Just One of Those Times

 

 

Just one of those times

When I feel I should write

But there’s a problem here

For nothing is in sight.

 

Just one of those times

No topic on my mind,

There’s none I can find

None to which I am inclined.

 

Yet I am drawn to write

A poem of sorts,

If nothing comes soon

I’d be forced to abort.

 

Even all like now

As I type verse number four

There is no inspiration

But I’ll try some more.

Have patience I am told

Maybe something will unfold,

I am not warming to the task

Everything is cold.

 

This is verse number six

Still trying to get the right mix,

Really stretching my mind now

But can’t get out of this fix.

 

Any suggestion you can give

I’d readily welcome,

If it doesn’t come soon

You can bet I’ll be done.

 

Well it’s too late now

I am packing it up,

Writing without inspiration

Is certainly not my cup.

 

It was only recently

A good friend made a request

But I told her unless I am inspired

I cannot give my best.

 

“But you write well,” she said,

“It should be very easy for you.”

I reiterated, “Unless I am inspired

I cannot do what you require.”

 

That’s similar to right now;

I feel a need to write

But no matter how hard I try

Nothing comes out right.

So before I repeat myself

And bore you half to death

I’ll just repeat verse one

And wish you the best of health.

 

It’s just one of those times

When I feel I should write

But there’s a problem here

For nothing is in sight.

 

Stewart Russell © September 2017

 

Sleep Could Wait

 

 

 

Trying to write a poem

Head bowing with sleep

Barely making it

Vision narrowed to a peep

 

Thinking what to write

Really should lie down

Thoughts in the head

Just going round and round

 

Sitting next to the bed

So easy to just jump in

But fighting sleep

With brain still thinking

 

It is eleven past four

Time’s really flying

There’s no use denying

My head is still bowing

 

I am still wondering

Where this poem is gong

In the drowsy state

I have no way of knowing

 

 

But I will stick in there

Something will come out

And it will be of value

Of that I have no doubt

 

I have a word for you

What it is I do not know

Just have patience with me

It will eventually flow

 

It is so very amazing

Writing much about nothing

That’s what I have done

I must be joking

 

Don’t stop reading now

It is almost there

I can sense something coming

Though it is not clear

 

In the end you will be glad

You read right through

If you were in this predicament

I would have stayed with you

 

Not quite as sleepy now

It is four: twenty-four

Thirteen minutes have gone

Something’s at the door

 

It’ll come out any moment

Just you bear with me

Read on a few more verses

And you’ll be sure to see

 

 

 

An exercise in patience

It’s the only way to learn

It is waiting for the outcome

For which you yearn

 

So I will keep my promise

If you will just wait

In another verse of so

I will be able to state

 

Verse number fifteen

Stay a mite longer

In the very next verse

You will no more wonder

 

Here is that information

Just like I promised

You are better at patience

It’s gone higher on your list.

 

Stewart Russell © February 2019

 

More than I Asked For

 

Hi there, God,

I mean, Heavenly Father,

I have a few requests of you

I’d rather have them now.

 

Even you can’t be happy

With this world you have made,

You have done so much for it

But look how you’ve been repaid.

 

I want to be different

From most of the rest,

Hence I want to be equipped

So I can pass all my tests.

 

They are coming fast and furious

My patience is running out,

So increase my patience dosage

Before the next bout.

 

“Are you sure my child?

Are you really sure?

Notwithstanding you have a little,

Do you still want more?”

 

That’s my need as I see it

I am sure you see it too,

Please, Lord, give me more patience,

I am sure you can, can’t you?

 

“I trust you understand

What that will take,

I have been easing the pressure

For your own sake.”

 

 

Okay, expect some more pressure

Since for more patience you ask

But I assure you, my child,

It will be a more difficult task.”

 

Peace was my next request

Considering all the trouble around

But my troubles only increased

Weighing me further down.

