In the Gathering

In the Gathering Joyful upward looks together Copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo, ON 2018

Spirit Voice Praying with all supplication In the Spirit Expecting His arrival Graciously And to good purpose Jesus said He would 1

Lead us into all truth And make us lovers In the triune God. Fruit and ministry Giftings to follow To those who focus In all humility And spirit hunger.

Let it be so in the assemblies.

Lifting one and the other Up. Humbled healed and hopeful.

Ripped By the Passion Has it ripped and rocked you That hill of destiny And the Prince left hanging And praying for good?

His blood liberally spent And crowds of incensed Totally missing the import Listening to priestcraft Shuffling away from Swords and shields Also shuffling away from mercy.

He had blessed with stories And signs and wonders Had portrayed the Father’s Blissful Kingdom For an unrivaled season.

But now stern religion Expedient force Fear of man Mob momentum Disgust at suffering Growled hissed and mocked.

He prayed Father forgive 2

Breaking the thief ‘s heart alongside Promising a clean slate Delightful endless community.

The rabble in the main Prayed His blood Be upon them And on their children And so it would be.

Songs Have a Way Songs have a way Of healing the heart Rooting out hurts With lyrics so true When we agree And offer our breath This pall of death Breaks through So much to hear Jesus the brave Mission to save Long the way Heaviness flees Down on our knees Birthing in light This fine day.

Choruses swell Hearts joining well Troubles dispersed With the sound He will pace aisles Touched by the smiles Comfort and healings Abound.

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Gleanings War songs of the righteous Were launched at heady beat And faith grew in the knowledge Of Satan neath their feet And power as if drunken The tantalizing goal But no time there or program To bless one hurting soul.

Yet over in the corner In whispered tones of love An elder woman heard of pain And prayed to God above Not power but compassion To help that single girl Who felt but painful memories The weight of all the world.

And would one take the time here While combines worked the field To glean one little corner And leave her raised up healed.

The Least of These September 01, 2013Â

We love it here

As the Sundays pass

With the smiles galore

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With the rich stained glass

And the preacher seems

To have caught our heart

And the tempo thrills

As the songsters start

Yes, the pains forgot

Once they close the door

And the time flies by

How we thirst for more.

But the strangest thing

Happened just last week

As a woman showed

Who was frail and weak

With her clothes askew

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And her hair a mess

And the sobs came next

No one moved to bless

She just sat and stared

At a stained glass Psalm

'Til the closing prayer

When she shuffled on.

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Holy Hush No order of service Commanding And teaching left now For a while And singing expended With gladness And every raised face Bore a smile.

The hall now surprisingly Quiet The group sensing Something was new Removed from the Everyday riot As God in a whisper Came through.

A woman a mother With charges Had lowered her head But hands raised Addressing “Dear Father Now with us�

The simplest expression Of praise And others agreed With heads nodding Though silence Was all they desired Refreshment and hope For the doubtful The challenged Despairing and tired.

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Time ‌ Now In love with our Pastor In love with this place In love with the program And fast rolling praise.

But now comes a new thing Sweet words from the floor And silence and waiting Not tried much before.

A sense that the Master Was walking those aisles And urging forgiveness And comforts and smiles The waiting so thrilling As one bless-ed Word Leapt into their hearts “Thus saith the Lord.�

Abundant Life Jesus said that the Devil/Thief came only to steal and to destroy, but that He had come to give life and that more abundantly. Abundance suggests bank accounts...but in the Oriental sense it means well-being in all areas of the life and community.

Indeed there can be all kinds of poverty...in resources, health, family connection, friendships, handicap, untroubled conscience, lack of inner peace. The list goes on.

For the dedicated believer troubles and challenges still arrive. But the life introduced through the New Birth (John 3; 1 Peter 1) reassures that one is never alone, never without the shepherding and protection of that greatest Elder Brother, never without hope of coming through. In so many ways the by-products are love and peace, and of the Godly kind. Imagine the gyroscope keeping the big ship stable and safe in all kinds of rough waters.

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I am rich in The fellowship of Heaven I have found A new and nobler Sort of wealth It is love Of the kind That Jesus offered And sweet peace With God and others And myself.

(Psalm 128)

As Children Oh could we just gather as children Without all the pretense and bluff Prepared for transparent and humble Then could we assemble enough?

Then could we chance miss the one hurting Or order a service quite strained Without time for comfort and listening Without hope for Holy Ghost rain?

Yes we must obey whispered leadings That come from the portals above And open the place to new ministering Exciting surprises in Love.

Robbed

Robbed stripped abandoned 9

Of every hope and plan And dropped here and left for dead Would no one help the man?

Religion in its busy-ness Was quick to pass on by Tradition simply crossed the road Lest duty would espy.

But then a fellow traveler Who knew the risks around Came close in earshot of his moans And stooped toward the ground And stopped his beast, a gentle ass Who silently observed The mercy drink and helping hand With which his master served.

And lifted up the drooping frame And walked while patient rode And gave the world this timeless charge To bear a neighbour’s load.

(Luke 10)

Gardener I have little plots of this And some little plots of that And I break up ground And pour in rain And seed the place all flat.

