Poetic Licence

Psalm 73 vs. 23-26 Whom Have I In Heaven But You?

Jul 21st, 2011 by maffster

As I begin to type I am reminded by the words of an older children’s song. My God is so big, My God is so mighty, there is nothing he cannot do! Sometimes in the midst of life we lose how Big our God is, and the fact that he is always beside us, regardless of what is happening. Psalm 73 reminds us of who our God is and the nature of our relationship with Him. May today you remember how big, how mighty our God is, look to him today

Psalm 73 vs. 23-26 Whom Have I In Heaven But You?

Nevertheless I am continually with you; you have taken hold of my right hand

With your counsel you will guide me, and afterward receive me into glory

Despite the times when all seems lost, confused, you still me wholly understand

For you are continually with me in all life’s ups and downs, end of story

For you are my anchor, you are sure and steadfast all life’s storms you withstand

You alone can command the oceans to be still, you are not just a God of history

For you are my redeemer, you live today and forevermore, this I comprehend

I worship you, you alone are worthy of my praise, to you alone be the glory

Whom have I in heaven but you? And besides you I desire nothing on earth

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

You alone are worthy of all I am, my heart, my soul, my love, and my strength

Even then what I give is little compared to the gift of your Son, the most precious ever

Your love to me knows no bounds; I cannot gauge its height, length or depth

Behold what manner of love you have given calling me a son, Christ the best gift ever

Mark Maffey, December 2005©

(NASB)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Psalms, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Psalm 40 vs. 1-5 – Our God Who Lifts Us Out of the Mire

Jul 4th, 2011 by maffster

As I continue to reflect on the images I have seen on the devestation and destruction of Christchurch, and talk to people living there I can’t help but feel more than a little overwhelmed by the scope of what people are facing.

It is not just the physical, but the emotional and spiritual hit people have had, and I continue to pray for them and their City. Psalm 40 reflects on how God is there in the midst of our lives in the good and the very bad, it is he alone who can lift us up out of the mire, keep looking to him.

Psalm 40 vs. 1-5 – Our God Who Lifts Us Out of the Mire

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground

LORD in this pluralist and secular nation the only thing that matters is to give things a try

It’s all right just do it, don’t worry about the consequences, the advertisers messages resound

To stand out to say and live in a way that speaks of you is hard in a world that is spiritually dry

Yet it is as I seek first your kingdom and its righteousness, that I can in your Spirit be found

You call me to lift my eyes up, to focus on what is right, to worship in Spirit and truth and not lie

You alone have the words of eternal life; you alone can lift me up put my feet on solid ground

And steadied me as I walked along, he has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise

To our God many will see what he has done and be astounded, they will put their trust in the LORD

I walk in the knowledge that even though I can be cast down, you lift me up, are with me all my days

You call me to witness to you in all my life, to seek your will, and to chew, meditate upon your word

As the hymn says there is no other way to be happy in Jesus unless we are prepared to trust and obey

May I witness of you, may people see your work in me, be astounded and put their trust in you LORD

Oh, the joys of those who trust in the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud,

Or those who worship idols, O LORD my God, you have done miracles for us,

David knew what it was to be under threat from his enemies to you he cried out loud

He knew that you alone could raise him up out of his troubles, over him fuss

He determined he wanted to worship you and you alone and to not follow the crowd

He followed you, he erred, yet could say for him and Israel you have done miracles for us

Your plans for us are to numerous to list. If I tried to recite

All your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them

Your plans for us today are so great, they shouldn’t fail to excite

Your ways, your thoughts are so high I cannot comprehend them

You delight in your people, and we are always in your sight

Our steps are ordered by you; you plan and go before them

Even though we fall, in us you take joy, have great delight

In all we do may we seek your plans and hold onto them

Mark Maffey, September 2007©

(NLT)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

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2 Corinthians 4 vs. 7-9 – We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Jun 13th, 2011 by maffster

There are times when life doesn’t add up, when nothing seems to work, when everything seems difficult. This passage gives us the reassurance that God is in us, and even though we may be slightly cracked earthen vessels God can still us.

