to know ... as I am known...

“..to know as we are known” - our goal, and dream,

will be one day full blown, and we’ll be true.

We know that’s not the case just now, it seems

the Onion-Skin encased another few!

And “How are we now known?” - A worth-while quest!

And whose thoughts have more flown towards these selves?

I s’pose that ow-ah own vested int’rest

might be love not yet grown up like the elves,

or creatures that had not forgotten love,

or maybe after rot,..  had learned again….

To “know” a fact, to some folk is to shove

it where we’d like to ”come”, or send it when

we’d like to, as a dog, subservient

to alpha leader’s drive-by wish or want;

to know a fact wins you an argument,

and gets your will done too, you're the  savant.

But when we know a person, we're known too!

When Adam knew Eve, her son was conceived.

That’s if you know someone, then they know you.

This kind of knowing’s fun - if you’ve believed

and trusted friends who're worthy of that trust.

It’s scary too, on Earth we’re often bent,

and knowing in this way can really bust

us up, so I would say, that where he went

-  that man among all men (who knew them too),

would listen further when they spoke and lived,

not just their words he heard, but hopes renewed,

old fears that haunted stirred, but these he sieved.

---

“Love never fails. But ….  whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”  I Corinthians 13:8‭-‬12 NKJV

How's it going?

I feel like life's been busy 
there's been heaps of stuff to do
at times I feel a tizzy 
but I know you've been here too. 

I feel I've been a grumpy,
and reacting t'other folk.
"I do. Don't contradict me!"
God, what to do with this bloke?

I don't well know the answer,
so, I'll have to take him back.
You are the first advancer.
Live one. I don't know the hack.

I think there's something wrong here 
AND since You made this whole thing,
can you please fix me up, dear 
God - A new creation bring!

psalm reflecting on James 1

But every good endowment that we might,
and each complete gift that we’ve now received,
must come from up above - Father of  lights,
with whom no inconsistency’s achieved.

This is the Mother of all lights that shine,
& Father, in the best sense of the word,
the source of love and goodness that you’ll find
no slightest variation/ shadow stirred!

It’s not by others’ wishes we've become
his own sons, but by his own sperm of truth
that we might be his children who can run
his new creation - when we're grown to youth!

In view of what he’s making us, dear bro.,
let every man be quick to listen (to
take in words from God, that help us know
the truth, and show his love in what we do)

but slow to use his tongue, and lose his cool.
For man’s quick temper never is the means
to bring about God’s true goodness, a fool
well, on the other hand can “spill the beans” -

and bring those hellish giants to our realm,
to get the goose that lays the golden egg,
for we ourselves, when we stand at the helm,
and live as Captain, we will never beg!

Have done, then, with impurity, and own
the evil which came from us, left us cold;
and let in deep, this word that God has sown
in our own hearts, and which can save our souls.

So don’t just hear the message (that’s a waste!)
but put it into practice; otherwise
you just delude yourself. The man in haste
who simply hears, but then does not disguise

this truth within his life, so it can grow
and make a garden plot that’s more than dirt,
is like a man who doesn't really know
there’s blood over his face, and he's been hurt.

He thinks to just keep on - about his life,
He sees himself, the bits that he can see,
if he ain't got a mirror (or a wife)
to help him out … but you know that story!

There’s secret stuff in Psalm One, for someone
who meditates, reflects on God’s own word;
alternatively, someone who has fun
just mouthing off to others, like a turd

is full of stuff that's not much good, and might
not be the sharpest stool that has been shed.
What’s pure and genuine in God’s own sight
is following Christ’s life until we're dead.

---

Have you read the book in the Bible by the name of James?

It has been a breath of fresh air to me for many years.

For a while at Uni I decided, when I got to James 1:19-27, that I wouldn't keep reading on (in my quiet times with God) till I was actually doing this in my life, so ev'ry day I read and thought about it (& memorized it, to help get it into me, and me into it), and prayed about it, and assessed how I was going with it etc... until I saw me growing, obeying, learning to put it into my life. I think I learned it in J.B.Phillips, read and compared it with NIV, GoodNews, & other translations, and stumbled through it in Greek. I was stuck on that for about 3 months. One of the best things I ever did. I reckon you'd benefit from it too.

Reading in a number of translations like these, has been a great way to start to "get it" & take it in for me (& if you want to read it easier on a small screen, you can click on the link, then delete the translations you don't want to read that time. But when you click back on that link, you'll get 'em all back again).

Rats, that link didn't work properly on my phone (unless you open it in your browser, & set it to "display as a Desktop"). This one might work better for Greek and JBPhillips:

..in the cool of the day

...Someone said the other day it's good to keep asking questions, to go on a journey with our maker.
ThankYou Lord

---

Amen. It is,
for as you quest,
it's like the biz-
nus doesn't rest

and neither does
my maker who
is not like us
except we do

seem lots like God
both woman, man,
together odd-
ly then more can

somehow reflect
more God's nature
to resurrect,
not to hate your

diff'rences, but
love them for,
they're yours, no rut
will grow, adore

the one, who learns
to love like Lord,
is who then yearns
to walk, not hoard.

