Book VIII

Index:
1. Courage
2. nineeleven
3. I Would
4. Hated
5. The LIFE
6. PRIDE
7. change



Courage

I must have courage to face this,
now the Day has dawned ,
and everything has changed.

The days gone by have left their mark
upon my outer man. Yet inside,
deep within that which has been,
still it is, and still may be freed.

Free to see reality, to know Truth,
to see clearly, to be without confusion,
to see with an uncompromised eye:
what is and why.

The limits are taken away.
All my capacity is available
because life with courage permits
effort without vanity.

Let obstacles come, for testing nurtures
inner strength and strength of the inner
man must grow. Courage is for strength,
and strong I need to grow.

Let interest accrue to that Deposit in my soul
which is made for a possession
in the future,
the possession is the future.

I am a deposit in an account.
I am a portion of an inheritance.
I am a coin in Another realm.
I am an expectation of another Will.
I am beloved of God, and the joy of the Lord is my Strength.

Copyright © 2005 D. Severy



nineeleven

d.severy (copyright©2005)

Yesterday I was the plumber
you did not want to call;
yesterday I was his teacher,
caught him running in the hall.
Everyday I’ve been your neighbor,
we talked about baseball...
but now it is tomorrow,
can’t go back before their fall.

Last week you shopped for Niecy,
she needed things for school,
the weekend came, we rested.
It went too fast for you.
And Monday came way too soon,
found me feeling kinda blue...
but now it is tomorrow.
What next will they do?

Everybody’s askn’ why
they chose to hurt and kill us
on that sunny day.
And when the next attack will come,
and where these evil men were from.
I really do not know, my friend,
if I can ever say.
But this I’ll say, I will :

Put your trust in Jesus,
and love your neighbor well.
Treasure more the hours,
how many none can tell
of life, it may be long or short-
‘sfor sure we all will die.
It was horror at the towers fall,
but dear ones don’t you cry.

It’s been said many times,
I’ll say it once again:
“It’s how you play the game that counts,
not if you lose or win.”
The things that now are coming,
come not from men alone;
God’s hands and angels guiding
will surely guide us home.

We’re citizens of heaven
or denizens of hell,
some say the which from which
only God can truly tell.
But what men say and do in life,
speak volumes in God’s ear,
So choose your steps with wisdom
and to Jesus draw most near.




I Would
Copyright © 2005 D. Severy

Can I ever, will I ever, may I ever?
Ever I would be changed.
Seems, it would be easier; better we know
“... if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved,
what will become of the godless man or sinner?”

An end approaches,
can’t avoid - so don’t deny,
Lay over and onto the Strength
who alone can bear us up,
the Pilot who knows.
We know well enough: we alone cannot.

Ignorance fading in Light
as the bliss of Truth’s baptism
brings foundation and completion
promises sure for infinite being.

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete,
and He is the head over all rule and authority.”

Choosing sides, and distilling from greyness
that which endures and assures,
a trust beyond time and times, yet
still a Trust for today.




"hated" copyright © 2005 D. Severy
“...they hated me first...”


Why so hated, these?
Why no place? O please...
do not fault me for my birth.
Who among us chose this earth?
One day I did awake and here I was
and came to know some art beyond my cause
was reason for my being;
and perhaps someday I might be seeing
just why it was I did appear
in time, in space, said day, said year.
But why, o neighbor, can you tell,
Am I now so hated like as cast to hell?

Why so hated am I now?
Because my soul to Him I bow?
Am I not one free, like you?
to choose my Master and be true
to that which He alone can teach
of Heaven’s Life for which I reach?
What threat is He, this Man to you?
Why it’s as if you really knew,
that what is said of Him is so!
The Bible, Word, does it not show
He truly lived and will return
His wheat to gather, chaff to burn?

Does Christ’s faith expose your sin?
And show up every snare and gin
of habits evil, more than you know,
and flaws in what you say and sow?
Discomfited by what you hear and see?
Should this be cause to hate a man like me?
We’ve all done evil, every one —
that’s why God has Sent His Son:
to take and bear away our sin,
that on the Day of entering in,
He will welcome those who meekly now,
while yet on earth below do bow.

Perhaps what you hate is the limited choice:
it’s clacketty clang... or heaven’s Voice,
the devils and flames, or eternal love
which sweetly beckons from above.
Oh that God grant ears to hear
and hearts would turn from fright to the cheer
of a future of hope... free of all harm
craving, fearing, tears and alarm.
By His Sovereign Grace, which no man deserves,
we’ll rise to His Kingdom, forever to serve,
to worship and praise God in bliss
How is it, o, that I’m hated for this?




The LIFE

Oh, young man, there will be times in your life
when the turmoil and strife will seem insane.
As the days wax toward the end of all things (it’s at hand),
what the days bring in the end is the night.

So ready yourself in the Lord’s armor,
show yourself approved unto God.
Learn to watch, and to pray-
to stay your whole mind and life on Jesus and his word.

Oh, young woman, be aware, that the things that
some dare and do bring much sorrow and pain
to their lives. Seeds sown in an hour have
a lifetime of power - if they sprout
they may grow and bear fruit.

Oh, boys and girls life is long, so live
and grow and be strong: using strength
not for evil, but for good. And learn to
KNOW God’s dear voice, then you will make
the right choices, and be safe
and live life as all should.

“Our battle is not against flesh and blood,”
But against the Satan and his boast.
To our enemies we give love, to them we do good.


But to the Devil we do war with God’s host.

Copyright © 2005 D. Severy


PRIDE

WORSE, worse than six others
is this primal beast. Conceit:
unbridled, yet cast surely down;
where it murmurs and seems still to roar,
the enemy of all quiet.

VEXING the very pure of heart, vexing
hard is this primal beast. Braggart:
puffed and prating to its fall
it fell to vexing every man
and tries the more to wreck every heart.

NONE, no part was found
of this primal beast in Him. Folly:
enamored of self, still clamors
for the Victory, yet is once forever fully
deprived of all its lust by Him.

STAY NOW thy soul upon this Conqueror
of the primal beast ::: Hypocrisy:
its experience is now and ever doomed,
and ever failing in its “success”: to
steal away a soul, bitterly.

STAY and BUILD upon this Rock who will
annihilate the primal beast::: Pride:
the first of seven and all sins other,
all frauds, filth and lusts. Thy ROCK
will give thee VICTORY and more besides.
Copyright © 2005 D. Severy



Change
Copyright © 2005 D. Severy


change your mind
you are not alone
your need is great
and many are like you
think outside all the boxes
take your thoughts from the truth

change your actions
so must we all
our need is great
and many stumble as we do
act according to the better angels
take your cues from their master

change your place
if only all would avail
of the greatest gift
to receive of him
and be translated
from death to life