Category: Creative writing

Jesus let your divine Spirit breathe on me

The writing focus was to take some of the words from “Love Divine” and arrange them so as to inspire creative verse or writing. The results were often very moving. Please do take time to read them.

Words selected from the hymn ‘Love Divine’

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Jesus Divine

Jesus
Divine
Alpha   Pure   Omega
Love
Joy
Grace
Liberty
Compassion

© Alison Moore Kingdom Arts October 2023

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Love Divine

Love Divine: You have always been there for me. You were there at the beginning and I knew of you but didn’t know you.

Love Divine: Your patience is never ending, you wait and nudge with pure unbounded love waiting to enter my trembling heart.

Love Divine: Christmas and Easter have always been special for me even as a child, but it would be years before I would receive and accept your grace.

Love Divine: I heard about you at Sunday school and in school assemblies but I never felt the need to ask you into my life. I only attended church services on special occasions – moved by the hymns but not enough to want to follow you.

Love Divine: I stood before you exchanging vows at our wedding, I stood before you making promises to you at our children’s baptism, once again the words resonated but did not enter my heart.

Love Divine: I finally realised that I had stood before you and made promises that I wasn’t keeping and so I took the children to church to help us all to learn more about your pure unbounded love.

Love Divine: You came into my trembling heart when my mom suffered a massive stroke and would not survive. I received your grace when you answered my prayer to take her home to be with you.

Love Divine: You have helped me grow in love and faith and I can only praise you because of your perfect love.

Love Divine: ‘My chains flew off’ because I have been received into your family, you have restored me and I will forever be lost in wonder, love and praise.

© Pam Butler Kingdom Arts October 2023

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Jesus

I listen to your words of song and begin to move, as the notes of music jump off the page and bring Liberty.

And as they flow over and through me,
Experiencing, I am sitting in the presence of the legacy of a Servant of God.

My spirit responds:
Let your love divine breathes into my heart.
What you have promised; heaven breaks in to deliver.
Joy of heaven and earth come down.

You broke into my world with all its mess. All my lostness???
I pull my scarf over my head and wonder if others will know I have a meeting with you in prayer.

Our time and space.
A message to the masters: –
Alpha and Omega the beginning and the finish

© Shefali Kingdom Arts October 2023

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Praise His Name

Praise to the Lord of all creation!
Maker of the heavens and the earth!
The Alpha and Omega!
Praise his name!
From the beginning of time
He was, and is, and is to come.
Perfect in every way,
Lord of all and son of the living God.
Praise his name!

Jesus came to bring us healing,
Forgiveness and restoration.
He said: Do not let your hearts be troubled”
We choose to trust you, Lord.
We praise his name!

He humbled himself, our servant King,
To pay the price for us.
He suffered horrendous, undeserved death
That we might live.
Praise his name!

He said he’ll never leave us and forsake us
And he’s kept his word
He’s left us the wonderful Holy Spirit
To dwell with us, our comforter and
Guide in every moment of our lives.
We praise his name!

You’re everything to us Lord,
We bow before you in thanks and adoration.
We praise his Holy Name!

© Alison Moore Kingdom Arts October 2023

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Love Divine, final verse.

Every time I sing the last verse of ‘Love Divine’, I think of my Friend Penny and her daughter (Rachel) born with cystic fibrosis. Penny was a physiotherapist and she had to help clear her own daughter’s chest using her skill from training.

We had shared a house together before she was married, and she knew that I was full of [compassion] for her and her daughter’s condition. She asked me to pray. As I settled quietly into a place of listening for what I could possibly pray, the words of the last verse came to me.
Finish then thy new [creation]
[Pure] and [spotless] let us be … Just that.

I didn’t know what possible help that would be, but I told her anyway and reassured her that I would continue, long term, to persist with the need for answers. At this point her eyes opened wide and she explained how the spotty welts on skin were a big thing in Rachel’s condition.

My [wonder] enlarged and I asked God the question ‘Could this be Your promise that one day we would have an answer to our long-term prayers?

[Joy] came, years later when the cure for cystic fibrosis was found. Penny’s happiness over flowed as she explained to me that hospital visits had decreased dramatically and Rachel’s skin had completely [changed] !
It was [perfectly] [restored].

She still has to be careful, but her life was radically different and her chances to play her favourite instrument was increased dramatically.

Our God had [delivered] what he had [promised].

