May you be strengthened from God's boundless resources, so that you will be able to pass through any situation and endure it with courage and joy. Colossians 1:11 (PM Version)

If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? —Jeremiah 12:5

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4 (PM Version)

May you be given strength
from God's boundless resources, 
so you may come at length
to be able to run with horses,

if it’s that God chooses
(he’ll be your vindication),
everything he uses,
and helps through any situation

if it’s that we’ve sided
with him, & asked to work with
him, and then decided
to contribute, and not to shirk with

the time that we’re given;
then we know we’ll be going
where folk have been driven
in desperation. We’ll be showing

God’s love, for it’s needed
right there, and that’s where God is,
for their cry he’s heeded
& wants to help endure with courage

and also with deep joy.
It’s there I prayed to the LORD,
and he answered this boy, 
freeing me from all my fears galore!

not only.. nineteen..

after that Psalm*

Above the Earth there’s a plur-al-ity°

that's telling out the glory of the God,

and heralding his creativity,

a body language saying quite a lot..

They use no speech (no words or voice are heard),

& yet their sign or message goes on out.

This makes me think of quite another WORD,

that showed us signs - he scattered them about.

And when he had infected with true life

the men whom he had made Ambassadors

of his new reign (especially when in strife),

they were to take his message (or his cause)

right all the way to the “ends of the world”a,

or as we'd say today, the whole world round.

And in these heavens God’s word was who hurled,

and made a place, and time where could be found

the fury of the sun, which comes out like

a bridegroom from his wedding banquet bed -

he's won his woman, he could almost hike

a hundred miles, he's quenched and quite well fed.

He's won before he starts, a stronger man,

who runs his course with joy.  He rises up,

from one end of the heavens, and God's plan

means he goes to their end, still not bankrupt!

So nothing's hidden from its heat, undrained

it then returns tomorrow no less bright

than it was here today. It has not feigned,

it is not shadowed from reflected light.

A sun of righteousness was set to riseb,

to not just dry, and bake and scorch; but heal,

and give life down to Earth, from in the skies

(no fear that you would burn, and crack, & peal

that's if you fear God's name, serve who he sends,

and don't usurp yourself a higher place,

there's something pure in that that never ends,

and altogether right, his ruler's straight.

If God's anointed one commands a thing,

his word will bring a clarity to life,

his generosity will flow and bring

fresh light of love and grace to us, so rife.

The style and way of God's a path to tread,

they make your footstep firm and sure, and wise.

His rules of thumb, can save you lying dead.

His principles can give you nine lives twice!

His teaching is worth trying to recall,

reviving soul, and spirit, both complete,

so, perfect then, in helping out this Paul.

They're more desirable than gold. More sweet

than honey, or the drippings of the comb.  

And by these things your servant (me) is warned;

Since I'm with you I can not be alone.

In keeping them, there is some great reward.

Who can detect the errors of their ways?

They seem to them quite right in  their own eyes.

Clear me from hidden faults, and by your rays

please heal me from pride's cancer and demise.

Then I shall be quite blameless, innocent

of trespassing, for I'll have done like you.

Oh that my words and thoughts might be yours sent

this way, O Lord, my rock, redeemer too!

---

*  Psalm 19:1‭-‬14 NRSV

°  The words “heaven” and “sky” are almost always singular in modern English, but in biblical Hebrew, the word shamayim is plural. That’s why we sometimes see “skies” or “heavens” in our English Bibles instead of “sky” or “heaven.” Hebrew grammarians call this a “plural of extension,” meaning the word is plural because it describes something large or complex. It’s a linguistic trick that works well in English, too. By nature, the word “skies” connotes something grander than “sky.” It makes sense to think of the realm above us as a vastness of things, not as a single thing. “The sky” doesn’t do justice to a clear view of a starry night outside city lights.

from “When Heaven Meets Earth - A 12-Part Biblical Study on Heaven from The Bible Project”, p.11, downloaded from https://thebibleproject.com/explore/heaven-earth on 25 Aug 2018 @ 8:41pm

a  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  Luke 24:45‭-‬47 NRSV

He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:7‭-‬8 NRSV

Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.  1 Timothy 3:16 NRSV

b  “See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.  Malachi 4:1‭-‬2 NRSV

---

who knows you..