I had this reassurance recently when I stepped out in faith and gave a word, It turned out that God had given me scriptures which matched exactly two key words they had been given previously. What I am saying is even in the times when it feels when things aren’t controllable, God is in control and can still use us

2 Corinthians 4 vs. 7-9 – We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels

That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us

At times we struggle with life, with its ups and downs we wrestle

We get wrapped up in the stress of every day life, over it we fuss

In the midst of this we need to turn to Jesus and in him nestle

It’s not for us to do things in our own strength, to God second guess

We need to allow God to shape us, to us be the mortar, him the pestle

Open so God may mold and shape us, our lives be in God and not of us

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed

But not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed

For in these things God can build our character, of this I am convinced

That as we open ourselves to him, his Spirit in our lives can be employed

Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, of his love he will us remind

For he to us gives good gifts, and a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

Mark Maffey, August 2007 © (NKJV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Psalm 121 – I Lift My Eyes Up To The Hills

Jun 7th, 2011 by maffster

The Psalms of the Ascents show uas the journey of the pilgrims on their journey to the temple at Jerusalem. As the the travel towards it their eyes are lifted to the hills where the Temple is where there God resides. We need to again look to our God for comfort, for strength, for reassurance, he is constantly by our side 24 hours a day, but often, oh so often we forget to turn our eyes toward him, to re-focus on him as we do it is then, and only then that the things of earth can grow strangely dim, turn to him today!

Psalm 121 – I Lift My Eyes Up To The Hills

I Lift my eyes up to the hills, from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

I seek His face; He alone knows who I am, and what I’ll become

He is my creator, he has know me in the womb, before birth

He is aware of all my cares and needs, all of them, not just some

He listens to my concerns and doesn’t treat them with mirth

He calls me to listen to him fully, and not let my mind roam

For his word does not return void, he will guide me on this earth

He will not let your foot be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep

You can know Your God knows you by name, you are not a number

You may face challenges, sometimes they will be deep

The burden you carry may be heavy and you encumber

Your God is always with you and will to your rescue leap

The LORD is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night

He will protect you in all places; in the air, on the sea, and on land

He is your protection against Satan, for you He will fight

In times of difficulty, he is the one who carries you across the sand

Though you may fall, he upholds you, in you he takes delight

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore

He is your protector; he will overcome all your strife

He is always with you, you need not be afraid or dismayed, and He is the victor in the war

He has won the victory, His promise to you eternal life

He will lift you up, on eagles wings you will soar.

Mark Maffey, November 2005 (NRSV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Psalms, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Philippians 4 vs. 4-7 – Rejoice in The Lord Always

May 24th, 2011 by maffster

Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is one of my favourite books in the New Testament. There are many verses from which I draw comfort, strength, and encouragement from. Paul in these verses calls us to Rejoice to truly be joyful that we are the Lord’s and that he is with us. Not to get consumed, burdened down by worries of the world, rather to pray, and to do so fervently, thankfully and in supplication, to get down before him and speak and listen to him with all we are, and as we do God’s peace which surpasses understanding will guard our Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus. Our Lord is always available to us, he has torn the veil, we have access to the inner courts, through him we can have God’s peace.

This weeks turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, get into his presence, for it as we do that the things of earth will grow strangely dim, as the light of his glory and grace suffuses and overpowers the darkness of our World

Philippians 4 vs. 4-7 – Rejoice in The Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Come before your Lord and worship him in one accord, with one voice

Let your lives reveal the character of God, on his word stand

Let your lives reflect Christ, his love, abide in him it’s the only choice

Come before your Lord with singing, form a heavenly band

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,

With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

Look to God not just a little, but in all things, have a strong application

Learn to pray to him through his word, knowing what is right and good

God calls you to be earnest, thankful; he will give you a heavenly indication

Trust in your God, he is faithful in all things, your prayers will be heard

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding

Will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

His promise to us, my peace I give you, don’t of it be uncomprehending

He is the Good Shepherd who restores the soul and frees us

He guides and leads us; trust in him, it is you he is befriending

Have faith in him the one who intercedes for us is Christ Jesus

Mark Maffey, January 2006© (NKJV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Luke 10 vs. 38-42 – Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

May 16th, 2011 by maffster

Luke’s Gospel, has been named at various times the Upside Down Gospel. Jesus demonstrates again that he has come to seek and save the lost (cf Luke 15) That the rich will not inherit the earth, but the meek, Luke 4 vs 18-19 drawn from Isaiah 61 vs 1-2 sets out what he will do, to preach Good News to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, the release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all those whose mourn.

