Tears of loss
Groanings of a man in prayer
With loud cries and tears
For a nation broken
For the loss of a generation,
Death rising up to swallow alive.
The grief of one who grieved
Mourning for bread and drink
The loss of a family, a people, a nation...
But soon the One who wept for all
Who grieved for Eternity
Will soothe the memory,
Remove all sense of painful loss
As fullness of joy
Envelops another person bound for Heavenly bliss-
The Glory Presence sought faithfully for so long!

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord, 1998

JEWEL

Diamond in a golden setting
Beauty raised to the highest level
Light enthroned in a place once very dark
Plan of Perfection displayed in another,
As proven true with Israel
As clearly shown by Jerusalem,
Mystery knowledge revealed;
Messiah make known.
Joy now enthroned within splendor
Life more precious than gold, more priceless than any diamond;
Holy Spirit at rest within a human spirit.
New ring with a stone with a new name on it;
Marriage covenant sealed in eternity!

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord, 1998
 

FINISH THE RACE

Who else can we run to,
Where else to turn
For truth and life-Holy Breath and everything else?
You alone have eternal words
Purist eternal honey, sweet creative fragrance
Aromatic, majestic authority reigning over all.
We live as foreigners and strangers,
Aliens who do not love this world
Yet love Jerusalem
And celebrate the regathering of Israel-
Remnant Jacob destined to rule.
What was a hard road
Has become a very narrow path
"Through the fire and through the dark night",
A few short steps to go
And suddenly, a trumpet sounds...
In a flash of brilliance our Father speaks
And the "Word Made Flesh"
Reaches out his right hand
And rescues us at last!

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord May "98

HONOR

Arms uplifted
Hands lovingly offered
As servants who delight
Who seek first to honor
Who seek first to exalt in the only Name
Love given, love received
Cross experienced...
Source of all life and truth
We bring honor to your holy Name.
In life and breath
At every chance, time and place
Both in jubilant dance
And in quiet song within
We bring honor as a gift to your Name.

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord '98


GLORY

In simplicity and childlike trust
In purity and hushed reverence
We kneel and pray
We prostrate at the anointing
Glory in the holy Presence.
Timeless, Ancient One
Lord above all who calls each soul to his side.
Our love overflows
Even as you said,
The inner spring wells up!
Wonderful moments strung like costly pearls,
Adorn the neck of the bride
Dancing blissfully before you.
Freedom of freedoms
Passing easily through the outer sanctuary
To the speechless, intimate presence of unapproachable Light;
Thick Glory Cloud
Holiness permeating all, consuming all.

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord '98


PRAISE

Songs never before heard
Joy as colorful blossoms everywhere
Flowers of delight singing
Breathless beauty in this place of light
Where wonder enfolds wonder
The marvelous, cascading over and over
Spirit of Glory lifting up
Carries the flock of love,
Cradled in His garment.
Heaven's music engulfs
A flood of goodness
Praise thundering, praise remarkable
Intensely focused on the One who gave all;
Yeshua who stands supreme
Sovereign King of the Universe spoken
River of life, of praise returns to the Throne
Messiah's throne,
The Glory Throne where earth and heaven are no more.

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord '98

RETURN

"Return to me,"says your God
Lord of holiness and truth
Return in your hearts and minds
Come to your senses at last
False riches of the world
False wealth of America...
Return to your first love
The lover of your soul
Creator of Israel
Redeemer of Jacob
The only King who dwells in Zion
Who rules in Jerusalem,
Hope held up clearly before your eyes!
Lasting beauty that does not fade.

