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                                                                         Pondering Life  

#AtoZChallenge: Letter V

4/27/2017

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How do I know God is real? I've seen miracles that can only be attributed to Him. Nothing like what Ezekiel experienced when dry human bones in a valley were brought to life, but close!

Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14
 
Ezekiel was transported
By the Spirit of the Lord
To a valley filled with bones
That he and God explored.
 
The bones were dry and scattered
With no life that could be found.
God asked his priest-turned-prophet,
“Can these bones rise from the ground?”
 
“You alone can answer, Lord,”
Was Ezekiel’s quick reply.
Then God said, “Speak this message,
“Dry Bones, get up and rise!’”
 
And then a noisy rattle
Echoed up from valley depths
As bone attached to bone,
And muscles formed with flesh.
 
Then God asked of his prophet,
“Speak out to Earth’s four winds:
Breathe life into these bones
So they may live again.”
 
So Ezekiel spoke the message,
And breath filled up those bones,
And an army of new men
Arose like Israel’s clones.
 
They said to one another,
“We’ve become so dry and old.
All hope is gone; our nation’s dead,
Our very life’s grown cold.”
 
Then God told his great prophet,
“Tell the people what I’ll do.
I’ll open graves of exile
And make everything brand new.”
 
“And when Israel is restored,
My people will proclaim:
‘This was from the Lord!
Our nation’s been reclaimed!’”



From . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter U

4/25/2017

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The Letter U for the #AtoZChallenge is Unity, specifically unity in the Universal Church. With so many denominations, the church can seem at odds with itself, particularly to non-believers. As Christians, we must work to display the unity that binds us together: belief in salvation through Jesus Christ and obedience to his Word.

Courage of the Church
 
The courage of the Church
Is conviction steeped in truth,
Shared with love to others
And developed from our youth.
 
That courage is developed
By meeting Jesus every day
And seeking out our brothers
Who will lift us up and pray.
 
Like Peter, Paul, and John,
Our witness should be brave
In obedience and in unity
To the One by Whom we’re saved.

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter T

4/23/2017

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The "lingo" of Christianity can be difficult for non-Christians to understand, but some of the big words and terms can even be hard for Christians to fully grasp. I like to call them Ten-Dollar Words, and I hope my poem helps you to understand a couple of those very important, but difficult to understand, words that pastors and teachers toss about.

Ten-Dollar Words
 
Sanctification, propitiation--
Big ten-dollar words--
If you grew up in a Bible church,
They’re words you must have heard.
 
Sanctification simply means
Living out your faith,
Growing more like Christ
As you journey through your days.
 
Propitiation simply means
Atonement for our sins
Resulting from the sacrifice
Of Jesus for all men.
 
Knowing those big words
Won’t change how we should live,
But knowing what they mean
Reminds us why we live.



From . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter S

4/21/2017

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"Second Fruits" is one of my favorite poems. You don't know what Life will throw you and how you will respond, but I'm a firm believer in second chances after a less than stellar response to things we encounter.  I also believe that if we have a strong foundation early in life, we will return to those roots that can help us to flourish once more. 

Second Fruits
Matthew 7:17-20
 
The tree was watered,
It felt the sun,
Its roots grew strong--
A life begun.
 
When fruit appeared,
The tree stood tall,
A sign of health
To one and all.
 
But then the storms
Of life unfurled--
First drought, then rain,
Then winds that swirled.
 
For a season
No fruit was seen,
Withered and brown,
Not healthy green.
 
But underground
Were roots held fast
By care and love
From seasons past.
 
And once again
The sun came down
To shine upon
The fertile ground.
 
New fruit was seen,
Brighter and sweet,
Having survived
Seeming defeat.

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter R

4/20/2017

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Rahab, a prostitute, is an unlikely ancestor to Jesus Christ, but her story gives hope to all who have chosen a fallen path. No one's past prevents him or her from a future of hope in Christ. Read Rahab's story in today's #AtoZChallenge post.

Rahab
Joshua 2:1-24
Matthew 1:5
 

Joshua sent two spies
To the city of Jericho
To find out more about
A potential battle foe.
 
But someone told the King,
“There are spies here in the land;
They’re in the house of Rahab,
We need to know their plan.”
 
The King sent word to Rahab,
“Bring out the Israelites!”
She responded, “They aren’t here--
Perhaps they’ve taken flight.”
 
In truth, the men were hidden
Under flax on Rahab’s roof.
She knew the God they worshipped
Was the One who spoke the Truth.
 
“I know your God is mighty,
I’ve heard all the things he does.
I’ve given you protection,
Now give the same to us.”
 
The Israelites agreed
When they returned to Jericho
They’d look for Rahab’s window--
A scarlet rope hung below.
 
Due to Rahab’s faithfulness
Two spies were saved that day,
And through the line of Rahab
Came the One who is the Way.


From . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter Q

4/19/2017

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Queen Esther is the subject for the Letter Q in the #AtoZChallenge. Read about the Godly choice she made that saved her people.


