Devotions to Our God in the Manger: Redeemed Anew

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Matthew 19:16-19
A D V E N T  2 0 1 4:   D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 3                                                                                                           Redeemed

English: Roadside verge near Guilt Cross Young...

       Sinless Guilt

He has lifted it all off me,
and I seek to release my guilt.
It is not just the goodness of the baby,
for we know that goodness of the babe.
We struggle more to see the sacrifice,
how he lifts off our guilt.
He dwells with us now;
Human, He overcomes all that burdens us.
Brother, He takes us as we are, and
Dams up our guilt.

(c) Tom Bolton, 17 December 2013 Bay View

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On Word Law and Life: Teach Me

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Tom Bolton

 

S. Smile on Me

Set these miracles brilliantly in my life;
Smile on me and I will obey. Then, will I?
Son-shine, shine on me, sunshine bathing me,
an open door, revealing the words.
Sucking up your words, like some succulent
sponge, I
seek deep in me for your word.
See me, spare me, smile at me, and
Set me free.
Step beside me, lock-legged with you,
and bound together in your commands, gentle God.
Save me from evil-all-around me. Set me free!
Save me so that I will obey your commands to me.
Smile on me.
Teach me.
Streams pour from my eyes:
Joyful in the Word!
Saddened, I too grieve for those who miss the mark.

T. Treat Me With Kindness, Teach Me

Tense, I am wound tight in this tension,
Graceful God:
Treat me with kindness; why don’t you
act right now, God? Crush this evil.
Trounce them, crush them; why do you wait?
Treat them with my golden rule.
I hate this wickedness and I want you to punish,
but you, God, treat them with such patience!
Treat me patiently, too, God-of-Grace;
Treat me, treat me, treat me well.
Treat me with kindness. Teach me.
Trust binds me up, strengthens me, when
I am doubting; my
Trust is built in the strength of your words.
Trusting, I will be your servant;
Trusting, I serve when I still put myself
higher–not a servant!
Trusting, I pray in words that I know
God will know. Do I know? Do I trust?

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, February 2012

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Devotions to Our God in the Manger: Mysterious Love

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Sharing this mystery again:

Tom Bolton's avatarHopeful

A D V E N T  2 0 1 4:    D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 2                                                                                                  Mystery in Our Midst

Phil. 1: 3-14

Dusk Dusk (Photo credit: ehpien)

                                     Love Mystery

I love that I am loved,
and I love that I know others pray for me each day.
I love that there are others held deep in my heart,
and that they hold me deep too.
All that is Christmas true originates in heaven;
it binds us together in spite of ourselves.
There are great mysteries in space,
and deep in atoms, and deep in our brains,
but the greatest mystery is our neighbor,
the greatest mystery is love,
the greatest mystery is our nearest guest.
Mysterious friends come together and love,
blessed by the love…

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Devotions to Our God in the Manger 2014: Everlasting Mysteries

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Habakkuk 3:6 and Matthew 25: 31-36
A D V E N T   2 0 1 4:    D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 2                                                                                           Mystery in Our Midst

LongestNightPhoto1

 Everlasting Mysteries

He fills us with a promise of what He will do yet again.
The ancient paths are His.
The ancient paths pass through us, His Way.
He looks our way and the earth trembles, men tremble,
and when we see, we are set calm again.
His ways are everlasting.
His way of discipleship is made clear,
and we know the Way.
Relationship with Him is joined with
responsibility for His people.
It is love here.
He laid down His life and so we share life.
We serve Him as we serve others–
Hands and feet and His wealth!
To be the good news for the poor,
we are set out on His everlasting path.
Know the way!

(c) Tom Bolton, Bay View, December 1, 2014

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Devotions to God in the Manger 2014: Mysterious Piety

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Tom Bolton

1 Cor 1:23-25
A D V E N T  2 0 1 4:   D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 2                                                                                  Mystery in Our Midst

LongestNightPhoto1

   The Mysterious Pious

Your sins are forgiven, and
You hold back, and
you claim magnified piety, and
you claim Jesus as your own.
And amidst the proof you heap visible,
the invisible proof is larger.
My faith in that not seen is largest,
and I question myself at this manger.
Do I build myself up,
and try to impress?
Am I authentic? Am I only pious?
Am I whom you would have me be?
Today I will not try to look good.
May I instead be righteous.
At the manger I claim the way.

(c) Tom Bolton, 10 December 2013, alone

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Devotions to Our God in the Manger 2014: Mystery Anew

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Tom Bolton

Colossians 4: 5-6
A D V E N T   2 0 1 4:   D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 2                                                                                                           Mystery in Our Midst

LongestNight2

                 Mystery Anew

Unique, to live our lives aloud;
Unique, to live a holy life.
Unique, we live, God upon our lips.
Mysterious impression upon our person,
We may yet impress upon the other.

(c) Tom Bolton, Milwaukee, October 30, 2014

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Devotions to Our God in the Manger: Mysterious Love

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Tom Bolton

A D V E N T  2 0 1 4:    D E V O T I O N S   T O   O U R   G O D   I N   T H E   M A N G E R

Week 2                                                                                                  Mystery in Our Midst

 

Dusk

Dusk (Photo credit: ehpien)

                                     Love Mystery

I love that I am loved,
and I love that I know others pray for me each day.
I love that there are others held deep in my heart,
and that they hold me deep too.
All that is Christmas true originates in heaven;
it binds us together in spite of ourselves.
There are great mysteries in space,
and deep in atoms, and deep in our brains,
but the greatest mystery is our neighbor,
the greatest mystery is love,
the greatest mystery is our nearest guest.
Mysterious friends come together and love,
blessed by the love of one in a manger.
The mystery of our love is majestic and great.
Our hearts are filled with the mystery.
Alone we come out, and
grasp love, shared.
In solemn community, we love too.
We are amazed, and we are lost,
and then we too love.
There is deep mystery in the word!
There is fresh mystery in love.
In mystery, we join together at this manger.

(c) Tom Bolton, 10 December, 2013, below City Hall

A hidden audio link. <———

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