Monthly Archives: March 2013

Compassion Born, Compassion Fulfilled

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And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:2 (NKJV)

Atonement

Born in man all ill of will,

Patience lost with reasoning unreal.

Transparent elixirs alluring call,

His face pressed against a wall.

Hear the siren’s tempting song,

Pressing darkness moves along.

He searches with desperate desire

Hopeless, lost, flailing, evil fire.

As all seems lost to man.

Reckless abandon, increasing span.

Farther from God does he move.

Needful heart cries reprove

Have Compassion for him…

Jesus walks, cross bears down,

Scourging pain, thorny crown.

Hilltop seen as all await,

Son of Man a certain fate.

But fulfill the words ancient and passed

As God’s plan unfolds eternally cast.

Nails to wood with hands in between,

Cries of pain, course stayed seen.

The hour comes the temple falls

And the Savior for all, Flesh palls.

But in three days miraculous rise

He defeats death, Satan’s demise

Compassion fulfilled.

2013 Rick Stassi

Guardian love will never cease

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Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:11 (KJV)

The children of the world see in purity. Innocence abounds with cares untarnished with an outlook to green fields and cool pools of water. Bare feet and sweet laughter. There is reflection from the water. Safety and security peer back at the face of a child who looks now into the water rippling from a tossed stone. He looks thus into God’s eyes.

…and the eyes of God peer back with guardian love

The young men of the world see in optimism. Carefree and bold, conquering and fearless. Hearts in love and paths to cut through generations past. “It is mine!” He claims all as his own. He finds green fields as a respite for which to traverse to his next challenge. Fording deep pools taking a moment to peer at his reflection. “Who am I that claims all as my own?” The Lord allows as a Father who waits, watches.

…and the eyes of God peer back with guardian love

The old men of the world see in wisdom of time and age. Careful and aware not to succumb to moments of cynicism. “Where is the optimism of my youth and the fearlessness of days passed?” He sees green fields and stops to rest. A sip in the pool of water taking a brief glance at his reflection. Time passed so quickly. He shakes his head.  The Lord sees him and now smiles to see His Son carry his returned child.

…and the eyes of God peer back with guardian love

So, we love as we are loved.
Compassion born from He above.
Quench not the thirst of youth
And the frolic of childish truth.
For wisdom comes from reverence
The eyes of God are not suspense.
But rather, in all times we reflect,
God’s eyes circumspect.
Love piercing all hearts
From One that shall never part.
We all savor this moment of peace
Guardian love will never cease.

© 2013 Rick Stassi

Old Seasons…

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The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25,26 (NKJV)

Upon this place alone I stay,
I wait for Him to come my way.
Inside my mind all thoughts do roam,
But God of Grace bade me home.

Determined dreams look out beyond
To blackened night, heartless bond.
Shall my heart, my core, look toward a Light?
Piercing darkness with Divine might?

Once we looked within our soul
With selfish reason, its corrupt toll.
Pray seek the Spirit abiding there,
Bringing peace from our Father aware.

Wait for His joy and peace Divine,
Quiet sanctuary & grace align.
But salvation foremost in thoughts and cares
Burdens passed to the One who bears.

The young shall seek with unseasoned mind,
A given time our Lord they shall find.
Their minds vain and settled not
God our King eternally sought.

He shall come to be with you
New seasons of joy and peace so true
Salvation is ours burdens tossed
Jesus our Lord, old seasons lost.

© 2013 Rick Stassi

Vignettes 3

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For thus saith the Lord
that created the heavens;
God himself that formed the earth and made it;
he hath established it, he created it not in vain,
he formed it to be inhabited:
I am the Lord; and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:18 (KJV)

I. Prologue

Listen
Listen as the Lord does speak,
Words to seeking minds
With roving eyes His do seek
Emptiness He finds.

The Lord Saith
For the Lord Saith,
Ev’ry word divine breathed forth
To us He does Save

Heaven
Emptiness awaits
All time and matter afloat
God filled the heavens

Earth
Where we now stand firm
The bedrock of all mankind
Our place to seek God

Not Empty
And fashioned thereon
Beauty in all creation
Man’s meaningful home

Who He is…
The Lord our God with
Eyes in heaven watching us
All life does abound

II. Epilogue

Vanity
Vanity is Emptiness,
Once within our soul.
Hearts will see more, not less,
Our reason takes its toll.

