundering a Hell on Earth”, challenged with fictitious tales containing eternal truths, such as “I Did it My Way”, weeping at the tragedy of a senseless war in “Scorched Earth, Seared Soul” or tenderly touched by the love of two women in “To Mary, and Mary”, each story will strike a chord that brings you to Jesus, or challenges your walk with Him in some way.
Listen to the music that stirs within you as you read, and you
will hear God speak to you.
For the next two weeks the book is on promotion for 99c. If you buy it from Smashwords, you’ll need to quote a coupon, which is NM27P.
This is an extract from someone who previewed it:
“Loved the book! It was a real treasure trove of vignettes, little polished gems that keep me digging for more. I wept on several occasions at the beauty of your language and the emotions you evoked.”
Here’s a sample:
The
Mocking
At the cathedral exit, Jacques paused and looked at his friend. “Wait here. I’m going back to shock the priest out of his cassock!” Turning back to the aisle, he made his way towards the confessional. Jacques and Mario were touring the world and having a blast. Cathedral tours were not usually included with the beaches, night clubs and extreme sports, but this one was supposed to be famous. Jacques found it ornate, cold and otherworldly. He needed to inject some fun. Drawing back the curtain of the confessional, he sat down. “Father, I have sinned,” he said in a contrite voice. “Nothing is beyond God’s forgiveness, my son. Please confess your sins.” Jacques, his imagination at full sway, recited in lurid detail, stories of every abominable sin he could think of. He had murdered, he said, fornicated, cheated, lied, blasphemed and betrayed. Finally he stopped, waiting for a response. After a silence the priest spoke up in deep, clear tones. Was there a slight mocking? Had he seen the prank? “My son, you have much to repent of. This is the penance: At the life-size crucifix overlooking the chapel to your right, look into the face of the statue of Jesus hanging on the cross and repeat ten times, “Jesus, you are hanging there for all I’ve done and I don’t care.” Then, with the hint of a smile in his voice, he said, “Do not let the game end here. Carry it through to the end.” So he DID know. Oh well, Jacques would accept the dare. He found the crucifix easily. He never understood this Jesus thing. Why did people make so much fuss about a man on a cross improbably taking our sins? Was the story true? It seemed unlikely. Uncertainly, he started. “Jesus, you are hanging there for all I’ve done and I don’t care. Jesus, you are hanging there for all I’ve done and I don’t care.” Gaining confidence, he made it part of the fun. Beating his breast in mock despair, in a cracked voice he called, “Jesus, you’re hanging there for all I’ve done,” then he straightened himself, looked defiantly at the statue’s face and spat out the words, “and I don’t care.” He tried looking him in the eye, daring him to flinch, “Jesus, you’re hanging there for all I’ve done and I don’t care.” There, that was four times. Six to go. On the seventh time, as he looked into that face, he noticed, for the first time, how the thorns of the crown pierced the skin of his forehead, causing blood to trickle down into his eye. Inexplicably, he felt an urge to wipe it away. “This is silly. It’s only a statue!” The next time, his eyes wandered to the hands fiercely impaled with large, rough nails. Again he noticed the blood trickling, this time, from the palms to halfway along his arms before forming drops that hung, about to fall. “Jesus, you’re … you’re hanging there … for all I’ve done, and ….. and I don’t care.” He forced the words out. “I am just talking to a statue.” Why, then was he feeling so emotional about it? He looked back at the face. Those eyes; they seemed to know what he was saying and yet remained with that same compassionate look. Of course they would. They were the eyes of a statue. And yet…. what if it depicted a real person? Two to go. He started, “Jesus, you’re hanging there for all I’ve done and…. and… ” He felt his knees shaking, then giving way. On his knees he started sobbing, “and I DO care, Jesus. I’m not that callous. Or maybe I am. I am sorry. I am so sorry that you had to do this for us. Why do you love us so much? How could I not care, Jesus, when YOU care so much? Forgive me, please. I don’t ever want to willingly do anything that makes me more responsible for your suffering.” As he knelt before the cross, a tangible peace flooded his soul. Through his tear-filled eyes he half-imagined Jesus coming off that cross, laying a forgiving hand on his shoulder. And he felt clean; for the first time he could remember, he felt washed from the inside out. He looked up and saw the man-God behind the statue. He also saw, in every repeat of his own mocking another reason for those brutal nails. And, born again, he wept. (This is based on a true story)
