The Same God Today

Photo courtesy of Julian Hacker @ pixabay

I was thinking today about the prophet Ezekiel and his experience in the valley of dry bones, when the Lord told him He would give those bones new life. So I thought I’d share a poem the Lord inspired on the subject. The Scripture reference is Ezekiel, chapter 37.

THE SAME GOD TODAY

Bones in the valley,
Worthless and dry,
Bleached by the sun and
The wind blowing by.

God to the prophet
Did speak and did ask,
“Can these bones still live?
Is it too big a task?”

“Lord,” said the prophet,
“Only You know.”
“I’ll show you, Ezekiel;
My Spirit will blow.

“And cause them to live
And give flesh and skin;
They’ll rise like an army,
Give Me glory again.”

When our problems seem hopeless,
Too dead to restore,
We can look to Ezekiel
And his word from the Lord.

For the God who breathed life
Into bones dry and dead
Is the same God for us
If we’ll trust what He’s said.

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Poems of Christmas – # 2

IF YOUR TINSEL’S IN A TANGLE

Is your tinsel in a tangle?
Is your wreath hung at an angle?
Are you starting to feel stressed and quite undone?

Is your credit card maxed out?
Are the kids bored, in a pout?
Have you given up the hope of having fun?

Well, forget the tangled messes
And the aggravated voices,
And forget about more shopping that’s not done.

Stop the hassle and the frazzle;
Look away from what bedazzles
To the reason for the season. There’s just one.

Jesus Christ – He is the reason.
His birth brought about the season,
For the Father gave His one and only Son.

If you’ll focus on His coming,
You will hear your heart start humming,
And will find your merry Christmas has begun.

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Excerpted from my book of Christmas and winter poems: KEEPING CHRISTMAS.

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‘Thanksgiving Celebration’ – Perfect Holiday Gift Book

Here it is: The perfect little Thanksgiving gift for those you want to bless during this time of gratitude for God’s abundant blessings in our lives. This small soft-cover book is a seasonal collection of scriptures, pictures, and Thanksgiving poems and essays by my father Ted Pavloff and me. The cover features the photography of my sister Brenda Calvert, so it’s really a family collaboration.

Only 25 pages long, measuring 5 1/5 x 8 1/2,  it is just the right size to pick up and enjoy for a few moments of seasonal pleasure in the weeks anticipating Thanksgiving Day or in the hours after dinner, when you’re letting your turkey and dressing settle.

$4.00 on Amazon. You can find your copy at this link.

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Jesus Washes Sin Away

Jesus washes sin away;
Even it’s stain won’t show.
If you’ll just give your heart to Him,
He’ll cleanse you white as snow.

I don’t care what you’ve done — or how many times you’ve done it. The simple truth is that Jesus Christ suffered brutal torture and crucifixion and death to pay for every bit of it. And if you want your life changed, so that you are not even the same person who did those things, He is ready and willing to do the job of changing you for eternity. Just come to Him and give it all to Him. Give Him your whole heart and your whole life. He can take it from there, and you will never be the same again.

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He Still Comes

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“How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of HIs Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.”

_________________

Copyright: Phillips Brooks

 

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A Future & a Hope

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A FUTURE & A HOPE
(Jeremiah 29:11)

Another year is almost gone,
And with it go my fears.
I’m closing out two thousand, twenty,
By wiping away my tears.
I will not let past loss and hurt
Infringe on future years.
God’s promised a future bright with hope:
At His Word my heart cheers.

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There Is A Cure

The truth of Jesus Christ’s complete redemption can be told in any form. In this post I’ve set God’s truth into Cinquain — one of my favorite poetic forms.

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Virus:
To lots of folks
It is a scary word.
But there’s a name that can kill it:
Jesus!

Disease
By any name.
Must bow to Jesus’ name.
His sacrifice redeemed us from
Disease.

Have faith.
Get in His Word:
He says it’s medicine
For every ailment we can face.
Trust Him.

(Scripture References: Acts 3:16, Philippians 2:9-10, Galatians 3:13-14, Proverbs 4:20-22, and Psalm 107:17-20)

 

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Back Online – Merry Christmas

 

WHO IS THIS BABE OF BETHLEHEM?

At His birth,
A tiny, helpless child;

At His death,
A lamb so meek and mild;

At the grave,
A conqueror supreme;

At His coming,
Universal King!

