Sunday, September 27, 2015

A Pilgrimage Memory...

The following poem is a reflection written following a visit to Korazin in Israel, during a 1986 Holy Land Pilgrimage lead by Wayne Monbleau, host of the "Let's Talk About Jesus" radio program...

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org



AT KORAZIN
Israel Pilgrimage—1986

We’re at Korazin, trying
to make ourselves comfortable
amid the ancient ruins
of the cursed city

I look for a patch
of dry grass to sit upon;
others sit on some rocks
Wayne props himself
against an acacia tree

We’re wearing head coverings
to shield us from the sun—
It’s hot!

Beside us are box lunches
and water bottles
that we’ve brought
from the hotel

We open our Bibles
to Luke 10:13

Woe to you Korazin;
woe to you Bethsaida…

Wayne begins teaching—

I think of Jesus—
imagine Him propped
against a tree
like Wayne

imagine myself at His feet—
like Mary of Bethany
like an apostle

imagine us opening
our lunch sacks—
barley loaves; some fish
fresh from the depths
of the Galilee nearby

imagine listening to every word
as the Master pronounces woes
on the unrepentant cities

That was nearly
two millennia ago—
This is 1986
It is Wayne who is explaining
the Scriptures to us
not Jesus

We offer praise to God
and sing hallels from the Psalms
A few birds are chirping
The sun-scorched clumps
of grass are lumpy beneath me
I smell the dry earth
and swat at a few pesky gnats
Perspiration beads up on my brow
I wipe it away
It is, I suppose, much the same
as it was way back then

and as it was then for them
I want the Word
to take root inside of me—
be it woes and chastisements
be it beatitudes and blessings—
take root
as it did in Mary
as it did in the apostles

for I, too, am a disciple
of the Lord

Maude Carolan Pych


Friday, September 18, 2015

Visit "Circles of Faith" This Week


My poem, "The God Who Hugs" is being featured this week on "Circles of Faith" blog. They would love you to visit. Go to: http://circlesoffaith.org.


http://circlesoffaith.org

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

It's all about...The Lamb Vol. 18; Issue 3

September 15, 2015
Vol. 18, Issue 3



It’s all about…The Lamb



Maude Carolan Pych/Quarterly Poetry Letter


Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB


It’s all about…The Lamb is a quarterly publication for followers of Yeshua/Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God, and people who enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Shepherd and Savior and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the lover of our souls.


SEPTEMBER, 2015—
14TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11--THE SHEMITAH--ROSH HOSHANNA--YOM KIPPUR
It made me smile to see this little boy blowing his little shofar before the Rosh Hoshanna service at Beth Israel Worship Center, Wayne, NJ, Friday evening. Actually, he and his sister kept passing the shofar back and forth and blowing it with delight.



The distinctive sound of the shofar (ram’s horn) represents God’s wake up call to His people. The month of September and time of the autumn holy days, provides an opportunity for deep reflection and prayer, a time of repentance, a time to wake up and draw near or return to the Lord Our God.

Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, pastor of Beth Israel and author of the best-selling books, “The Harbinger” and “The Shemitah” has been imploring all people to draw near to God. He’s been calling for repentance, prayer and revival. “I believe a great shaking is coming to America,” he says, “that will involve the financial and economic realms, and yet a shaking that will be greater than these realms.” No one knows what lies ahead, but our greatest security rests in knowing our hearts are aligned with the heart of our Messiah.

A movie based on the life of Rabbi Jonathan will soon be released. It is “The Harbinger Man”. I’m looking forward to seeing it when it premiers in October.

I had a poem prepared to include in this issue, but since learning that Gary Selman, founder of Beth Israel, went to be with his Messiah, Sunday, on the eve of Rosh Hoshanna, I’m posting a poem in Gary’s honor instead. Gary will be remembered for many things, notably his oft repeated announcement, “It’s Jewish to believe in Jesus!” Also, he always opened the services at early Beth Israel, strumming his guitar in a rousing manner and singing, “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad...” Personally, I will remember Gary fondly as one of the four men who each held a corner of a tallit over Bob and me, which served as our simple wedding huppah, while we recited wedding vows in 2006. Gary good-naturedly kvetched, every time we saw him, about how terribly his arm ached while he held it.

