another babe

Some very GREAT news 'bout a very small

child of both of yous; holy, so she'll call

out to Yahweh who's the Most High of all

- may his daughter choose to trust when she falls.

And may Mum & Dad model simple trust

when the news is "bad", when things start to bust.

Learning from this Na - Omi Grace Isa

Yohana Roza-li how to cry sa

much, & from the heart, when things aren't so good:

'specting you to start & respond as should

one who really loved & wants us to grow

often we feel shoved, but don't want to know

'bout that growing bit, we don't want the pains

or the feeling clipped, we just want the gains;

like an athlete who just wins every race

without training to help us keep the pace.

So God, here we are, thinking of this small

child Naomi's far more dependent call;

and the fact that she can not do a thing,

yet she teaches we, who would learn to sing*.

* consider the parable of the singer, by George MacDonald.

oh, me thinks ... that that stinks! *

Oh God there's part of me that wants to be
acknowledged, and thought well of by some folk.
I saw it there tonight in that story
I told of how I helped that other bloke.

Oh God you helped me see it at the time,
but I kept telling, coz I was half through.
I should have stopped immediately, in line,
with what your Spirit came to help me do.

So please forgive me, make me clean. I find
now what to do (& help me stop that talk
& learn to build up who then comes to mind,
instead of using them as stuff to chalk

up tallies for myself to show off now
how good I am at all I try to do).
I hate it Lord, when others do that "bow",
& talk as though THEY did it, without you.

And there I was, just doing what I hate.
The problem really is that it's not true
for me to talk as though I made my mate...
when really all my confidence in you

is not a thing to boast of. I'd be sick
and tired and want to give up, if that was
the thing for me to spuke of very quick.
So I will only boast in You, because

in truth it's you who helps me ever be
in the know, or have a go, or waiting.
By nature I would shrink away, I see.
Thanks Lord for this chance at cultivating!

* In the light of my experience this week, with God (& my our traitorous heart), this appears to be Part One, followed on a few days later with "what life's lost might be compost"
 & then a few days later than that: "choose companions and array antagonists"

atone a loan & lift the gift

That's "All done!" for the loan (& gift) to you.
And, man, pay that loan "forward" - as did he
whom God anointed to show us right through
these days where God displays Christ's victory

of love, & fam'ly ways, more than of force
(or keeping the ascendancy of pow'r)
for love does never end, so it of course
has more power than all suns in ev'ry hour!

may cornerstone community ... serve who god sends and reflect well ... the cornerstone whose unity ... is integrated in himself..

God, you know much more than we
do, these things serve "family"
well we really want them to, 
that our father's love will do

what it does to beckon/woo
folk to lives of love unto
their own death within this world,
may this open-week unfold

your adventure for these folk
(every woman, every bloke)
that we all be corners-turned
towards the light, your Christ owned.

Amen.

on offer

... and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child. And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me. Mt 18:3‭-‬5 GNTD http://bible.com/69/mat.18.3-5.GNTD

My God , I'm yours today. Do as you will
with me - is what I say, but now to live...
A living sacrifice, that is unkilled
can seem to be so nice, but it will give

me more embarrassment, for it crawls off
the altar where I meant to do the deed.
I know this from my children's open love
reporting that minds will wander, not heed..

when I had said "Lie down, & shut your eyes."
-& they'd obeyed (not frowned & sulked) with trust,
they still reported side-tracks, like blow-flies,
which opened up them wide - until they'd bust.

And when they asked "How do I cope with that?"
well my reply came through as clear as day,
"I think the real issue comes into bat
when you remember to, - start to obey,

instead of thinking "Well, I failed in that."
& moving on to tell myself that "I
can do whatever I want to do, flat
out" since I don't know why, I will not try.

So learn to now obey - nitty gritty,
& in a diff'rent way (against inclines),
for love acknowledges "Author-ity"
& yet creatively it underlines,

& underwrites, & understands the truth,
so does what can be done to compost dead...
dead branches, limbs that live no more their youth-
full-ness because they give it no more head!

crop depends on ... what seed is sown

Sow seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of unfailing love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek The Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12 (PM Version)

Sow seeds of righteousness, 
and you'll harvest a crop
of unfailing love/peace.
Plow your hard ground/hearts up,

for it's time to (right now)
seek Yahweh-Lord, so too
he'll visit and shower 
righteousness upon you.  
(after Hosea 10:12)

I admit: I dent it - y of me!