©Chris Graham Kingdom Arts October 2023

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It is well with my soul

Standing in the midst of a shaking Earth.
Gazing at news of multitudes of happenings.
Feeling that only you, in my smallness
in your greatness, can offer an anchor
for the troubled soul.
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

To call you, the compassion and kindness of God, to reach out,
Rescue the bewildered, lost, and broken
to know the all-encompassing love
that takes us through to eternity.
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

To play my part to join with his new mission,
to touch and bring hope
of eternal hold, of creation re-ordered
of sins, rebellion discarded around righteous ways.
To encumber the Glory that was lost, but will be found like glimmering Zion.
The mountain of the Lord

© Paul Graham

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Nature is God’s Mirror

Nature is God’s Mirror,
In the surrounding forest, the birdsong is God’s chorus,
Squeak, chirrup, crawk, tweet and whistle merge and clash.

Jackdaws swoop on the bird feeders, kicking the seed to the ground like angry teenagers and pecking it below, still squabbling.
Beneath blue tits hang on the peanuts, then swoop out, and in again, perching high to clean their beaks.
On the ground where more seed spilled a blackbird and a bullfinch hop and peck choosing their favourite, while a pigeon gobbles greedily in great haste to collect all the seeds.

At the margins of the loch, the ground granite crystals of sand sparkle in a shaft of sunlight.
The clear shallow water slurps at the edge in rhythmic sounds, while a wagtail strolls along just avoiding the wavelets.
Nature is God’s mirror.

© Barbara Rolison

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Your Word

Your Word
Your work is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path
It draws me
Embraces me with a warmth that
sets my heart aglow. Ever since I heard it.
A treasure in my darkness….

It’s the spark that fuels my day
And set my cold feet on the long path to gain a copy of my own.

A set of words – the Bible-
and I heard, I listened even hungered after it.
Fills my often-empty belly with nourishment.
I have found I can’t live without it.

My mind dreams of your word,
Passages surface from the deep within and brings me joy —
Others need to hear, to know the truth to share —

As your word rumbles from the bowels deep within me,
A vision is born
and I find myself walking for miles across rough terrain,
Challenged, yet a fire burns within,
that others can also have copy of your word – to feed on,
when nothing satisfies ……

How many miles will you travel a similar path to complete the vision??

© Shefali

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Weaving Threads

We weave our threads of life into the tapestry of life
We don’t see it as we weave
But he sees it in all its glory punctuated with jewels
Those experiences of a thin place, of sacred space, of silence
But also of pain, suffering hardships.
And bring us a depth to our faith a purpose of drawing near.
Of a lesson learned at his knee, a sharing of a Christ’s love
A love that is extended to us, that a love that is extended to us
that weaves the jewels of sapphires, emeralds and diamonds into our living tapestry.
Weave with joy,
Weave with hope,
Weave the healing we need into our life’s tapestry.
All glorifying to his name.

© Jenny English

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Mary Jones and Her Bible

I remember well young Mary. How she longed to own God’s word.
As a child I read her book And my heart within was stirred.
I walked that journey with her And shared her trust in God,
I felt the loneliness within, Call out from the self-same sod.
A lonely little Welsh girl Whose father had passed on,
Spent many hours all alone, Wondering – “What went wrong?”
I could not understand the pain, The hopeless cry for hope.
Why was I so alone, so sad? I needed a way to cope.
And I knew that Mary’s faith in God Had kept her all along.
Had paved the way, fulfilled her dreams. Her life had become a song.
I read her book in Nanna’s home and silently cried out,
“Can you do the same for me?” “My child,” He said. “Don’t doubt.”
So I began to trust Him, Put my life into His hands.
Twists and turns awaited me Unveiling life’s greater plans.
But Mary and her simple walk of trust that led the way,
Remained a beacon in my life, and still inspires today.

So Thank you Kingdom Arts, For this hero from the past,
Reviving childhood memories of finding faith which lasts.

© Ruth Campsell

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Onward

The Holy Christmas Light
has shone its message
of love, peace and hope
over the World once more,
amidst all the difficulties
and tears of pain and joy.
Now we must travel onward,
believing in God’s purifying, endless
LOVE.
Feeling worthy to be part of that
MESSAGE.
Learning to love one another.
Searching, and using, our God-given gifts.
Finding strength to break up unploughed Earth,
and moving prayerfully into life ahead.

© Helen McNicholl

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The Jug of Tulips.

Tightly closed they rise to a pointed tip as if hiding a secret.
Petals enfolding petals like Christ’s love wrapping around us.
Is faith like these tulips?
Does faith grow as slowly as the petals?
Carefully, cautiously opening.
Taking time
Until our inner selves are revealed like the stamens?
Affirmation that only now, like the tulips, we bow to his will
By dropping our petals at his feet.

© Barbara Rolison

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Tulips

A land conquering tides
And building dykes and wind mills
To let the water flow
In tune with man and God
As lowing cattle grow
And bulbs of every hue.

