On the Threshold

 

 

Standing on the threshold

Of a brand-new year,

Lord, we offer up to you, thanks

In this prayer.

 

It is because of you

That we are not consumed,

Daily we receive of your mercies

And daily we bloom.

 

Many have passed on

During this current year

And we thank you for their mark

Though no longer here.

 

Their legacy remains

Upon which we can draw

But their passing reminds us all

We are but straw.

 

Unstable in the wind

But for your mighty hand

And your constant revelation

Regarding your plan.

 

 

 

The bigger picture

Regarding all the called

And all those that trust in you

As their God.

 

Thank you, Lord

For such assurances

And for imputing to your children

Christ’s righteousness.

 

For ‘tis in you we live,

Move and have our being

And without the Spirit’s guidance

None would be seeing.

 

 

 

Thank you for your care

In this closing year,

And for reminding us in our peril

We need not fear. 

  

 Just as in this year

So, in the one to come,

Teach us Lord to number our days

And not before you run.

 

Thanks for marking

The way we should go

And for the light of your Word

That makes it glow.

 

And as we close out

This remarkable year,

We thank you again dear Father

For your Divine care.

 

Stewart Russell © December 31, 2025

 

 

Is It Possible?

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

Can it be done

Without added help

Of theological interpretations

Based on what is felt?

 

And Holy Spirit,

Tell me, what is his role?

Can he truly lead us into all truth

As we’ve been told?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

How do I know

Who’s right or wrong

Especially as a young born-again

When not yet strong?

 

Can I trust the Word

As it is plainly put

Or do I have to faithfully lock into

A denominational rut?

 

Is a world view key

In understanding

And is it absolutely necessary

To stop me falling?

 

How do I know

Which is right or wrong

Especially as a young believer

And not strong?

 

 

 

I have a Bible

Which I read daily,

Can I truly, definitively depend

On its accuracy?

 

What’s fundamental

That I need to know

And please tell me, if you can,

Does it show?

 

Do I need to know

Hebrew and Greek

To be able to understand concepts

Considered deep?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Third iteration

If you are following,

Can you tell me if there is a way

Of knowing?

 

 

 

I’d like to know

Given what I’ve heard

If I need some specialized input

To grasp the Word.

 

For whom, I ask

Was it actually written?

Must I read it from cover to cover

To be forgiven?

 

 

 

And the doctrines?

Must I know them fully:

Like covenants and dispensations

Assuredly?

 

 

 

It seems like a lot

To keep in one’s mind

And there’s a lot of minors’ emphasis

Recently, I find.

 

Major on minors

At the majors’ expense

And the critical Gospel message

Is lacking defense.

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Stewart Russell © December 28, 2025

 

Healing of the Nations

 

 

Healing of the nations

What really is it?

Let’s grab the Word of God

And pay a visit.

 

Forget all you have heard

Let the Word speak,

The knowledge you will glean

Will be quite a treat.

 

Revelation 22:2

 

In the midst of the street of it,

And on either side of the river,

Was there the tree of life,

Which bare twelve manner of fruits,

And yielded her fruit every month:

And the leaves of the tree

Were for the healing

Of the nations.

 

The healing of the nations

Via the tree of life

Obviously pertains to a time

When there is some strife.

 

You would recall

Adam and Eve’s plight

When they ate of the forbidden tree

And forfeited their right.

 

Their right to Eden

And all that pertained,

Placing the entire human race

Under sin's stain.

 

 

Cast out of Eden

And from the tree of life

But given the promise of salvation

And atoning sacrifice.

 

A ruggedly hewn cross

Became the tree of life

And the healing of the nations

No matter the strife.

 

Crucified thereon

Was the source of life,

Dying for all of earth’s peoples

Was Jesus the Christ.

 

It was divinely decreed

One must give up his life,

‘Twas for the sins of all peoples

Jesus paid the price.

 

Thus, healing the nations

As they turn to him

Recognizing he's the only remedy

For all earth’s sin.

 

Preaching of the cross

Is foolishness to some

But to every born-again believer

Salvation is come.

 

 

The cross is become

An instrument of life

Because on that cross of Calvary

Was Jesus sacrificed.

 

For the son of man

Had to be lifted up

And, as he said to his disciples,

Drink that bitter cup.

 

"Are ye able to drink?"

He once did ask

But not one of his disciples

Was up to this task.

 

There was no other

To pay the price of our sin,

Only Jesus could unlock the gate

And let us in.

 

The door of the sheep

And tree of life is he,

Only the middle man on the cross

Gives life eternally.

 

Matthew 28:19-20

 

Go ye therefore,

And teach all nations,

Baptizing them in the name of the Father,

And of the Son,

And of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things

Whatsoever I have commanded you:

And, lo, I am with you alway,

Even unto the end of the world.

