The Tree of Life

"There are two ways through life:
the way of nature and the way of grace.
You have to choose which one you'll follow.

"Grace doesn't try to please itself,
accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked,
accepts insults and injuries.

"Nature only wants to please itself,
get others to please it too,
likes to lord itself over them,
to have its own way.
It finds reasons to be unhappy
when all the world is shining around it.

"No one who loves the way of grace ever comes to a bad end."

~ Mrs. O'Brien
from the movie The Tree of Life

~ ~ ~

The highest aim of nature is to make of ourselves the best we might be, and we are damned by it.

The highest aim of Grace is to make of God all He has proven to be, and we are saved by it.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
~ Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Tender Heart of Hearts

Into Your hand I commit myself
You my King Who is Life, Light and Love
Former treasure I have counted loss
Pure tender mercies are from above

Do to me whatever You deem best
Wash me, Word of God, You my Bridegroom
Former pleasure and kisses proved lies
Your tender mercies do not consume

Your soul short endures my misery
Faithful are the wounds of You my Friend
Former measure of peace is a shell
Sure tender mercies are without end

On Your palms You've inscribed me
Your compassions won't fail me
You rejoice and sing o'er me
Your tender heart beats near me

: : :

This poem is part of the "Warrior Poet Circle" hosted by Jason Stasyzen. You're invited to visit his site and view more poems for the theme Tenderhearted.



Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Wiped

"Beach Wash"

Photo credit: Darius Goins

Piercing pain to my heart
Darkness that does not depart
How this wound from one who says 'love'?
Why this assault allowed from above?

Offender shall not be called 'foe'
With blessing shall curse be told 'go!'
To malice hands of good open wide
Spite shall bring prayer to on high.

Hope is yet strangled by tears
Where lurks the debt in arrears?
Ponder long—what offering could pay?
There is none—save debt wiped away.

Perfect peace in my heart
Light that shall not depart
How this gift for one flawed in love?
Why this grace to dust from above?

░ ♥ ░

"He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."
~ John 9:15 (NKJV)

░ † ░

Today I achieve my goal to join High Calling's "Random Acts of Poetry." This month's challenge is "Forgiveness."

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Hour of Eternity's Winter

We lived without care—
Our lives fast, our fun full.
Even when heat scorched
Though drought consumed life
We thought it should always be so
In that summer of our lives.
We knew not the nature of seeds sown
Nor saw the fruit bending boughs low.

Sin grew ripe and dropped heavily
Bedding down in children of dust.
Its abundance fermented and grew putrid
We staggered and fell in drunken stupor.
Laid low and lying in filth
Your Spirit blew upon us.
You covered us in crimson
And invited us to taste Your death.

Our sins blanketed and made white
We now dwell in eternity's winter.
Howling winds of barren world
Batter and bend, sculpt and suppress.
In our cove of quiet shelter
We hear Your voice whisper.
Seed buried and secure
Waits for touch of Son.

Herald's call shall sound forth
Dry bones shall awaken
Body of splendor shall rise
Touch shall stretch to embrace
Seed and soil become one
Birthing perfection of life
Sowing and harvest shall cease
In season of endless Paradise.


Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be ...
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:36-37,42-43 (NKJV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock.
You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying
about today's theme: Winter

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: marycaytonministries.com

Last Laugh of Revenge—YouTube Edition

Every author loves the idea of writing a story which is one day made into a movie. Though I do write biblical fiction that I think would make a great movie, I don't expect to see such a day.

I'm quite content that one of my readers, the sweet and gentle Natasa, has compiled a YouTube video of the post I did on Tuesday. She apologized for her heavy accent. But I think it lends poignancy to the words she speaks.

Thank you, Natasa. You've honored me. May God return the blessing to you, and may He use the words to bring the healing of forgiveness.

Love,
Anne

Conquest

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
~ Psalms 119:11 (NKJV)

Conquest

How does the human soul
comprehend that it is whole
for to it Your Spirit binds.

My joy You intimately know
only in You is it able to grow
fleeting happiness is not the same kind.

My griefs You also share
Rooted in sin and heavy to bear
You reveal the guilt which is mine.

No condemnation You hold
Your blood makes me white as snow
You bid me leave sorrow behind.

A tender heart of desire You need
Your Word is sown as Your seed
And conquest power I find.

I love hearing from you. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Psalm 56:8-11

Today's post is dedicated to my beautiful friend Susan.


My tremblings
of an exile longing for home
of a wayfarer knowing no rest
steps without number
these, Thou mark each one.

My tears
rivers of bitter waters
my food day and night
seeds sown for joy
these, Thou place in Thy drinkskin.

