BEHOLD Christmas 2024 Poem

 

BEHOLD

A Reflection of 2024

 

Chosen, the word Behold this year

To mean a surprise of grace.

Which with many words I’ve written before,

Previously made my case.

 

John 1:16 “For in His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

The world, the culture—

So intentionally blots out;

Disregards the Hope,

Change, cancel, stir up doubt.

 

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”

 

 In January I BEHOLD and visit the place,

The church where I first heard.

My baptism, my wedding,  now a memorial good-bye.

A Sanctuary echoing God’s Word.

 

Genesis 28:16 “Surely the Lord is in this place…”

 Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, Calif.

 

Along came February,  a month full of hearts.

Two birthday girls forever cherished;

One Heavenly mother, her 4-year old gift.

This love will never perish. 

 

Ps. 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…

 

March brought showers

Both in babies and rain.

Baseball’s opening day,

We climb on board the Big Blue Train.

When your bestie's daughter has a baby...you're involved!  

 We love our Dodgers! 

Ps 85:11 “Truth springs from the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven.” 

 

Behold-- It is spring

Seventieth birthday this May.

 Lord, what more time will You allow?

 …Another bittersweet Mother’s Day.

 

Job 12:12 “So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.”

My birthday at the Dodger Game. Yes, we won!

 

In June, the plethora of the butterfly;

What a sight to BEHOLD!

Until we see glaciers—Creation’s Glory;

Signs and wonders of God unfold!

  What I thought looked like praying hands at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska.

Romans 1:20 “For God’s invisible attributes, that is His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.”

 

July a celebration in patriotism

But we wonder at this country’s mess.

A nation divided awaits an election;

Choose God over all this distress.

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.”

 

Behold, the summer solstice;

So much oppressive heat.

But a reunion of ol’ classmates

Brings a thankful meet and greet.

 

Hebrews 10:25  “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”

 

 September behold, the birthday of Tim.

Would be 44 years now, 17 we’ve missed.

End of month travel to Colorado and more;

In So Dakota’s Black Hills-- where we’d blow him a kiss.  

Rev 21:4 “...and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall be no longer any death.”

 

Behold, Wyoming’s vast skies

Out on the drive through plains.

A butterfly cloud forms and floats up above

A reminder of Grace and its gains.

Nahum 1:3d “…And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.”

 

Fall is filled with many a heart concern

Behold! I know God numbers our days.

I learn of the passing of a friend, so dear

A hero, a warrior; John, fly with Heaven’s rays.

Lt. Col John Labuda 

"Stay strong in God's network Coke," John's favorite thing to leave me with. 

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”

 

Linda, my dear partner and mentor

Sought rest, went peacefully home.

In strength beyond, she fought the good fight;

Be still, so missed, loved and known.

 

Psalm 46:10a “Cease striving and know that I am God…”

Behold come November,

The Dodgers crowned victors of the Series.

The election results tallied

Grand Slams answered queries.

Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  

 

Study of the Word, a Daniel lesson,

And God shows up within the fires.

He honors the faithful, shuts the mouth of beasts.

No compromise! Pray! God’s Word I desire.

 

Daniel 2:22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”

 

Behold, December, an Advent expectation.

The lights still sparkle, the Nativity all set,

The presents purchased, Christmas music in tune,

Hope, Joy, Peace and Love in return for our debt.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.

 

Born of the Virgin, Emmanuel;

It’s Christmas-- much more than a season.

But a promise, a Holy relationship divine

He’s Truth and Purpose, Wisdom’s Reason.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

 

Behold, I tell of His wondrous Grace

Of meeting my needs and more.

My hope, I pray for you-- to believe,

His Purpose, His plan… Come and Adore.

 

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  

Blessings

Coleene VanTilburg

Christmas Poem 2024 

 

 

 

Christmas 2023 Poem

The Divine Waltz

 

Wrought with pain, weary from thoughts

This whirlwind of days wrings me tight to drip

The tears of this divine destiny,

Of the weight carried--

All for Your Glorious Will.

I wish upon the stars

And wonder at the Heavens.

The world closes in;

I wrestle. You wrangle.

The Way is made.

