At the End of Another Year

Another year is departing

With just about six hours to go,

Some did not make it to the end

Great folks we were glad to know.

The cut is still fresh and bleeding

We are hurting quite a lot,

It’s difficult to make sense of their passing

But there is still much that we’ve got.

As we watch out the remaining hours

We give thanks we are still here

For we too could have be off the scene

And still could before the coming year.

There have been sorrow but also joy

There have been gains and losses,

Every one of us, though born again

Have had to bear our crosses.

But at no time I’m sure you know

Did we have to carry on alone,

There was one who walked with us

And he heard our every groan.

We set great store by our prayers

And the fanciful words that we say

But the groans we emit and the painful sobs,

He responds to them too in his own way.

So as this old year winds on down

And blows away into eternity,

We give God thanks for His great care

And every God-sent opportunity.

We praise Him too for the prospect

That looms in the coming year,

And though we do not know the future

We hold to faith instead of fear.

So Heavenly Father we thank you

Particularly in these last moments of 2018:

Another year that was a testimony to the fact

You never put on us what we cannot bear.

Stewart Russell © December 2018

Shut-In with the LORD

It may have had the best gopher wood

It may have had the best floodlights

But these were not the reasons why

He survived those forty days and nights.

Noah was obedient to God’s command

And surely he did everything right

But this was not the reason why

He was able to survive that plight.

The ark was strong; there is no doubt

And certainly a very sea-worthy boat

But neither of these I dare must say

Can get that unanimous vote.

The ark was pitch within and without

It was certainly watertight

But as the reason for his survival

Such could never be deemed as right.

So shift your focus from the ark

And away from its obedient builder,

Unless you get past the human element

You’d never be any wiser.

Follow me to the book of beginnings

And there you will find the source:

Now turn with me to Genesis 7

And have a look at the 16th verse.

Into the ark they all did go

And no doubt Noah was the last to enter

But it was not he who shut the door

Prior to their coming adventure.

It was the LORD that “shut him in”

Go and read it for yourself

And if you still believe otherwise

Then your glasses are on the shelf.

I have derived a new term for trust

It is to be “shut-in” with the LORD,

To let go and let Him in every respect

Certainly brings great reward.

  

We encounter many floods in our life

And often we are overwhelmed,

We take all kinds of expert advice

In the hope the fallout we can stem.

But our first and last resort should be

The LORD that calms our storms

For to be shut-in with Him and Him alone

Should be our every day norm.

I say thanks to a friend on Messenger

That sent me an encouraging word,

Such was the inspiration for this poem

I am glad that you too have heard.

Stewart Russell © December 2018

Make Christ King

Make Christ King

Not for one day alone

But make him King

Of all that you own

King of your heart

And King of your home

In the domain of desires

Put him on your throne

Not for a day alone  

Like at Christmas time

But for all year round

Be King of your mind

King of your prospects

King of your goals

King of the present

And as the future unfolds

King when success comes

Give him the praise

And in failure too

Still let your hands be raised

Not just a room

In your spiritual heart

But King of all its chambers

Never to depart

King when going out

King when coming in

King in your way of life

And in your witness for him

King at the workplace

And all that you do

Let Christ order your life

In all that is true

King in the hallways

At home and abroad

Even in your secret places

Make him King and Lord

  

In times of turmoil

And when disputes arise

Make Christ King

To do otherwise is unwise

I say all this to you

As you read it back to me

I also need this advice

I hope that you can see

So make Christ King

As I said from the start

And for time and eternity

He will rule in your heart

Stewart Russell © December 2018

Mixed Feelings on Christmas Eve

It’s topsy-turvy world today

Yes!  It’s Christmas Eve!

But with a shortage of cash

Many will definitely be peeved.

The recent homicides

And property lost to house fires,

The loss of loved ones at this time

Short changing our desires.

The delight that is Christmas

Tainted with tragedy,

Mixed feelings in the hearts

Of many a family.

Long queues at cash counters

In the last minute haste

To acquire something not needed

Perceived as a necessary waste.

Long lines of winding traffic

Headed here and there,

Vehicles parking indiscriminately

Almost anywhere.

Anger expressed at cashiers

Perceived as deliberately slow

But excitement in every sinew

As to another store we go.

Quarrelling and fretting

But thrilled it is Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Day

It’s then we’ll be relieved

But alas, at many a home

Mixed feelings trouble the soul,

The lost of one so precious

Has left the family fold.

The plan was to spend Christmas

In the company of that one

But now with his or her deletion

Comes a sense of being lost and alone.

How do we celebrate Christmas

Without a sense of guilt

With these mixed feelings in attendance

Causing our joy to wilt?

 

It is Christmas Eve again

But our sorrow limits our joy

And to deal with these mixed feelings

A higher source we must employ.

This morning I call on the Saviour

To calm each troubled soul:

The one when we are broken

That can make us completely whole.

To help us to see beyond

Our present misery and pain

And to know that in him

There’s joy unspeakable to be claimed.

And to know the peace of God

That passes human understanding,

That in such times as the present

We can manage our mixed feelings.

And as the inevitable rush unfolds

In the excitement of this season,

Help us to spare a generous thought

For Jesus Christ: he is the reason.

Stewart Russell © December, 2018