Are these indeed accounted and stored
as sacred to Thee?
Would each tremble be numbered
as if costly treasure?
Would each drop be preserved
until aged as fine wine?

Behold my frailty!
When I cry out Thy name
proclaiming Thee
then my enemy shall cease
turning back from whence he came
for Elohim is with me.

In Elohim
in His Word
I boast.

In YHWH
in His Word
I boast.

My trust
my attachment
my confidings
my reliance
these, I place in Elohim.

No fear shall I own.
For what can be accomplished
to concern me
by men of dust?

With Thee shall I wait
for all Thou shall accomplish.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Art image: A Drop of Wine, Steve Mac
Image source: flickriver.com

A Kiss—Grace This

Today’s post is part of the blog carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley on the topic of Grace.

A Kiss—Grace This

Kiss of Creator
breath of life
dust made man
divine image reflected
all senses perceive
gifts in abundance—
Grace this.

Kiss of Word
Almighty called Friend
righteousness by faith
promises of hope
covenants for eternity
everlasting love known—
Grace this.

Kiss of mother
infant fist curls
glory’s cloak shed
exchanged for flesh
divinity treads earth
Heaven’s angels wonder—
Grace this.

Kiss of betrayer
smites one cheek
other cheek torn
denials pierce ears
brethren’s scorns assault
sin’s curse crowns
hands of healing
stretched between spikes
heart of love
broken and pierced
Beloved yet forsaken
spikenard still clings—
Grace this.

Kiss of Sonlight
empty crypt mine
death safely entombed
guilt’s shame too
raised from perdition
to resurrection life—
Grace this.

Kiss of Spirit
comforts from within
Water softens clay
for stretching, shaping
vessel of beauty
worthy of Light—
Grace this.

Kiss of Fire
cleanses and transforms
clay becomes crystal
pits hold gold
trusted Potter’s touch
cradles His treasure—
Grace this.

: : :

Thanks to the poets in my life who challenge forth my own inner poet:
Susan
Glynn
nAncY
Maureen
Sharilyn

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved..
#poetry
Image copyright Kelly Langner Sauer, used with permission. (Thanks Kelly! :D)

Reward

Hello from the Festival of Faith and Writing Conference at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. As I depart the conference to head home, I present a writing assignment for which I chose to forsake prose.

REWARD

stark and White
canopy of cloud
blanket of flakes
relic of straw

rich and Brown
sponge of earth
fragrance of soil
promise of seed

drab and Gray
sheets of rain
mirror of puddles
exposure of pebble

pastel and Green
roll of land
scattering of buds
wink of leaf

sharp and Orange
scorch of ray
flame of flora
tickle of pollen

cool and Blue
sweep of sky
feathers of shade
sustenance of spray

mute and Amber
recline of Sol
wave of stalk
flight of dust

ripe and Red
procession of dusk
tribute of leaf
reward of fruit

Glory of Gold
visible shadowing Faith
received obscuring Hope
knowledge fulfilling Love

© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy

Friday Freelance: FIRE

I breathe
I eat
I dance
I die
And yet I never live

You can feel me
But cannot touch me
Although your heart may hold me

Nothing with life survives without me
And nothing of heaven and earth will survive me

I am Fire

　
Friday Freelance: FIRE

Few things please and fascinate me as does fire.

Dancing flames soothe my soul as might crashing waves or gently babbling brook or wind whispering in pines. I'd rather stare at a fire than T.V. any time. Add one of my daughters at the piano or violin, a glass of Riesling, an open Bible—you might just convince me that I've died and gone to Heaven.

A most captivating mystery of fire is that I stuff log after log into a stove that utterly destroys the wood, returns beauty and warmth, and leaves behind bits of ashes. My mind knows there's some scientific equation about matter and energy that explains this. My soul cares not a whit.

Perhaps most fascinating to me is that the Holy Spirit of Almighty God is represented by fire. Though He is also represented as water and air (and even as a dove), His representation as the fire taken into our bosoms which does not burn us deeply resonates with me. Whatever mighty transformation the Lord may achieve by the power of water or air, nothing can completely alter matter as can fire.

"Who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He, like a purifying fire ...
Will be enthroned to refine and purify His wealth,
Will purify His priestly sons ...
That they may rightly bring offerings to YHWH."
~ Malachi 3:2-3 (author paraphrase)

I've said before that when I surrendered to the Holy Spirit, He did an "extreme makeover—soul edition." The woman who was baptized on December 4, 1988 is still alive, but she bears little resemblance to the person I am now. Fire has completely altered what once existed.

