re: 'lations

Txt2friend:  mtg on  Thurs
Txt2PW:      Think I'll be away visiting relatives

..........

Hmm. Go well brother.
God help him listen,
& not to smother
but honour glisten-

ing truth, and love's grace
so when they all meet,
& see t'other's face,
your joy will complete.

Make him a blessing
to all his 'lations.
Keep them aguessing..
joying elations,

to honour what's good,
disparage what's not,
just as Jesus stood
with brothers and what...

missing their false praise,
not playing to pomp,
yet trav'lling when raised
to James to show somp-

thing of that grace which
honours relations,
greetings (like friends' kiss,
G-grandfather's stations),

looks after his Mum,
makes fam'ly of John,
not jealous as some
get, putting love on!

wean off "seen"/See will mean ... so much more ... as metaphore.

'e said 'e fixed 'is eyes not on what's seen,
but on, instead, what's UNseen - through 'is life.
It makes me wonder what on earth 'e'd mean.
Yet as I think about it options, rife,

come running into mind from all sides. Wow!
At first just one, but then there's two or three.
I'll pick one out, & give it to you now.
And you can join me in this reverie...

* Well, if you look at a faint star that's there,
you can't see it until you look away -
at something (or at nothing) anywhere
a bit close to it; then, all I can say..

..is in peripheral vision it is "seen".
I know some things are like this, elusive.
But norm'ly they are faint, catch what I mean?
The message here would be: life's like a sieve

where what goes through is not the stuff you want
(or else the other way around - might be);
you want the one not just then focused on..
ta be the one that finally will be seen.

But here's another option (and there's more):
* He doesn't mean "fixed" with the EYE at all,
what's "fixed on with the eye" is metaphore
for what my life is focused on for sure.

Thus saying, if you focus on what's seen
those things are temporary at the best,
the world unseen to us now, presently
will last much longer than all of the rest.

For unseen things like culture, love & hate,
& fam'lies, friendship & security,
& social structures, though they may seem late-
ly come, affect much more, as you may see...

And that's before you learn from what 'e knew,
about a person who made all this world,
who made us, & who loves as parents do,
expecting that his flag will be unfurled

more after this ol' womb-world is finished,
& bodies "indestructible" are born,
relationships are key, undiminished
they will affect things more! So now be warned.

..........

So we fix our eyes not on what we can see but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (PM Version)

Still, Know, will show, him go! (part 2)

And know that good imaginations come
from God the image maker "Excell-ont!";
Then we can act with him to make them "Done!"
-as Christ worked with his God to bring it on

to here - this place on earth (as in heaven -
where my ideals seem shallow, his run deep -
but also higher than our unleavened
thinking, for his keeps growing in our sleep)

Through Christ, who strengthens me, I imagine
& learn to think his thoughts, hope for his face,
& trust enough to move on, engage in
the next step, so I wait, speak, name & place..

and act in small (or big) ways - as his son
(an embryo, dependant on his mum)
God plans for us to grow up like that One
for good and not disaster, hope to come!

And so I wait on him, for God renews
my strength, through rest, imagined futures all..
all good gifts that extend our future views.
I'll soar on wings, I'll run and then I'll walk...

if needs be, walk on water, as did Christ -
that's travelling on with God, who never rests
except to build community that's spiced
with his grace, peace, truth, love, & joy in tests!

And may you strengthened also be today,
with boundless God's resources, so you'll, boy,
be able to pass through all sit-u-a-
tions and endure it with courage and joy.

..........

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (PM Version)

I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (PM Version)

I wait on the LORD, for He is the one that renews my strength. I will soar with wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not stumble.
Isaiah 40:31(PM Version)

May you be strengthened today with 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)

Still, Know, will show, him go! (part 1)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!!  Psalm 46:10 (PM Version)
Let us hold onto the hope we have, knowing that God is faithful. Let us keep encouraging and cheering each other on in love and helping each other where ever possible.  Hebrews 10:23-24 (PM Version)

He said "BE STILL- (that's let your hands hang limp
with nothing left to do but look and see)
AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!! - not just a gimp,
& understand that you can trust in me."

Somehow when I am moving, doing stuff,
I then forget reality around
about me in the world that may be tough,
but can't be seen - and such things do abound!

