Poetry of Penny Foster
Introductory Statement It seems I have always noticed the Jews. As an English child growing up in the Middle East, Iran and Jordan, as young as 7 I would point out who were Jewish and who were Arab or Iranian. Not until I first met the King of the Jews as my personal saviour, some 25 years later, did I understand why. During a time of prayer, I "happened upon" the question in Jeremiah 15:5 'Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem? Who will weep for you? Who will even bother to ask how you are?' And I responded, 'Here am I, I will'. I was hooked. I must have always been a part of the people of God. It has been my desire and my mission ever since, to speak up for Israel and her people who are now my people. I am grafted in to the original Jewish olive tree. I am part of the One New Man. Wake up Church to your Hebrew Roots too! Honour the Jewish Messiah. I love the Word of God. I love words. I love language. I love to paint pictures with words. I love colour. I love the colour of words. I love music. I love the music of words. And I adore and worship the Creator God who revealed Himself to me through His only begotten Son, the Living Word. Once I met Him, His creation became more alive. Sights, Sounds, Sensations, Colour, Feelings, Warmth and Cool - He has created all things for us to richly enjoy. He speaks to me through His creation, but most of all - He speaks to me through His Word - His written Word and His Word made flesh, Yeshua HaMeshiach. Every day, the hidden treasures of His Word are revealed. My prayer is that through my little poems, you might turn to The Word anew, and discover more of Him.. "THE TRUMP OF GOD" [Yom Teruah] Could you come in snowtime To meet us in the air As the Winter aconite Shakes out her golden hair? Or would you care to smile upon The Spring-awakened trees With blossom petals opening up To bullfinches and bees? Perhaps you like sweet woodruff's scent Towards the end of May Preparing us for Summer's heat With its redolence of hay? I long to be awake for you Watching 'pon my knees: Tho' the sleepy warmth of August Whispers false securities. So will you rapture us in Fall As swallows quit our eaves And the earth is carpeted With claret coloured leaves? I'd like it to be Autumn As the shortening days grow dark Before the year and earth herself Is dead:: Before theBefore the *Feast of Asif When harvest sheaves are gathered in Caught up and bound together Unto God. Penny Foster 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 1 Thess.5:11 , whole of 11 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Corinthians 15:51 to end "Asif" = the original name of the Feast of Ingathering which took place at harvest time now called "Succoth", the Feast of Tabernacles KURDISTANN Kurdish shepherds, by a Persian waterfall, Mourning their flocks once tended months ago, Gave me this flute that now upon my wall Hangs hollow, exiled, Embodiment of woe. Guilty, shocked and impotent am I That they, like You, enduring pain and lack, Gave out to me. Ha’Shem, reveal what I can do... Will prayer pay back? Yeshua, since Your *ches-ed love came first, Reach down. Descend from off Your throne above To these wandering, wondering souls accursed. In Mercy, Adonai, send Love. Penny Foster 16 April 1991 **on hearing news of Iraqi attempted genocide of this ancient Biblical race of Medes * CHESED is Hebrew for God's Loving Kindness - pronounced hess-ed ** the following day news broke that the UN were about to establish safe havens for the Kurds *** Post script: November 1997 it was reported to me by Armenian members of the Iranian Christian Fellowship in London that there is currently a great Awakening amongst the Kurds NUDGESNUDGES It’s good of you to talk to me in prose, heart-to-heart, the way you do. Deep to inner deep. Since those who read, or hear, and understand your work Become your intimates – the ones who can be trusted. Thus, if you laugh, I hoot too. Cry? I empathise and weep. Or thoughts I’ve had, dreams dreamt, You put words to and strike a chord. Hey! That’s what I just said! Thus whispered arcana nudge inspiration. Reconnected emotions demand to be released. Jumbly words, quicksilver thoughts compete. Quick! Switch on Creative Mode To capture that idea before it goes. Clicking on, I chase the cursor round the screen. Move blocks, polish, save, scan meter, delete. Sometimes, ah! just sometimes, Yours, the evoker, Spawns my poem complete. By Penny Foster [Shavuott] Showed mercy – Go and do likewise” You had them sit down, Shared the fish, broke the bread. “Only believe”“Only believe” You said. “Bless the poor, wash their feet, Heal the sick, raise the dead” “Tie up strongmen, loose the bound, Cast out demons, regain ground” Can it be? Is that sound? “And greater works than these you’ll do When you the Promise have received. It’s not by might and not by power, But by My Spirit you’ll succeed”. “So Father may be glorified, Believe!”Believe!” is what You say. It’s so scary – and it’s hard. Yeshua, help my unbelief! For Father to be glorifiedd Your words II wanttto keep.to keep. So, since