We stand on ground made divine,
Established from God above.
Our home, domain, stars that shine
All radiate God’s love

Yet Vanity still Empty
A breath dispersed away
Opened eyes pray to see
Our heavenly Father say:

“I am your Lord”
God of all heaven and Earth.
“I established all!”
He changed emptiness to loving worth.

Amen

© 2013 Rick Stassi

the yearning heart pines (reprise)

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Beyond the nebulae, galaxies and any star,

There is where a King sits afar.

His gentle thoughts caress agitated mind,

His roving eyes looks to find. 

Peace and love His comforting glow,

The One who sits will surely know

how the yearning heart pines.

© 2013 Rick Stassi

Pray Vanity Lost

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They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
Jonah 2:8,9 (KJV)

Look not upon emptiness,
Place no value there.
Panic not upon distress,
Cleave to vanity, know despair.

Observe your breath disperse,
Out into the air.
Our hopes soon immerse,
Into burden’s lair.

But follow not emptiness,
Cast not away His love.
Cry to God, His holiness,
Thanksgiving to He above.

We gave in earnest our souls to Thee,
A solemn sacrifice.
And You, O Lord, have set us free,
Many hopeless to entice.

The Lord’s salvation, Love so true.
Vanity’s breath exhales.
From miry dark pits to light anew,
His mercy never fails.

Pray Vanity lost, Pray Mercy never forsaken

© 2013 Rick Stassi

Joyous Heart is Thine

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“Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way”
Psalm 44:18 (KJV)

For wind cast
To my naked face
Shall push me back
No more.

I have seen
The eyes of life
Awaiting me,
Calling in hearts poor.

And guiding light
Shall urge me on
The path
Of fragrance be.

A loving heart
From You,
O Father,
My commended soul for Thee

I shall never walk
To stones trod
For yesterday
Has passed

But I shall seek
Your shining light
Chasms and pits
Outlasted Thou hast

I love You
And adore with compassion
Those soul’s weak,
Hopeless gray

I lean to Thee
O Lord of mine
To hear you
And see Your way.

So, my heart
Turned back not
My steps
Shant decline

O Loving Spirit
Grasp my hand
Showing love to me
My joyous heart is Thine

© 2013 Rick Stassi

His Comfort is Ours

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For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18

David pens from his heart set in the foundations of time with words everlasting:

“There is nothing new under the sun…” [1]

And so there is not. The dilemma of man is to seek in his own limited perspective. It shall fall short. For man shall discover that which already is set by God waiting to be discovered. In man’s attempt to gain this wisdom he finds:

“…for one discovery they make that is pleasing, perhaps, they make ten that are displeasing…” [2] Matthew Henry

So for one room wherein a light is turned on to see its contents, there are ten other dark doors waiting to be opened. The seeking of knowledge is engrossing but shall frustrate for without the infinite wisdom of God, we shall forever seek and never find. So, I wonder what do we seek? I believe it is man’s dilemma in his godlessness to seek the end of infinity for he is terrified of that which he cannot see. He may not admit this, but his soul is placated in the comfort of believing a solution around the next corner: then the next. But alas it is endless and futile. Man believes wisdom shall deliver, but soon sees placation vanish and frustration appear. This existential approach to God frustrates as man reasons: Love for the romantics, passion for the artist, and sentimentality for the sorrowful! I pity poor man in his reason. It is in vain and it is false for in Christ, these things are all accompanied with wisdom.

He is the Light above all lights, brighter and with incandescent clarity. God promise wisdom in exchange for reverence. [3] He gave us eternity in exchange for our hearts. He gives us grace in exchange for our ear. The ability to have faith is attained through reason. Yes we can reason there is God. Open your minds to listen, you who are non-believers. The wisdom given as we fear Him, shows plainly we are contained in seeking. The containment is still infinite for such is an attribute of God – contained in our hearts with infinite wisdom and love. He does not cease in feeding wonderment, nor satisfying curiosity. But, frustration is lost as infinity is contained in width and breadth of Jesus Christ who is within our core. [4]

Let your seeking go on forever but with the knowledge that infinity is contained and an end is in sight. God promises we will rest in heaven. Not in frustration, but in comfort that we have discovered our insatiable desire to learn now has a stream of unending wisdom. The stream is fed from above where we know we shall soon recline at the Source. Let man show off his knowledge. But pray for his frustration. He is on a path of the unconstrained infinite   and surely will go to his rest in sorrow.

Pray for he that cannot allow his reason be swayed. God is truth and He is all wisdom. His comfort is ours.

© 2013 Rick Stassi