One of my all time favourite passages, and yet also one of the most confronting for me is the story of Martha and Mary, in so many ways Martha was the perfect hostess, and Mary was breaking tradition by sitting in the presence of a Rabbi. But for me it challenges the “busyness” I find myself getting distracted by in what is a time of dramatic change. May this meditation help re-focus on the best thing, the one thing to concentrate on, may we take time to listen to Jesus, through prayer, reading his word, letting go of the stuff that drags us down!

Luke 10 vs. 38-42 – Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman

Named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

She was all ears, totally focussed on one thing, learning what she could, trying to understand what he did mean

In the first century for a woman to sit at the feet of a rabbi was unheard of, so for Mary this was a chance sought

She didn’t want to miss the opportunity, she knew Jesus and of his teaching and his healing power she had seen

To have him in her home was an amazing chance to listen and learn from him that couldn’t be sold or bought

So she ensured she focused on him and on what he was saying oblivious to all around her so she could glean

All he was saying, holding onto his every word, absorbing like a sponge, absolutely listening to what he taught

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it

Seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

Martha was fulfilling the expectation of her in her society to be the perfect hostess fussing so all was just right

Preparing a feast, wanting help from her sister she was drawn away from what God wanted her to see

Sometimes we can be so busy wanting to please, to be involved, that we are distracted, God is out of sight

When he is actually right there waiting for us to come and sit with him, to listen and just relax and be

But we’re too consumed by what we think is important, the tyranny of the urgent, that we of God lose sight

Life seems unfair, no one else is helping us and like Martha we call out “Tell her to come and help me”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing

Worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Be still and know I am God, stop rushing around, I want you to know me, that is your priority number one

And once you know me, you can know my purposes for you, what I call you to do, when and where

You can tire yourself out trying to please me, striving to be perfect, in the process life has no sun or fun

My desire is that you have life, life in all its abundance, remember this I on the cross your sins did bear

In order that you might be freed from sin and death, to bring your soul out of prison, make me your number one

Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything, know my peace I am for you always there.

Mark Maffey, September 2008© (NLT) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

John 15 vs. 10-17 – Love One Another

May 3rd, 2011 by maffster

Anzac Day and Easter Sunday were on the same day and it gives one pause to consider the sacrifice on the battlefields and of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross.

When I was in the Sixth Form (Year 12) nearly 30 years ago we did a series on World War one poets from the romanticism of Rupert Brooke to the realism and gutsiness of Siegrfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. Their commentary on the War how on one side the Generals were inept and often nicely tucked away at Headquarters in luxury to the fate of their men at Gallipoli, Ypres, the Somme dying in huge numbers. We had to write our own poems on WWI my one reflects this tension.

Here is my poem : Death’s Company

It’s a long way to Tipperary

Coming across on the Channel Ferry

In the Days dark and bleary

Sure it’s nice and merry

to fight against the Jerry

Dancing in the mud, tears they shed

The rain of bullets slicing through their heads

Their sweat red, pouring down in large beads

Hell it is a real ball

To have a dance in the hall

And have chicken and champers till you’re full

While your company’s lost in battle

Stuck in the mud like a herd of cattle

So let God save the King from the Jerry

Mark Maffey, June 1982©

Recently I was in Singapore and went to the Changi Chapel and Museum and again I was struck by the privation and starvation the prisoners went through in the hands of the Japanese, and constrasting with this was the selflessness of many in sacrificing themselves for their mates, the way that they did what they could in spite of overwhelming sacrifices.

John 15 vs. 10-17 Gives the imperiative Love One Another. I wonder in a time of war or intense persecution, would you, would I, have no greater love than this, than to lay down our lives for our friends? Let us keep considering this in light of the costliness of the cross.

John 15 vs. 10-17 – Love One Another

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love; just as I obey my Father’s commandments

And remain in his love .I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.

