Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
Is all alone
Eyes wide open
Always hoping for the sun
And she’ll sing her song to anyone
that comes along
Fragile as a leaf in autumn
Just fallin’ to the ground
Without a sound
Crooked little smile on her face
Tells a tale of grace
That’s all her own
Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
And she’s all alone
–Norah Jones
As some of you may know, February is “poetry month” for me. I do love the love poetry! So get ready!
So much of our lives pertains to/is influenced by/is consumed by love/thoughts of love/love actions. Whether we want to admit it or not, love is such a part of us — even those of us who are not romantically entwined are surrounded with love influences. Love is truly “in the air.” There is something about love poetry that touches some depth in me — and thus all the poetry postings.
Then, too, I suppose it’s not always about love… after all, a guy recently asked me whether, if he were not already married, I would go out with him. To which I, of course, replied, “Doesn’t matter — you ARE married.” But he persisted – IF he weren’t, would I? The fact that I am old enough to be his mother seemed to have no bearing…Nor the fact that we have very little in common.
So . . . was that about “love”? No, I don’t think so — it was about ego. There was no thought about whether we might enjoy the same types of activities – only whether I would enjoy HIS activities — or whether there was any type of compatibility in our lives on any level. I was so amazed that any guy would put such a thought in actual words that I hardly knew how to respond… and ended up laughing at the idea.
But for me, love — being in love — is real. When I love, I do so completely – give freely. I’ve been asked at times about the 20 years I gave to my marriage — do I feel the time was wasted – didn’t I give the best years of my life, etc. etc. I always say – the years weren’t wasted, what I gave, I gave willingly. I don’t begrudge it. That’s love.
So get ready – February’s coming. If you don’t want to read love poetry, tune out for February!
15. The Love of God
There are three things told us in Scripture concerning the nature of God. First, “God is spirit” (John 4:24). In the Greek there is no indefinite article, and to say “God is a spirit” is most objectionable, for it places Him in a class with others. God is “spirit” in the highest sense. Because He is “spirit” He is incorporeal, having no visible substance. Had God a tangible body, He would not be omnipresent, He would be limited to one place; because He is spirit He fills heaven and earth. Second, God is light (1 John 1:5), which is the opposite of “darkness.” In Scripture “darkness” stands for sin, evil, death; and “light” for holiness, goodness, life. God is light, means that He is the sum of all excellency. Third, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). It is not simply that God “loves,” but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature.
There are many today who talk about the love of God, who are total strangers to the God of love. The Divine love is commonly regarded as a species of amiable weakness, a sort of good-natured indulgence; it is reduced to a mere sickly sentiment, patterned after human emotion. Now the truth is that on this, as on everything else, our thoughts need to be formed and regulated by what is revealed thereon in Holy Scripture. That there is urgent need for this is apparent not only from the ignorance which so generally prevails, but also from the low state of spirituality which is now so sadly evident everywhere among professing Christians. How little real love there is for God. One chief reason for this is because our hearts are so little occupied with His wondrous love for His people. The better we are acquainted with His love—its character, fulness, blessedness—the more will our hearts be drawn out in love to Him.
1. The love of God is uninfluenced. By this we mean, there was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it into exercise, nothing in the creature to attract or prompt it. The love which one creature has for another is because of something in them; but the love of God is free, spontaneous, uncaused. The only reason why God loves any is found in His own sovereign will: “The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved thee” (Deut. 7:7,8). God has loved His people from everlasting, and therefore nothing of the creature can be the cause of what is found in God from eternity. He loves from Himself: “according to His own purpose” (2 Tim. 1:9).
“We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God did not love us because we loved Him, but He loved us before we had a particle of love for Him. Had God loved us in return for ours, then it would not be spontaneous on His part; but because He loved us when we were loveless, it is clear that His love was uninfluenced. It is highly important if God is to be honored and the heart of His child established, that we should be quite clear upon this precious truth. God’s love for me, and for each of “His own,” was entirely unmoved by anything in them. What was there in me to attract the heart of God? Absolutely nothing. But, to the contrary, everything to repel Him, everything calculated to make Him loathe me—sinful, depraved, a mass of corruption, with “no good thing” in me.
“What was there in me that could merit esteem,
Or give the Creator delight?