O Lord , you have examined and known me.  

You know when I sit down and when I rise;

you see my thoughts before they even be

quite clear to me, and yet you don't despise!

You know my ins and outs and lying down,

my paths and places, where I sleep at night,

and all of my responses, smiles and frowns.

Before a word is said, you know it right.

You're all around, before, behind, beside,

more even than a cloud when I'm in fog.

You lay your hand upon me, and confide.

More present with me than a faithful dog.

Your knowledge of me is too wonderful -

to think that I am known like that, by you!

Too much to think of. Sounds like it's just bull…,

I can't believe that half of it is true!

And yet, it's when I stop and realise,

I know that I can't go away from you.

Your spirit, and your presence, fills the skies

which mark the limits of what you can do.

Your loving hand will lead and hold me fast.

No place too big or small, or high or low,

or light or dark, or hidden, first or last,

can make a separation, or bestow

it's ignorance on you. You're in the know.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;

and journeyed with me, egg to embryo,

then foetus, and helped me to learn my “smarts”.

It's like you're ON my side, not just at it!

What other option’s open, but respond

with thankfulness and praise, I cannot sit

and take for granted, to whom I've  belonged.

Your making is so skillful, what a blast!

Your works are full of wonder too, as well.

Your intricate involvement, in my past,

and future plans to save all yours from “hell” -

(the rubbish dump of waste and fire and worm

that helps to turn to compost what will not

learn from the God of gods, what will not turn,

acknowledging where all good things we've got

have come from). God, your thoughts to me weigh much.

How vast the sum of them!  Like Abraham's

descendants. You still want to keep in touch!

And at the end — I'm with you, Yes I AM.

What goes the other way from you, against

your purposes, then I'll be against them!

If they hate you, I hate those kinds of men,

instead of keeping room for them as friends.

Examine me, O God, and know my heart;

and test and know my thoughts. See if there is

a wicked way in me, lead me from start

along that everlasting way - Jesus!

---

After Psalm 139:1‭-‬24 NRSV

Fellow workers in God's field, or God's building. His grace sealed.

Hey Paul, I've been... thankful for the times we taught scripture together in mendooran, ... I hope we might meet up for a cuppa soon. ...  I'll let you folk know when I'm passing through. It's often lovely popping into to your place and catching up with whoever is there. Bless you this day, jo

And blessings on you, 
dear sister of me.
I'm glad of times too
we had when sharing

and very very
glad of God's strong grace
- when hanging with me,
and helping me face

up to my short-falls
- and his ableness.
It's his life that calls,
and too wants to bless.

So thanks from me, God,
and maybe from Jo,
we are a bit odd
but you surely know

for you're not just "Dad"
but our "Mum" as well,
that's odd, but not sad,
inside you we dwell. 

plans/purposes/prayers

For God has planned to give a vision “pealed”:

the wonder and the splendour of his plan,

his secret plan that is to be revealed,

for Christ has come to live in you, human!

This means the hope of glory yet to come!

Though what he’s done deserves a song and dance,

his fish-hook line caught folk to his kingdom,

from exiled land - so this is not by chance.

'I look to God, the Lord, and to his strength.

I seek His face always; though here on earth.

Recalling wonders He has done at length;

His miracles, much like our first-time birth.

And so I give him thanks for each good thing,

and use my place as child of God on earth,

to ask him into life here, so to bring

his goodness more, since this is ours by birth.

It's like he won't wade in, unless we ask.

So if we do, he's like a kangaroo.