The canals like ribbons
Alive with boats, flowers and ducks
Beneath an open sky
A backdrop for Gods glory
Feasts of cheese and pickled eels
Armies of bicycles
Tandems challenge
Who’s in charge?
May God lead the way
Across this land of scents and beauty.

© Helen McNicholl

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Why worry?

Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow
It empties today of its strength.
So why worry?
Worry is my way of anticipating the worst scenario.
A self-protecting shield against disaster
No better than a reassuring plaster.
A fret that picks my brain not to forget that happiness is not a given.
But it shuts me off from Heaven.

Self-concern that seeks to stand apart
A little lost sheep bleating in my heart
I weaken and I writhe inside
It makes me want to run away and hide
Alarmed and caught in a thorn bush of my own making.
I see my shepherd, staff in hand He’s coming.
He is goodness and mercy overwhelming
What a relief as he speaks love for me
Such love, such truth, such strength and security.

© Chris Graham

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A Million Tears

As distant on-lookers
what can we say,
what can we do?
We are horror-struck.
Even from afar
our senses are numb and shaken.
Sights beyond our understanding.

Help us Lord
to feel their plight,
their anguish,
their brutal pain.
Torn families,
shattered homes,
the penetrating cold.

But our Lord understands.
He lives with every soul,
Alive or risen.
Strengthening every helping hand,
driven by love for humankind.
Blessing heart-felt gifts
from far and wide.

He knows our prayers.
Oh Lord, let them feel your balm:
Nightmares calmed,
Healing tears shed
Hope kept alive,
Fears quietened.
Comfort them Lord
With Your unfailing love.

© Helen McNicholl

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Chains   No Voice

Eyes that look
No longer seeing
Blankness stares back.
I long to reach out to touch your skin
Your life, your soul
To warm the coldness that surrounds
Bones that are weary and sore
Chained to others.
No choices, No voice, No seeing.
I see you and controlled silence supports you
Drowning in the waters of oppression
This is your food to eat
It is the water you drink.
And we are blind
We see you, yet we have not seen.

© Shefali Hollis

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Chains are just rings

Chains are just rings
Linked together
Loop around a loop
Circle encircling a circle
Like hands joined and held firm in life’s dance
Around and around.
A chain of prayers will surround the earth and return
To the beginning
Empowering each of us and capturing the chains.

© Barbara Rolison

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Chains

Binding us together
Chains to hold on to,
Guiding us along life’s paths.
Hold on too tight, and they start to bind us.
Family chains— recognising DNA patterns,
All through time, and our history
Spreading on into the future.
Passing on the links of family chains, on to the next generation.
Christ came to break the chains of
poverty and slavery.
Of wars and violence. Your chains.
He hung on a cross and died for
the chains inherent in society.
Where, oh where is freedom,
Can we recognise and know those destructive chains,
With His help, can they be removed.
Can we be free to be the grains of sand,
tossed in the tide, blown in the wind.
As we are tossed and blown, do we share, care and love each other,
Does His spirit set us free ?
To be open, set free, accepting
Of who and where we are.
Our chains falling off
Free to be who we are created to be,
By the Creator of all.

© Jenny English

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They Knit and they Natter

Because they care
And the chains reflect
That they see and it says
You matter.
Chains of all colours, caste and creed
Reaching around the world
To all the enslaved
And crying in need
They see you, hear you and want to free you.
And so they knit and they natter
To remind themselves and others
That you are not forgotten
You matter.

© Shefali Hollis

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Tunes of Change

We are all children of God
Bells are there to be rung
Ring the changes
Far and Wide
Cut the chains
That strangle and bind
Keep the chains that bind us together
In love and true action
Let the tunes be loud and clear
Throughout the whole world.

© Helen McNicholl

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Through the eyes of a Child

Two little fish and five small loaves
Enough for me I suppose.
And if I should to the Master give
All of these, I still would live.

What would He do with my small gift?
Not much to work with, serving the drift
Of hungry followers, looking for food
Forgotten midst their search for God.

Would He make it be more than enough
To feed this crowd? That would be tough.
And yet it feels I have no choice.
I must give it all. I hear his voice

Calling me up to give what I can.
Not an “also watched” but an “also ran”.
We know the story and how it ends.
My gift enlarged, He fed our friends.

Some leftover? Yes, some to spare.
How did He do it – this act of care?
The outcome is not mine to ask.
My giving inspired a noble task

In the hands of Him who sees it all,
And multiplies whatever is small.
The least offering we bring to the table
Is enlarged by Him for he is able.