Oh God I feel susceptible and weak
(I wonder where we get our feelings from).
I wish I was resil'yant, so to speak;
'tmay be what really matters is what's come

from growing (from what's planted) in our lives,
if we are like a garden plot of soil;
a crop, as planted, for a time survives,
& we can help it in our race to "boil"...

More seeds are spread, & then infect more plots
that's if we let their roots grow deep in us, 
till time comes we're identified (in spots,
or totally) by all our crops, & must

then let the matter of our bodies go
back to the dust where they came from again,
& someone-else makes soil from dust, you'll know
them by the crop they grow in this life when

they get to make those choices every day,
to more reflect their Father God above,
in what they think about, & act, & say,
to more spread here below, his kind of love;

or else, to be that independant sort,
who sorts it out alone, because they are
their own selves, coz they are not owned, or bought,
& no-one else but them is quite the star.

Oh God I want your will to be what's done,
to shine around this world more every day.
No matter what I feel, you are the one
I give allegiance to, & I'll obey!

going with God!

Oh God, please help that young  bloke there, and his
his missus (Ingrid), & their daughter too,
that they would kick back in your love, not miss
it - listening to accussing shame (not you).

Sure, not all shame is false, but what we do
with all our shame when - once we're made aware
of it. Will we run off, or run to you?
And let you re-create - & do our share!

I hardly can believe you want to work
along with us. I think it is your love.
That's such a precious thing, I will not shirk,
but ask you to keep giving from above

the "want to", when we feel like giving up;
the joy that comes from giving all our lives
to others who would learn how living up
to your high calling, in your strength survives

& more, surpasses, expectation-ings
of little creatures bound to this small earth.
No caterpillar flies (it don't have wings),
but "butterfly" is there in it's new birth!

That's not to say it straightaway can fly,
it still must dry its wings and learn to be
its new self that's maturing by & by,
& that's what I am praying now I see -

for him & Ingrid, Hannah (& their friends).
God thank you for his mum & what you've done
already, for your goodness never ends!
We will be seen in Jesus, now, your son!

Half way?

Wow, at a school re-union... Didn't realize how much we change, & yet... & yet.. Maybe it's the picture of a seed...
Ah... yes, but it must not clutch at it's identity as though it were always to be a  seed... or as though it was now full-blown as a seed.  It  must let itself be buried secretly, wasted in the ground, before its potential can become evident - in good time (& never to be shown off again to all his old seed-buddies, for they have either rotted in the ground, or are now almost unrecognizable as the seeds they once were.
Much to become!

Are we learning "Who we are?"
- or "Who we are becoming?"
Come the distance? Are we far?
Our "need for speed" 's numbing.

Thinking of a number-line,
we're often led to count,
or extrapolate - that's fine,
"What will I amount

to? "in the end" - it comes to this...
but maybe those two arrows*
"Tell their tale"... ("What if he missed?"
or "What falling sparrows?")

What's the world here coming to?
The end? Is it in sight?
Egg to zygote, foetus, .. clue
us also to some light

on this matter now at hand
or held within our mind-
fullness, we must understand
ain't something that we find.

I've a notion we are found
more full or empty by
others who are on the ground...
who hear us when we sigh.

Which direction do I move?
Am I a cup - or hose?
And who is it that will prove
to whom, that water flows?

* thinking of the two arrows at the ends of a number line e.g. 
             -1       0      1     2
     <-----;----|----;----;--->, 
as the most important indicators: the numbers we are up to, or the speed we're at, are almost irrelevant (as long as we don't stop). Our direction of movement will affect all. But then also, the tales of arrows that illustrate those two directions... The archetypal boy shooting at a sparrow or pigeon (for target practice, & surprisingly hitting it, then dealing with intentional death, & William Tell & his two arrows... etc)

peace by piece

Txt2PW: ... Amen, thank Him for his truth and his way,
May he help us live in it, through night and in day,
Thanks that he leads in wisdom and light,
It makes me sleep peacefully, tomorrow'll be 'right.

