Sunday, December 27, 2015

It's New Year's Resolution Time...

This poem contains my recommendation for a New Year's Resolution for 2016:


Image Credit: newyearsimages2016.org
COVER TO COVER II

Among my most meaningful things to do
while reading the Holy Scriptures through
is write Messiah's Name in the margin
of the Old Testament, where'er I find Him.
Of course, I do not find Jesus' Name,
but I certainly find Him, just the same.

I find Him in the Lamb and the Lion,
foreshadows of the Temple in Zion,
find Him in Joshua, David, Passover,
in the Song, the whale, cover to cover.
I've thumbed through pages and jotted a few
Messianic treasures to share with you:

Messiah's birth’s foretold in Micah, five;
seven centuries later, Jesus arrived;
virgin birth proclaimed, Isaiah seven,
a Son to be fathered by God in Heaven.
Kings would bow down to Him and nations serve,
Solomon's Psalm Seventy-two observed.

He'd be pierced and mourned, said Zechariah;
Our Redeemer, fifty-three, Isaiah,
who prophesied resurrection glory!
Genesis to Revelation, God's true story!
The Word reveals His magnificent plan
in this tome of Our Savior, God and Man.

The year Twenty Sixteen is almost here—
I’ll suggest a resolution without peer:
Resolve to read before this year’s over,
the Holy Bible, cover to cover.
It contains everything you need to know
about Love, Salvation and How to Grow.
You’ll learn God’s story beginning to end
and about your Sovereign and closest Friend!


Maude Carolan Pych

In a few days, before 2015 ends, I will read the amazing concluding chapters of "Revelation". What is next on my reading list? That's simple. I will open my Holy Bible and start all over again. The Bible is so rich that there's always more to glean no matter how many times I read it through. Have you read your Bible yet? It's the all-time number one best selling book in the entire world!

Friday, December 25, 2015

Christ, the Savior is Born!


It's Christmas Day!

Day #27 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: Christcenteredmall.com

THE BABY NEXT DOOR

I saw him the other day
the baby boy who lives next door
His parents are poor Hebrews, like we are
He’s swaddled the same way we swaddle our babies
and he cries and coos just like our babies do, yet—

the brightest star I’ve ever seen
shines down upon him every night
and shepherds have left their fields
just to take a look at him
exclaiming all the while
about angels singing in the sky

Really? Angels in the sky—

One day I saw wisemen from afar
dressed in finery, ride in on camels
They were bearing costly gifts to honor him
and actually bowed prostrate
before his little cradle

I met his mother at the well, yesterday
Her name is Miriam (Mary)
She told me they’ve named him, Yeshua (Jesus)

Yeshua is a fine name. It means savior
Savior. We’ve been waiting for a savior—

Hmmmmm…

Maude Carolan Pych

Thursday, December 24, 2015

I Wish You a Blessed Christmas...

I Wish You a Blessed Christmas!

Day #26 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: deliveredbygrace.com


SIMEON & ANNA

Simeon wondered
if he were seeing things
He rubbed his tired old eyes
squinted and peered again
at the little family
that came through the Temple doors

The Sanctuary
was shadowy and dim
Flames from the oil lamps
were flickering
Were his eyes playing tricks?

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?
…a couple like any
ordinary Jewish couple
here to present their firstborn son
holy to the Lord?

Nothing special about them
Just poor folk
with two lowly turtledoves
for the sacrifice…yet?

Perhaps this was wishful thinking
Perhaps, his imagination
He needed to be sure
Simeon moved a bit closer

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently
for the fulfillment of the promise
of the Lord to comfort Israel

He knew He would—
for the Holy Spirit
assured him
he absolutely would not die
until he beheld the Messiah
…but that was long ago

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening
began rising up in his spirit…Yes!
…O Glory! Glory!

He bounded
toward Mary and Joseph
with arms outstretched
and swooped up
their swaddled infant son
uttering prophetic proclamations
jubilant and terrifying

I behold God’s salvation!

A light to the Gentiles

The glory of God’s people Israel

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

…a sword will pierce your soul

She shuddered…
for she knew God had a plan, but…
What could this mean?

