Easter–Resurrection

Alleluia!  He is Risen!

it happened
on the first day of the week
the guards stood by
so that no one would seek
to steal the body of the Savior King
make an outrageous claim
that they had seen
Him come to life
as He had said He would
and spread deception
that would not be good
but none could stop
what God had foreordained
what happened next
the guards could not explain
the earth did quake
an angel by the cave
rolled back the stone
that covered up the grave
the angel shone with  brightness
all aglow
the guards in fear
were deadened in their woe
and then it happened . . .
just as He had said
Jesus
the Savior
rose up
from
the
dead

~JD Collier

Good Friday and Passover!

At the very moment that Jesus was carrying the cross towards Golgotha, the priests were carrying the perfect passover lamb to the temple to be prepared for  the passover sacrifice. And when the nails were being driven into His hands, the priests were sounding the rams horn for all to hear and know that the passover lamb had arrived. And then at 3 in the afternoon, Jesus cried, “It is finished!” and died at the precise time that the priests sacrificed the passover lamb. Only God could arrange such a simultaneity!

almost two thousand years from Abram’s birth
God sent His King
the Promised One to earth
to teach and show them love
they were amazed
the sick
He healed
the dead
He raised
and everywhere
the people sought Him out
to hear His words
know what He spoke about
palm branches paved the way
as they proclaimed
“Blessed is He who comes in the Lord’s name.”

now listen well
it’s hard to understand
the actions taken by the leaders and
to see what happened next—
what they believed
about the One God sent—
how they received
the Savior King

they listened to
the words He had to say
and questioned Him to see
if He would pay
attention to their thoughts—
acknowledge them
as rightful heirs
to father Abraham
when Jesus did not lift them
in their pride
they turned their backs
and set His claims aside
arresting Him
and mocking with a trial
He opened not His mouth
yet all the while
they railed at Him
and shouted
“Crucify!”
“You claimed to be from God—
now you must die”
they nailed Him to a cross
and watched to see
if He
as God
would come down from the tree
and so
the Son
they openly defied
“You saved others—
now save yourself” they cried
they sneered
they jeered
they taunted with words to sting
though sent by God—
they killed
their
Savior
King!

~JD Collier

Spring

`

the sap begins flowing
new branches are showing
the budding
the leafing
with shoots of new growth
a spring resurrection
the Root of perfection
the Vine and the branching—
in solemn betroth

refreshing
and drinking
the Vine of its linking
the blooming
the fruiting
that comes in its time
the wonder of living
that stems from His giving
for I am the branching—
and He is the Vine

~JD Collier

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4-5  NIV

Safe!

A thought about safety—I have been pondering this verse lately.  “The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom should I be afraid?” Ps 27:1  The Bible says that I am to “set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Col 3:2-3 (italicized words changed to personal pronouns). Earthly things are constantly telling me that it is not safe.

Our food isn’t safe.
Technology isn’t safe.
Our money isn’t safe.
Our nation isn’t safe.
Our world isn’t safe.
Nothing is safe!
Not even my credit score. (I need lifeLock, of course.)

And you know,  it is true.  There is no security!  Except . . . except . . . and this is a big exception, those who have their minds set on things above . .

above, where God is sovereign,
above, where all is under His control,
above, where He “is my refuge and strength” Ps 46:1
above, where “my life is now hidden with Christ in God” Col 3:3

What a wonderful exception—I can take a deep breath, relax and know . . know without doubt that . . .  I am safe!  I am safe in the big sense of the word . . . because of who He is I am eternally safe!

SAFE

“The Lord is the strength of my life.  Of whom should I fear?”
Though battles are raging, the combat inferno severe;
the Jacob wrestling God that none can defeat,
and those whom He commands, who never retreat,
those God assigned battalions of angels—armed;
stand ready to fight and keep your soul unharmed.
Firmly in faith, take up your position and He
will open your eyes; like the prophet Elisha to see
that God is a safe place to hide.

Though the strongholds of men and the forces of evil combine,
God is our refuge; our strength in the troublesome time.
Our God who is love in action, speaks the word;
immediate Help—sometimes appearing absurd;
like the staff becoming a snake or parting the sea,
and who would believe that the Help would be nailed to a tree
to suffer and die; but then be raised from the dead?
“Hidden with Christ in God,” as boldly said.
Yes! He is a safe place to hide.

When temptations grab hold to take you away in disgrace,
His lifesaving mercy stands ready; unshakable grace.
Invulnerable arms prepared to sweep you away,
and slaying the dragon, bring victory in midst of the fray;
never forsaking but bearing on eagles wings,
through the valley of death, leading to living springs;
renewing the mind having washed all sins away,
shielding our faith–and that is why  we say
that He is a safe place to hide.

Sound loudly the trumpet, in gladness rejoice and make mirth;
for God is the King of the Mountain and Lord of the earth.
Though the wicked prevail and evil becomes very bold,
with a famine in virtue, when the love of many grow cold,
though God be hated; His servants be blamed for disruption,
though Bab’lon intrigues, seducing to fatal corruption,
though economies falter and hardships surround every nation—
Never forget!  Remember this clear declaration—
that God is a safe place to hide!

~JD Collier

Ps 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
NIV

New Year 2013

Hold on . . .

hold on to hope
stay on the track
walk in His love
do not shrink back

live in His truth
stay in His Word
spurning all sin
don’t be deterred

strengthening arms
forsaking ease
make level paths
prop up those knees

be strong in faith
eyes fixed on Him
move forth in praise
firm to the end . . .

for Jesus is coming soon!

~JD Collier

Heb 10:35-37
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.”
NIV