WOODLAND SONG

Joyfully, joyfully, the feathered friends call,
the chickadees and grosbeaks and orioles all,
to sing a lyric melody at opening of day,
and start the winging choir, a-chirping all the way!
 
Over high, over there, beside the babbling brook,
the cardinals and veeries resound in every nook;
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, the cooing of the dove,
the tapping of the woodpecker that echoes high above!
 
“Yahweh God! Yahweh God!”, into the evening night,
hummingbirds and nuthatches turn in from their flight.
And in the final light of day, the robin sings her song.
What joy to hear the woodland birds sing praises all day long!

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:46-47

 

 

WOODLAND SONG

The veeries are very glad, here in Veery Glade. And so am I. These deep-forest thrushes have returned to the woods. Their mystical, swirling tones lift my spirit and remind me to call on God in prayer. The robins, also thrushes, are equally vocal here in the woodland realm.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48

We join with Mary in magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in spirit. Let the birds sing their full, lyrical song that Creator God is loving, rich in mercy, and compassionate.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

Jesus' purpose is to bring life. He declares it Himself. Everyone must decide for themselves whether this statement of purpose is true or false. I believe it is true. The thief is the devil, Satan. His purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy any of God's creation including, mostly, humans who are made in God's image.

And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4:3

Paul with Timothy is writing to the Christians in Philippi and he mentions the Book of Life. In this Book are recorded the names of those people who have eternal life. Who has authority to be the writer of the book? Only the One whose purpose is to bring life— Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God.

The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

John 1:29

The Book of Life that Paul wrote about is also known as the Lamb's Book of Life. And in Heaven, that book will be opened. In Heaven, that book will be read.

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21: 23, 27

John, by the power of the Holy Spirit (as was Paul as others), was given revelations about Heaven. He wrote down what he saw and we can read for ourselves. Trust God's infallible, inerrant Word.

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

Revelation 3:5

Only the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world has the power to open His Book of Life. Further, only the Lamb of God has power to clothe believers with righteousness. Only Jesus, who bore our sins on the cross, has power to blot out names from His Book. Only God's perfect Son has power to confess believer's names before His Father. If you are a believer, won't that be the most amazing thing ever to hear your name confessed before our Creator?

If you are not a believer, decide now to believe. It is very real to be condemned. We stand condemned already (John 3:18)! But Jesus' purpose is to bring life and more abundantly. God sent His Son to be our Savior, and that is very good news!

FOR THE JOY: Christian Poems about Good Friday and Easter

Here is my work-in-progress (WIP) back book blurb (which means it could still change!):

FOR THE JOY: Christian Poems about

Good Friday and Easter

Why do Christians call Good Friday Good?

Why is Easter Sunday filled with joy?

For The Joy: Christian Poems about Good Friday and Easter is a collection of reverent poems and vivid paintings leading up to Christ’s death on the cross, His crucifixion, and His resurrection from the dead. Lisa Belknap shares her testimony, offering answers to the above questions through a variety of poetic forms and colorful paintings. The reader is drawn to meditate on God’s infallible and inerrant Word. Each of the thirty-two poems with accompanying Bible verses encourage the reader to trust in the love and grace of humanity’s only redeeming Savior, Jesus Christ, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:1-6

How nice to be with believers in Jesus Christ! How encouraging to be with Christian brothers and sisters, studying the Word and partnering in the Gospel! What comfort to pray together with confidence in Christ's ability to carry out His good work in us to completion!

FINAL THOUGHTS

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Veeries are singing in Veery Glade as are the robins! The woodland birds are very glad. The names of people written in the Lamb's Book of Life will go on to hear woodland birds singing in Heaven.

TRUTH IS LIKE A TRILLIUM

Truth is like a trillium

that blossoms in the spring.

It dances with the waking trees

and stirs the birds to sing.

Through winter, it lay dormant,

beneath the snowy ground.

Then with the warmth of springtime,

it stretched roots around.

It grew within the sunshine,

first budding after years.

The plant designed by Trinity

took time to match its peers.

And there it stands a-shining,

a pure, revealing face!

The woodland floor, once bumpy bare,

now shimmers full of grace!

Truth is like a trillium.

O may my faith grow strong!

For with it, I am known and free

to bloom forever long.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32

TRUTH IS LIKE A TRILLIUM

The woods are coming alive, here in Veery Glade in the springtime! Good rain and sunshine have nourished the ground and the trilliums have bloomed once again. First, the dark red popped up their heads and then the larger white ones dance across the woodland floor in the breeze. Creation's reminder of the return of spring speaks clear our Creator's faithfulness.