Please pray especially for Gary's wife, Jan, who has cancer.

The second poem that I am including here has not been published before. It is about Jonathan Cahn and is called, “Man of God”. Rabbi Jonathan’s birthday will be the 25th of this month. I am pleased to post it as a tribute for my pastor’s birthday.


ANTICIPATING SUSAN PANZICA’S BOOK…



Susan Panzica, a fellow member of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG), recently announced that her poem, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” will be published in October as a children’s book. Look for it on Amazon.com.
                                                    
Interestingly, Susan’s poem first appeared here, in the December 15, 2010 edition. She made a few changes, added some verses, found a gifted illustrator and voila! it is about to emerge as an engaging book suitable for Christmas and Easter gifts for children, one that will deliver an important spiritual message in a delightful way.

Susan said people are prepared to order copies as soon as Amazon makes them available. Congratulations, Susan! I will definitely purchase a copy to read to my grandchildren at Christmastime.


+ + + THE POEMS FOLLOW + + +





The following poem is in loving memory of Gary Selman
founder of Beth Israel Worship Center, Wayne, NJ
September 10, 1940—September 13, 2015

A PLACE PREPARED

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where
I am, there you may be also." John 14: 2-3 NKJV

You dwell now in a place prepared, by God with you in mind;
a place of exquisite beauty, pastoral and sublime,
a place no earthly eye has seen, no ear has heard about…
beyond our wildest imaginings...Of this there is no doubt.

God has given glimpses of our home in Eternity;
The Bible says the streets are gold. There is a crystal sea.
It speaks of emerald rainbows and it speaks of no more tears.
We are told there is no darkness, no trouble, pain or fears.

Tree limbs laden with luscious fruit, high walls of jasper gleam,
wide open gates of giant pearls…It's true! It's not a dream!
Foundations of chalcedony, beryl, jacinth, and sapphire,
amethyst, emerald, sardonyx, topaz…jewels afire!

In the midst of this wonder, sits the Lamb upon the Throne.
No need for blazing sunshine. He is Heaven's Light alone!
Wish we could've watched you, Gary, beholding this great bliss,
seen your joy inexpressible, at God's tender first kiss!

We’ve read there are many mansions in our Heavenly home.
Yeshua prepared one for you. ‘Twas He Who bid you, "Come."
When we speak of you in Heaven, folks think we’re being brave.
We’d rather speak of Gloryland than of a dismal grave.

Can't picture you sporting a halo, strumming golden strings,
reclining on a fluffy cloud. No! God's planned greater things!
Can imagine you at a gate with Moses, John and Paul,
praising God and thanking Him for Calvary, love and all.

We all miss you, Gary, yet Yeshua will fill the space
that in us is empty since you’ve gone to that prepared place.
Yeshua is faithful. He gives comfort that does not cease.
Just knowing you dwell near His heart fills our souls with peace

We think of you in God's bosom, dream of you wrapped in Love,
believe we'll see your face someday, when we join you above.
We know for sure big rolling tears would saturate our socks
if we were not sure, Gary, you're in Heaven and it rocks!!!

