Sonnet Of The Moon

Look how the pale queen of the silent night

Doth cause the ocean to attend upon her,

And he, as long as she is in his sight,

With her full tide is ready her to honor.

The Cherokee people call this month's full moon, Kawoni, which

means, "Flower Moon".  This is traditionally a time when a new crop of wild edible

 and medicinal plants can be found in the springtime woods and meadows.

April is also the month when frogs sing and dance their"Knee Deep Dance" 

especially on clear nights when the pale queen sails across the evening sky.

But when the silver waggon of the moon

Is mounted up so high he cannot follow,

The sea calls home his crystal waves to moan,

And with low ebb doth manifest his sorrow.

So you that are the sovereign of my heart

Have all my joys attending on your will;

My joys low-ebbing when you do depart,

When you return their tide my heart doth fill.

So as you come and as you do depart

Joys ebb and flow within my tender heart.

Fairy And Frog Dancing Under The Moon

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

"Sonnet Of The Moon"

Charles Best

(1570-1627)

Fifth Sunday Meditation: Standing On The Promises

" For truly I say to you,

if you have faith as of a mustard seed, 

you will say to this mountain,

"Move from here to there" and it will move.

And nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20

Cape Henry Virginia Cross Monument
Cape Henry, Virginia

Islam is advancing on the West at an alarming rate because most of the nations
 in Europe today have forsaken the true for the false.  They have done away with following
after the teachings of Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-led faith in exchange for the
religion of science and secular humanism.  They have forsaken God's
superior wisdom for the self-centered machinations of fallen mankind.

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel's defiance in turning away from the
One True God to follow after the customs and to worship the deities of the heathen
cultures that surrounded them always ended up with grievous consequences.

America was founded-not by our Founding Fathers, although they did contribute
to the forming of our nation's Constitution and subsequent laws-but by a group of
bone-weary, soul-scorched pilgrims who faced weeks of hunger and sickness and
other deprivations crossing the stormy Atlantic in wooden ships, led by a vision
of God through the Holy Spirit to find a new home across the sea.

In April, 1607 these weary travelers reached dry land again in what would one
day be Cape Henry Virginia.  The first act they committed as they stepped on dry
surface again was to get down on their knees and give thanks and praise to God
for their safe landing. They later constructed a seven foot tall wooden cross
and  dedicated their new homeland to the Lord Jesus Christ.

These first landers were followed over the years by many others who were also
seeking freedom. Some of these were men with radical political ideas, but,
I believe the majority of them shared  the vision of John Winthrop,
who saw America as a great city shining on a hill, a beacon of freedom
for all, in the name of Jesus Christ.

This is, I believe, the true spirit of America.

Although our nation today is a far cry from what the original
settlers envisioned, I believe that many people, who know our true history
and realize how blessed we are, are making a difference.
They may not make the evening news, but they are reaching out
and working in their communities and states to make America great again,
not only economically, but spiritually.

They may be strangers to each other, but all are driven by one
 surefire  purpose in their minds and in their hearts.
They have chosen to stand on the promises of God.

These same people were storming the gates of heaven on election night
in 2016, asking God for His mercy and deliverance on this nation, and
He answered because it was only through His power, I believe, that
Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States that night.

Jesus Himself told us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed that
nothing will be impossible for those who put their faith in Him, and I believe this
too, especially in regards to exposing the diabolical schemes of the political Left
 in America, who would like nothing more than to see our president
resign in disgrace, as well as those enemies of freedom who see us as a
  gullible and weak society which they want to suppress and conquer
 under the draconian auspices of Sharia (Islamic) Law.



Let Adonai rise!  Let His enemies be scattered!
May He have continual mercy and grace on America!

The Good Shepherd

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory to the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promise of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see

Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit's call

Resting  in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

John Winthrop Statue
Boston's First Church
Boston, Massachusetts

"Standing On The Promises"

Words and Music by

 L. Kelso Carter

(1849-1928)

Spring Offering

It may indeed be only phantasy

That I essay to draw from all created things

Deep, heartfelt, inward joy that closely clings

And find in leaves and flowers that round me lie

Lessons of love and earnest piety.