And He is faithful in His promises, in His Word. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

As I continue this year's blog posts about Heaven, everlasting life comes to mind. In a nutshell, belief equals everlasting life. EVERLASTING LIFE. Tough to get our minds around that but God's Word says so, so it must be true. And it is, as sure as spring follows winter every year.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 3:17-18

But the alternative to everlasting life is everlasting condemnation. EVERLASTING CONDEMNATION. That might be difficult to get your mind around, too.

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

John 3:19-21

In my last post, I wrote about the Light in Heaven and that Jesus is the Light of the world. Light has come into the world! Jesus has come into the world because His Father sent Him. He alone has power to save sinners because He alone is the spotless Lamb of God who bore our sins on the cross. He alone has power to raise our bodies from the dead, either unto everlasting life or everlasting death. So, belief equals everlasting life!

"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

John 5:21-24

I'm sure you know, dear forest dweller, that it is Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, who has power to separate the sheep from the goats, the grain from the chaff, the faithful from the unfaithful. There is either everlasting life or everlasting death when we die. In everlasting death, scripture tells us the torment will never end as the occupants of the place of Hell maintain their consciousness. Forever.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:10

The faithful are the ransomed. The ransomed are the people who believe in Jesus, God's Son, God's Way. They have accepted His gift of salvation. They are the people who hold the Word of God close in their hearts. The trilliums blooming right now in Veery Glade remind me of this wonderful promise in Isaiah of everlasting joy. Singing, gladness, and joy go with everlasting life. None of that goes with everlasting death.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'Destroy!'.

Deuteronomy 33:27

The above verse is from when Moses blessed the children of Israel, specifically of Asher, before he died. The whole chapter is beautiful to read, as is everything in the Bible! Make the eternal God your refuge.

"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also."

John 14:19

Jumping back to the New Testament, Jesus assures His disciples that they will live again as surely as He lives today. We who love and honor Christ will live again with Him. The Bible is full of promises FROM GOD, and every single one will come to pass, as sure as trilliums return to bloom every spring.

For The Joy: Christian Poems about Good Friday and Easter

Since my last post, I repainted the background scene on a particular painting that I needed to do. I've started brainstorming words for another poem. And, I've been reading. Right now, I'm reading Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:16b

We are grateful to the Lord for answered prayer. After years of prayer, a loved one of ours has changed his mind. He has done a 180. What he once loved he now hates, which was exactly what we persistently prayed for. (It was not a good thing that he was loving.) Rosaria Butterfield, the author mentioned above, did a 180 when she, a former lesbian who did not know the Lord, renounced her way of life and became a believing Christian. Her change from death to life is noted in her book all the way through it. I wonder if someone had been praying for her. Like we did with our loved one. Thank you, Lord, for 180's!

…yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Luke 18:5 (from the parable of the persistent widow)

FINAL THOUGHTS

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15

May you be known by your faith to bloom forever long, to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, to receive everlasting life in Heaven.

THE DAFFODIL’S TRUMPET

The daffodil stands by the edge of the wood,
near a slumbering red maple tree,
and He picks up his trumpet of finest, pure gold
to announce the beginning of spring.
 
He’s early to wake from the long, bitter cold,
and his yellow suit coat is a joy,
which can heal the long, worn-out expressions of old,
and soothe the dark ages of yore.
 
He stands on a knoll which will carry the tune,
where sun shines a-warm on the dew,
and he plays out a “Toot, Ala Toot-ti-ly Toot!
Wake up, trees and critters, all living things, you!”
 
His song wakens others and soon there are many
to proclaim the renewal of life.
Their horns call out brightly; the woods, they are waking—
away with worries and strife!
 
The daffodil smiles in the light of our Lord,
and declares our dependence on Him,
and reminds us of joy only Christ can give,
and life coming only from Him.

 

Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 24:7                                                       

 

THE DAFFODIL’S TRUMPET

Forgiveness is sweet! Grace is splendid! In Veery Glade, the blooming daffodils, dark red trilliums, and the innocent white trilliums remind me of the reason for Jesus Christ's death on the cross—forgiveness and grace, which is all-sufficient. Payment was made for our sins. In the hearts of believers, the King of glory reigns.

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5

As I continue writing this year about Heaven, I would like to write about Heaven's light. We read in the last chapter of the Bible a verse giving us a glimpse of the kind of light and lack of night that citizens of Heaven will experience. We know every word in God's Word will come to pass, and having light provided for us without the sun, even though we may certainly struggle with how this might possibly happen, we know God is able, most able, to execute this given glimpse. He is THE Giver. He is the gracious One. When He says He will give us light, He will give us light.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Genesis 1:3

How cool is this! Way back in the first chapter of the Bible, the very first words recorded that God spoke were 'Let there be light'. Wouldn't this make a great title for a poetry book? But another time, Lord willing. God spoke and it was. Just like that! BAM!