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Last summer, when I created the new “Radical About Jesus Ministries” website, I took “Hangin’ Out With God” off-line and transferred much of the material to the new website. However, most people who have been interacting with “Hangin’ Out With God” have preferred to stay with this site rather than switch to the new one. That being the case — even though I still need to keep the Radical site for the sake of continuity and connections with other aspects of the ministry — I’ve decided to put this blog back into “active public” status so that the hundreds of followers can continue to interact here the way they have for the past 8 years.

I really want to do what the Lord wants done with all my websites, and if this site can reach out and connect with hundreds of people that the other sites don’t reach, then I don’t want to close that door. So I’ll give it a few months as we begin this new year and see how things go with “Hangin’ Out With God” available to the public again.

Blessings on you, my readers and followers. Hope to hear from some of you soon.

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Lenten Poems — week 4

NATHANIEL’S ANSWER

Nathaniel was a man who knew no guile.
He walked with Jesus, loved Him all the while.
When first he heard His name, a question posed
But waited ’til the answer was disclosed.

“From Nazareth can any good come forth?”
He asked of those who knew that city’s worth.
He asked for meditation, not reply,
Yet found the answer true in Jesus’ eyes.

And although from the garden he did run
With others as they scattered one by one,
As Roman guards led Jesus, bound, away,
There came a reckoning after the third day.

As Mary ran to spread the glorious news,
Nathaniel, hidd’n with others, all confused,
Received her words with doubt, and hope, and fear,
And hungered so His Master’s voice to hear.

Then Jesus stood among them, His work done:
Salvation for the world from Nazareth comes.

 

 

 

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My Darkest Night

`

My darkest night has come,
The sorrow is so deep.
My grieving heart’s entombed —
So empty it can’t weep.

The storm around me rages,
And uses up my strength.
While memories and images
Besiege my mind at length.

But through the savage gale,
A voice so sweet and clear,
Rings out and then prevails;
Bids me let Him draw near.

For in His lovely presence,
The howling winds of grief
Stand still. His very essence
Is all-consuming peace.

His light condemns the darkness
And forces its retreat.
The night to dawn must hearken,
And death to Life concede.

 

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Weekly Smile 78

Joining Trent’s Weekly Smile again this week. If you’d like to share what makes you smile, just follow the link for the details of how to participate. I’m offering a ‘Smile’ Cinquain today.

 

MAKING GOD SMILE

God smiles
When we look up
And focus on His love —
When we put all our trust in Him,
God smiles.

 

 

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Honoring My Mom, the Poet

This Mother’s Day, I’d like to honor my mom (who has been in Heaven with the Lord for over 30 years now) by sharing one of her original poems with you. I still miss my mother every day, but I do not grieve. I have the glad assurance that when I have run my race and come to the end of my own earthly journey, I will be with her once again and enjoy her company for eternity.

My mom wrote most of her poetry about “ordinary” people and “ordinary” events in life. To her, it was those simple things that made life truly precious and, therefore, made it “extraordinary.”

This little poem is one she wrote about being a mother and bringing up children. I thought it was particularly appropriate for today:

CHILDREN
by Vera Faye Wallace Pavloff

Children are a gift from God above
For us to cherish and shower with love,

To care for and teach them how to mind;
This is not easy, so soon we find.

Having patience with a wee little one
Is winning a battle that’s only begun.

Time spent with them is seldom too much
For knowing your child and keeping in touch —

For teaching them how to love one another,
And to always be kind to sister and brother.

You listen to all the stories they tell,
Add one of your own with something to sell.

Giving them freedom and time to dream
Is not quite so foolish as it may seem.

Persuade and guide them along the way,
And take time out to hope and pray

That they develop both character and mind —
One to your liking and much refined.

To show that you care and stay in command
You must use a firm but gentle hand.

When they’re older and much troubled too,
Help them by being both honest and true.

Part of the burden they really must bear
Much too often we think we should share.

Yes, raising a child is a pleasure for sure;
For each little crisis there is a cure.

When they worry to their wits’ end,
Always remember it’s on you they depend.

Bring them up in the ways of the Lord
And give them what you can afford.

When they accomplish whatever they do,
You know that you have accomplished too.

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© Very Faye Wallace Pavloff 1970

And to all of you mothers out there who are reading this post: I wish you a terrific, jubilant, carefree, and memorable Mother’s Day, 2017!

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