"THE COMMISSION"

Comfort My People, says our God
Feed My flock like a shepherd
Gently lead those that have young
Let My people renew their strength
They shall walk and not faint
They shall run and not be weary
They shall soar on wings as eagles!
_{Isaiah 40:1, 11 and 31}

"BEHOLD!"

Look here! Pay attention!
God – My Father – has made me into
A new sharp threshing instrument having teeth!
I thresh the mountains,
And make them small,
And make the hills as chaff.
I fan them, and the wind carries them away,
And the whirlwind scatters them.
I rejoice in the Lord,
And do glory in The Only One of Israel – that’s Jesus.
The Joy of Jehovah is filling me full.
Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you,
That My joy might remain in you,
And that your joy might be full (Powerful!) _{Isaiah 41:15-16 and John 15:11}

JEHOVAH FIGHTS FOR ME

Jehovah will fight for me,
And I will hold my peace.

“I form the Light, I create the darkness.
I make peace and I destroy evil.
I, Jehovah do all these things.”

Jehovah will fight for me,
And I will hold my peace.

“I give you peace in the land.
You will lie down in peace,
No one will make you afraid.”

Jehovah will fight for me,
And I will hold my peace.

I will lie down in peace and sleep,
For You only, O Lord, keep me safe.
You will keep me in peace.

Jehovah will fight for me,
And I will hold my peace.
_{Isaiah 45}

"BE STILL"

As a rabbit runs in fear of the chase,
So my mind darts

Be still and know I am God.

As a moth drawn to an open flame,
So my mind flutters

Be still and know I am God.

As a sheep ever in quest for greener pastures,
So my heart seeks

Be still and know I am God.

As a dear pants for the cool waters,
So my heart longs

Be still and know I am God.

As on the wings of an eagle high above,
So my heart soars!

Be still and know I am God.

"THE FAITH OF TEN"

A story came to me by way
Of the internet told by a
Missionary in a far-off land
About a ten-year-old girl
And her faith in God.

A little baby was born
Just as its mother went Home.
It was too soon, still she had to go.
The little tyke was not all alone.
There was a sister of two.

So close to the equator
Hot days, but nights, oh so cold!
Only one hot water bottle left,
But oh so old! In filling it burst.
There was naught to do but pray.

A smart little girl of ten
Whose parents had gone Home, too
Spoke out as only a child could do:
“God, send us a hot water bottle,
And, oh please, send it today.

“It’ll be no good tomorrow,
God, as Baby will be dead.
So send it today. And, God, while
You’re at it, send a dolly for Sis
So she knows You love her, too!”

Oh, for the faith of little Ten!
Only a miracle would do!
So far from cities and towns and all.
She asks for a bottle and a doll?
Oh Lord, for the faith of little Ten!

Five moths ago, in a room
Half way ‘round this world of ours,
With loving care and pride, sweaters for
The orphans and bandages for the
Lepers, little children placed inside.

Just before the box was sealed a
Lady slipped something inside.
“God just told me to, I don’t know why.”
A little girl, so sweet and shy
With tears in her eyes,
Lifted her favorite dolly and said:
“May I put her in there. Too?”

So on baby’s first noon
A car stopped before our house
And a package was place on our steps.
With excitement and trembling fingers
Strings were carefully untied.

The paper folded so neat
And saved for another day.
The box yielded sweaters – all sizes!
Bandages and a box of mixed fruit.
And, Glory be! A hot water bottle!

Had I truly believed?
“It there’s a bottle,” cried little Ten,
“there has to be a dolly, too!”
And there it was, placed by a little
Girl so far away.

With reverent hands Ten picked
Her up, hugged to her chest
And whispered, “May I take her to Sis
To show her how much Jesus loves her?”

Oh, for the faith of Ten!
_{“Before they call, I will answer.” Isaiah 65:24}

Winter, January 1993. Note scribbled in my bulletin: “I don’t know why, but He did.” As I meditated and began to write in my journal, this poem emerged. The title comes from the form the lines create which is easier to see on a larger screen.