For it is as you obey his commandments you will have clarity; life will not be filled with ritual requirements

Rather the new covenant gives to us status as his children, his presence in our lives we enjoy

Jesus simplified the law, to love God with all we are and love others as ourselves his clear commandments

By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another, he said, clear as day

People will see me through your actions, if you have not love, they are empty and without commendment

For it is only as you remain in my love that people will see me in you and be filled with my joy

Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way

I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

We live in an age which is selfish rather than selfless and out of other affairs we stay

Where to show a little kindness is not common, and with the world we tend to blend

Yet Jesus’ call to us is to be his disciples, to show his love, not expecting others to pay

Jesus’ promise to us we will be filled with joy if we are prepared to give to our friends

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide

In his slaves, now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Jesus called his disciples his friends, he confided in them, and called them to in him stay, to in him abide

He shared everything that his Father had told him, he did his best to teach and get them to see

That which was going to happen, the value of the new life he was offering, yet from him they would turn aside

Peter would deny him three times and weep bitterly, the others would in the face of opposition flee

Holding onto our faith in uncertainty and doubt is the biggest challenge we face, we need to with Jesus side

Believing that he is the only way, truth and life, hold onto his word, to continually in him trust and be

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father

Will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Jesus chose the disciples and he chose people recruitment consultants would suggest take no further

Jesus sees not as the world sees, but he sees the inner person, knows who will storms weather

And will stay the race of faith being witnesses to and of him, fruitful people who other lives make better

For they understand that he first loved them, and out of that know how to love each other.

Mark Maffey, April 2008© (NLT) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in Easter, POEMS, Poems - Easter, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Isaiah 43 vs. 1-3 – When You Walk Through The Fire

Mar 14th, 2011 by maffster

Hi All

The disasters keep on rolling through, and the images we have seen on our television screens can make us feel very insecure, have a sense of how quickly life can be snuffed out, the reality of life is that it isn’t a bed of roses, that not everything goes smoothly or according to plan. Isaiah knew that for the exiles in Babylonia that their existence was far from easy, for Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, they did had to walk through fire, but their God brought them out safely. There are times when it all seems to get too much, but this scripture reinforces the fact that our God is beside us, before us, he knows they way he can navigate us through the dark times. Like Peter sometimes we need to step outside of the boat of doubts, fears and turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Isaiah 43 vs. 1-3 – When You Walk Through The Fire

But now thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob

And he who formed you O Israel, fear not for I have redeemed you

In this world are many challenges, to these it is easy to succumb

To lose sight of your God, and accept a deceptive and different view

To feel pain, to be hurt and lost, to your God’s love to be numb

To be downtrodden, weary, days spent with your God to few

When just a small taste of his love, to receive just a crumb

Would be great, that your people would desire to return to you

I have called you be your name, you are mine

When you pass through the waters I will be with you

You are my people I take you out of darkness to shine

I call you to listen to my word, upon it to ponder and chew

Then you will have wisdom, and know where to draw the line

On me you can place your trust; I will never leave or forsake you

When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned

Nor shall the flame scorch you

I am with you all things, your need for my help won’t be spurned

Don’t be afraid you are my remnant, a chosen few

I am your God, don’t worry, instead pray to me, you need not be concerned

For I give you my peace, I will forever protect you

For I am the LORD your GOD, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour

I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place

You can trust in my love, in me you can know you have found favour

I am your God, and you are my people, how amazing is my grace

You are weak, you do stumble, and even then my love doesn’t waver

I am with you always; there won’t be a day when I disappear without trace

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Psalm 40 vs. 1-5 – Our God Who Lifts Us Out of the Mire

Mar 7th, 2011 by maffster

As I ponder the effects on people of the Christchurch Earthquake, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually it seems almost too much to bear. In a physical sense people have seen tonnes of silt, almost miry clay too sticky to cope with. Many have lost colleagues, seen their workplaces damaged and destroyed, lost their jobs, lost their homes, become dislocated. David experienced many different emotions some which he brought on himself because of disobedience. In this Psalm we see how he recognised where he got to a horrible pit, a place of muddy miry clay, to deep for him to get out of himself, so he WAITED PATIENTLY for the Lord’s help, he cried out, and was rescued, his feet were placed on solid ground, he was re-established, strengthened, a new song was placed in his heart.

My prayer for the people of Canterbury is that they will turn to the Lord, that they will seek him, and that his churches will be equipped to help people clamber out of the horrible pit, and find a new reality, a new hope in God.