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 8:12

Jesus, who is God incarnate, declared that He is the light of the world. John wrote that down for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus makes a statement about Himself, the listeners or readers must decide whether the statement is true or false. It can't be both. Unless you're Satan. He masquerades as an angel of light but he is the father of all lies and doomed. His divided house won't stand. This statement Jesus made echoes back to God's first words of 'Let there be light.' Our Creator chose to provide a way to Himself, and that Way is Jesus Christ.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house."

Matthew 5:14-15

We are called to be shining lights to the world so that others might see good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We are called to be in the world but not of it. When my father was alive, he did not like the idea of students being taken out of the public school to be homeschooled. He had said that if all the Christians leave, then there wouldn't be any in the public school anymore. It's a good point. Our public schools should work hard for all tax payers, including the Christian tax payer. But persecution and Christianity go hand-in-hand. I have been a public school teacher, like my father was. When a student asked me, "Mrs. Belknap, are you a Christian?" I replied, happily, "Yes!" The student then said, "I could tell." (This warmed my heart, not because I'm any good but because of Christ's light in me. And I'd be happy to talk with that student any time.) Can homeschooling be a good option, and sometimes, a necessary one? I think yes. Can homeschooled students be lights in the world as well as public-schooled students? I think yes.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2

Do we dwell in the land of the shadow of death? Without Jesus, yes. Without Light, yes. But thanks be to God who gives us light, His Light—Jesus! As prophesied, Christ, the Child, was born. Immanuel, or God with us.

We also read in the verses in Exodus chapters 25 and 27 about the lampstands in the tabernacle and special anointing oil. All was to be fulfilled and constructed according to the plans God gave Moses. We know in Hebrews that the earthly tabernacle in Exodus, which God filled with His glory, is a copy of the Heavenly one. Then, in Revelation, again, we read about golden lampstands, of which Jesus stood in the midst.

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Psalm 97:11

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130

Jesus is THE Light. Light is included in the inheritance of the faithful heart whereas darkness is for the non-believer. Receive Light and see! And Light resides with God in Heaven.

FOR THE JOY

Since my last posting, I was able to write a poem about Mary anointing Jesus in Simon the Leper's house in Bethany. It's still sitting on the back burner in my mind. Then, I discovered I painted a scene to a different poem wrong so I'll need to repaint that. I've thought about when to publish and next January or February for this Easter collection sounds best.

HUMPERSTEIN HUBERT FISH

I found this picture book story I wrote eons ago and I'm dusting it off. It's a children's story under 1000 words about a starfish. I'll have to see if and where the Lord wants me to go with this.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:12

Please pray for Christian teachers and students in public school systems. Pray they would be encouraged and stay strong, especially if they are being persecuted. Pray for students, either in public school or homeschooled, to be lights reflecting the true Light of Jesus.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Veery Glade is shaping up, here in the spring season. God's marvelous works are seen when He allows the return of springtime daffodils and all the other woodland life awakening. Smile like the daffodil who declares our dependence on Christ, His Word and joy, and every word spoken and written about Heaven.

VICTORY HILL

I shout “Victory!” on the highest hill.
I call “Joy!” where the valleys fill.
Jesus is no longer dead!
 
Will you cry “Savior!” to the meadow’s end?
Will you sing “Friend!” where the willows bend?
Jesus fulfilled what was said!
 
Come, yell “Freedom!” to the birch trees far.
Holler “Sure hope!” to the furthest star.
Jesus was raised from the dead!
 
I proclaim “Mercy!” to the babbling brook.
I whistle “Life!” to the woodland nook.
Jesus has done all He said!
 
Then, I will kneel where the grass is deep,
and give to the Lord my soul to keep.
Jesus is no longer dead!

 

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

 

VICTORY HILL

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

The Bible outlines the gift of salvation in Romans 10:9-10. The entrance into Heaven is found for the person with a believing heart and a confessing mouth. Do you have a believing heart and spoken words to confess that Jesus is Lord? I hope you do. And, as we also read in the Bible, Jesus hopes you do, too.

The Word of God contains truths about Heaven, or, the kingdom of God. We read about how the Heavenly Father lives in Heaven, how angels are sent from Heaven, how Jesus came from Heaven, and how, after His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven, His Father's kingdom. The disciples watched him go up into the sky until He was out of sight.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:9

When we read the Bible, which is God-breathed, we learn that Jesus spoke about Heaven often. And He spoke about Hell. As Heaven is a real place, so is Hell— an evil place far away from God's eternal love and grace. Our Creator God does not want anyone to end up there, but people go, nonetheless, due to their lack of faith.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:9-10

The day of the Lord will come quickly, when it does.