‘Twas even so, Father, I ever must sing,
Because it seemed good, in Thy sight.”
2. It is eternal. This of necessity. God Himself is eternal, and God is love; therefore, as God Himself had no beginning, His love had none. Granted that such a concept far transcends the grasp of our feeble minds, nevertheless, where we cannot comprehend, we can bow in adoring worship. How clear is the testimony of Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” How blessed to know that the great and holy God loved His people before heaven and earth were called into existence, that He had set His heart upon them from all eternity. Clear proof is this that His love is spontaneous, for He loved them endless ages before they had any being.
The same precious truth is set forth in Ephesians 1:4,5, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. In love having predestinated us.” What praise should this evoke from each of His children! How tranquilizing for the heart: since God’s love toward me had no beginning, it can have no ending! Since it be true that “from everlasting to everlasting” He is God, and since God is “love,” then it is equally true that “from everlasting to everlasting” He loves His people.
3. It is sovereign. This also is self-evident. God Himself is sovereign, under obligations to none, a law unto Himself, acting always according to His own imperial pleasure. Since God be sovereign, and since He be love, it necessarily follows that His love is sovereign. Because God is God, He does as He pleases; because God is love, He loves whom He pleases. Such is His own express affirmation: “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom. 9:19). There was no more reason in Jacob why he should be the object of Divine love, than there was in Esau. They both had the same parents, and were born at the same time, being twins; yet God loved the one and hated the other! Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.
The sovereignty of God’s love necessarily follows from the fact that it is uninfluenced by anything in the creature. Thus, to affirm that the cause of His love lies in God Himself, is only another way of saying, He loves whom He pleases. For a moment, assume the opposite. Suppose God’s love were regulated by anything else than His will, in such a case He would love by rule, and loving by rule He would be under a law of love, and then so far from being free, God would Himself be ruled by law. “In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to”—what? Some excellency which He foresaw in them? No; what then? “According to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:4,5).
4. It is infinite. Everything about God is infinite. His essence fills heaven and earth. His wisdom is illimitable, for He knows everything of the past, present and future. His power is unbounded, for there is nothing too hard for Him. So His love is without limit. There is a depth to it which none can fathom; there is a height to it which none can scale; there is a length and breadth to it which defies measurement, by any creature-standard. Beautifully is this intimated in Ephesians 2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us: the word “great” there is parallel with the “God so loved” of John 3:16. It tells us that the love of God is so transcendent it cannot be estimated.
No tongue can fully express the infinitude of God’s love, or any mind comprehend it: it “passeth knowledge” Eph. 3:19). The most extensive ideas that a finite mind can frame about Divine love, are infinitely below its true nature. The heaven is not so far above the earth as the goodness of God is beyond the most raised conceptions which we are able to form of it. It is an ocean which swells higher than all the mountains of opposition in such as are the objects of it. It is a fountain from which flows all necessary good to all those who are interested in it (John Brine, 1743).
5. It is immutable. As with God Himself there is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17), so His love knows neither change or diminution. The worm Jacob supplies a forceful example of this: “Jacob have I loved,” declared Jehovah, and despite all his unbelief and waywardness, He never ceased to love him. John 13:1 furnishes another beautiful illustration. That very night one of the apostles would say, “Show us the Father”; another would deny Him with cursings; all of them would be scandalized by and forsake Him. Nevertheless “having loved His own which were in the world, He love them unto the end.” The Divine love is subject to no vicissitudes. Divine love is “strong as death … many waters cannot quench it” (Song of Sol. 8:6,7). Nothing can separate from it: Romans 8:35-39.
“His love no end nor measure knows,
No change can turn its course,
Eternally the same it flows
From one eternal source.”
6. It is holy. God’s love is not regulated by caprice passion, or sentiment, but by principle. Just as His grace reigns not at the expense of it, but “through righteousness” (Rom. 5:21), so His love never conflicts with His holiness. “God is light” (1 John 1:5) is mentioned before “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God’s love is no mere amiable weakness, or effeminate softness. Scripture declares, “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Heb. 12:6). God will not wink at sin, even in His own people. His love is pure, unmixed with any maudlin sentimentality.
