A few moments a day: read, listen, quiet your heart.
(Click audio files to hear poets read their poems. Enjoy. Reflect. Respond.)
WHEN GOD GAVE US JESUS
The One Who would save us—
Heaven could not contain itself.
Light spilled from a star,
heralding His arrival.
The earth burst into life.
Birds called for revival.
And frightened shepherds
trembled like sheep
When angels awakened
their sleep with song
as light as snowflakes,
as powerful as a
tsunami of harmony
pouring onto earth
at Jesus’ birth.
Oh, praise Him!
(from PRAISE! Poems)
COME TO ME
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to be free from worry
to take a deep breath
to learn to be humble
to heal hearts with rest
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to release all grudges
to find our purpose
to let Someone guide us
to seek greater Love
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to follow the good path
to ease heavy loads
to discover real joy
to find lasting peace
I think I’ll RSVP
(from Bible Poems for Reflections and Response)
THE COSMIC CHRIST
The Christ who came at Christmas
has always been
though not seen
until he came as Jesus
God with us
Religion can cripple The Christ
make weak and mild
he who is the wild
who created the Cosmos
God has come to us
the Source of all that is and was
beginning and the end
he who would blend
Heaven and earth
The God-man is here
The Christ who is the Voice
He is the one who speaks
He is the one who seeks
not power, but union—
God and man as one
So Love came down at Christmas
and wrapped us naked newborns,
aching to be held. Behold the meld,
the Divine entrusted in a body
God is not God without us
(from Unpaused Poems: Real, Raw, Relevant)
COURAGE IN
Encourage each one,
dear God,
their heart desire
to know.
Distill the cry
of “help”
to nesting purr
of “with”—
so they can face
the day
and all it holds…
the night
and all it hides…
to see
in darkness, treasures,
awake
with second sight.
(poet/author of Remembering Softly and Glimpsing Glory)
STAR
Star atop our tree
Spotlight of nativity
Resembles the pitch black sky
The bleakness, but then the sign
For all to see, and no king overthrow
Placed in heaven’s open window
Brilliant, bright, breathtaking sight
On that glorious beautiful night
Emmanuel, God among us
In straw and hay dwelt
Canes of shepherd, shadows cast
Lows of sheep among the grass
Mother’s promised joy
Father’s baby boy
Songs of angels surround
Multitudes in Bethlehem town
The promised Messiah has arrived
Man’s debt, a living sacrifice
Wise men travel from the east
Gifts draped across their beasts
Star, star, brilliantly beaming
Spotlight of nativity
Herald of redemption story
(from I Cry Unto You, O Lord: Poems of Lament)
HIS HANDMAID
If God were to whisper a plan to your heart
And that plan involved
tremendous faith
possible ridicule
potential divorce
false accusations
threat of death
How many of us would say yes?
Think of the strength, the courage
of Mary’s unhesitant response
Each day
in honor of Mary’s decision,
Try to do something small
but right
Give up your seat on the bus after a long day
Let someone with cranky kids go ahead of you
Shovel your neighbor’s walk after a snow
Bring home a tiny gift for your children
Let your spouse choose the TV show
Call your dad
Invite someone to dinner
Make a donation
Volunteer
Respond to rudeness with kindness
These acts will prepare you
should God ask something more
And even if He doesn’t
These acts will fill you
with Peace, Purity, Security
because in your heart you will know
You are part of God’s plan
(from BIBLE POEMS FOR REFLECTION AND RESPONSE)
These are absolutely beautiful and so inspiring. Thank you for sharing these with us.
LOVE this annual Advent tradition from Cladach!
What a blessed way to experience Advent.
Thank you for this. We as a family were just talking about how the book we received at church for daily advent reflections was just not working for us. This is the perfect reflection we are looking for. I will be passing this on. Thank you once again for making this season a little bit better.