Category: CHRISTIAN FAITH/JESUS

Enduring Love of the Father

April 5, 2026

Eternity is both a place

and unfathomable measure

of time that stretches

out to a distance I can’t see

not even in my imagination

And so is my vision

of Eternal God–

soon I’ll see Him face

to face, but for now I

only know Him by

His enduring love

which whispers in breeze

that stirs my windchimes–

Abba’s voice is always near

warm like Summer’s sun

HE is the Voice

of strengthening comfort

to a child who never

felt her father’s love

only his selfish demands–

Father God blesses generously

on good days, and other days

closer than my shadow

He is the One who stays

we will live together

forever… in Eternity

~ Cale

Silent Saturday

April 4, 2026

This poem is a product of imagination and contemplation regarding the scene of the Crucifixion.  John 16:32 records that many of Jesus’ followers “scattered”, leaving Jesus alone.  But there were “crowds, viewing the spectacle” of the crucifixion–some people expressing “mourning or repentance, as they left” (Luke 23:48). 

I suspect some were among those who’d been mocking Him with verbal cruelty; they weren’t mournful or repentant, and were not affected by the horror–I’ve put them in this poem.

And each year I find it painfully easy to “see” myself at the scene.  I’d like to think I would have been one of the women who were helpful to Jesus.  Matthew 27:55 mentions there were “many women looking on from a distance, who’d followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him”.  And John 19:25 states that “standing by the cross” were His mother and 3 other women.

I don’t know how close “distant” might be, but there was a group of women who just had to be there; they loved Jesus and were respectfully loved by Him, and nothing would keep them away–no matter how distressing the event would likely be.  I don’t believe they were stoic, stiff-upper-lip gals…I think the whole lot of us would have been devastated, wrecked.

If I’d been there perhaps I would have made observations, overheard conversations:

The night was longer…

darker… after He died…

the silence, suffocating

heaviness reverberating

in sweat-soaked air

once the loud mocking crowd

had wandered from the scene

thinking it was over, the drama…

Jesus, the Nazarene

promised Messiah

all the craziness, confusion

complete chaos which some

thought He’d brought on Himself–

was He a king, or not?  were His

followers ordinary losers

who’d jumped on a bandwagon

doomed to self-destruct?

“He was a teacher, gifted speaker

and yes, some strange wondrous

‘miracles’ had happened

at His touch…but what now?”

The women were a wreck

most still sobbing, unable

to stand, walk away from

the bloody cross that

seemed to shudder…

Maybe his B-team

headed toward a local tavern

to drink their deep sorrow

 soothe doubting questions 

which itched beneath the skin…

what were they going to do next–

was there even a Next to contemplate?

The night went on…darker…longer…

their very souls dragged in the dust…

~ Cale

Heart’s Desire & Delight

April 4, 2026

To live the blessed abundant life

in the Presence of the Lord

to abide in His eternal courts

where, ever radiant

shines His Light

and songs of praise

by saints are sung

the old among them

forever young–

that is my heart’s

desire, delight

~ Cale

💖✝💖

Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the LORD and do good;

Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD,

And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD;

Trust in Him also and He will do it.

6He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light,

And your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun].

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD,

And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

24When he falls, he will not be hurled down,

Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.

Psalm 37:3-7; 24 Amplified Bible

 

I will exalt You, my God, O King,

And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2Every day I will bless You and lovingly praise You;

Yes, [with awe-inspired reverence] I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is [so vast and profound as to be] unsearchable [incomprehensible to man].

6People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,

And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will tell of Your greatness.

8The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

9The LORD is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].

10All Your works shall give thanks to You and praise You, O LORD,

And Your godly ones will bless You.

13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14The LORD upholds all those [of His own] who fall

And raises up all those who are bowed down.

16You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17The LORD is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways

And gracious and kind in all His works.

18The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

To all who call on Him in truth (without guile).

19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience];

He also will hear their cry and will save them. 

Psalm 145:1-3; 6; 8-10; 13-14; 16-19

 

14This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that [d]if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. 15And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15

The Day They Crowned a Carpenter

April 4, 2026

This poem is from 2015 ~ Cale

The crowds were there that day
To see Him passing by
The crowds were there that day–
In turn, they saw Him die

And no one could prevent
Nor stop the flow of tears
His death, no accident
Would mark for many years–

The day they crowned a carpenter
With scarcely noble thorns
The day they might have hailed a King
They rained upon Him scorn

Disappointed, broken hearts
Believing He was just a man–
If they’d known Him as the Lord
Then they would understand:
According to His Father’s plan
He’d die, but rise to live again

The crowds were there that day
To see Him passing by
The crowds were there that day–
In turn they saw Him die

And all would mourn the season
Though none could know the reason
For lost youth and lost glory–
What appeared the end of story

No crowds were there that day
Only a chosen few–
His awesome transformation
Was theirs alone to view

“You are the Christ, the Living Lord

You are the King of kings
We praise You and receive You
And the truth for Life You bring”

All that is past is done–
The victory has been won
By Him, Who once was merely
A carpenter’s son

The crowd will meet again one day
The carpenter to laud–
The crowd will meet again one day
And join the Son of God ~

Christ, My Everything

April 3, 2026

Christ in the manger

Immanuel (God with us)

baby JESUS, already King–

Christ on Calvary’s Cross

Redeemer crucified

bled in agony, died

God’s Grace at great cost

to save the Lost

fulfill the old Law–

Christ, Son of God

Messiah, LORD

heals and delivers

still Today

Prince of Peace

calls, “Follow Me”

hear Him say:

“I’ll give you rest

and Living Water

when you thirst–

I’ll be your Shepherd

lead you well and true

on path of Righteousness–

be your comfort, strength, sustain

carry you to the very End

I’m the Savior–on Me, trust and depend”

~ Cale & Hagar