Goodbye for a while

Hi there,

you may have noticed that I haven't updated this blog on Sunday. this is because I am pausing Lay Up Treasures for a while. I set off from home five days ago to begin a summer-long backpacking trip around Britain. this means that I've decided, sadly, to leave Lay Up Treasures behind for a time.

It's not all doom and gloom though. if you are interested, you can follow my journey on my brand-new blog: www.travelbritain.blogspot.com.

In the meantime, thanks for everyone's support who has been following Lay Up Treasures. Goodbye and God bless.

Craig

XXXVII: Your love

Your love.
It fits.
Like a glove.

It fills.
Me up.
Like coffee.
In a cup.

O Your love.

It fits.
Like a glove.

XXXVI: Reassurance

The past is a burden.
‘No it isn’t.’

The present is difficult.
‘No it isn’t.’

The future is scary.
‘No it isn’t.’

No it isn’t.

XXXV: Can you see Him?

O flower, can you see the Lord?
Can you hear Him?
Can you feel Him?
Turn your face up to the Lord,
And you will see Him.

O moon, can you see the Lord?
Can you touch Him?
Can you reach Him?
Turn your face toward the Lord,
And you will see Him.

O mountain, can you see the Lord?
Can you call Him?
Can you need Him?
Bear your face before the Lord,
And you will see Him.

XXXIV: The things that I do

I make my breakfast.
I eat my breakfast.
I wash the dishes.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

I put my shoes on.
I go out.
I come back.
I take my shoes off.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

I sit down.
I close my eyes.
I ponder.
I yawn.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

XXXIII: The way to heaven

I met some people,
And asked them the way to heaven.

The first said,
“Climb this ladder – see, angels are going back and forth through the clouds, heralded by trumpets. You will arrive in glory!”
So I started to climb.
But I fell off.

The second said,
“I have a needle here. If you can concentrate and squeeze through the eye, heaven is waiting on the other side. Peer closely and you can see it – all the rest and comfort you could desire!”
So I started to squeeze my way through.
But I got stuck.

The third said,
“Follow that narrow path over there. It’s a long way, but the road is straight, and look – you can see Paradise in the distance, glinting with pearls!”
So I set off down the path.
But I fell by the wayside.

I was weary, battered and bruised.

But a fourth man came to me, with unkempt hair, and said,
“Pick up a lump of wood, and walk this way.”

So I followed Him.

XXXII: The edge

After Appollinaire

“Come back, come back from the edge,”
They cried.
And then he fell.

“Perhaps he was unhappy.”
“Perhaps all his life he was living a lie.”
“Perhaps he wasn’t right in the head.”
Or perhaps he knew that he could fly.

XXXI: If I could sing

If I could sing just like the birds
Without the need for foolish words,
Well then, O then, Lord, can’t You see,
How pure would my praises be.

But since that I am given this voice,
And given this pen, I haven’t a choice,
But to my smile must add a frown,
And with my praise my sins write down.

XXX: Obstacles

Who put these obstacles in my way?
What are they doing here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

My life was going smoothly.
My hair was neatly arranged.
I was getting to heaven one step at a time –
Before things started to change.

I didn’t ask for problems.
I didn’t ask for cares.
I had everything under control,
As You are well aware.

Then someone put obstacles in my way.
Why did they put them here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

On Monday I was going to love.
On Tuesday I wanted to give.
On Wednesday I planned to help someone.
On Thursday just to live.

I’m a very busy man you see, dear Lord,
Doing good week-in, week-out.
I haven’t got time for these difficulties
In the work that I’m about.

So why put these obstacles in my way?
What are they doing here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

XXIX: What can you hear?

Listen.
What can you hear?
This is the sound of angels.

Listen –
This is the sound of angels.

XXVIII: Glance

Glance out at the splendour of the Earth,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For the fresh winds, and the smell of pine,
Sing!

Glance in at the warmth of your fireside,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For your soft rugs and the taste of wine,
Sing!

Glance across at the beauty of your wife,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For her gentle eyes and hair so fine,
Sing!

XXVII: There's a hole

There’s a hole in my heart –
It helps my life-blood flow.

There’s a hole in my head –
It lets in fresh air.

There’s a hole in my soul –
It’s open and waiting for You.

XXVI: If someone asks you to explain the Trinity

If John wore a garment of camel’s hair
Wouldn’t it have given him itchy skin?
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If the sheep are divided from the goats
Won’t the farmers be quite upset?
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If every hair on my head is numbered
Some of the numbers must be quite big.
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If God is One how can He be Three?
And if He’s Three where’s the Unity?
- well, this is known as a mystery.

XXV: Pride comes before a fall

Pride come before a fall.
Or so they say.
But I fell down in a humble mood –
The other day.

I won’t say that I’m modest,
But I wouldn’t say I’m proud.
So how did I fall the other day,
While walking in the crowd?

I didn’t have my head up high.
I didn’t push or shove.
I had my eyes down on my feet,
And my thoughts on the above.

I didn’t meet a stranger’s eye,
Or get in their way.
Yes, I was in a humble mood –
The other day.

I can’t see that I did anything wrong,
And yet I fell.
Perhaps somebody tripped me up.
I couldn’t tell.

I’m not a proud kind of person.
It’s not my vice.
I’m patient, and pleasant, and – well,
I hope quite nice.

Pride comes before a fall.
Or so they say.
But I fell down in a humble mood –
The other day.

XXIV: Lines written while pulling the petals off a daisy

He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.

XXIII: Unity

Body.
Mind.
Spirit.
Soul.

O
What
A
Glorious
Whole!

XXII: I walk on

I walk on, and You’re just behind me.
I know You’re there.
I walk on, and You’re just behind me.
I can almost feel You nudging me in the back.
I want to sing to myself a little ditty,
’Coz I just know I’m on the right track.

I’m stepping on the toes of the devil.
He don’t like it.
I’m stepping on the toes of the devil.
Oh boy, he wants to attack.
He don’t want to sing to himself a little ditty,
’Coz he just knows I’m on the right track.

I’m dancing to the tune of tomorrow.
You know it’s true.
I’m dancing to the tune of tomorrow.
Come on Lord, don’t look back.
Sing with me a little ditty,
’Coz You just know I’m on the right track.

XXI: Talking to thin air

Sometimes it feels like I’m talking to thin air.

When I kneel before Your throne and You don’t notice me.
When I put my hands together and You don’t respond.
When I’ve done everything right but You’re still not there
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I glorify Your greatness but Your glory is withheld.
When I tell You how much I love You but the love’s not returned.
When I mouth the words I think I should say but my mind is elsewhere
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I ask very kindly but I do not receive.
When I knock on the door and nobody answers.
When I think I want something but I don’t really care
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I tell You all my worries and You don’t pay attention.
When I cry out for help and You don’t give me a hand.
When all I want is a crutch to make this life fair
Then I’m talking to thin air.

XX: Sacrifice

Sturdy Oak.
Golden Bough.
Weeping Willow.
Tell me how.

How can it be
That such a tree
Should bear such pain
For you and me?

XIX: Fire!

(after Langston Hughes)

Fire!

I’m on fire!
I’m burning!
I’m on fire for the Lord!
Filled with His spirit!
Oh yes!
I’m on fire!

Fire, Lord!

I’m on fire!
I’m burning!
I’m on fire in the depths of Hell!
Filled with sin!
Oh no!
I’m on fire!

Fire, Lord!
I’m on fire!