What will my next offering be?
Or yours? To Him who on that tree
Gave all and shouted, “It is done!”
Let’s give ourselves, My dear ones, “Come!”

Ruth Campsall

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Thought for Today

Jesus never fails to amaze me, how he conducts himself, how his personality draws the crowds and everyone is in awe of what he has to say.
The parables give such a strong message and give us the ability to ponder and think.
We draw our faith from Him each day.
He is our strength at all times, when things go wrong or times are good.
When Len and I married my mother said “care for each other and never let differences last a long time and keep the Lord at your side always”
When Len died suddenly 30 years ago my faith saw me through. Also, the love of my family and friends.
I feel very fortunate having four grandchildren who are very caring towards me.
My life is good, living in Worcester for 22 years with friends I have made and also happy to have a church family too. At 85 I am able to look after myself and have a walk every day in this very pleasant area.
Homenash is good as we are a little community and gather in our lounge to chat or play cards, bingo or scrabble. We often get together and enjoy food together.
My life I feel is very good.
I do say Thank You each day for the life I have.

© Pearl Capewell

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Light

Light our souls to walk your path Lord
Lighten heavy burdens and pain.
Ignite candles in every dark corner
Ignite hope to conquer despair and fear.
Greet the unexpected with new light
Greet all travellers with love.
Help us to be people of light
Help the world to reflect in heavenly glory.
Take the glory of the resurrection into all hearts
Take our praise and thanks Lord.

Amen

© Helen McNicholl Kingdom Arts May 2022

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Shine your light Lord.

Where does Your light shine Lord?
It shines for me:
through soft falling rain in sunlight
through giant rainbows
through a lightening flash.

It shines:
through the drifting fragrance of Hawthorn blossom
the scent of lily of the valley
the smell of ripe tomatoes on the vine
and good red wine.

It shines:
through the sound of children playing outdoors
through laughter
through water trickling into a pool bubbling over stones
through voices raised in songs of praise
through music.

It shines:
through the eyes of a loved one
through a soft touch or gentle kiss
through smiles
through a hand held in friendship.

Your light shines throughout Your world.
Lord let Your light shine through me.

© Barbara Rolison Kingdom Arts 10.05.22

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Mother Teresa

Kind lady, you who did not race
I see the love in your gentle face.
Your skin, wrinkled now, like it’s paid a price
For the goodness you’ve sown throughout your life.

You’re so small but you have lived
A life so full, so very big.
Small acts of kindness now multiplied
By the love of Jesus, the One who died.

The life He gave you, you’ve lived so well
Rescuing those who, truth to tell,
Had lost all hope, had no-one to care,
Would have died alone, but you were there.

The broken hearts, the broken lives,
Sickness and poverty, part of life’s demise.
Family and friends who once stayed to care
Worn out by grief were no longer there.

But you, my dear one, stayed and stayed
Until the end, life in death displayed.
This grace you carry, this life so true
Has sustained and strengthened you.

‘Tis clear to all who care to look,
This love of God, outside the book,
Gives power and strength to overcome
The visible shame which some would shun.

And you have proved beyond all doubt,
If we but yield He will lead us out
Of our comfort zones, our easy chairs,
To lead a life as one who dares

To follow His lead. Where will we go
Trusting only Him, when we do not know
The time, the place, the cost, the pain?
This much we know…It’s not in vain!

Ruth Campsall May 2022

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February 1st

From Frances

Based on Isaiah 43

Now you’ve asked me to be your guide, you will know that we tread the path of life together. That means, for you, there will be a new way, a new normal, a new experience. We will be so team spirited that those meandering paths in life will seem straight and the landscape flat to walk on. I will be your shelter, your living water, your nourishment for life’s journey. You can look back, but it will offer you so little reward that you will want to face forward and move forwards. The view will fulfil you completely. Your perception will be clear. No matter what lies ahead, you will know that all is possible with me. You will not need to be afraid. You will see families, friends and nations come together and be reconciled. Enough of this ‘walking solo’. We will have a community focus. I am doing something new. I am bringing a new desire for unity, a new perspective to treasure and you will all want to remain responsible for its care, because you will see that I care for you with a love that is deep, strong, and unquantifiable because of its magnitude.

You know that, like many before you, you have had eras of your life that have left you dry and wanting. You have walked those desert paths! All life tries to protect itself from the rays of the sun, the piercing sun, that burns as though it has doubled in size and intensity. In your desert era, you tried desperately to escape from it but there was no shelter and no way to progress pain free. On those desert paths, walking, hopping, or running burns underfoot, scolds and forms sores on your skin. Anything and everything made your own desert era worse and there was nowhere and no way to hide, though you tried. Desert travel turns the sensations of thirst and hunger into close enemies. Your own desert experience made enemies of your own mind, body, and soul. You endured the valleys of life’s arduous paths whilst being chained to false hope for better times ahead. Those times were like deceptive paths of promise that are steep, rocky, and dangerous to climb. In that time of your life, you longed to see a fresh landscape heralding better times ahead because you felt your life was at stake.