.......... - ..........

Peace fully given, yet we learn each bit,
that's piece by piece until we've walked the way,
& know it top to bottom, all of it
(well, might be we're more known by it, I say).

For as we've opened up ourselves to Peace
(that's "Shalom" in the Hebrew, they tell me,
they say that peace's lovers never cease,
it's blessings were pronounced by heavenly

bright angels at the birth of "Prince of Peace" -
his way of truth & love is peace's way,
& he told his ambassadors then please
to bless all lovers of peace who will pay

the price to welcome, aid, & abet it,
who put their money where their mouth is too,
they will not talk and then just forget it,
they learn to live it out, as rare folk do!

They have a kind of hope beyond this world,
they see beyond the biological,
might not be in their life-time when unfurled,
but peace's flag & rule is magical,

yet real as steel, & solid as a brick,
it has a diff'rent pow'r that's based on love,
it's creativity is not a trick,
it does the work, & yet it will not shove!

It truly thanks, then looks, responds, & sleeps
- at peace, that other hands are working too
(yet if it wakes it is not scared, & peeps,
expectant) banks that truth & love win through.

waifer us...

Oh God we love the way you see, and do.
The way you listen, come down, get involved!
When I grow up, I want to be like you.
Impart your view & love to me disolved

within my food and drink, & air I breathe,
I want to be "connected" - branch in vine.
I now recall that statement (I believe)
that all the food of this world, is divine..

divine love that's made edible for us
to take in freely, yes, it grows on trees!
And this is to display the kind of fuss
you make of us. Caressing in the breeze

[or breath, or wind, or spirit - the same word
in ancient Hebrew (or the Greek) they say.]
You want to give your mind to those who've heard,
& listened to, all those you've sent our way.

To speak of "way", it makes me think of "weigh";
how you want us to weigh up what we hear,
& not to be naive, to know folk say
not only what is true, & good, & clear.

Sometimes we have to exercise our brain,
- but more than brain, to check our motives too,
& exercise your love which comes again,
as varied as the animals in zoo,

and gladder than them not to live in vain.
In fact, your love and view give meaning to
our lives which otherwise have nothing gained,
for meaning-more I turn my gaze to you!

Matty gets married (to a lovely Katie)...

Bless you brother (& sister).
I'm sorry I don't think ill make it. I think ill be in Rockhampton that day.

God help this brother
& his wife (to be),
love one another
in your great love free-

-ly given to share
with folk who're about.
Help them not care
your love might run out,

but go fresh each day
to get some from you,
so, not stored away,
's a manna* that's true!

* when read it can mean that "what is it" bread from heaven, or, a manner or method of displayimg truth.

what to think about?

Hey Paul, I'm starting to think of something we could study through if you're interested, and was thinking you could help me think about what to study through, if your interested.

..........

Hmm,Yup. Good. Keep on.
God's clearly at work!
Love to see you've won
- & don't want to shirk..

but help you think through
what's worth thinking 'bout
- & what's worth to do
as you live it out

I have things in mind.
I hear you do too.
Think the way to find
God's mind is "Renew".

But how to renew?
That is good to ask(!)
- as disciples do.
The Answer's our task!

time together although apart

Good morning.
Some of you will know that I'm involved in (...a certain...) youth group in (.. my town..).
I'm going on a camp today until Saturday, taking 3 year 7 boys that I've got to know well that aren't from Christian families.
I'd love it if you would like to support me in prayer.
If you send me your email address you can receive prayer requests.
No pressure though.
Hope you have a great week.
God bless
Peter

Good. Lord, on this good morning
some of us now know that Pete
who's been loudly "not-yawning"
in a certain youth group. SWEET!

Leaves there on a camp-with-noise,
until the next Saturday,
taking three year 7 boys
(not just taking them away).

Boys that he's got to know well,
that aren't from Christian life-styles,
help us know how we could (shall !)
join with them, in our lives miles

away, in prayer, or other-
wise. With no pressure except
love for them, & this brother.
God, we pray that (t)he(y)'ll be blest.


paul.walker@...