He'll visit often, helping us with tasks,

and what he knows will help around the room.

But just remember Paul, there's others too,

at least they seem to come in and do stuff.

So don't blame him for ev'rything they do,

for that would be the ultimate of “rough”.

May God, the inspiration of all  hope,

the fountain, fill you overflowing with

his joy and peace which acts just like a rope

that anchors with great strength to kin and kith.

---

God has planned to give a vision of the full wonder and splendour of his secret plan... And the secret is simply this: Christ in you!! Yes; Christ in you, the hope of glory!!
Colossians 1:26-27. (PM Version)

'I look to the Lord and His strength; I seek His face always. I remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and give thanks to Him...'. Psalm 105:1,4-‬5 (CR Version)

May God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit surround your life with His abundance of radiant hope. Romans 15:13 (PM Version)

responding to my reacting

Oh God I've been reactive in my life,

I want to be more prayerful in my strife,

please save me from my sinful, self-worked ways.

I see in other people stuff to praise,

great good gifts from the father of all lights,

though also weeds that tear the nutrients

from soil, which doesn't help the crop in sight.

My anger at this waste (’times I'm incensed)

is not all bad, I see he had it too!

But here I am, I need your help to grow

to be someone who learns my stuff from you!

I sense I have to trust you, for you know,

your ways are higher, even when I think

they're stupid, for you always look with love

upon your children (whom I would not blink

to see destroyed, reacting “from above”).

I know I think my view is right and good,

and always should be taken in a jam.

I hear you saying other ways I could

join with you. God please help me now to stand,

and sit, and walk with Jesus Christ, your man!

The weeds must just be left ’longside the wheat,

(and yet the crop of wheat may have a “plan”),

you're helping me to shift upon my seat,

and trust you're magic (you're the Great I AM)

as your anointed leader who enfleshed:

by actions, questions, stories, (he's our man!)

with prayer and groans, with heaven earth enmeshed.

Oh God, help me to grow in grace, not spam.

---

Further notes to self and friends:

I have started to see, within these last few months, my attitude and expectations are like Jonah not Jesus.

Save us/me from anything less than allowing your spirit of truth to lead us/me into your true love and your love of truth..
Ask me how I've been going with acting first, asking good questions, and telling stories/ using analogies, praying and groaning, and shining the light (rather than cursing the darkness).

(un)fleaced a wedding feast... *

Again Jesus used parables to talk

to people, with their leaders close around.

“The rule of heaven is ... like this (don’t balk,

but): “Once there was a king who one day found

His son, a prince, had now a wife to wed.

The king sent servants to invited guests,

and when the wedding feast was all prepared,

they went again, to save them being stressed.

And certainly they did not get up-tight,

these “guests” who were invited there before,

or feel constrained to come to be polite,

they were “emancipated” at their core,

they said (& acted) that, they did not want

to come to celebrations of the king,

that was so “boisjwahzee”,  they were avant-

garde; AND would choose right now, some other thing!

The King sent other servants to those “guests”.

Their message was: ‘My feast is ready, baked;

my butchered beasts are cooked, deserts - the best,

since everything is ready. Come - partake!’

But some invited guests paid no atten-

-tion, went about their businesses - to work:

while others grabbed the servants (well their hench-

men), beat them, killed them, threw them out as jerks.

(The king was very angry; so he sent

his soldiers, now to kill (and burn right down

the livelihoods of) “guests”. So off they went.

Those murd’rer’s blood then mingled with their ground.)

…

But then he called his servants to his side

and said to them, ‘My wedding feast is right

& ready, but the people I invite-

ed, don’t deserve it. Now go far and wide,

and find the people anywhere they are,

forget their occupation or income,

their housing, or their int'rests, near or far,

from farms, or streets, or even from a slum,

invite them to the feast (this is no joke)!

So servants went and did as they were told

the wedding hall was filled with all these folk.

