JESUS HEALS A BLIND MAN: BLINDSIGHTED

BLINDSIGHTED

(Based on John 9 and Mark 8:22-25)

Jesus healed a blind man,

As part of God’s plan unfurled.

He wanted to show the people,

That He is the Light of the world.

He spat on the dust of the ground,

And formed two little mud pies.

The man didn’t see Jesus coming,

When the pies were put on his eyes.

“Go wash in the pool,” Jesus said;

The Pool of Siloam was near.

He did, then wiped his eyes.

Jesus became very clear!

But the Pharisees were angry,

Even though the man had sight,

For Jesus had healed on the Sabbath;

They just couldn’t see the Light.

They called the man an imposter,

And said he was not the same one.

They even spoke to his parents,

Who confirmed that indeed was their son.

The man was questioned again,

And was told to give God the glory.

"Your healer is just a sinner," they said,

Not wanting to believe his story.

“Sinner or not, I don’t know,” he said.

“But one thing is clear to me.

Thanks to this man, Jesus,

I was blind, but now I see.”

“How did He do it,” they said; 

“How did He restore your sight?” 

“He is from God,” was the answer. 

At that, they were ready to fight.

When Jesus healed another blind man, 

The man was happy to see. 

But every person he saw, 

Looked like a walking tree.

So Jesus repeated His actions; 

To show some things take longer. 

The man then gained full sight, 

And his faith in Christ was stronger.

Each blind man’s eyes were opened; 

Not so for the Pharisee, 

Who had ears that would not hear, 

And eyes that would not see.

Becky Wall

TWO PART STORY: THE PRODIGAL SON & THE UNFORGIVING BROTHER

A WELCOME HOME CELEBRATION

(Based on the parable of The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-24)

There was a man who had two sons,

The youngest said to his Father,

“Give me my share of your estate.”

His dad said, “Sure, it’s no bother.”

The  son quickly packed up and moved —

Set off for a country distant.

He wasted his money on riotous living,

Then his friends were gone in an instant.

Famine hit the countryside,

The son was in need of food,

So, he took a job on a farm;

The food he fed pigs looked good.

He finally came to his senses,

And decided he would go back.

He would ask for a job and forgiveness;

For food there would be no lack.

His father saw him coming;

He was filled with concern and love.

They hugged, and the son asked forgiveness,

From his dad and his Father above.

The dad then gave him a robe and a ring,

And a dinner where food did abound,

For his son who had died was living again;

He was lost in sin, but was found.

If you don’t respect your Father,

You’re destined to learn the hard way.

You’ll also disrespect yourself;

In the end, the devil you’ll pay.

But God will always welcome you home;

He will give you a robe and crown.

And He will prepare a table for you,

If you humbly repent and bow down.

THE JEALOUS UNFORGIVING BROTHER

(Sequel to A Welcome Home Celebration - Lk 25-32)

The older son was obedient;

The younger was nothing like him.

He asked for his share of his dad’s estate,

Which was to one day go to them.

Then he left home and brains behind,

To live life his own way.

Money and morals were lost;

A great price he did pay.

He finally came to his senses,

No longer in sin to roam,

His father ran to welcome him,

Back to his loving home.

The older son came by;

He heard the music and laughter.

He asked what was going on;

When told, he was angry thereafter.

He thought he was the worthy one--

The one who deserved much praise.

He jealously told his father,

“I have served you all of my days.”

With self-righteous indignation,

For his brother he gave no thought;

He chose to judge, not forgive;

For life and soul he cared not.

He lived his life like a Pharisee,

With arrogance and pride,

Quick to condemn a “lesser” man,

For whom Christ also died.

Don’t you take leave of your senses;

Be careful how you live.

And if your brother fails,

Be quick to just forgive.

Becky Overturf Wall

RUTH AND BOAZ: A SECOND TIME AROUND LOVE STORY

A SECOND TIME AROUND LOVE STORY

(Ruth)

Naomi lost her husband,

While living in a foreign land.

A decade later she lost her sons;

It wasn’t the life she had planned.

She was left with Orpah and Ruth,

Her loving daughters-in-law.

She wanted what was best for them,

So she made the choice to withdraw.

Naomi got word from her homeland,

That there was abundant food.

She decided to join her people,

Though she still continued to brood.

Both girls wanted to join her,

Though her home to them would be strange.

Naomi insisted they stay in their land,

They were too young to make a change.

Orpah kissed her two in-laws good-bye,

And to Moab, her home, she returned.

But Ruth could not leave Naomi,

For her safety she was concerned.

Where you go, I will go, she said,

And where you stay I’ll stay.

Your people shall be my people,

And your God I will obey.

Where you die I will die;

You will always have my heart.

Be assured I will never leave you,

Until death do us part.

So around the Dead Sea they walked,

And they crossed the Jordan River.

They climbed the mountains of Judah,

To the birthplace of the Lifegiver.

When they arrived in Bethlehem,

Her friends were glad to see her.

They asked, “Is this Naomi, our friend?”

She said, “No. Just call me Bitter."

When Ruth went to gather some grain,

She caught the owner’s attention.

He asked about the young lady gleaning,

She was given honorable mention.

Boaz let her glean in his fields,

And he promised her protection.

He offered her water to drink,

And added sheaves to her collection.

She thanked him for his kindness,

And he wished her a reward,

For he knew that she had traveled there,

Under the wings of the Lord.