"REFLECTIONS"

He did.
I don’t know why,
But He did.
I don’t know why He did,
But He did.
I don’t know why God made the Universe,
But He did.
I don’t know why God said, “Let there be Light,”
But He did.
I don’t know why God made man in His own image,
But He did.
I don’t know why God gave man dominion over the Earth,
But He did.
I don’t know why God made a covenant with Abraham,
But He did.
I don’t know why God rescued the Children out of Egypt,
But He did.
I don’t know why God repeatedly saved His people,
But He did.
I don’t know why God doesn’t give up on us,
But He doesn’t.
Because God
So loves us.
Because God
So loves us
He sent His Son
So that we all could be His sons and daughters, too.
Because God
So loves us.
Because God
So Loves us,
We should love
Each other, too.
Now I know why God didn’t give up on us:
He loves us!
Now I know why god repeatedly save His people:
He loves us!
Now I know why God Rescued the Children out of Egypt;
Now I know why God made a better covenant for us;
He loves us!
I still don’t know why God made the Universe,
But this I know!
God so Loves us, that’s you and me,
That he gave his Only Son,
That whoever will Believe on Him
Shall have
Life everlasting.
God did!

BEAUTY

Such a morning as this!
As I drive to work
I see the evidence of God’s Love.
Oh, such bliss!
Beauty in all around I see
In everything at which I look.
It’s all a part of His earthy Temple,
According to His Holy Book.
Warm and full of laughter,
Once stood there a home.
Only broken walls remain,
Weedy and overgrown.
The sun sparkles on waving grass,
Where once children
Played and laughed.
By the front door,
On a little hill,
A yellow rose blooms.
And I hear laughter still!
Is there beauty in the derelict,
Lying there by the tree?
Jesus died for him,
As he died for you and me.
God doesn’t see the outer shell.
He knows what’s inside.
That’s what saves us all from hell.
There is beauty here,
Everywhere, for God to see.
Because he made it all.
And He made me! _{Began in Spring 1992 Completed January 1993}

TAIL TIP TWITCH

She waits.
Motionless.
Gray stone among gray stones.

Air whispers through grass,
soft rustle against rustle.

Tail tip twitch
rhythmic and slow.

Stirring in the green stems -
barely discernable.

Long tongue flickering.

Tail tip twitch ceases.
Yellow eyes turn black.
Still she waits.

Long body,
longer tail,
gray-brown stripes -
Bold at last!
It slithers through the grass.

Head never moving,
Eyes never blinking -
Slow motion body arch,
she pounces!

My little gray cat -
just caught another lizard!

This poem was origionally writtten for the
First Legend of RUBY HEART.

THERE WAS A TIME

There was a Time.
There was a people.
There was a land filled with light.
There was a Time when the people lived
In that land filled with light.
Light dancing and bouncing.
Perpetually misty waters.
Feathery green trees.
In that time.

The people spent their days
in pleasant pursuits,
In that land filled with sunshine and beauty.
Long, hot summer afternoons,
Playing under the green-canopied fruit trees.
Endless winter evenings,
snuggled deep in warm blankets,
with flames dancing in the brazier.

Untold hours listening to stories
of high adventure.
Mighty battles, fierce revenge,
Beautiful women and handsome men
Who conquered and survived
and even thrived in spite of it all.
There was such a Time.

There was a Time,
In that beautiful land,
When life was dark and terrifying.
A time of betrayal from within,
When brother betrayed broth
and son his father.
When friend and foe looked alike.
A land. A Time. A people.
Filled with a black fear
So deep that no Light could shine.

But Time has come once more.
The Light again shines on that land.
The people rejoice and sing,
And the land is beautiful once more.
There is a Time.
The Time is now,
And it is good!

I AM FACING MIGHTY BEAR

I am facing Mighty Bear –
Fourteen feet of death and destruction.
Far behind me stands Lion of Judah,
Made small by distance.

Believing in my own strength,
I must battle Mighty Bear alone.
I am bloodied and exhausted.
I call to Lion of Judah: “Watch my back!”

Lion of Judah stands close behind me.
Mighty Bear hesitates.
I stand tall ready assured to win.
Mighty Bear attacks.

I am left bleeding and disheartened.
Lion of Judah has not moved.
“Lion of Judah do something!
Mighty Bear is killing me!”

“I can do nothing,
As long as I am behind you.
Ask Me to fight for you.
Then stand out of the way!”

“Please, Lion of Judah! Fight for me!”
Lion of Judah is beside me,
His roar like mighty thunder,
Echoing over mountain, sea and sky.

Dropping to all fours,
Mighty Bear shrinks to normal size.
As he scampers away, I hear him mutter:
“You didn’t tell me HE was at your side!”

Marian Webb Betts
February 1, 2021