But you can be reassured, pilgrim, your life is safe because I am the author of life. I do not deal death in the way people often understand death. People understand death as an end, as if life is finite but I am without beginning or end and I work outside of time. My time is in the eternal era of ‘everlasting’. You are my creation and life, your life, doesn’t end. Your life is precious to me because I formed you. As your creator, we will always have an indelible connection. There isn’t even anything I would give you up for. I have everything and you are treasured part of my everything. There’s no one I would give you to. Why would I give you to someone or something that I have created, that I already own? I wouldn’t even want to put you under someone else’s authority. To do so wouldn’t make any sense. What would be the point of giving you to someone who would not love you as I love you? I would never part from you because my love and compassion for you is perfect and insurmountable.

So, let’s talk while we walk this journey called life . . .

©Frances Burton

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February 17th

Ash Wednesday

As memories of pancakes vanish
the Lenten offering awaits
for bowed heads and contrite hearts.
Humanly torn crosses lie dismantled,
echoing past and present human conflicts,
along with self-made, bewildering human pain
that numbs and paralyses the mind.
But those crosses are blessed,
purified by God’s cleansing fire,
igniting the promise of growth to come.
Blended by drops of healing, Holy oil.
Ready to be used as a witness
to God’s great forgiveness and everlasting Love.
Strengthened with a million uttered prayers
from every race and nation,
And outstretched helping hands,
so that we can live with renewed strength –
in God’s Faith, Hope and Love

Helen McNichol

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February 22nd

A reflection from Frances:

The Lord is the Greatest Creator

The Lord is the greatest creator and we are full of joy.

Built into the laws of the universe,
hope can be found in disaster
and we are included so we can bring hope
and light up love as the answer.

Integral to the laws of the universe,
growth is seen in unforeseen places
and deep inside we thirst to thrive
and do the unexpected.

Innate within the laws of the universe,
We can find peace in discord and separation,
and we are included so that we can bring
accord and reparation.

Inherent in the laws of the universe,
There is a pure source of patience,
And we are included so we can resource
patience in static situations.

The Lord is the greatest creator and we are full of joy.

Reflection on Psalm 126 verse 3 by Frances Burton

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January 17th

Two reflective pieces of creative writing from Helen:
‘Thoughts during a Cold Spell.’

A Changing World

We went to bed with temperatures falling,
and awoke to a changed, white, still World,
reminiscent of Winter coverings
in closed holiday homes.
And a bleary-eyed sun struggled to shine,
but ice-encrusted grass blades rose up,
ready for moral combat.
Piles of dormant, brown, Autumn leaves –
transformed into jewel-decked treasures.
The robin puffed up his feathers,
as we put on another jumper,
and found our protective clothing.
The elderly stayed at home,
while youngsters slide on ice with glee.
Motorists muttered quietly
as they scraped away the clinging frost,
to give them clearer vision
What are our homeless thinking?
Will they survive another night?
With God’s help and strength we will survive
to face and help a changing World.
Helen McNicholl.

Thoughts on a late afternoon Winter Walk

Thoughtfully I kicked my way
through motionless leaves,
fallen from resting trees.
Suddenly a breath of the Holy Spirit
sent the leaves flying and twirling.
A glorious resurrection before my eyes,
filling my heart with hope and joy.
Words from long ago were remembered;
uttered by a ‘wheelchair bound’ Joan.
“Oh Joy, when I’m in God’s Kingdom
I will walk, run and dance again.”
Do we try to dance to your tune God?
A seagull was perched on an old telegraph pole,
an avian refugee from coastal parts,
sampling Birmingham’s kind inclusiveness.
Was he dreaming of distant waves,
beating against rugged cliffs and ledges,
which once were home and company?
Or was he just thinking
‘I am King of the Castle’ ?
Who reigns supreme in our lives?
Gazed in wonder at the day’s last trumpet call,
overwhelmed by the colours of the setting sun.
How often have we missed the vision –
working late, pulling curtains?
Silhouetted, stripped trees were standing proud,
Their pure shapes visible for all to see.
No disguise or pretence.
Has Advent de-cluttered us?
The warmth of home beckoned
like the stable long ago welcoming shepherds.
Thank you Lord that you welcome all
to the home of your heart.
Helen McNicholl.

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