 

I asked for joy, satisfaction and faith

I wanted to be humble yet resilient,

But for every request I made

The opposite was in attendance.

 

Then suddenly I realized

There are no positives without negatives,

The gains we desire

Come in the battles we daily live.

 

For every request I made

There were accompanying demands,

Yes, opposite poles attract

In the unfolding of God’s plan.

 

Peace in the midst of much turmoil

And patience from resolutely enduring,

Joy in the depth of sorrow

And humility are all part of growing.

 

Strength via contrary winds

And faith through the many trials,

Satisfaction in the believer’s life

Come with much self-denial.

 

 

So that my list of requested items

Came packaged in unattractive bags,

Like the lovely rose I tried to pick

When on a thorn my finger dragged.

 

Through the fire, through the flood,

In foreign fields, in my neighborhood,

Positives through negatives

All of these variables were for my good.

 

Ask of God and He will give you

But not in your way or your time,

You’ll be better, stronger and wiser

And His favour you will find.

 

Eternal and wise, Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your fashioning of me,

Whatever it takes to conform to your Son

May I surrender at all times to Thee.

 

Stewart Russell © September 2019

I Asked for Patience

Running off at the mouth

Often losing my cool,

Regular thrown tantrums

Like an infant at school.

Consistently encumbered

With foot-in-mouth disease,

Afflicted and tormented

And experiencing no ease.

After all you know me

This is who I am,

If I do I die

And if I don’t I’m damned.

And it was so spontaneous

Just a little would fire me up,

Mash my corns at anytime

And bitterness was your cup.

But I asked for patience

And I got more of the same,

What I wanted to avoid

Came back again and again.

More people annoyed me

More aggravating situations

 Came from every angle,

I was nearing desperation.

Then I began to realize

This was what I asked for

Since asking for patience

Is getting what one abhors.

This was flooding therapy

An unorthodox solution

Of more of the same trials

To get me over my problem.

My problem of impatience

Was due to particular stimuli

And the solution for this my friend

Was an inordinate supply.

  

I thought it would be better

To remove the problem source

But God in His infinite wisdom

Allowed it in greater force.

But it appears to be working

Now I am being cured

Though sometimes it’s very tough

And I wish it were like before.

It was far easier then

My life was not as troublous

So if you ever ask for patience

Expect more trials on purpose.

Patience can only develop

Through the trials one must face,

Think twice before asking

Unless you really want that grace.

I have learnt my lesson well

That’s why I share it with you

Be content with your current trials,

They are easier to go through.

Stewart Russell © February 2019

More than A Collection of Books 3

In Ezra is the account of King Cyrus’ decree

To build a house for God at Jerusalem

Fulfilling the utterance of Jeremiah’s prophecy

Of the return of the exiles from Babylon.

Nehemiah highlights the rebuilding of the wall

And the registration of Jerusalem’s population,

The religion of Jerusalem is revitalized

As it undergoes a complete reformation.

Esther highlights an historic segment of the Jews

Found no where else in all of Scripture,

Her coming to the kingdom for God’s unique purpose

Improves the Jews’ lot and radically changes the picture.

Job presents a tutorial in patient endurance

As he contends with his friends about his affliction,

Ignorant of God’s permission for Satan to test him

The experience gave him a Divine education.

The Psalms are often called the Psalms of David

But only seventy-three are considered Davidic,

The book may be divided into classifications

Which include History, Prophecy and the Messianic.

Proverbs differentiates between wisdom and folly,

It distinguishes the fool from the wise,

Its wise sayings came from God through Solomon

And such wise counsel we should never despise.

Ecclesiastes highlights the many vanities of life

And supplies instruction for living under the sun,

The foolish have their way and so too the wise

But the wise will be the victor when life’s day is done.

The Song of Solomon is the most exquisite song

And its refrain resounds with the theme of love,

It is said to represent Christ’s love for his church

Though preceding the time of his coming from above.

Stewart Russell © March 2017