7. It is gracious. The love and favor of God are inseparable. This is clearly brought out in Romans 8:32-39. What that love is from which there can be no “separation,” is easily perceived from the design and scope of the immediate context: it is that goodwill and grace of God which determined Him to give His Son for sinners. That love was the impulsive power of Christ’s incarnation: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Christ died not in order to make God love us, but because He did love His people, Calvary is the supreme demonstration of Divine love. Whenever you are tempted to doubt the love of God, Christian reader, go back to Calvary.
Here then is abundant cause for trust and patience under Divine affliction. Christ was beloved of the Father, yet He was not exempted from poverty, disgrace, and persecution. He hungered and thirsted. Thus, it was not incompatible with God’s love for Christ when He permitted men to spit upon and smite Him. Then let no Christian call into question God’s love when he is brought under painful afflictions and trials. God did not enrich Christ on earth with temporal prosperity, for “He had not where to lay His head.” But He did give Him the Spirit “without measure” (John 3:34). Learn then that spiritual blessings are the principal gifts of Divine love. How blessed to know that when the world hates us, God loves us!
Glimmers from stars
have flickered all year long,
and now, at its close,
when the planets
are shining through frost,
radiance runs like music in the bones,
and the heart keeps rising
at the sound of any song,
or with the silver calling
of a bell,
rounding, high and clear,
flying, falling,
sounding the death knell
of our old year,
telling the new appearing
of Christ, our Morning Star.
Now, burst,
all our bell throat!
Toll, every clapper tongue!
Stun the still night!
Jesus Himself gleams through
our high heart notes
(it is no fable).
It is He Whose light
glistens in each song sung,
and in the true
returning again
to the stable
of all of us: shepherds,
sages, his women and men,
common and faithful,
wealthy and wise,
with carillon hearts,
and, suddenly, stars
in our eyes.
~~ Luci Shaw
Poem by Luci Shaw
This is the rock-rim edge of the known world.
This is the ragged planet where Christ landed,
and we are His people, craggy and knotted and burled.
and aching and lonely. Restless. Stranded.
These firs could well have framed His wooden manger
ad His cross; I never encounter Advent without
Dark Friday. The days in the life of this stranger
were flecked with God-graces, threaded with human doubt.
Battered by storms of loss in her loving and grieving
all her life Mary lived on the cliff-edge of cruel foresight.
Clinging, she rode the gusts and the glory, heaving
still with the donkey rhythm, dazzled with western light.
and looking back…
The past year pretty much covered the whole range of emotions for me. Helen’s home-going in May was a huge shock. Suddenly she was gone – so little time for that good-bye. Yet I was glad to have been there and we know she is rejoicing in heaven with her Lord.
One of the great highlights for me is the participation in the Arts Chorale of Winchester. Who’da thunk I’d still be singing in such a wonderful, high caliber group…Love it! Then there was the “men’s” quartet in which I sang 1st tenor — What a rush!
I love that Shari is more settled in her life. I suppose it’s all parents’ dream to see their children settled and happy – and although she works hard to achieve it, she and Jeremiah are doing well, as is her not-so-little Layla. They have their routines all worked out and Layla is involved in gymnastics and dance as well as school activities. They live farther away from me than I would like, but perhaps I can move closer to them in a few years.
Layla and Shari made this cute snow-woman...
Had a great trip to China in mid-October. Then the kids were here for a long weekend in late October. They helped me do a lot of things around the house and we had such a lovely snow while they were here. Seems it always snows when Shari visits – I told her she should visit in July when people would really enjoy some snow!
In November, Carol and I traveled to Oregon for our family reunion. We reconnected with cousins we haven’t seen for a couple of years. Also stayed with friends in Portland – Bloomsters – who have visited Kenya when Carol was still working there. Great people and great fun!
All ice!
Early December was the ECFA staff retreat in Washington, D.C. One of the attractions we took in was “ICE!” – MerryMadagascar. They told us it would be cold and provided parkas to wear — in truth, it felt like January in Indiana!
Just one of many figures depicting Christ's birth
One of the nicest things about the walk-though Ice pesentation was the depiction of the birth of Christ at the end. Beautiful!
The Christmas morning I missed -- thankful for fast photo transfer!