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord


DEEP CALLS TO DEEP

Deep calls out to deep
The depth of man's need crying out to the depths of God's love;
One person at a time in loneliness seeks out the companionship of love
True love, lasting love
The knowledge of a love that overcomes all the obstacles
The barriers, the veil fighting such peace...
To love the unloved, even more- to love the unlovely!
Birds soar to astonishing heights
Then plunge to earth for food and rest.
Canyons rival mountains in rugged beauty
Cliffs trail down out of sight.
Then the oceans;
Water worlds set apart
Mysteries waiting to be sought out
The heart sinks in fear at the overwhelming greatness
The dark, the cold, the unknowns hiding
The unending spirals to the bottom.
What mind can fathom the depths,
The playground of whales.
Canyons deeper than any on land
Mountains that dwarf the giants of Nepal sleep beneath the waves.
The deepest need in an ocean of want
Calls out one last time
Beyond desperation, without hope
Hoping one last time
The weakest voice offered up in the end,
Is heard and answered in kindness
By the Seven Thunders!

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord

HOLINESS

Life from the dead

Mercy, when all around there was none.

Kindness and gentleness from above

A pure sweet smile

Approval and assurance from our dearest friend.

Encouragement to go on

A vision of Heaven has sealed the heart

Delight of delights -

A friend who truly cares

His measure of Love cups each day

Simplicity and humility

Holy fire, a pure seed within

Our hearts now warmed

As we look one to another

And See His Life within.

Gary Bertnick Silver Cord

MIRIAM


She came to Him in brokenness
Beyond the end of hope
Given to things of open shame.
Then, with the crowd on a hillside-
Some said He'd come for His people Israel-
She watched and listened as He spoke and touched
And marveled as He loved and healed.
Stream of every human need drawn near
As He loved and touched and smiled
And created wonderful healing before all eyes.
She fell before Him dead
And was raised up before Him alive!
Spirit of power radiated
Spirit of authority enveloped
Spirit of love lifted up from the grass and rocks...
Now, months later, seated at His feet
Eyes meet eyes, basking in closeness
Heavenly submission
Purest and holiest place at His feet
Rapture of heart and being
Rivers into oceans, oceans into eternity
Flow of His life into one more soul.


Gary Bertnick

.
LIVING TRUTH

As we drink from His cup
And daily taste death
Follow the Master, receive life, experience the cross,
We look upon the world
We see the earth
And wonder at the incredible waste and noise!
People of grief, loss, painful comfort
Cold body of a friend, an enemy
The seeming cruel finality
Constant fear and denial of so very many
Even more sheltered in the squalid grip of religion,
Dark spirit realm swirling invisibly;
All the daily struggles that overwhelm
And #### the joy out of being alive...
Then, earthly beauty passes by on the street-
Unknown, without even a moment of honesty
Without a hint of heart caring and fellowship
Blind beauty easily gone
Many more such flowers vary in beauty from flower to flower;
Different beauty of each star in heaven,
The majesty seen in human creation!
Yet, we love
The heart gives and longs to give more
To offer clean touches, prayers
To offer quiet reflections
Of a personal glimpse of His beauty
And the Throne of all power and mercy
Intimate revelation of Yeshua
In one who chooses life over death
Eternal life through the cross by the Father's Spirit!
Now an eternity of bliss is spread as that Banquet spoken,
An exquisite blue-gold table set reaches out
Beyond the stars,
Jeweled embroidery, an abundance unimagined
Our daily choice- to live!
Narrow gate through the cross
Narrow road by the Holy Spirit
Carried by gentle goodness;
No one looks back.

Gary

NEW LIGHT

One warrior takes his sword
Ready at the command
Obedient, selfless
Alert with eyes piercing the darkness
As hot coals from the holy fire
Eyes dart about seeing, discerning.
Apostasy around seducing like wildfire
Clumsy, arrogant nations paw the apple of God's eye.
But a new light shines
Even a new day spoken of
Purifying, cleansing and strengthening.
A thunderous cry is heard
Its legions roar the echoes-
"Mercy is great!  But justice is true!"
Eternal beings all face the cross
And choose eternal life or eternal death
A death of continual anguish
Or a life of endless joy;
The rapture of His presence
Or the fire that never completely burns.

   Gary Bertnick    Silver Cord