Dear Paul…

[to an older Paul (Roe), from a younger Paul (Walker), in the wake of the Paul (of Tarsus) who was Messiah's Ambassador to the Nations ...]

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Dear God, we heard the news not long ago,

of brother Paul and how his health has gone.

It seems like it just failed, but  you must know

much more, you aren’t surprised by what’s come on

the news to us, his hairs are numbered* to

your heart of love, just as his days on earth*.

Your plans and schemes go past this life, and do

not stop at death of bodies got at birth*.

And as our Lord and Master modelled well*:

(they’d started mourning young “Talitha”’s life

cut short, but) he said “sleep” was where she fell,

then helped her walk to Jairus and his wife,

and then reminded them to give her food.

Your partnership with her, was strong, not rude.

And I think that you knew the needs of who’d

been ushered out, and in*. Your Paul is glued 

to your will bring done on Earth, as in

the heavens* where your purpose means much good

is done on Earth, down here amongst the “sin”

(the falling short of all best hopes as would

be hoped for as we act to seek unfurled,

the honour, immortality, glory)

Then God gives life that was before this world*,

a process started off in Paul (& me)!

And I am glad for each day shared with Paul

upon God’s earth, below the heavens here,

for his determination so to call

for help to one who loves and calls him “dear”*.

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Footnotes:

ad*  “Why even the hairs of your head are numbered”

arth*  “Teach me oh Lord to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom”

irth* “...just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”(1 Corinthians 15:42-57) 

l* with Jairus’s daughter, and Martha’s and Mary’s brother Lazarus.

n* see Mark 5

s* see The Lord’s prayer: “May your will be done on Earth, as it is in the heavens”

ld* “some people by persevering in doing good, seek honour, glory and immortality. To them God will give the Life of all ages…” (Romans 2:7, cf John 3:18-21, as below).

r”* “God so loved the world…”(John3:16-21); God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself…”(2 Corinthians 5:19); “you are my dearly loved son, with you I am well pleased”(Mark 1:11); “this is my dearly loved son, listen to him!” (Mark 9:7-8); “as God’s children, holy and dearly loved…etc” (Col 3:12, Acts17:27-29) 

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