Bluebells on Holwell Lawn

Dartmoor, England

So let it be,-and though the whole world rings

In mock of this belief; to me it brings

Nor fear, nor grief, nor vain perplexity.

So will I rear my alter in the fields

And the blue sky my fretted dome shall be;

The stunning springtime landscape of Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England

And the sweet fragrance that the wild flower yields

Shall be incense that I offer thee-

Thee, only God, Thou will not despise

Even me, the priest of this poor sacrifice.

"Dousland, Dartmoor, Devon"

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

English Poet

(1772-1834)

An April Day

When the warm sun that brings

Seed-time and harvest, has returned again,

Tis sweet to visit the still woods where springs

The first flower of the plain.

Wild Woodland Violets

New Jersey State Flower

I love the season well

When forest glades are teeming with bright forms

Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell

The coming of storms.

From the earths' loosened mould

The sapling draws its' sustenance and thrives

Though stricken to the heart with winter's cold

The drooping tree revives.

American Goldfinch

New Jersey State Bird

The softly warbled song

Comes from the pleasant woods, and coloured winds

Glance quick in the bright sun that moves along

The forest openings.

When the bright sunset fills

The silver woods with light, the green slope throws

Its shadow on the hollow of the hills

And wide the upland glows.

 Sunset at the historic East Point Light On Delaware Bay

Heislerville, Cumberland County, New Jersey

And when the eve is born

In the blue lake the sky, o'er-reaching far

Is hollowed out, and the moon dips her horn

And twinkles many a star.

Sweet April!-Many a thought

is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed

Nor shall they fail, till to its' Autumn brought

Life's golden fruit is shed

"An April Day"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet and Educator
1807-1882

On My Mind: L'Chaim! To Life!

"As you know not what is the way of the wind,

or how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of

a pregnant woman, even so you know not the work

of God, Who does all."

Ecclesiastes 11:5

The State Senate of Tennessee has recently passed a bill to erect a 

monument to the "Victims of Abortion".  The yet unseen memorial will be 

 built with"non-state" funding, however, it will stand on state grounds.

May God bless the people of the Volunteer State!

"I came that they may have and enjoy life,

and have it in abundance till it overflows."

John 10:10

Meanwhile,  the great State of Oklahoma...

Springtime in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Southeast Oklahoma

...has adopted as it's state inspirational song, 

"I Can Only Imagine" by the Christian band, MercyMe.

Inspired by the blockbuster movie of the same name,

Oklahoma Representative Randy McDaniel filed a bill

proposing that "I Can Only Imagine" be named the

Sooner State's official inspirational song.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin

on April 19th.   The signed legislation will be presented

to MercyMe during their upcoming concert in

Frontier City on June 9th.

May God bless the people and state of Oklahoma.

"I Can Only Imagine"

MercyMe

"If My people, who are called by My name,
shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require
of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins,
and heal their land."
II Chronicles 7:14

The Thrush's Nest

Within a thick and spreading hawthorn bush,

That overhung a molehill large and round,

I heard from morn to morn a merry thrush

Sing hymns to sunrise, and I drank the sound

With joy; and often, an intruding guest,

I watched her secret toil from day to day-

How true she warped the moss, to form a nest,

And modelled it within with wood and clay;

And by-and-by, like heath-bells gilt with dew,

There lay her shining eggs, as bright as flowers,

Ink-spotted over shells of greeny blue;

'A brood of Nature's minstrels...'

Mama Wood Thrush with her babies

And there I witnessed in the sunny hours,

A brood of Nature's minstrels chirp and fly,

Glad as the sunshine and the laughing sky.

"The Thrush's Nest"

John Clare

English poet

(1793-1864)

The Song Of The Apple Blossom Fairies

Up in the tree we see you, blossom-babies,

All pink and white;

We think there must be fairies to protect you

From frost and blight,

Until, some windy day, in drifts of petals,

You take your flight.

Apple Blossom Fairies

Cecily Mary Barker

You'll fly away!  But if we wait with patience,

Some day we'll find

Here, in your place, full-grown and ripe, the apples

You left behind-

A goodly gift indeed, from blossom babies

To human-kind!