Then the widow Anna approached
Bent and grey and pious
she was a prophetess
who dwelled in the Temple
most of her life, praying
fasting and serving the Lord
with a joyful heart

Spontaneous praise
sprang from her lips
as she beheld the babe
Then Anna proclaimed
to all who would listen:

Come and see…
This is our newborn redeemer!

…from that day forward
Jesus grew
in wisdom and grace

the Cross before Him…

…and a sword did pierce
Mary’s soul

Maude Carolan Pych

Photo Credit: freebibleimages.org

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A Christmas Poem to Read to the Children

Day #25 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: deviantart.com
‘TWAS THE NIGHT…OF ALL NIGHTS!

Children, gather round. It’s time for a story,
one that’s filled with hallelujahs and glory.

It’s about the glorious night of all nights,
angels and magi and sight of all sights!

About God, a virgin, the birth of a king,
wooly sheep, poor shepherds and gift giving!

My story takes place long ago, far away
and starts with a Babe in a crib full of hay;

His mother’s a virgin, His father is God,
the birth, a miraculous Heavenly nod.

The Baby is born in a Bethlehem barn
near a few smelly animals, like on a farm.

Poor shepherds in a field shudder with fright
when suddenly the dark sky fills up with light

as beautiful angels, bright splendors winging
tell of the birth with hallelujahs and singing!

So, the shepherds and sheep the very next morn
set off to visit this special Newborn.

Rich wisemen follow a bright beaming star
to the Bethlehem barn; the journey is far.

They ride astride camels, carrying treasures
to give to the One they’ll worship forever.

Why in the world would they do such strange things?
Why travel so far? Why great treasures bring?

The reason is simple, the Babe in the hay
becomes the world’s Savior, Who takes sin away.

His name is Jesus and He loves you and me
and wants us to love Him for eternity.

That was the night of all nights here on Earth…
the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth!

Maude Carolan Pych


The Family is Coming!

Day #24 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: justjohanna.com


HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

She smiled as she dusted
the ceramic crèche
on the old oak credenza,
sang as she swept 
the kitchen floor,
even Lysoled 
the bathroom bowl
with effervescence.

Humming a Yuletide carol, the woman
rolled pastry into a thin rectangle
and cut cookies into shapes
of stars and angels and lambs.

Spontaneous praise proceeded from her lips  
as she stuffed the twenty pound turkey,
trussed it tidily,
rubbed it with butter and sage
and lifted it into the moderate oven.

She dressed the table with china and silver,
the slightly yellowed table linen
stored in her mother’s cedar chest,
and a silvery bowl of pink poinsettias
bought at the flower sale at church.

Her feet ached, but her eyes sparkled.
This was among life’s highest joys:
Her adult children would soon be at the door
bringing presents, hugs and laughter
and she would get to serve them Christmas dinner.

Maude Carolan

Monday, December 21, 2015

Gifts From God...

Day #23 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: townandcountrygazette

IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS
“Every good and perfect gift 
is from above,
coming down from the Father 
of the heavenly lights
who does not change 
like shifting shadows.”
 James 1:17

Perhaps it was a vision
or at least a vivid imagining…
It was like Christmas!
There was a great heap of presents
of various sizes,
gaily wrapped,
tied with streaming ribbons
and lustrous bows,
each with a gift tag
that bore my name.
Some presents
had already been opened,
wrappings strewn, white tissue awry,
others, wonderfully enticing,
were yet to be unwrapped.

In my spirit I knew
they were gifts of God,
the spiritual blessings
of my life.
The open ones
represented gifts already acquired.
Some bedazzled,
those, the granted yearnings
of the prayers of my heart,
others were blessings also
though never sought in prayer,
still others were gifts
I never wanted,
gifts I’d have preferred
to return or exchange.
In time I understood
each was perfect,
selected by the Source
of all wisdom
with me alone in mind,
loving graces
spiritually working in me
creating the me
I am becoming in Him.

I look to the future
anticipating
wondrous gifts
still unopened.