I wasn’t able to travel to Indiana until December 26 this year because Christmas was on Sunday and my church choir was performing. (Our last selection was the Hallelujah Chorus, which we performed with only 8 people, two people to a part. We were short on sopranos, so I had to fill in…Oh, my! Oh, dear! Handel hated sopranos, I think.)
With so much travel at the end of the year, I feel played-out. I hope to spend some time regrouping in early 2012. I find myself going often to my “tranquil place” in my mind – praying for peacefulness and serenity – trusting God for the present as well as the future.
Questions to ask: What is good about how I am progressing in my spiritual walk – how can I improve? Is my work schedule compromising time that could be spent for other good things? It’s true, the number of hours I work is by choice. I am geared to work – I like to work – I will likely always work at something, even if I ever do “retire.” But perhaps I need to concentrate on other things more often. Choices!
All this to say, I am praying 2012 will be a year of good things – goals attained – promises fulfilled – dreams realized – and a life lived closer to my God.
Verse for the year: Deuteronomy 31:8
(NIV) ”The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(New King James) And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
(Amplified Bible) It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].
Seems it’s either feast or famine with this blog… either I have nothing to post (or don’t take the time to think about it) or I’m writing all the time… What gives?
Blogging is not a passion for me. It’s true that I love poetry – especially love poetry. I post a lot of it, much to the consternation of some of my readers. But it is life’s blood to me – just as music is always with me. The two go hand in hand but are not mutually inclusive. So to know me is to read the poetry I love.
The rest of the time, it’s not that I don’t have anything to say, exactly — many times it’s that I can’t get the concepts into words that would make sense to anyone.
So if you want to read my blog and know me just a little more, I guess you’ll have to put up with what I post — and wade through what you don’t want to read to get to the “real” stuff.
So they’ll be late for Christmas. . . probably. I wonder how important being on time is in the larger scope of things. You could decide that it just makes celebrating Christmas last a little longer — or you could decide that I just never get it all together. Maybe you’d be right on both scores. It might be the Asian influence but being on time has never been life or death to me.
Today I took three boxes to work with me to get them ready to mail. (Oh, I know – I shouldn’t be working on Saturday, but I do – almost every Saturday I am in town.) I worked on the boxes in between doing other things but never made it to the post office. In fact, I didn’t get anything done away from work since I had to hurry away from work to get up to The Hill to meet with my most wonderful “fixit” people.
You have no idea how good it feels to have people who have the time and inclination to help me fix things around the house. I could not be more thankful! We were able to line out several projects that will take us well into the summer to complete. Some are fixit jobs and some are entry-way enhancements. It’ll be a relief to be able to bring some of these things to fruition.
This evening I made a rum cake for a friend’s birthday. Her son is home from college – she might have to share…
What a busy season — all of us seem to be rushing around . . . doing things. And I am no exception. Gifts to be wrapped (still sitting in a box by my bed – although I did get out the wrapping paper . . . which is also sitting by my bed) . . . cookies to be made (ingredients are sitting on my counter for the few varieties I plan to make this year, most featuring coffee liqueur, which I didn’t have last year when I needed it so bought a rather large bottle this summer) . . . songs to be practiced and perfected (no extra rehearsals scheduled . . . yet).
It is also this time of year that I tend to mull over the happenings of the year – no waiting until New Year’s Day to do that. All the “goods” and “bads” – successes and failures (real or imagined – in both cases) get mulled over.
But it’s also at this time of year that I try to identify the events and circumstances in my life that are not to be mulled over — things not under my control. And there are always some of those things that, in my natural self, I would like to spend time= mulling over or commiserating about with others. But what would be the point of that – nothing changes and negative thoughts prevail.
I choose – and it is a choice – to dwell on the positive — and to re-feel all the good vibes of the year. And there are a lot of those, too. I might always have a sense of loss over things I wish were different — but there are ever so very many good mullings to offset it.
God is good!
Now, there are some of you out there who really wonder about why I post love poetry/songs here. Maybe you don’t understand that creative poetic pull to write — or maybe it’s that you’ve been together too long to feel that strong an emotion — or maybe you just think it’s too gushy. Which is probably the reason I don’t publish much of my own poetry — it’s much too personal — too revealing — too…….much!
Well, I’ve had my fix for now — so you’re safe.
I’ve been mulling about Christmas and the season — so I’ll be posting soon… have to mull it all over, don’cha know…
