Tag: poetry

Consider the Birds

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

I awake once again,
the sounds of birds
greeting the morning.

For them, every day
is the Lord’s day.
They make no distinction
between Sunday
and any other day,
worshiping continuously.

I expect birds will be in heaven,
but here on earth,
they teach us about
the presence of God.

If we attend to them,
they instruct us in worship.
Robins and sparrows
teach us songs of joyous praise.
Doves teach lament.

What would life be like
if Christians took their cues
from the birds?

The Essence of Prayer

~ Jason Kanz ~ 1 Comment

Ten million prayers
hover and fly
begging attention
and so I try

to focus my thoughts
to talk with my Lord
but they bounce so fast
it seems I get bored

with each thought that enters
seeking my prayer
they clamor for notice
and then they are

gone in a flash
replaced by another
I reached out to grasp it
but then wonder whether

something more urgent
seeks prayerful release
I chase that thought too
but God whispers “Peace

be still from your frenzy
relax in My presence
time spent with Me
that is prayer’s essence.”

Easter Poem

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

Upon the cross
my Savor died
bearing all my sin,
He gave his life
that I might live
I am born again.

His battered form
taken down
was buried in the tomb,
the life of Christ
freely given
led to Satan’s doom.

Three days hence
he rose again
defeating sin and death,
now joined with him
I’ll never die
filled with the Spirit’s breath.

One day soon
he’ll come again
righting every wrong,
and bring us home
to live with him
and join in heaven’s song.

Intermingled

~ Jason Kanz ~ 1 Comment

As I walk alone
frozen crystals sting my cheeks
mingling with hot tears.
Ashamed, I ponder my sin.
How often have I responded with
denial like Peter?
fear like Mark?
betrayal like Judas?

I look up and see the cross
where Christ hung alone
his Father’s cold shoulder
mingled with hot blood
spilled from his hands, his brow, his side.

My sin
Christ’s love
intermingled at Calvary.
His willing sacrifice
poured out for me
so that by his death
I might live.

At First Light

~ Jason Kanz ~ Leave a comment

From Soil of the Divine.

Birds at first light
tune their voices
offering melodious praise,
not one holding back.

They loudly welcome the dawn,
in awe of God’s handiwork.

“‘Tis just instinct,”
you say,
“Preprogrammed
animal behavior.
Nothing more.”

But perhaps
they do not suppress
their instinct to worship
in the same way
that so many people do.

The meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
The valleys deck themselves with grain,
They shout and sing together for joy.
-Psalm 65:13