Maude Carolan


Sunday, December 20, 2015

A Poem About the Wisemen

Day #22 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: churchtoday.tv


THE GIFT BEARERS

Cosmic wonders
whats and whys
whirl in the East
as a singular 
mysterious luminary
beckons in the heavens
Is it brighter 
than the other stars?
Does it pulsate? Does it bounce?
Does it shoot across the sky
like a flame-tailed comet?
Does its lustrous splendor
rival the glow of the moon?

Gentile magi who study stars and Scripture
see it and curiously mount their camels
to follow it across the desert. But, why?
They say they are seeking
the King of the Jews. Why would they?
They say they want to worship Him
Why Him?
What do they know that the High Priest
the Pharisees, Sadducees
and all the Jews of Jerusalem
who are awaiting the coming of Messiah
do not comprehend?

King Herod summons them, diabolically
Feigns sincere interest in their mission
urges them to return with details
so he, too, may worship the King
A sinister plot forms in his evil mind
for even he knows…
there is something about that star…

Continuing on
the irresistible starlight shines ahead
until it shimmers above a humble house
in the village of Bethlehem
It stops, still…absolutely still
The magi realize they are at
destiny's door
They knock
and are welcomed, when

Suddenly
their eyes behold
a Boy Child
and their hearts leap!!!

and whether it makes sense or not
(whether any of this makes sense or not)
the magi, in rich array
fall prostrate
on the earthen floor
and fill the little house
with hallelujahs!!!

They draw from their saddlebags, treasures…
          Gold…for surely this little family can use it
          Myrrh…fragrant foreshadow of suffering
          Frankincense…for a sensing in the depths
          of their God-given wisdom
          of a significant anointing
          somewhere in time

Mission complete
the gift bearers mount their camels
and still attentive to God's spirit
(this time in a dream)
do not return to Herod

The magi…
diligent seekers who found
Treasure
infinitely more valuable
than the precious gifts they bore

Maude Carolan Pych



Yesterday, at the Ant in Clifton:
Peter DiBella, Victoria Warne, Maude, Rikki Woods


Thank you to James Gwyn and Victoria Warne for coordinating a delightful evening of Christmas poetry & music at the Ant Bookstore & Cafe in Clifton.


Saturday, December 19, 2015

Angels...Messengers of God

An Invitation:
Holiday Poetry & Music Tonight 
7 p.m., at the Ant Bookstore & Cafe
345 Clifton, NJ
Come...Enjoy!!! It's free!

Day #21 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo Credit: hafapea.com

THE WINGED ONES

As Zacharias tends
the temple altar of incense
there’s a sudden swirl
of fragrance and smoke
Lo! A resplendent angel
appears before his very eyes—

It is Gabriel
who stands in the presence of God

The winged one startles the old priest
by proclaiming—

Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son…
He will be the forerunner of Messiah

Astonished at the announcement
(for his wife is advanced in years)
Zacharias dares question
God’s messenger
and is duly struck dumb—

and will not utter another word
until the Heavenly proclamation
comes to pass

As grey-haired Elizabeth blossoms
with approaching motherhood
Gabriel alights again
all wings and gleam and glory
in a visit to Mary, a Nazarene maiden
He foretells that she, too, is with child—
chosen to be the virgin mother
of the Holy Son of God—

Breathless, Mary runs
to Joseph, her betrothed
eager to tell of the angelic visitation
and Gabriel’s marvelous word to her

but it is too much for him to comprehend—
Feeling deceived and disheartened
he considers ending their engagement

until one night, while tossing in sleep
an angel of the Lord appears in a dream
to assure him
Mary is indeed pure and righteous—
miraculously overshadowed
by the Holy Spirit of God

so Joseph marries her
and together they await the coming
of The Savior of the World

and when that wondrous event occurs
a multitude of angels fill the Heavenlies
with most glorious splendors
The Bethlehem night becomes brilliant
startling lowly shepherds
reclining in fields with their flocks

and all the beautiful celestial beings
with wings and robes and gladness
proclaim good news of great joy
for all people:

Glory to God in the Highest—
Jesus, The Messiah, is born!


Maude Carolan Pych