I’m reading the chronological bible in a year – backwards, starting with Revelation. I was intrigued by the organization to the letters to the Churches. Each letter starts out with Jesus identifying himself, followed by the deeds Jesus knows about each church, then constructive criticism with recommendations and solutions, and completed with outcomes of behavior choices. I’ve been savoring the first portion – how Jesus identifies himself. In these passages, you see the Jesus wearing the mantle of His position, the ruler of God’s Creation.

In reading Revelation this time, I felt much like the child who takes a peek into the throne room and feels an awe of the majesty of the King doing the business of the kingdom, and, yet, recognizes the kind, gentle father who loves him/her, carries him/her on his shoulders, tells the best stories, who makes things better when everything seems wrong.

In the poem below, I juxtapose these two images of Jesus – Ruler and the compassionate savior who taught us so very much about his kind of love!

Kinsman Redeemer
holder of the seven stars
in his right hand
walking and moving
among the seven golden candlesticks
shining bright the light
of Christ’s Gospel
the Son of God

Shepherd
opened his heart
to the runaways,
the outsiders
those who lived it all wrong
with no way to make it all right
he saw their torments
and touched their hearts
stopped the flow of brokenness
and made them whole
leading them to the path
that would take them home

Lamb of God
angels here; angels there
guarding those gospel words
its power, its deeds
salvation, redemption
a way back home
a door to enter through
brought for you and me
words
sharp, double-edged
swordwords needed for life
for rebuilding the broken places
restoring what was lost
given from The First and The Last
who died and three days later
lived again

Bread of Life
turned a little boy’s lunch
into a feast for thousands
made a broken father’s heart
whole
taught a man about the power of
obedience
with a net full of fish
loosened tongues, opened eyes
unbound spirits and bones
to arise and run, that following Him
would gain an eternity of
goodness

The Lion of Judah
walking and moving
among the seven golden candlesticks
with blazing fire eyes
burnished bronze feet
firm and true
turning a fruitless tree
into a faith lesson
his words hold
the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars

The Bridegroom
loved away our demons
restored the withered things
heard the mother’s heart
for the big and little things
like wedding wine
and the breath of a child
on the sick bed
or listening at his knee
listen and learn
that which looks lost
is not lost with Him
“just believe,” he says.
“trust and believe in me
and he who sent me”

Only Begotten Son
Holy and true are the words
of the Key Holder of David
opening doors no one can shut
shutting doors no one can open
overseeing the stocking, storing
and dispensation of truth
The words of Amen
Faithful and true witness
The Right Hand of God
Redeemer of the Lost

(Taken from Revelation 2 and 3)

Remember Me Monday: #63 & Linky

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
.    love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.

Let us delight in Him by telling the  stories of what He’s done!  If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!

Rules?  Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!

If are having trouble linking, the linky service recommends to do the following: use [Photo] FROM FILE ” if it will not generate automatically.

Places I’m Linking at This Week:
 Inspire Me Monday,   Instaencouragements, 
Legacy Link-Up, Recharge Wednesday
 Faith on Fire, Tell His Story, Grace&Truth
Let’s Have Coffee Wednesday Celebrate Your Story
Scripture&Snapshot, Sunday Scripture Blessings