Beautiful Red Delicious Apples

"The Song Of The Apple Blossom Fairies"

Cecily Mary Barker

The King Is Coming In Glory

"When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28

The Second Coming Of Christ

Jon McNaughton

The King is coming in glory

To catch His bride away,

It may be in the morning

It may be at midday,

At the even or midnight;

The trump will sound so clear,

The dead in Christ, and we that live,

His voice shall hear.

(Refrain)

The King is coming, hallelujah!

He's coming in the air,

The fig tree is budding,

The signs are everywhere,

The King is coming, hallelujah!

He's coming in the air,

He's coming, hallelujah!

To catch His bride away.

Behold! He cometh and leaping,

And skipping o'er the hills;

Like the young roe, like the young hart,

My soul with rapture thrills;

Thru the window He's looking,

Thru the lattice work is seen,

The winter's past, the rain is o'er,

The figs are green.

The King is coming,

"Be ready," To meet Him on that day;

With your heart right, with your robes white,

And in this holy way;

Like the lightning that flashes

In the twinkling of an eye,

Our Lord shall come to claim His own

He's drawing night.

The saints are looking ever upward

While journ'ing on their way.

He's coming, hallelujah!

To catch His bride away.

The saints are looking ever upward

While journ'ing on their way.

He's coming, hallelujah!

To catch His bride away.

"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven

with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel,

and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who

have departed this life in Christ will rise first.

Then we, the living ones who remain on the earth

shall be caught up along with the resurrected dead

in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always

through the eternity of the eternities we shall be with the Lord!

Therefore, comfort and encourage one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18


"The King Is Coming In Glory"
Words and Music by 
Kittie L. Suffield
(1884-1972)

Fourth Sunday Meditation: The Scepter Of All Righteousness

"But as to the Son, He says to Him,

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

to the ages of the ages, and the scepter

of Your kingdom is a scepter of 

absolute righteousness, of justice

and straightforwardness.

You have loved righteousness

You have delighted in integrity, virtue,

and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action

and You have hated lawlessness, injustice, and iniquity.

Therefore God, even Your Godhead, has anointed You

with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above

and beyond Your companions.

Hebrews 1:8,9

Hope On The Horizon

Greg Olsen

Jesus spoke of what was written of Him in the Psalms:

"Then He said to them, This is what I told you while

I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me

in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms

must be fulfilled."

Luke 24:44

Psalm 45 is a Messianic psalm, attributed to the

sons of Korah, who were in charge of various works

of service in the temple.

Although set against the backdrop of a secular royal

wedding, verses 6 and 7 of this love song are clearly

 consistent with the above passages from Hebrews,

which speak of the Lord Jesus Christ as the

 Scepter of all righteousness, and as our 

glorious and faithful King for all eternity.

PSALM 45

To the Chief Musician;

(set to the tune of) "Lilies" (probably a

popular air.)  A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective 

poem.  A song of love.

My heart overflows with a goodly theme;

I address my psalm to a King.

 My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

You are fairer than the children of men;

graciousness is poured upon Your lips;

therefore God has blessed You forever.

Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O mighty One,

in Your glory and Your majesty!

And in Your majesty ride on triumphantly for

the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness,

uprightness and right standing with God;

and let Your right hand guide You

to tremendous things.

Your arrows are sharp; the people fall under You;

Your darts pierce the hearts of the King's enemies.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

You love righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with God

and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.

Your garments are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia;

stringed instruments make You glad.

Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women;

at Your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Hear, O daughter, consider, submit, and consent to my instruction;

forget also your own people and your father's house;

So will the King desire your beauty; because He is your Lord,

be submissive and reverence and honor Him.

And, O daughter of Tyre, the richest of the people shall

entreat your favor with a gift.

*The King's daughter in the inner part of the palace is all glorious;

her clothing is inwrought with gold.

She shall be brought to the King in raiment of needlework;

with virgins, her companions that follow her, she shall be brought to You.

With gladness and rejoicing will they be brought; they will

enter into the King's palace.

Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, whom You will

make princes in all the lands.

I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;

therefore shall the people praise and give You thanks forever and ever.

King of Kings

Greg Olsen

*The King's daughter is a reference to the church, the Bride of Christ.

 See corresponding verses in Revelation 19:7,8.