And sometimes too,
they walk quite slow
for they like you -
more than "the go".

My April Amble

My April Amble’s been to listen, look,

waste time going for walks and pondering.

So asking of good questions to dig deep,

and to descry life’s meaning, wondering.

And wandering about, looking for gold.

Just going on my own, or with a friend.

While list’ning to the things that I've been told,

and following each stream up to it’s end.

By which I mean “beginning”, I suppose

although it feels as I walk up, to shrink,

until it’s only wetting just my toes.

That's int’resting 'bout streams now, don't you think?

Instead of starting off big, bold, and brash,

and dwindling off, and dying right away,

they start as tiny trickles, just a splash,

and slowly grow, with more run-off each day.

And now that I am able to amble,

to talk to trees, and microbes, and myself,

and wind and waves; my life might look a  shamble,

might seem that I am sleeping, “on the shelf”.

But that’s ok, for April is to amble

off on my own, and try to “be alone”.

It might be seen by some as criss-cross ramble,

or waste of life, the “haste” has been sent home.

And secret things, then happen and must sit,

and be allowed to send roots deeper down,

and then when stuff has silently raised, it

might be appropriate to make more sound.

---

On the evening of that same day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The disciples woke him up and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?”  Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you frightened? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:35‭, ‬38‭-‬40 GNTD

“ .. So he said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest a while.”. Mark 6:31 GNTD

Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. As they looked on, a change came over Jesus,... As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from death.”  They obeyed his order, but among themselves they started discussing the matter, “What does this ‘rising from death’ mean?” And they asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?” His answer was, “Elijah is indeed coming first in order to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and be rejected? I tell you, however, that Elijah has already come and that people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scriptures say about him.”. Mark 9:2‭, ‬9‭-‬13 GNTD

Break down expectations, Build up expectancy.

Stop to listen,
Stop to talk,
Stop the beer,
If it makes you squawk.

Stop mid-sentence,
Sing a song,
Don't stop if the words,
All come out wrong.

Stop to breathe,
Take a break,
.........  How long
did you take?

Stop with friends,
And make new ones,
Christ might make them,
Daughters, sons.

Begin to listen,
Start to hear,
The voice of wisdom,
Loud and clear.

Some might say,
It's not so loud,
Help us Lord,
To be less proud.

Laugh with laughter,
Cry with tears,
But, try to stifle,
Aimless fears.

With kindness though,
Be careful here,
Might have to find,
A lower gear.

For, God helps those,
Who humble are,
That pride won't get us,
Very far.

Enjoy good stories,
And listen too,
Then someone may,
Listen to you.

Talk to dad,
And sit with mum,
Let them wrap up,
Your sore thumb.

Don't be afraid,
Of angry men,
Watch out! You may,
Become like them.

Take your rest,
And do not fret,
Tomorrow's worries,
Are not here yet.

C.C.U.

t'asking...

Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Jesus of Nazareth; (Matthew 7:7 - PM Version)

---

"So keep on asking", not just acting out.

It seems like one will keep you small and frail,

while t’other is more muscular - a shout,

and else demand, which seems to more avail.

The Heavens and the Earth are of such stuff

that at the centre of it all is One;

One person, not material (though tough),

and not just energy as is our sun.

And Jesus’ insight goes against the grain

(the way things fall, just naturally for us),

he calls the core of all-that-is a “name”,

like Papa. He recalls then any fuss

that Papa makes, and listens as a child,

- & carefully obeys his ev’ry wish,

which means sometimes he seems to run quite wild,

and sometimes is as slippery as a fish.

But other times he sets off ev’ry trap,

and let's them do the worst that they can do.

It's like he might be just a "loser" chap,

but that’s because God likes his children too.

So Jesus says you certainly should ask,

for then you will receive from God’s own hand -

he’ll give you what you need for any task,

and even change some things that he has planned.

So keep on seeking and you’ll find you’ll find.

And keep on knocking (not turning the knob?),

and doors will open up, and stairways wind

up taking you up to where angels lob.

---

a rus-ta-far-ian friend

Please God help us (and "Russ")

to see what you would do

if you were in the bin

we sometimes feel is real

but soon forget, and yet

we know it's so. Don't go

away from us (and "Russ").

Thank you for the one he

(that's Yeshua) remarked

would come to us (& "Russ"),

even in dark, we'll hark.

And thanks to you (who's true)

we'll ask you to renew

us and our friend you sent.

Please give us all (this Paul

especially now) somehow

your grace and love above

all other needs, with deeds

that work with wis- dom's biz-

nus to help us (and "Russ").

Samuel's growth ... and us both?