Esther

 
King Xerxes loved Queen Vashti,
But she defied the King’s command;
Her banishment made the way
For saving Jews across the land.
 
King Xerxes sought another
To wear the Persian crown,
Throughout the land were chosen
Young girls of all renown.
 
Esther was a Hebrew
Who lived with Mordecai,
Chosen by the royal court,
She caught King Xerxes’ eye.
 
But Haman was an Agagite
And had a grudge with all the Jews,
He made a plan for Xerxes
That would cause the Jews to lose.
 
Though Esther was the Persian Queen,
Her lineage wasn’t known,
Even Xerxes who so loved his queen
Was oblivious on his throne.
 
When Mordecai refused to bow,
Haman set his plan in place.
Xerxes signed the order
To end the Jewish race.
 
Mordecai warned Esther
Of the plan that would unfold,
Through Hathach he told Esther,
“You must be brave; you must be bold.”
 
“Perhaps you were made queen
For such a time as this.
If you ignore the role you play,
You’ll surely be remiss.”
 
So Esther turned to God
In fasting and in prayer
And asked of Mordecai
That the Jews, as well, prepare.
 
Then Esther went to Xerxes,
And through clever words and deeds,
She turned the course in play
To preserve the Chosen’s seed.
 
Now Haman is no more,
But God’s people grow in love,
Thanks to Mordecai and Esther
And providence from above.

​From . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield


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#AtoZChallenge: Letter P

4/18/2017

1 Comment

 
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Lots of words in today's poem that begin with the Letter P for the #AtoZChallenge: Pharisee, preach, pray, perfect, pious — can you tell I like alliteration?  

Pharisee Friend
 
“Why do you believe what you do?”
A friend asked me the other day.
“All I hear is vitriol
From those who preach and pray.”
 
I thought about my answer,
Not wanting to offend,
But needing to be faithful
In a world that’s filled with sin.
 
“I believe what the Bible says –
That God condemns such things.
I know that I’m not perfect;
I rely on grace God brings.”
 
I saw the way she briefly looked
And knew what went through her mind:
“I’ve seen you sin, my pious friend,
Do you think I’m completely blind?”
 
How do I explain myself
To someone who’s seen me sin?
To her I’m just a Pharisee
She tolerates as a friend.
 
God, help the life I’ve journeyed
Be an example of your grace,
Let others see your mercy,
Not the sin I once embraced.

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter O

4/17/2017

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Omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence — big words to describe a big God. But, what do they all mean? Use the poem below to remember these important attributes of God as the #AtoZChallenge continues with the Letter O. 

​
Omni-Everything

Omnipotent means “all powerful,”
God’s majesty displayed.
Omniscience means “all knowing,”
God sees each and every day.
 
Omnipresence means “God everywhere,”
He finds us where we are.
Omni-benevolent means “all good,”
Only God can reach that bar.
 
All powerful, all knowing,
God everywhere, all good –
He’s “Omni-everything” –
And through faith I’ve understood.

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#AtoZChallenge: Letter N

4/17/2017

2 Comments

 
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Did you make a New Year's resolution 4 months ago to read the bible through this year? Did you bog down somewhere around Leviticus? You aren't the only one! Others feel your struggle, too. Read about a different approach for next year in the poem below as the #AtoZChallenge continues with the Letter N.

New Year’s Resolution
 
My New Year’s resolution
Was to read the Bible through,
Both Old and New Testaments –
Maps, concordance, too.
 
Day one went really well –
The story of creation,
Followed by the ark,
In my best translation.
 
In those first few weeks
I read of Moses and the law,
The Ten Commandment tablets
And the blessings Israel saw.
 
But, along about day thirty,
Leviticus came in view,
All those rules and sacrifices
And offering guidance, too.
 
Instead of easy stories,
I was faced with rules of old,
And my New Year’s reading challenge
Started growing pretty cold.
 
So, here I am, once again,
Stalled before Book Four,
Maybe when the next year comes,
I’ll read a little more.
 
But, here will be my plan
From day one of that new year:
Start with Revelation
And work backward from the rear.
 
And maybe I might see
By looking at the end
The value of Leviticus
And the message that it sends.



From . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield

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#AtoZ Challenge: Letter M

4/15/2017

1 Comment

 
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Letter M of the #AtoZChallenge brings us to a little known Old Testament king: Melchizedek. What better time than Easter to learn about someone who foreshadowed the coming Christ. Read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14, and then find him mentioned again in Hebrews.

Melchizedek
Genesis 14
Hebrews 5, 6, 7
 
Melchizedek, King of Salem,
And priest of God Most High,
Greeted Abram after war
And brought him bread and wine.
 
Melchizedek gave a blessing
To Abram from the Lord;
Abram gave a tenth of goods
His victories had restored.
 
Melchizedek is remembered
As resembling God’s own Son;
He wasn’t Who would come,
But an example of the One.
 
Jesus is the final priest,
Atonement for our sins,
And Melchizedek was there
As the story all begins.

from . . . And a Poem, Too by Kathy Mansfield

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