The last two months have been a study of Psalms 101 thru 125, which I introduced as "thoughts on praise and suffering." The Psalms are valued for their words of praise. They say nearly as much about suffering.

I do not think the two can be separated. Suffering is the fire that purifies the offering—the sacrifice—of praise.

Suffering is the matter taken by the Spirit's fire and transformed into the currency of ashes which the Lord exchanges for His beauty.

"Christ-followers have more at their disposal
to handle pain & suffering than anyone else on earth.
One might even argue that we were designed for it."
~Sarah Markley

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"I am Fire" poem by Anne Lang Bundy
Image from images.google.com

Real Love

Please accept one last interruption to the look at God's Word in "The Twelve Days of Christ" series, for this entry in the Blog Carnival hosted by my friend Bridget Chumbley. For more on today's "One Word" theme, click here on "Love." The piece below is a rerun I trust you won't mind seeing again.

"Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live."
~Robert Southey

REAL LOVE

real love fully accepts a person "as is"

real love sees beyond appearances to the heart of a person

real love sees evil and remembers that all humanity’s got the disease

real love sees the evil in another and looks past it to the good

real love sees the evil that causes hurt and challenges it to get out

real love sees the good in a person and challenges it to come forth

real love sees every person as made in the image of God

real love knows every person is as special as God makes ME feel

real love knows EVERYONE suffers from inferiority complex and needs validation

real love speaks truthfully, without overdoing it

real love sees the pain another carries and draws close to help carry it

real love discovers the right way to meet another’s need

real love recognizes a heart feeling emptiness and offers what will fill it

real love gratefully accepts imperfect gifts given with sincerity

real love remembers to say "thank you"

real love stands ready to says "yes"

real love says "no" when it’s truly best

real love isn’t irritated by the irritating

real love finds the right outlet to dissolve anger instead of burying it or lashing out

real love says "I’m hurt" without causing hurt

real love means that when I know I’ve caused hurt, I hurt too

real love knows it’s EVER needing to say "I’m sorry"

real love knows saying "I’m sorry" means most when it comes with "I was wrong"

real love forgives completely

real love knows what and how to forget

real love knows what and how to remember

real love wants to share what’s most treasured

real love knows that real love means real sacrifice

real love will sacrifice even what’s most dear

real love is willing to go to the grave

real love goes past the grave into eternity

real love loves without dependence on being loved back

real love loves even those who seem unlovable

real love is usually simple but rarely easy ...

... and PERFECT love does not fear

　
History’s greatest "I love you" was written in blood on a hill called Calvary. The same amount of love it took to send Jesus to Calvary is the same amount of love God wants YOU to have from Him EVERY day...

We don’t have to deserve God’s love ... only be willing to receive it.

We love Him because He first loved us...
And this commandment we have from Him:
that he who loves God
must love his brother also.
~ 1 John 4:19-21 (NKJV)

#loveoneanother
Copyright 2004, 2009 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Permission given to reprint for free-distribution only, with credit to author, Anne Lang Bundy.
Photo credit unavailable, with apology to unknown artist.

Gifts That Don't Fit Under the Tree

Yesterday's post was a delightful and unexpected interruption to the series "Twelve Days of Christ," on Psalm 119 and the church. Today's "Friday Freelance" is one more interruption before I continue the series tomorrow.

The words below are not my own. It is a piece presented by our Church last Sunday night as part of our Christmas program.


Gifts That Don’t Fit Under the Tree

At Christmas …
… you know what to give Mom
… Dad
… the kids

But what do you give …
… The mother struggling with poor self-esteem?
… The father fighting to make ends meet?
… The teen alone in the crowd?

The best gifts…
… The most unique gifts
… The gifts that mean the most
… Don’t fit under the tree

This Christmas
Consider giving…

the gift of
Focus
To someone you’ve neglected
spend some time

the gift of
Empathy
To those suffering alone
listen – really listen and find a way to lend a hand

the gift of
Encouragement
To the one taken for granted
invest your heart

the gift of
Forgiveness
To those burdened by shame
start the process of reconciliation

the gift of
Comfort
To the brokenhearted
take up part of the load

the gift of
Mercy
To one's who's not earned it
show kindness and compassion

the gift of
Humility
To the person that's wronged you
Sacrifice your pride

the gift of
Charity
To the unseen in our community
share some of the grace you’ve received

the gift of
Eternal Life
To the lost in your life
show what God has done for you

This year make your Christmas about giving
Gifts that don’t fit under the tree

Written by Scott Young and Dale Emery,
Copyright 2009, used with permission.
Inspired by the video "Christmas Gifts" from WorshipHouseMedia.com

#loveoneanother
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Photo 1 from freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Photo 2 from samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com