“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people”. 1 Samuel 2:26 NIVUK

---

Oh what a lovely summary of growth

to manhood1 (reminiscent of what Luke

had in his mind when he’s describing both

the Baptist and Messiah in their youth).

"The Lord was with young Samu’l as he grew

up, and he let none of the prophet’s words

fall to the ground. And all of Israel knew,

well, recognised that Samuel, he had heard”.2

And then that wistful statement, quite lovely,

how God revealed himself to Samuel at

the place where God had said that he would be

with his people, and through the message that

came from the Lord, the very word of God,³

so, as the story told us just before:

when God spoke, and awoke Sam, it was odd,

but God chose when to do it less, or more4!

And something in me now awakes with this

small story that I've heard from in my youth,

about a boy whose mum’s prayers in anguish

set him on paths to be God’s man in truth,

who would be true to all the good his name

had given him, to help him listen well

to God, and what he said, he’d be ashamed

to sin against the Lord as we can tell

from what he later said about his prayers5

for all God's people, and that he would teach

them God's own way - what’s  good and right and fair,

and help them to fear, serve, consider, each!

---

1  “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people”. 1 Samuel 2:26 NIVUK    “And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel”. Luke 1:80 NIVUK.  “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”.  Luke 2:52 NIVUK

2 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for God heard, or maybe like Shimon, heard God. 1Sam1:20.   "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.  1 Samuel 3:18‭-‬20

3"The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.". 1 Samuel 3:18‭-‬21

4 less: The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.  1 Samuel 3:1 NIVUK
more: in the case of Samuel, (see footnotes 2 and 3 above).

5 “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.  1 Samuel 12:23‭-‬24 NIVUK

---

"earthy" provision from heaven

The Lord, the God, is who (like mum does babe)

will from God’s body satisfy the thirst

of God’s small child, connected, un-afraid.

God needs not children, though self seems to burst!

God fills the hungry souls with all the good

they need, as babies fill after they’ve milked

their mums’ colostrum - antibodies should

help ev’ry little tyke, they way they’re built!

---

The Lord satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry soul with good things. Psalm 107:9 (PM Version)

Pray today

This group from that there Christian School now on

their way to stay till some time on Friday;

please keep them safe from evil and from harm

that they'll be challenged in a godly way,

both physically and spiritu'lly. A Psalm

spring from their lips, that eyes of their hearts may

be opened to you Lord. That your peace calm,

and energize, to crush that deadly snake!

walk, work, with (-in -out -with)

The Spirit of the God, who raised from death’s

strong hold the Jesus who is Christ, now lives

in you, and will do more than you could guess,

for God to mortal bodies truly gives

the life that Jesus had when he was raised

from death, by this same Spirit now within.

Oh God, there’s much of me that seems quite dazed,

a chronic case - fatigue that  wants to win.

I'm telling this to you who made me up,

since you yourself are my own only hope.

This virus has got in, and now erupts

all kinds of ways, to see that I can't cope!

And just as God raised Christ up from the dead,

this same thing will occur with each about

who gladly honours Jesus as their head.

God's Spirit cleans up IN-side, then the OUT!

God, help me on the inside specially, now,

so all the words that come out of my mouth,

from meditations of my heart, would bow,

walk humbly with my God, both North, and South,

and East, and West upon this lovely land

that’s groaning till God’s children are full borne

to on the inside, and the outside, stand

before him, and with nothing left to mourn,

are fully seen, by ev'ry one about

to be acceptable to you O Lord,

our “Rock”, our “Ground of Being”, we would shout

“You're also our Redeemer”. We’re restored!

---

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by the same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (PM Version)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (PM Version)

a pre-curser?

The resurrection of the Christ can come,

well, only after death, but don't be glum.

He's still the way we get infected too;

so, same thing works for us, both me and you!

In fact he may have done it just for us,

we didn't have a way, without that fuss,

so he who needed not to die at all,

then pioneered the way for you (& Paul).

And when we come in under him, as son,

or daughter, we can find some things are done,

and some we have to recapitulate,

and follow in his steps the same path. Wait!

But, didn't he die on a cross so we

could miss out dying like that? What did he

say? Did he speak about this very thing?

Or, are we left to guess? The suffering…

the loss of hopes & dreams for life on Earth…

Would he ask us to follow not just birth,

but death, and pain, and mock-king? Would he ask

us follow him in taking on that task?

If so, Christ's resurrection is ours too!

If we are joined with him, all that he’ll do,

all that’s to come, all that’s above with Christ,

he shares with us, his life is what sufficed!

For he it is who sits enthroned above

all honour, pow'r, authority - from love.
So feast on all the treasures of the realm,

for he's our Captain, and he holds the helm!

---

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’. Mark 8:34‭-‬38 NIVUK

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;  if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;  if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11‭-‬13 NIVUK

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:5‭-‬8 NIVUK

Christ's resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that's where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honour and authority.
Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities and not with the distractions of this world. Colossians 3:1-2 (PM Version)