my strength must be From Your mighty power inside, Endue me from on high, my Lord, wisely unto me. Be it wisely And be it unto me. PARCENARY How do I speak when they ask me “What are these wounds on your back? Why have your eyes clouded over?” To answer would show up your lack.. Do I tell them “Dear friends, it is nothing – I stumbled and fell in the mire”. But remind myself ‘seventy times seven’ And trust that they’ll read Zechariah? No; I pray if you ‘spitefully use me For love hardly notices wrong I come to you when there’s ought against any To turn my blocked prayer back to song. Not for nothing it is that He charges By roes and by hinds of the field “Daughters, wake not my beloved; She is sleeping until she is healed”. It hurts not just you but His body To which I also belong Where’s compassion if you verbally judge me Giving sound to your fears with your tongue. So don’t tell me,’in love’, what might hurt me Tell Yah. He knows anyway. He’ll show me, convict me, then lift me.. I hear, but can’t take whatI hear, but can’t take what you say. When you pray “Lord, please judge in me All the errors in her that I see” Then He gently reveals, no condemnation, forgives Thus setting both you and me free.. Zech. 13:6 Ps. 6:7 Matt. 27:144 Ps. 69 Matt. 18:22 Zech. 13:6 Matt. 5:44 1 Cor. 13:5,7 Mk. 11:25 Matt. 5:23 Song 2:7 Song 3:5 James 3:6 1 Cor. 12:26 1 Cor. 4:3,44 James 3:9 John 21:17 Ps. 139:1 Ps. 51, Ps. 27:66 John 20:23 Rom. 8:1 1 John 1:99 1] Softly sounds pervade my dreams Lip-lapping, lip, lip-lapping Gently washing water Some tideless shoreline splashing Hot, balmy midday sun My sleepy frame relaxing Lulls me into sweet repose Not fear nor worry taxing. 2] Sweet oleander fragrance Hangs heady ‘on the air And through the ancient olive groves Descending rocky hillsides bare Come distant flocks and shepherd Their sheep bells tolling soundly To interrupt with jingly tones My arcane dream profoundly. 3] Such brightness of the sunlight My closed lids penetrate Ah, must I wake and leave this scene – Aware by now the hour is late – Rejoin a gathering stormy world, Fiscal Meltdown and Global Warming gloom. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear Whilst they embrace impending doom. 4] Domestic sounds and thoughts disturb I’ll stretch, and turn my head away Perhaps sweet dreaming to prolong Before I have to face the day. So, sinking into reverie, The dream I soon recapture Returning to that rocky isle I review the scene with rapture. 5] It’s on the pebbly edge I stand Of sea such dazzling azure hue And over hill and shoreline spread Entwining morning glory blue. Where is this isolated rock And who’s now with me on the beach Arrayed in awesome splendour? I sense a lesson He will teach. 6] In the Spirit on The Lord’s Day Right on this spot once stood St John Whose mighty Revelation shown The Christian world now waits upon. Dodecanese isle of Patmos – Today unusually calm – Back then this metamorphic rock Portrayed a scene of great alarm. 7] Attracting storms electrical Mount Cerceteus across the sound Shot skywards shards of piercing light With thunder rumbling all around High winds and teeming mountain springs Together added to the roar And over all there came the voice Of Glory, Angels, Trumps and War. 8] Exiled John saw times to come Divine forthtellings were revealed That evil Earth would soon be judged Its punishments in vials sealed. Engendered by the horsemen four Catastrophic domination Through a Beast Apocalyptic Soon controlling every nation. 9] But prior to this God’s chosen race Twelve thousand from each Jewish band Received protection on their heads From martyr’s death at satan’s hand. In heaven then was worship sung To Jesus Christ the slaughtered Lamb Angels thrice cry Holy, Holy A new song “Worthy is I AM”. 10] God waits upon His throne eternal Since time before the world began Watching over His creation To consummate His heavenly plan: Those who trust in Christ’s salvation Not denying that He’s Lord Are justified in tribulation And life forever their reward. 11] John’s disciple, old Prochorus, When the Apocalypse was told Wrote it to proclaim the season And the age this would unfold. “Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus” Completes the vision of St Johnn Promising this generation Will see the glory of God’s Son. 12] So, how to interpret my Patmos Since soon I’ll be clear out of rhyme? See, it’s when God’s Word starts to happen Look up and rejoice. Now’s the time! The shout will have lately gone up “The bridegroom now comes for his bride” Steadfastly watching and ready Her lamp will be full by her side. 13] Sheep bells announce His arrival Groves speak of tradition and new; Ingrafted Church with true olive. Redemption interprets the blue. It’s often that sea speaks of nations The pebbles perhaps living stone And perfume exudes a sweet savour Of prayers rising up to The Throne. Penny Foster 
“As
The man
From Samaria
Is that what You said?
When the people were hungry
Are You certain that’s what You said?
You command that if I love you
Your words I will obey
THE BALLAD OF PATMOS REVISITEDD