But when I make me still and just observe
I somehow make room for myself to think,
& see things in a way that will more serve
reality, - as when I eat and drink,

and thus grow stronger and more able to
exert, and act, & do things in this place,
& also my "still" times are letting you
act in a way that won't bring me disgrace.

This lets me listen to your word to me
& lets it put down roots and grow up hope,
as grows a garden plot from some small seed
when planted, cultivated, helped to cope..

from living hope a living future's grown,
but if it can't hold on then you're just soil
(or dust, that hangs around or else is blown).
So let that true & faithful God en-boil

our mind/imaginations for futures
that sparkle with his love & light & grace.
Let's keep encouraging/ cheering others
to Love, & bring God's Good more to this place!

the tree/path/joy of life...

Thank you Lord, you will show me the path of life, in your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand there is pleasures for ever more. (Psalm 16:11 PM Version)

Aa-men! and again.
How good is it that
this "path of life", when
we walk it, 'snot flat -

just two dimentions,
-not fist-fulls of Rules,
Juries, Detentions..
it calls to us fools

as lady Wisdom,
it's also God's pow'r
his Way, & Kingdom,
his Truth, Life, and now

we begin to see
a face in this lot,
we know it is he
who told them "Fear not!"

You not only "show"
me the path of Life,
you're our Way to go,
in the midst of strife

yet with great pleasure
(your Joy is a Door),
wonderful treasure,
and more that's in store..

like a good marriage
(no room for a whore)
sex ain't disparaged,
real love grows it more. 

blessing for family & friends

O God I now pray,
be open to you,
& secretly pact
as Jesus would do,

for all who some way
are with me from you,
as Jesus has backed
your pow'r to make new:

Protect & keep safe,
grow stong & make true,
that in their react-
ions, and their plans too:

in all that they say,
& think, & then do,
they will be in fact
reflections of you.

Please make them today
a blessing from you,
that they would enact
what's good, right, & true.

eighty of latey

Ol' Dad & Mum,
eighty years young
don't sit back stung
on piles of dung
but as you're gung-

ho keep on still
(I know you will)
keep foll'wing till
his grace has killed
all our self-will

and brings his peace
that will not cease
yet brings release
which will increase
e'en through disease.

Amen.

baby beats half a hundred

Today is the day
the years click on past
full half of the way
to "century" at last..

for Craig-y baby
(the last of that gen-
eration) maybe
he'll be older when

our buckets are kicked,
& this life is done,
but now he is "licked":
we all beat him in run-

ning to older years
with weakness and pains
& mem'ry loss fears
& weight-put-on gains.

So, don't you feel sad?
Young Craig, you can't win
You're still such a lad
it's almost a sin.

Bit still I s'pose you
are older today
than many get to,
& here's whst I say:

Young Craigy we're glad
that you are alive,
a husband, and Dad,
son, brother... (Uncle) survives!

HIS BUILDING (the verb)

I wonder what he means when Paul says that
"Love builds up"? Could "Love" be referring to
that fellow (who in Greek's a "teknon" chap
which meant "a builder" - wood or stone would do)

when HE said HE would BUILD "ekklesia";
then draws attention to a "living stone"
that's built into a temple (where God's near),
both Peter & too Paul were not alone

in talking of God's "temple" of persons
who're being built, & grow up too, like God
both sep'rate & together, then it worsens,
this "building" metaphore of folk who've trod

as do apprentices in tradesmen's steps.
Paul says let all our words be those that build
up others (as words come out - when they're said)
so "building" is between us till we're filled

to overflowing, with Yeshua's life
& spirit that has come to live in us,
till we're the house of God who now is rife
in this world in his many disguises.

The washing and the cleaning of each stone;
the mortar, & the fitments that combine
to make a house where God feels quite at home,
appear to act as skins that hold new wine.