The king went in to see these folk - his “gold”-

whose only job was truly to accept

his generosity and celebrate

a wedding with him (from their side, they kept

their clothes and shoes, none “early” and none “late”)

there’s no-one who should not have come, to start

(except if someone won't participate).

They all did what they could to play the part,

and for that night, forgot their private “hates”.

This King, you might recall, did not like much

when people just for power or advance

lived their own lives, and wouldn't keep in touch,

espesh’ly when they thwarted kingdom plans...

so when he saw a man there who'd not wear

his best clothes from his side, to really be

a wedding guest, to celebrate “the pair”

he checked (to let the man become ready),

and asked the bloke  ‘Friend, how did you get here?

For no-one here has snuck in through the back.

Your wedding clothes show you are very dear,

your lack of them is worse than being slack!

He opened up, as man to man they stood,

this King, to this man, “Friend”, he called him then,

and if the man apologized, or stood

his ground - explaining what had happened, when …

this King might well have given him his own

apparel, so he'd add to all the fun

of celebrating, friendship might have grown.

The man, instead, said not a word, not one!

…

In those days folk knew that the king was Boss -

both Judge and Jury, Law-maker as well.

This king then told the servants, “Tie this loss

of friendship up, and throw it into hell,”

(for “hell” was what they called the city dump)

“and see that he is powerless as well

to stop these celebrations, he's a chump,

and maybe he'll think twice before he'll ‘sell’

again, or think of using other crowds

to make a buck, to do ‘what he thinks best’ ”.

And Jesus said to finish off, aloud;

There’s diff'rent kinds of “chosen from the rest”.

---

* (Matt 22:1-14 retold by Paul Walker)

See also Luke's (similar, but different) rendition of this parable..

The circle of virtuousity..

The Lord is my strength and shield, I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. And with my song I thank Him. Psalm 28:7 (PM Version)

The Lord is good to those who depend and put their hope in Him; to those who search for Him. Lamentations 3:25 (PM Version)

---

The Lord is my strength
The Lord is my shield,
I trust Him with all 
my heart, and at length
He helps me, and yields
a heart with joy (small -

but)  filled to the brim
with songs that I sing
and chants that I chant,
I'm still thanking Him,
my praises I'll bring,
seek his face, not hand!

The Lord is goodt' those
who depend on him,
who trust him in all.
Their hope's placed (& grows)
through, on, & in - Him;
He's good to this Paul!

.. saw that it was good° ...

And thank you for this girl you've given me,

who captivates yet keeps me winging free,

her love is what reminds me of your grace

and teaches me to slow down to retrace

the steps of one who trusted your great love,

but also your perspective - from above;

to learn from you just how to grow a god,

as living offspring, to "tread as he trod"!

And thank you for the pleasures you have strewn -

at your right hand there’s more than a whole moon

of tasty cheese; your simple gifts (like taste),

or cups of tea, or walking, games, are spaced,

and sometimes not - they're crammed, and piled a lot.

I’ll just receive, and trust, believe you're not

in competition, you've given your life

to me, and will do more than my good wife.

And for these childers, you gifted through us,

to your new world, creation’s omnibus -

to drive it under your good gracious hand,

and John spoke true* re. joy that could not stand

but multiplied upon itself when they

lived true to what you hope and love, and say,

which means that they must listen to your word

and know your heart’s intent, and live absurd-

ly as though you were growing baby gods

from embryos like these, ourselves, and bods

like us. You're o-verth top! - we're really glad

that you're around. We think that you're not bad!

---

°  God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. ..… God saw that it was good. ...  God saw that it was good. ... God saw that it was good. ... God saw that it was good. ... God saw that it was good. God saw all that he had made – and it was very good!  Genesis 1:4‭, ‬10‭-‬10‭, ‬12‭, ‬18‭-‬18‭, ‬21‭, ‬25‭-‬25‭, ‬31 NET

*  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  3 John 1:4 NIVUK