Ruth told Naomi about the man,

She met while doing her chore.

Naomi knew he was kin by marriage,

So she told Ruth to go back for more.

At the end of the harvest, Boaz held a feast;

But his heart, not his stomach, was fed.

Boaz realized he was in love,

And so he and Ruth were wed.

Naomi went to live with them,

And the Lord was ever present.

Her name was no longer Bitter;

The meaning had changed back to Pleasant.

Ruth bore a son named Obed;

And Jesse was Obed's son.

Jesse had a son named David,

Grandfathers of The Holy One.

Ruth had showed such love,

That she greatly pleased the Lord.

She had crossed a river and climbed mountains,

Which earned her a great reward.

Though she wasn’t Jewish or Hebrew,

Ruth was treated as she had treated.

Her story is preserved in the Bible,

And her vows are still repeated.

Becky Wall

A MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE TO MY OWN MOTHER: ST. MOM

ST. MOM

You have let us down gently, Lord.

You showed us how much you care,

For the sudden death of our mother,

Would have been too much to bear.

Though we were poor, we were also rich,

For we had a saint for a mother.

We had the best You had to give,

A treasure on earth like no other.

Satan hated her lively spirit,

So he tried to make her frown.

He ruined her health and crushed her bones,

But he couldn’t take her down.

You turned on him with a vengeance, Lord;

This saint was a special case.

You then instructed your angels,

To show all her children your grace.

Now her legacy will live on and on,

Through her children, then through their own.

We’ll show the devil a thing or two,

And praise you for the love you have shown.

Becky Wall

This was written while my mother was in an advanced stage of Alzheimer's.

WONDER-ful WOMAN

WONDER-ful WOMAN

She sings in harmony with angels

As her children’s lives she weaves.

She finds herself in many scrapes;

Some of them one can hardly believe.

Her wit is sharp, her voice is soft,

She rarely wears a frown.

Though life has dealt her many blows,

They couldn’t bring her down.

Who is this wonder woman,

Who brings us so much pleasure?

I’m proud to say, “My mother;”

Only God could make such a treasure.

She’ll wear a starry crown someday,

And I know without a doubt,

If there are no stars upon my crown,

She’ll take some of her stars out.

Becky Overturf Wall

II Tim. 4:8 - "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

HANNAH: A MOTHER'S GREAT SACRIFICE

A MOTHER’S GREAT SACRIFICE

(I Samuel 1)

Hannah was married to Elkanah,

Peninah was his other wife.

Peninah had children, Hannah had none,

And so this caused Hannah strife.

She was deeply troubled,

Though she was the favorite wife.

Peninah provoked her daily,

‘Til Hannah could not face life.

She wouldn’t eat, she constantly wept,

And Peninah just kept on mocking,

But one day Hannah did something,

That we consider quite shocking.

She begged God for a baby,

Then made a vow from her heart:

If He would give her a child,

With her child she’d be willing to part.

Sure enough, God filled her womb.

She sang a song full of joy.

She waited ‘til the child was weaned,

Then gave Eli, the priest, her boy.

The boy’s name was Samuel;

Eli taught him all the Lord’s ways.

And Samuel served the Lord,

All the rest of his days.

He became a major prophet,

And anointed several kings.

Though Hannah is now in heaven,

We know that she still sings.

Becky Wall

MOSES: A TISKET, A TASKET, A BABY IN A BASKET

A TISKET, A TASKET, A BABY IN A BASKET

(Exodus 1:8 - 2:10)

The Israelites lived in Egypt;

For 400 years they’d been there,

Where they came to survive a famine,

While under Joseph’s care.

But Joseph had been forgotten,

And their numbers increased more and more.

The new king feared the Jews;

He knew they could start a war.

The king made slaves of the Israelites;

They made bricks and worked in the fields.

They built two cities and yet even then,

The king expected more yields.

They multiplied all over the land,

Which caused the Egyptians to fear.

As their numbers increased, so did their strength,

And their presence was felt far and near.

Though oppression continued, the Jews increased,

‘Til the Egyptians were filled with dread,

So the king told the Hebrew midwives,

To make sure all males were born dead.

But the midwives feared the Lord,

More than they feared the king,

So they let the male infants live,

Despite what their actions might bring.

Sure enough, the king called them in;

He asked them why no males died.

The midwives told a half-truth;

Others might say they lied.

They told of the strength of the women;

They birthed without delay.

The midwives could not arrive soon enough,

Tho’ they hurried to them right away.

The king issued an edict —

One that was truly vile.

Every time a boy was born,

He was to be thrown in the Nile.

One distraught Jewish woman,

Came up with a boat-like invention.

She covered a basket with tar and pitch.

And put it where it would capture attention.

She knew the routine of the princess,

Who bathed in the River Nile.

So she placed the basket in the reeds,

And her daughter watched all the while.

The baby was crying and crying,

In his floating crib in the water.

A slave girl retrieved the basket,

And gave it to Pharoah’s daughter.

When the baby kept on crying,

His sister stepped out on cue.

She said, “Shall I find a Hebrew woman,

To nurse the baby for you?”

Pharoah’s daughter agreed,

That he should be nursed by another,

So until the baby was weaned,

He was able to stay with his mother.

The mother returned her baby,

So his precious life would be spared.

By selflessly giving him up,

She showed how much she cared.

The princess named him Moses,

And she raised him as her own.

But the boy who survived would one day repay,

His mom for the love she had shown.

Becky Wall