As recorded in Luke, Jesus told a parable (or story) to paint a horrible picture of how awful Hell is. He would not want anyone to spiritually perish but, because He is full of love and grace, He won't force anyone to believe in Him. He desires that people come to Him of their own free will, like Lazarus, the beggar.

"So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'"

Luke 16:22-26

Heed the parable of warning told by Jesus. This whole account in the Bible starts in verse 19 and ends in verse 31 of the 16th chapter of Luke. We learn of the tormented soul of the rich man who chose not to believe in Christ and that he sees Lazarus comforted and not in torment on the other side of the great gulf. He knows his mistake but it's too late. He asks if Lazarus could go back and warn his brothers. He was sure they would believe and repent if they saw a risen-from-the-dead person. But Abraham assured the rich man they would not. The take-away is: A hardened heart will cost too much for the owner of it.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Matthew 16:26

The book of Ecclesiastes teaches that life is meaningless without the proper reverence for God. Without Jesus, everything is meaningless. The rich man in the parable found out too late and couldn't do anything about his predicament.

After you die (which we are all appointed once to do), I hope you will be celebrating on Victory Hill in Heaven.

FOR THE JOY: Christian Poems about Good Friday and Easter

While cleaning, I found a ditto of a poem one of my kids had in their notebook from when they were in school. It was a poem about the horror of war, written by Wilfred Owen, and it impressed on me a format to follow about the horror of Hell. I am considering adding it to my For the Joy collection.

אנא את ידתחיא נהו ון ל והן ודמם

דית ינר הא ו לוהן

(I Have Come That They May Have Life

and That They May Have It More Abundantly)

Bewildered, reeling, as if just hit by a car,

He stretched his hand for never-to-have relief,

And cried, “Abraham! I see your rest afar!”

His mind spun wild the folly of sure belief

In ‘Never. A. Savior’, a state too mad to bear. “End,”

He screamed, “these embers somewhere stoked!

Fire! Fire! Unquenchable flames ascend!

Do you see? Are those dense shadows or surging smoke?

Water! A drop on the tip of Lazarus’ finger!”

He fell, prostrated. “O now, my doom!

Quick warn my brothers this death-place where I linger!

A risen person could free them of this gloom …

But would repentance follow?” The answer he knows,

As horrid wraiths emerged from pits of Hell.

If, by the Spirit, you see what the rich man knows,

And sense the chasm span, too wide to tell,

And feel the searing, tormenting, rising flames,

And hear the shrieking cries, wailing and weeping,

And gnashing teeth, as demons hiss their claims,

My friend, you would profess sweet grace for keeping,

Inheritance from a mountain, and eternal life—

The words Jesus declared lovingly:

אנא את ידתחיא נהו ון ל והן ודמם דית ינר הא ו לוהן

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray for Biblical understanding. We may know God better if we spend time in His Word. Believe in prayer. Pray that the non-praying loved one would pray.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Jeremiah 33:3

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

IN CLOSING

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Acts 1:10-11

We learn from reading the Bible that Jesus' ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and was observed by many onlookers who watched Him until they could see Him no more. Then, two men in white, angels, appeared and spoke to them about how Jesus will return. Jesus is alive today, making intercession for believers as High Priest and Mediator of the New Covenant. The work of forgiveness was completed in the words He spoke before dying on the cross: 'It is finished'. Now, He is preparing a beautiful place for the forgiven (the ones who are saved, as in Romans 10:9-10), far from the flames of Hell, on the other side of the great gulf fixed, in the Kingdom that shall not fall, and has no end— Heaven.

THE LONG SKIP HOME

I just finished this excellent story!

Even though it is for middle grade readers,

I felt like I still related to Lily and her different struggles.

Elstar and all the friends from the world of Whule made

me excited for Heaven. I loved all the reminders of Jesus

portrayed through Elstar's character. An excellent, moving story!

-Amazon Review

THE POND BY THE WOOD

I hiked to the pond early Friday morn,
through rain and mist and woods forlorn;
for the winter had torn limbs here and there,
and a heaviness clung in the air.
 
I stood on the bank by the meadow bleak,
with my head hung low, down and weak;
for what have I done to deserve this love
from such a Savior above?
 
Circles spun on the water’s face
when raindrops fell softly to their place,
and clouds swirled free in the pool’s dark depths
when winds encircled off Heaven’s steps.
 
