Sitting in the Gate

“The king is sitting in the gate.
And all the people came before the king.”
I read it early this morning,
Second Samuel, nineteen, verse eight.

King David had a boy named Absalom
Who hung himself on a tree and was killed there.
When he heard it, David’s heart just went numb
To the pain in this life - to a loss he couldn’t bear.

Who could blame you, Lord, if you didn’t come down today?
Who could blame you, Lord, if you just stayed home today,
Hid your face and grieved alone your Son?
If you didn’t come down today, who could blame you?

But you, in the high, cold spring, Lord – you washed your face
And walked down that long road to take your rightful place –
To take your justice seat in the city gate.

So, I want to thank you, Lord. If you hadn’t come down today,
I wouldn’t know how to love, what to think, surely how to pray;
I need you just to face the rising of the sun.

So, yet another night is passing, Mercy, you can take it!
In the breaking light, Lord, I see you still sitting there,
And my burden feels light. Lord, I think I can make it
To the end of the day – just one more cross I might bear.

The king is sitting in the gate.
And all the people come before the king.
I believe it all this morning,
Second Samuel, nineteen, verse eight.

She's Not Worried

Hey, Brother!
Got a penny for these sparrows?
This kind is meant just for you.
If you don’t take them - someone will;
If they don’t, going to let them go,
Just let them fall.

I was dreaming; my heart still wary;
Watching as he brought girls to the brink
Of horror – where young ones go in war
To escape the flashing edge of swords.

Suddenly,
I was walking home on Mulberry;
Heading up the road to get a drink,
Saw him standing - his face to her door,
I guess he must have been the landlord.

Hey, Sister!
Got my money for tomorrow?
Just kind words will never do.
If you don’t get it – someone will;
If you don’t, going to make you go,
Then burn it all.

Some folks would be uneasy then,
But no, not she,
For the lilies do not worry
And Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed as one of these.
Children, this blue flour dress tells her story
And, hard as it is, it’s still worth telling,
So, take your time, she’s in no hurry now.
No, she’s not worried,
Not at all.

Hey Lord,
Is there solace for my sorrow?
Just kind words will never do.
If you don’t give it – no one will:
If you don’t, going to let her go –
Demons and all.

I was reading a bible story,
Reading about a faithful woman,
Saw a man walking by her front door,
Somehow knew he must be the Lord.

Quietly,
He was passing, says that old story,
Passing through the fallen town, Sidon,
And she knew her cries he must have heard,
But he did not answer her – a word.

Oh, Lord!
You got to have mercy – you know
What kind-loving sure can do.
If you don’t give it – no one will;
If you won’t, got nowhere else to go,
No place at all

Some folks would be uneasy then,
But no, not she,
For the lilies do not worry
And Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed as one of these.
Children, this blue flour dress tells her story
And, hard as it is, it’s still worth telling,
So, take your time, she’s in no hurry now.
No, she’s not worried,
Not at all.

Oh Lord!
You got to cast her off, make her go.
Her kind will hang onto you.
If you don’t do it – someone will;
If you won’t, not going to make it, no,
Can’t save us all.

I am pushing on, now let me be!
Needy woman, please wait and see.
I am bearing bread from the Father;
His task, my love; his will, my pleasure.

Finally,
I am heading to the Galilee,
Feeding all the children, the lost sheep
Of Israel starving for my good word,
For the manna, the body of their Lord.

So, you!
I’ve got nothing for you, so go -
No kind words will help you now.
If you don’t get it – others will;
And you won’t – I got to let you know,
No bread at all!

Some folks would be uneasy then,
But no, not she.
For the lilies do not worry
And Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed as one of these.
Children, this blue flour dress tells her story
And, hard as it is, it’s still worth telling,
So, take your time, she’s in no hurry now.
No, she’s not worried,
Not at all.

Oh, Lord!
Are there broken crumbs for her? Let go!
Your kind touch will make men new.
If you don’t save her – no one will;
If you won’t, well, I guess I don’t know
You, Lord, at all.

May God bless you!
These lost ones I will never let go.
And kindness, love, you also do.
If we don’t love them – no one will;
Yes, you know me, child. You know I won’t
Just let them fall.

For the lilies do not worry
And Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed as one of these.
Children, her blue flour dress tells your story
And, hard as it is, it’s still worth telling,
So, take your time, you’re in no hurry now.
No, be not worried,
Not at all.
_______________________________________

Matthew 6, 10, 15, Mark 7

Dusty Dancers

So, Preacher, I hear what you say

Ashes to ashes, day after day,

Dust to dust, to vanity always return,

Nothing new under the sun.

But hear that yelling in my backyard?

There’s some wild ones playing hard,

Busting through the sanity of this old earth,

Something new under the sun.

For there is still joy between the ash heaps;

Childish noise between our silent sleeps,

Love-you-blooming flowers in the sand box

And dusty dancers in the grass. Just watch!

________________________________

Ecclesiastes 3; Luke 10:21-24

Just Right Baptism

I pray for the Lord to humble me, to cleanse me of my sins, and to infuse my soul with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that my flesh may be sealed from iniquity. Then I complain when the Lord holds my head under the water a little too long.