When I consider the Heavens...

Lord, I hear your quiet whisper

Above my humble, heartbroken whimpers.

“Trust me,” even in this wreckage.

Grace-wrapping words for the wounds,

Will-submitting words to You, Father--

That will wage war with every soul.

 

Praying at the wake of dawn--

Weaving more threads into this story.

The waiting is real.

Waves wash over me.

Worthy—Worthy, the Lamb of God.

The watchful gather from the hills

The wise come to adore

You are named, Wonderful, Counselor,

Prince of Peace, Waymaker…

Together we warm-up

While the wicked conjure.

Who You are?  The Son of God--

 Messiah; what promise fulfilled!

Love unexplainable yet attainable

Wipes my slate clean.

Where? In my life, my heart.

My unworthiness made whole.

 

In the wear and tear of the waiting--

Walk with me Lord;

Ward off my will.

Wholeheartedly, I worship You

For whosoever believes,

Surrenders to the wooden Cross--

You Welcome Home, an eternal reward.

 

Double You.

Emmanuel, God With Us. 

And in that, Peace wedges in.

Hope winds tight around me.

Love strengthens my weakness

And the dance with the Divine is

A Waltz of Grace.

 

Star Peace

Star Peace

In a Galaxy not so far far away

Inhabitants waited for a millennium of days

For a Savior, the Messiah, promised from Old

He would be King and save their souls

“Help us, they prayed, Oh be the One.

You’re the only hope, please come!”

“Someone has to save our skins,”

--The Israelites relentless din.

For a people, chosen race, soldiers stood guard

The sins of their past left a history marred.

The Roman Empire strikes back

And their hearts grew very slack.

Meanwhile in an uncharted, distant town

The Captain of Storm Troopers, Gabriel came down

To a Nazarene girl, pure and obedient,

The Holy Spirit, her special ingredient.

“Highly favored are you, so don’t be afraid.

Your Son will be the One to save.”

Her betrothed, Joseph, considered and prayed

What to do with his fiancé’, in this way?

But God appeared in his dream, he understood

That the Force within her was Holy and Good.

“Take Mary as your wife, and she shall bear a Son.

Name Him Jesus, I AM His Father, My will be done.”

“The Return of the JEDI,” she marked the date.

Joseph Eli David Isaac, a census to take.

Large and cumbersome, a three-day flight

She felt as though she may…just might.

But the Force, the Spirit kept her until then,

They landed and knocked on the door of that Inn.

Lord,  “this is our most desperate hour,”

Only an out-building for droids is our offer.

Finding a crate of packing straw,

She rested her feet; Joseph cleared the stall.

Soon, she’d gaze on the One she’d bore,

The Creator of all the stars that soar.

“Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them,” he said.

One shepherd to another in the pasture, their bed.

They gazed to the Heaven and saw a great light

A Death Star? —No, beautiful, but they had great fright.

Suddenly the voice of a Skywalker announced

The Good News of the birth of a Savior, Immanuel pronounced!

They followed that star to the place He lay

The Lamb of God, at rest and at play.

The rumors began and the airwaves busy

Wiseman stared at their skymaps until dizzy.

“Sir, the possibility of navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to one.”

Trust God! We must take these gifts now, worship and serve the One!

A New Hope came down, the Force of God made human

To fulfill the prophesies and make us new again.

The Phantom Menace, the dark side is bent

To hinder and bombard us with weapons of intent

To distract, mislead, discourage and hate

But God’s final battle determines his fate.

So be a hero like Mary and obey.

Be humble like Joseph and listen always.

Follow His lead on earth and sky

Lean, I do on His wisdom from High

Though beat up and battered, our starships will cease

But He’ll promise to guide you to a Heavenly Peace.

Just believe in the Good, the Greatest Story of all

That Jesus Christ is the biggest box office draw.

He’s the Alpha and Omega, the prequel and sequel

Our Grace and Forgiver, Peace-giver and tranquil

This Christmas morning “awaken to the Force”

Of His Love and His Mercy, the Truth and the Source.

Matthew 28:20 …and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Merry Christmas and His Peace in your hearts for 2016 and beyond! 

Coleene VanTilburg