The skins are made, but cleaned, & cured, & tanned,
because, & by, the wine that fills the cup.
that is (as now I've come to understand)
why now his spirit's building, filling, up!

right with God

Emmanuel means: God is here (somehow);
& God's on OUR side - working for our good!
"If God is FOR us, who's against us now?
Our Father is determined that we should

grow up to be like Christ, who is like God.
No one can long resist against his will.
He is the longest suff'ring one who trod
and will do what it takes, ever, untill

he has accomplished all that's in his mind
& in his heart, & purposes of love
to make us right with himself. May we find
it in our hearts to learn from "up above";

at least to want to 'learn to' learn to love, 
since God is able to do more than we
to teach and help us "come on-side" (not shove),
& God himself has given victory

that's from above, and from within as well.
He named the christ "Yeshua" for he'd save
his people from their sins (& death & hell),
with Love that's stronger, deeper than the grave,

and bring us to God's presence - promised land,
to learn a life-style - not now as a slave,
to stand up right with God - holding his hand,
& full of joy, & wisdom, not naive.

Then having learned obedience, to go on
& live in love, & live out love - like him,
who showed us just how wide, & deep, & strong
the power of love could go, & not grow dim.

..........

And he shall  be called Emmanuel, which means "God is with us"... Isa. & Matthew

"If God is for us, who can be against us? ...No one, for God himself has given us right standing with himself."
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!"

Rom 8:31, Phil 4:4

Jesus' alternative to worry

Worrying about
anything at all
is not for this lout
is not for this small

man who worries much;
he remembers now
he will keep in touch
with the God who's "Wow!

God you give me heart!"
(People who do that
find that praying starts,
soon it will be flat-

out -all of life shared,
telling God their needs,
thanking that he cared
'nough to help in deeds).

Seeing more of his
help around the place,
as I think, and sqiz,
letting him displace

old ways of living,
focusing on me.
He is so giving, 
thanking makes me free!

When I do this I
let God's flowing peace
fill me from inside
& start to increase

'til it flows on out
(different from this world
which sucks through a spout).
That's his flag uncurled!

His peace - more than my
mind can understand,
guards me on the fly
my heart, soul, & hand.

Nothing else compares.
Peace gets pow'r from love
and truth, when it cares
- a gift from above.

PW (&CA) .........

I don't worry about anything, I pray about everything. I tell God what I need and I thank him for all He has done for me.When I do this I experience Gods peace, which is far more wonderful than what this world can give, this peace is more than my mind can understand. This peace guards my heart and soul. Nothing compares. Philippians 4:6-7 (PM version)

pray & watch..

Keep praying, being watchful with a thankful heart. Collossians 4:2 (PM Version)

So he says to me 
"Keep on pra-y-ing,
being watchful (with 
heart that is not stiff)"

"Over what?" I say-s,
for if I obeys,
& then does, & prays
(over many days,

so I'm "keeping on"),
"What do I look at?
What do I watch for?"
All he said was ".. with..

..with a thankful heart."
What did Yeshua
tell his people to
watch for? - or to do -

be on guard against?
And what things incensed
him? (For which dispensed
they his life, so hence

his young brother's warn-
ing of what is born
from those leaders's wis-
dom; but take on His!)

Well, maybe a start
is that "thankful heart"
to be watching "with",
as He did with kith

& kin, & others
(who weren't his brothers),
'specially when they poke
things at him, & joke

at his expense to
lift themselves to do
what was in their hearts
- to swell and puff parts.

..........

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:...
Mk14:38 (ASV)

As thousands of people crowded together, so that they were stepping on each other, Jesus said first to his disciples, “Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees—I mean their hypocrisy.
Lk 12:1 GNTD

Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic. Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
Jas 3:13‭-‬17 GNTD

It is true, of course, that “all of us have knowledge,” as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up; but love builds up.
1 Co 8:1

Saturday Riddle 3

Well I am a "mother"
with a little quibbling,
with 9 other "brothers"
or "sisters", that's "sibblings",
these walkers or player-,
s not-overland pull.
But only one is "full" .

Who/what am I?

How ya been?

Txt2PW: ... How are you going Paul?

Very looked after... 
& very well taught...
'times a bit dafter,
than I would have thought...

Much more to learn still
(in action I mean
for just ideas will
be hypocrit-ing).

With such a teacher
such a big brother.... 
we could be each a
brother or mother...

to him who's "Brere Lamb"
& "Brere Lion" as well;
"Brere Tortoise" I am.
God help me unshell!

Oh that we would be
quick to learn from him
who gave eyes to see,
& ears for listenin'.