Everyone stood by (A Good Friday poem)

Everyone stood by
And watched as it happened
A man on a cross
Just a regular day
The criminals hung there
Like most weeks, together
Side by side
As justice held sway
Today felt no different
3 men nailed up there
Dignity denied
Guilt laid bare
The men on the side
Common men, locals, thieves
The man in the middle
What a following he leads
Well, led I suppose
After all it's all over
His road to Jerusalem
Ends with him doubled over
The pain and despair
Seemed etched on his face
Like part of him wished
One could stay in his place
Except that look seemed to say
"I have chosen this path
I will not look back
From this hardest of tasks."
This man in the middle
Cried out to his father
I don't blame the man
Nothing could be harder.
But scanning the crowd
No father was there
He looked down instead
On a woman he stared
His voice a hoarse whisper,
"Mother, this is now your son"
The most tender of love
He showed to this one
The afternoon rolled by
Then the central most man
Lifted eyes up to heaven, crying out
"Father, forgive them
Though they don't understand."
He looked on one man
Hanging there on that tree
His eyes spoke forgiveness
That could have been me.
A tear stained my face
Though I couldn't say why
When an ocean of blackness
Rolled on 'cross the sky
With a cry he looked up and then bowed his head
The air went dead still
Like the world took a breath
Then a sound burst up and out
Like a cheetah it leapt
It was like all creation
Had cried out and wept.
They poked him and prodded
He was dead as a stone
I suddenly realised
He died there alone
They lowered the cross bar
His friends took him away
Was this really the end?
Could this God man be dead?
Had his story concluded?
It just seemed too soon.
But that's not the end
In 3 days, look to the tomb.

TheWeeScottie

Look at your neighbour (what do you see?)

A poem which came out of tonight's student celebration in worship. Looking around, what I saw was a crowd of neighbours. No different from me, but sinners wonderfully saved by Jesus.

Look at your neighbour
What do you see?
A different face, clothes?
An alternative me?
Do their eyes match your own?
Is their hair slightly grey?
If so, be careful not to
Mention that to their face
Do their eyes have a sparkle?
Does their smile hide a frown?
How would you describe them,
Or an up or a down?
Do they have it together?
Are they falling apart?
Only they and their Father
Know what's in their heart
Do the things that they do
Or the thoughts that they hide
Make any real difference
To their rightness inside?
Look at your neighbour
Are you surprised?
To your left and right
Are the shamed and despised,
Th shabby and broken,
The sad and depressed,
The ones who have tried as you did
And failed the test,
The fallen and sorry
Fill seats either side
Mixed checked shirts and gillets
Oh my, what a sight.
But, look past the picture
My friends, see the truth
When our Father looks on us
He cries, "I choose you!"
The humble and broken, my children,
I call them my own
If you look on my dear son
And call him your own
These brothers and sisters
Who sit to your sides
Have known tears and joy, love and pain
But most, they know me
I call them and you
Inheritors, my precious ones
For Jesus paid for you.
His blood makes you mine
So look at your neighbour,
I am you and you are me
Being changed to his image
Continually
Rejection forgiven,
At his side, a space
Brothers and sisters
Sinners, the shameful
Beautifully,
Undeservedly,
Wonderfully
Saved by grace.

TheWeeScottie

Forgetful child

Come my forgetful child, come
Look upon my pierced son
Look upon his nail-scarred hands
Think upon Heaven's renewed lands
Listen to the words he spoke
Open wide your eyes and look
To see the truth of Heaven's son
The Father's first and most beloved one
Stands there before the Father's feet
Each day he earnestly intercedes
That He who sent the rescuer
Might look on you with tender grace
Yes, look my child and clearly know
The love he has continually flows
From a Father's tender heart
Onto your poorly, sick and soiled heart
And changes you, each day some more
To know the good he has in store
When one day soon he takes you from these foreign shores
From all the pain and sorrow you feel
And brings you gently then to kneel
In light and life and holy wonder
Before the me who all of darkness sundered
And you know then as now in part
The true goodness of your Father's heart
Yes, look my forgetful child and know
The love I have for you will show
The most when you admit your sin
And feel my peace in you, deep within
So know your sin, but more my grace
Let my peace reign in guilt's place
For it holds no long-lasting sway
In hearts that choose to love my name
If you are mine, you're mine indeed
Jesus stands before me to intercede
Each sinful stain you had is gone
Washed clean by sweet Immanuel's blood
So stand up straight, dear soul rejoice
For the day you made me your own choice
Was the day that sin lost all it's power
Ruins, what remains of that strong tower
Though you oft forget, remember now
When Jesus died for you, he made you new
So stand up straight as God's child now
Each day being more renewed.
The Father loves you through his son
The perfect, true and lovely one
So you are pure and white as snow
Rise, my child and in my grace, go.

TheWeeScottie

My grace is sufficient for you

A wee poem that came out of being reminded this morning that God's grace is sufficient for me. Continual failure that I am, His grace continues each day to be sufficient for me!

The waves they are crashing
the storm seems so strong
but my grace is sufficient for you.
The power to change this
seems far from your hands
but my grace is sufficient for you.

When others feel strong
yet your arms feel so weak
then, my grace is sufficient for you.
When your voice seems to fail you
and no words will speak
my grace is sufficient for you

The enemy temps you
sometimes you give in
still, my grace is sufficient for you.
When his vilest of lies
creeps under your skin
yet, my grace is sufficient for you.

When you think that you sin's
an un-passable wall
know my grace is sufficient for you
Look up and step over
for you are forgiven
my grace is sufficient for you.

The blood that my son shed
for you on the cross
says my grace is sufficient for you
and one day when you stand before me,
I'll say,
"My grace is sufficient for you."

So don't doubt the love
that I have for you, child,
for my grace is sufficient for you.
One day, you'll join me
but during this race
know my grace is sufficient, you see?

So, one day you'll stand
before my eternal throne
and say, "His grace is sufficient for me!"
Sufficient for me!
Sufficient for me!
The grace of my God is sufficient for me!

TheWeeScottie

Valentine's Day

I walk through the isles
of my local shops
the shelves all adorned with
their flowers and chocs.

Promises made
of a happier day
if their produce I'd buy
and the money I'd save.

The joy that I'd bring
with a large bunch of colour,
a box of delight
or that diamond ring.

I peruse all their wares
for the bestest of gifts,
and a meal that will bring
a smile to their lips

A basket full up
I walk to the checkout
glad in the knowledge
that I'm now sorted out.

But, wait.
Will she love me
if all that I bring
are choccies and roses?
a new diamond ring?

Will our relationship grow
if a flower I offer
or a card that I share
for the love that I proffer?

In truth, these are tokens
of my true affection
of the love that I hold
for this most lovely of people

Though only a day
in a commercial year
which some say just boosts
shops' revenue, which is clear

I choose to surprise
the one that I love
not with costliest gifts
but an expression of love

A card which I've made
a gift she'll adore
(well, hopefully, I add
if not, the receipt waits in store!)

Above all, the desire
to surprise and delight
she is my best,
my crown's shining light.

Yet, without this love,
who are where would I be?
I can't love my wife
as my heart's cold, you see

If it weren't for my father
who gave up his son,
the most costly gift
for this selfish one

The son modelled love
as I hope each day to show
when he died on a cross
for the ones he loved so

For you and for me
his loved poured rose-red
His gift was his life
as his arms lay outspread

This Valentine's day,
let your love show most
as Jesus' did for you
as he died on that post.

TheWeeScottie