So let it be. 

Stewart Russell © February 27, 2025

 

For Bajans It’s Two

 

 

Twelve days of Christmas

But for Bajans it’s two,

Christmas Day and its extension

Is the major view.

 

Christmas Day is gone

And so is Boxing Day,

Christmas Day and its extension

Has now passed away.

 

Boxing Day as we know

Is Christmas bank holiday

And is celebrated as Christmas

In much the same way.

 

Back in those days

When there were slaves

Boxing Day was their Christmas

And not Christmas Day.

 

 

 

Massa and his family

Celebrated on Day #1

While the leftovers were boxed

And later passed on.

 

Given to the slaves

For them to enjoy:

House slaves, field slaves and others;

All in Massa’s employ.

 

Thus, a clear example

Of the rich man’s table,

On Boxing Day, the poor received

A plenteous sample.

 

Christmas Day #2,

This day has gone also,

We turn our gaze on Old Year’s

For the final show.

 

Watching in the New

In worship or in revelry:

Giving praise and thanks to God

Or making merry.

 

 

 

No 12 days of Christmas

For Bajans, only two,

The Christmas songs will continue,

Christmas, we bid adieu.

 

Christmas lights we’ll see

Up until January 6;

A residual reminder of Christmas

Then they’ll be unfixed.

 

Taken down and stored

Till December next year

When we’ll set them up and wait

For Christmas to appear.

 

Meanwhile, this Christmas

Has now gone away:

Not twelve days but Bajans’ two

Until next year!

 

Stewart Russell © December 27, 2025

 

Shortest Day of the Year

 

 

All o’ that fuss

And the day is gone,

It will never be repeated

In the beyond.

 

Shortest 24 hours

Christmas lovers will agree

Whether one spends it quietly

Or go on a spree.

 

I am for the quiet kind

On account of my age,

I prefer a stay-at-home Christmas

At my brittle stage.

 

Either way I repeat

Christmas is far too short

But be grateful for its meaning

I do exhort.

 

 

 

Heaven on earth

In the person of love,

Sent to us that first Christmas

From above.

 

Pagan, some say,

I shout “No, God!”

Emmanuel meaning God with us

Here and abroad.

 

It’s the shortest day

Yet an eternity

When one gets past the fun

And frivolity.

 

It lasts forever

In the believer’s heart:

The one that was born-again

From the very start.

 

Not superficiality

But God deep within,

Having sent His begotten Son

To save us from sin.

 

Thus, Christmas extends

Throughout the year

With its very special celebration

On Christmas Day.

 

This one has gone

But another will beckon

And so, all like now I look forward

To the next one.

 

However, I thank God

I have seen this one,

It’s my seventy second Christmas

And yes, it is gone.

 

The melancholy is not

Like in years gone by

But to say I am not missing it

Would be a lie.

 

The day was too short

But I fully enjoyed it

On account of the indwelling

Of Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

‘Tis the real meaning

Of Emmanuel,

God is with me every single day

And not for a spell.

 

Herein is the difference

I’d finally say,

The Christ of Christmas is with me

Every single day.

 

Stewart Russell © December 26, 2025

 

All o’ This Fuss

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Then melancholy

And mild regret

And you find yourself wishing

It hadn’t come yet.

 

All o’ this fuss

Up to Christmas Eve

And hoping on Christmas Day

For some reprieve.

 

But there is much

That needs to be done

So that those who are coming

Can have fun.

 

Family gatherings

So, food to be prepared

To feed all the hungry people

Gathering there.

 

There in one place

Maybe the family home;

That place everyone returns to

After they are grown.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

To make others happy

And before Christmas Day is over

You’re tired and sleepy.

 

Next day you reflect

On all o’ the fuss

And wonder, is it really worth it;

All o’ this fuss?

 

What are the lessons

That we never learn?

All o’ this fuss for Christmas Day;

So much energy burned.

 

Near misses aplenty

And bumper collisions,

Excessive road rage situations

Without contrition.

 

In a long line

At the cash register

And it’s just before closing time,

With foot blisters.

 

Wishing to rest them

After all o’ the fuss

And already futilely regretting

All o’ this rush.

 

 

 

But you and I know

Repeat is inevitable

And come this time the next year,

Same trouble.

 

Yes, all o’ this fuss

Is absolutely cultural

And especially for the women,

It is natural.

 

Well, as for yours truly,

I am too old for this

Even though when the day passes

It is severely missed.

 

 

 

I must confess

It is my favourite time

And the count-down to Christmas

Occupies my mind.

 

But I can enjoy it

Minus all o’ this fuss

And I try as much as wifey allows

To avoid the rush.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Stewart Russell © December 23, 2025