Every species known by me Every tenderness discerned Yes the hurting, hoping, lonely Sadly judged, abused and spurned.

But the hardiness will come With my love and pruning knife And the blooms and fruits a-plenty From my own Abundant Life.

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Bringing me delightful Glory Bringing me the lips of song Soaking in the Gospel Story Fragrant children ever strong.

(John 15)

Expectation Sun is up though clouds are hinting shadow off to church and hopes to meet God there friends have come and happy for my presence hearts to hear my every praise

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or care songs of old that speak of Calvary’s courage Christ the King obedient through it all prayers for grace as precious blood came pouring there the cure for all pain in the Fall then the best in quiet anticipation will God show? a pause a breeze

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a Word? precious truth that He is all my portion never leaving long or far away My Lord.

​ (Psalm 133)

Down These Aisles I walk these aisles Inaudibly Invisibly And recall the purity of faith That started this building That acquired the Bibles That delighted in the little pipe organ And brilliant children’s materials. How simple the approach But full of adoration Those dear folks adored me Appearances were unimportant They approached the Four Evangels As if thirsty desert travelers And I satisfied I did. Not some other tributary Body of “teaching” Not methods Not concert clash-bang Not denominations’ handles. I still come here Looking for the adoration And when I find it The little child/sheep Trembles and weeps With blessing so very non-public. And I whisper, lovingly​ I Am the Light of the world.

Causing Our Lord to Rejoice 13

Seek the joy And it may have strange entrance Coming in a way Not known before Not your own But pray the Lord rejoices Simple praise It’s Him that we adore Simple helps that start With earnest listening Simple themes Remembered with new power He is glad that we Can drop agenda Waiting to be moved By holy hush this hour Jesus heard reports Disciples bringing Words and healings Devils made to flee “Father it is less This healthy yield Of ministering More that they would Bring this joy to me.” ​( Zephaniah 3)

One Thirty-nine All about me And everywhere You show your power You show your care 14

And I a package Small and low But cherished yes And made to grow.

I hardly grasp The plans you make That draw me in With no mistake.

In places high Or waters deep When full alert Or catching sleep You have me And you smile with joy You knew the one Womb-formed a boy.

But should I fear That watchful Eye Whene’er I stumble When others cry?

NO... child I am Child of the King Whose days have number Whose heart must sing.

(Psalm 139)

Immeasurable

Do you dare measure The limits of Jerusalem

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Scope of her reaching Or gleaming of her light?

You with the rod Of heartless feet And inches Tallies and tokens To gauge her worth aright?

Pointless this plan To weigh the sum of mercy Sobs of relief Or joy of family found Words of Messiah That promise constant keeping Purpose and plenty To all on Holy Ground.

Better you view

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A single act of kindness Savour the smell Of Jesus drawing near.

Tend to the marvel Of widows’ love rekindled.

Delight in the laughter Of children freed from fear.

(Zechariah 2: 1-5)

Prayer Lord the harvest is underway. Please remove any reticence, sloth or shyness that would frustrate our offering the comforting word, the helping hand, the joyful naming of our Saviour Jesus. You call us ambassadors of reconciliation, born into a new spiritual environment that is free for every hurting and inquiring soul. We are not our own, but bought with a precious price at Calvary. Glory to your Name. Amen http://issuudotcomslashdewane.wordpress.com/ blaredub@gmail.com

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Hebrews: Final Trio December 31, 2011

A few words now on chapter 11 (faith), chapter 12 (chastening) and chapter 13 (new sacrifices).

Many are familiar with the faith chapter and its glorious listing of the victories of heroes in the Old Testament. Remember that the writer is addressing a Jewish bunch. He must be respectful to their inspiring tradition; at the same time driving home the point that trust in the finished work of Jesus is now paramount. Things have been very much ​"done" for us​. The compulsion to "do" the many Jewish feasts and rules and regs of Exodus and Leviticus has been over-ridden. One must also note that the faith list includes almost an equal number of happy victories and noble martyrdoms. The lineage of heroes knew that there was something more - a city, a community under Messiah. The writer proclaims that it has now come and is fulfilling the hopes of his people.

Admittedly, the taking of a stance for Jesus at that time drew fire from the unbelieving and from the traditionalists. This was part of the chastening, disciplining or ​training​ which the Heavenly Father was allowing for His children. It was necessary. It was loving. It was forming champions who would eventually realize the 18

consequent "peaceable fruit of righteousness". (Watch how outstanding athletes struggle and strain on the field to acquire their mastery!) How we must recognize the difference today between the Father's chastening and His displeasure. Ride through the storm saints. There are treasures.

The final chapter is a compendium of wisdom, much like James' epistle. For me one thing stands out. There are ​new sacrifices​. The old have been replaced. We are encouraged unto praise and thanksgiving, good deeds and generous fellowship. It is significant to note that the New Testament does not lay out for us detailed orders of worship, as did the Old. Rather we are to be led by the Spirit.

Chapter 13:​ 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Equipment​ ​Prevailing​ ​Sanctuary​ ​Worship

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