Then there on the water, the sun came shining!
His words of love to me reminding;
pledging gladness through oaks as the sky turned blue,
encouraging wonder in all things new!
 
What grace shines upon the pond by the wood!
What joy restored and understood!
I know Jesus loves me with all His heart,
and from me, never will He depart.
 
 
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3

THE POND BY THE WOOD

Fallen branches and debris from winter’s harshness clutter the woodland floor. It's not pretty in the woods. There isn't any greenery on the branches of slowly-waking maple and beech trees. But, last years ferns, still green, lay matted to the ground and green moss clings to rocks and trees. We know spring is coming as we trek to the pond on a gnarly path.

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

Isaiah 53:1-3

As we stand beside the pond by the wood, we contemplate that the Man of Sorrows, Jesus, took upon Himself our sorrows for our sin debt. The Man acquainted with grief knew our grief. Only the innocent blood that was sacrificed by God's Anointed could pay the price for our eternal redemption. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could solve our sin problem.

And, when we get to Heaven, give us glorified bodies. GLORIFIED. What is another wonderful thing about Heaven? Being glorified!

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8:30

Can sinful people like us understand being glorified? We can try, by the power of the Holy Spirit. To be glorified is to be sin-free. Adam and Eve lived sin-free before they sinned and were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In their sinless state, they had no shame. They didn't sin. They walked and talked with God. For how long, we don't know. We can deduce that there will be no sin or shame in Heaven. Sinless is being made holy, and that's why it's quite difficult for any of us sinners to understand glorification. But our Lord's Word declares this promise of being glorified in Heaven.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Paul writes in the first book to the Corinthians that through faith in Jesus, who is the second Adam, we will bear the image of the second Adam, the Heavenly Man, Jesus. We who believe (the brethren) will be raised sinless, or glorified. We will gain everlasting life, which is immortality. We will not be subject to death or decay or dishonesty, or bribery, or whatever, which all are corruption. The corruptible things of the world will perish and not enter Heaven. The second Adam and His Word are very powerful.

And holy.

After the construction of the tabernacle in the book of Exodus, the glory of the LORD filled the area.

For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Exodus 40:38

Behind the temple veil was the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter once a year. Aaron's sons tried entering the courtyard but because their approach was not authorized, they were destroyed. Yes, God is powerful and His Word binding. He had given the command and He wouldn't be just if He didn't follow through with what He commanded. Then, when Jesus died on the cross for us, the temple veil was torn in two. The sacrifice Jesus willingly made on the cross took away all sin once and for all. Amazing grace and eventual glorification are offered to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:4-5

But, after death on a brutal cross, Jesus didn't stay dead.

After Jesus was buried, then came the third day. Joy comes with Easter's dawn! He was risen from the dead! He is alive today!

As the sun breaks away clouds of darkness, we feel sin's ugliness dissipate from us. As the sun beams to the woodland floor to restore the greens shoots that will come up with April rains and more sunshine, we stretch our roots and bask in the nourishing son-shine. Spring returns, in the woods and our souls. Only Jesus can restore the human soul. What joy comes from restoration of the soul! Thank you, Jesus!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

And... if you're thinking no way can a Creator who created the first Adam OUT OF DIRT IN THE GROUND possibly reconnect EVERYONE'S DNA that ultimately decayed into the soil across generations, think again. Yes, Jesus is THAT powerful, too, as I'm sure, dear reader, you know.

So, we of faith are just passing through this world on our way to citizenship in Heaven, and gonna be having that glorified body, too.

FOR THE JOY: CHRISTIAN POEMS ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER  -update

My latest update is I made the subtitle more specific. Also, I put the book's trim size back to 9x6 to match my Unto Us: A Christmas Poetry Book. I had wanted to write an Easter poetry book to be a sister book to the Christmas book, and Unto Us is 9x6. Also, like the Christmas book, I'm changing the font size to 14 point. For eyes that are struggling with small print, like me, large print books are okay, I say.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray for our Christian pastors everywhere, and closest to you. Many things rise up in attack against faithful, Bible-teaching ministers. Many attacks are under the guise of 'religion', just as in the days of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The devil still lurks about, tricky as ever. A reason the Lord tarries, in my opinion, is to provide more time for people to have opportunity to become saved, to become sure of a citizenship in Heaven. Jesus is the Narrow Way that leads to life. Broad is the way that leads to destruction which means many are on that way of death. Get on the narrow way. Remember pastors and pray for their endurance and encouragement during these taxing times of witness.

IN CLOSING

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2

When the glorified body is revealed, it will be perfectly outfitted and suited for eternity, like Jesus, in Heaven.