Maude Carolan





MAN OF GOD
For Pastor/Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

Some call him Rabbi
Some call him Pastor
Some say he’s a prophet
Some simply call him Jonathan

To many he’s a teacher
to others he’s a preacher
Still others say he’s an author

As for me, Jonathan is a man of God
humble, tender, compassionate
articulate and brave
I call him my shepherd
I also call him friend

In the 80’s we were part
of a small group of Messianic believers
who met in a room of a church
When he was first called upon to preach
I absorbed every word
as Abraham took on flesh and bones
and walked right out of the Book

Others were moved, too
and the little group grew
and grew and grew and grew
and we moved to a bigger building
then bigger and bigger buildings

From the start Jonathan spoke Truth
never backed down
never minced words
didn’t compromise
neither did he soften his message
with political correctness

He ministered to Jews
Gentiles and all people
and carried his Bible and shofar
to faraway lands to proclaim the Gospel
and deliver the Aaronic Benediction
to multitudes from beneath the covering
of his fringed tallit

and miracles happened
and people were saved 

and then the towers fell

and God gave him revelations—
He called them harbingers
and more revelations—the shemitahs
and he is compelled to proclaim them
because he must
for if he doesn’t, who will?

So the message goes forth—
clear and unsweetened
as he implores believers
to shine more brightly
as the days grow darker

for they are growing darker

With God-given strength
he bears the passion and the burden—
urging all people

to get right with God—
to return to Him
to call upon the Name
of Yeshua/Jesus

and earnestly
Repent…Repent…Repent

while there is time

Maude Carolan Pych

Happy Birthday, Pastor!


Comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Look for the next edition of It’s all about…the Lamb, December 15, 2015.


A FEW CLOSING WORDS…

Dear Reader/Subscriber,

L’shana tovah! May you be inscribed for a good year…a year in which you draw closer to God than you ever were before.

God bless ewe…

Maude



After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

http://maudespoems.com


Sunday, September 13, 2015

L'shanah Tovah!

Photo taken by Maude
at Rosh Hoshanna service
Beth Israel Worship Center, Wayne, NJ

ROOTED

I love to see a Star of David on a Christmas tree,
Reminder of our Jewish roots in Christianity...
I love to see a Hanukkiah on a churchyard lawn,
Adjacent to a manger, dimly flickering at dawn;
Am awed by the Paschal Lamb, crucified at Calvary...
Who rose victorious from the dead to set all sinners free!

I hear the Rosh Hoshanna trump forewarning with its cry,
Reminding us the Day of God is surely drawing nigh;
I marvel every Yom Kippur at graciousness of God...
Lavish with his mercy; He spares the chastening rod;
Fervently read Old Testament’s fruition in the New,
With the Messiah’s story interwoven through and through.

In Shabbat tapers I behold Yeshua, Light of World;
Before my very eyes I see God’s prophesies unfurled.
Was blessed to pray at Israel’s Wall and empty Tomb
Of our Hebrew Savior, born of the Virgin’s womb.
At Gethsemane, I have seen an ancient olive tree
And knew within my spirit that one grafted branch is me.

I’m born again and spiritually circumcised of heart;
I’m blessed to be a Gentile, who’s become a part
Of Covenant promises sealed by the Blood of God...
I’ll forever praise His Name as I walk this earthly sod.

Maude Carolan


Sunday, September 6, 2015

Truth Is...

Photo Credit: plausibletruth.com


WHAT IS TRUTH?
John 18:38

I first learned
the importance of truth
at my mother’s knee
My children
learned it at mine

Life has taught me
truth is truth, even
if no one believes it
if no one wants to believe it
if every man is a liar

What’s true is true, even
if millions is spent
to disprove it
if it’s argued against
lobbied against
debated against
railed against
voted against
legislated against

Truth Is

absolute—

even if it’s watered down
to make it acceptable
skirted around
to soften its appeal             
lubed with oil
so it goes down
nice and easy
sugar coated
to make it palatable

even if it looks
soooo, soooo good

Truth is Truth
whether it’s popular
or unpopular

…even
in the face
of persecution

Pilate asked,
What is truth?

The Psalmist wrote,
The sum of God’s word
is truth

Jesus said,
I Am the Truth

He also said,
Everyone on the side
of truth
listens to Me

I believe the supreme
Truth is a Man
and His unchanging Word

…even though    
He be crucified

Jesus—
Salvation Truth
Resurrection Truth                                                                   
Living Truth

Truth—
I can stand up for


Maude Carolan Pych