SODOM AND GOMORRAH: THE DAY THE HEAVENS RAINED FIRE

THE DAY THE HEAVENS RAINED FIRE

(Genesis 18)

 God told Abraham he heard a cry,

Against Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins.

The outcry was great and their sins were grievous,

The cities were evil twins.

 Then Abraham approached the Lord and said,

As though God would make a mistake,

“What if fifty righteous people live there?”

What about their sake?

 Far be it from you to do such a thing—

To the righteous caught in this plight,

Treating the righteous and the wicked alike.

Won't the Judge of the earth do right?"

 The Lord promised He would spare Sodom,

If fifty righteous people were there.

Abraham lowered the number;

Expecting God to be fair.

 God lowered the number to forty-five,

But Abraham continued to implore.

God said for forty He would spare the city,

Then that number was lowered more.

 God promised to hold back if thirty were found,

So Abraham asked for ten less.

He said, “What if only twenty can be found?"

His hope had begun to digress.

 “For the sake of twenty, I won’t ruin it."

God patiently replied.

When asked what if only ten could be found,

God vowed to set his anger aside.

 The LORD left Abraham after they spoke,

Who went home to wallow in pity.

Two angels arrived in Sodom at dusk,

While Lot sat at the gate of the city.

Lot saw the Lord’s men and bowed to the ground,

After getting up to meet them.

The men asked Abraham’s nephew,

If anyone belonged to him.

Get them out of here, Lot was told,

The city would soon be destroyed.

The outcry against the city was great;

So their home they should now avoid.

So Lot went and spoke to his sons-in-law,

Who his daughters were pledged to marry.

"Hurry and get out of this place,” Lot said,

“For this city God will bury!"

 But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

Then before the break of day,

The men of God urged his family to hurry,

So they wouldn’t be swept away.

 When Lot paused, the men grabbed his hand,

And the hands of his wife and each daughter.

They led them safely out of the city,

So they wouldn’t be caught in the slaughter.

 As soon as they had brought them out,

One man said, "Run for your life!

Don't look back, and don't stop in the plain!

Escape with your daughters and your wife.”

 But Lot said "No, my lords, please!”

He then told the Lord’s men why,

“I can't flee to the mountains,” he said.

“I’ll be overtaken and die.”

 He asked to run to a nearby town,

Then his life would surely be spared.

Lot’s request was granted;

And he left, though quite unprepared.

 By the time Lot reached Zoar,

The sun had risen over the land.

Then the LORD rained sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—

From heaven came His command.

 He overthrew the cities, the plain,

And Lot’s wife, though it was her fault.

For though she was warned, Lot’s wife looked back,

And became a pillar of salt.

Becky Wall

ABRAM: A FATHER AT 100

ABRAM: A FATHER AT 100

Genesis 15

God's word came to Abram in a vision:

“Don’t be afraid,” said the Lord. 

He greatly assured him that He was his shield, 

His very great reward.

But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD,

What reward can you now give?

You have given me no children;

And we’re old without long to live.

The LORD took him outside and said,

"Count all the stars you see,

—if indeed you can count them,

For so shall your offspring be."

Abram believed the LORD,

For His truth had been made known.

"I brought you out of Ur,” said God,

“To give you this land to own."

Gen 18:1  

The LORD appeared to Abraham 

In the worst heat of the day.

He was sitting at the door of his tent,

When three men came his way.

Abraham looked up and saw,

The three men standing nearby. 

He said, "If I’ve found favor with you, my Lord, 

Do not pass me by.

Let a little water be brought, 

Then you may all wash your feet.

You can rest under this tree.

Let me get you something to eat.

You will be refreshed,

Then you can go on your way—

Now that you’ve come to your servant.”

They replied, "Do as you say."

So Abraham hurried to Sarah. 

Saying, "Quick, bake some bread."

Then he selected a choice, tender calf

And had it cooked so they could be fed.

He then brought some curds and milk,

And the calf that had been prepared.

He stood near them under a tree,

While the hearty meal they shared.

"Where is your wife, Sarah?" they asked 

He replied, "There, in the tent,"

Then the LORD said, "I will return next year, 

And Sarah will be pregnant." 

Now, Sarah was listening at the entrance

What she heard she couldn’t believe.

The couple was already ancient,

She was way too old to conceive.

So, Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 

"I’m worn out and my master is old, 

Will I now have this pleasure?"

She scoffed at what he was told.

 

"Why did Sarah laugh?” the Lord asked.

Is anything too hard for me? 

I will return to you next year 

And Sarah will bear a baby.

Sarah was afraid, so she lied,

She thought the truth could be hid.

She said, "I did not laugh." 

But the Lord said, "Yes, you did."

His wife, Sarah, was ninety-nine.

Though her maid had a boy, she had none.

But God performed a miracle,

And the couple was blessed with a son.

They named their only son Isaac.

Its meaning suited him.

For Isaac brought them “laughter.”

He was everything to them.

God knew about Abram’s family,

Before one of them came to be.

And I can say with confidence,

He knew the same about me.

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

NOAH AND THE ARK: A WORLDWIDE CLEANSING OF SIN

THE GREAT FLOOD -

A WORLDWIDE CLEANSING OF SIN

(Genesis 6-8)

God was mad at what man had become;

He wanted to cleanse the earth,

So he planned a worldwide flood,

In a sense it would be a new birth.

In the days before the flood,

People did their usual things.

They ate and drank and married,

And enjoyed the good that life brings.

But they had turned away from God;

They were sinful in every way.

And because they were unrepentant,

Their sins would be washed away.

Only Noah and his family were faithful,

So God spoke to Noah one day.

He said He had a project for him;

The instructions He began to convey.

God’s request may have seemed foolish;

Noah was to build an ark.

God told him the specifications,

And to build it from cypress bark.

Noah had never seen an ark.

And couldn't fathom heavy rain.

His neighbors surely made fun of him;

Thinking he was insane.

At 500 years, he had three sons,

Japeth, Ham and Shem.

They obeyed their dad and God;

For they were devoted to them.

Their tools were very crude,

Not many had been invented.

By the standards of today,

These men would be seen as demented.

But they were unscathed by their critics.

They continued to work on the frame.

Observers were offered a ride,

In the end, no one came.

Though 120 years had gone by,

No one had lent a hand.

Instead they chose to laugh and jeer,

For the ark was built on dry land.

Finally the work was done,

On the enormous floating zoo.

Seven pairs of clean creatures entered.

One unclean pair entered too.

Before the only door was shut,

Noah made one more plea.

He warned people to get in the ark,

Or become a part of the sea.

Noah's words went unheeded,

Only his family entered the boat.

Water came from above and below,

And the ark began to float.

Noah, his sons, the wives and animals,

Were all kept safely in storage.

Their work and faithfulness,

Allowed them to make this voyage.

Forty days and nights it rained,

While the family tended the critters.

The day would eventually come,

When there would be many litters.

The ark finally parked itself,

On a mount called Ararat.

One hundred fifty days it had flooded,

Then a wind dried the ground after that.

The rain stopped, the clouds parted,

And the sun could be seen again.

Noah sent out a dove, then another.

A new life could now begin.

He immediately built an altar,

And made a sacrifice.

A "clean" animal was used;

The unclean would not suffice.

The earth had been through a baptism;

It was cleansed of sinful men.

They and their sins had been buried in water,

Never to rise again.

The Lord made a promise to Noah;

He would never again flood the earth.

A colorful bow in the sky is His sign,

And we each are offered new birth.

Becky Wall

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

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.