That Day

When elves play
as work is done
and Joy,
just begun.
The sleigh is washed
and shines
with polish and spit
for with it
the world did shrink
and if you blink
the loss is yours
for speed is light
and time is fleeing.
Another year will come
to find
growth of Love
in tiny minds
for He who guides
the stars by night
still lives
in stories made
of miracles and light
where Truth and Grace
became
flesh and breath
to warm our hearts
and save the day.

jfrancis©
december 25, 2002

Ornaments of Grace

They move with precisionless ease

on the Tree of Christmas

called “Church,”

in colors demure

to ornate

adding sparkle and glitter

to the tinsel of season.

They are we

who decorate

the tree of life

as Christ

on a treed cross

produced Grace

hung with ornaments

of suffering.

jfrancis©

december 1, 2002

The Yoke

Before the fall

was before all

the grittiness

and shackles

of humanity

where bodies

of death and deceit

wait in splendid

adoration

for the restoring of Adam. . .

jfrancis©

november 17, 2002

_______________

Universal Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem

creation’s architect

creation’s child

shook the planet

with meekness

and humility

confounding our world

with simplicity

of grace and pardon

from infant to savior,

one giant step

across the universe

to man.

jfrancis©

november 24, 2002

_____________

Jerusalem Sunset

Dusk ignites

shadow and light

of Jerusalem night

where truth flees

before darkness leaves

evil and deeds

in the heart

of man.

jfrancis©

december 8, 2002

Silent Savior

The Spirit’s work

in the hidden heart

by faith and grace

yield life and peace.

jfrancis©

december 8, 2002

The Wisdom

(of forbidden fruit)

Satan’s answer

to all creation

is the wisdom

of our world.

Authored

in beauty and light

reflecting his rebellion

and succulent message

to abandon the path

and follow a piping

that leads

to eternal destruction.

jfrancis©

december 18, 2002

Children and the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God

was made for children.

We all are those

who enter through

the child’s gate.

Once in, we become

a fountain of life

pouring out

the trusting nature

of a new beginning

with all the innocence

of childhood.

Children of God,

offspring of he

who pasted the stars

in nighttime darkness

and colored our sky

with the eagle’s wing.

jfrancis©

december 22, 2002

Peace

(The Dream)

A liberal concept

from human wisdom

where

good and evil

live harmoniously

in the family of man.

And real Peace

will come

to reign

a thousand years

when all evildoers

fly to the Lake of Fire.

jfrancis©

december 27, 2002

Christianity
(THE narrow WAY)

Defined by G-d’s Word
on the Cross.
Not church
nor entity
or man
has leave
to corrupt scripture
by self appointment.
All stand as stewards
responsible
to the Spirit
who alone seals believers
for Redemption
by his inward presence
at Faith and Profession
of Jesus as L-rd,
Savior
Intercessor alone
between man
and G-d the Father.
To him, Glory.

jfrancis©
january 1, 2003

GRIEF

(AND A NEW DAY)

GRIEF DEPARTS

ON WINGS OF MEMORY

AS A NEW DAY

FILLS THE HEART

WITH HOPE AND FOCUS

OF A NEW BEGINNING

SHARED WITH IMAGES

OF PAST LOVE.

HORIZONS BRING

THE MARCH

OF NEW VISION,

FOR G-D’S POWER

CREATES LIFE

IN EACH NEW DAY

AND LAYS MEMORIES

TO REST

IN THE STRENGTH

OF HIS SAVIOR SON.

jfrancis©

december 29, 2002

Prophecy 101

We stand poised

by the portal

where time

and limitation

end,

prepared to meet

the boundless concept

of higher power.

Im.com.pre.hen.si.ble

to mortal flesh,

we shall change

in a #######

of His mind’s eye,

billions of bodies

in new flesh

living by the blood

shed for us

never again

to be spilled

as sacrifice

for the world’s woe.

jfrancis©

december 31, 2002

David’s Star

(with heart)

Only antiquity and pain attend

birthing of this star.

Worn in centuries past,

degrading Jews,

comes full circle

to nation’s symbol,

Pride

and ever present

Star of Bethlehem.

As David, so Israel

after G-d’s own heart

by light revealed

seeking:

Righteousness

Favor

G-d’s love

Eternal life

THE LIGHT

taken from their eyes.

jfrancis©

january 12, 2003

Birth and Grace

Conception’s miracle

creates life

where none exists.

Salvation’s miracle

wraps old hearts

in Grace

and new life is born,

eternal life,

a source of power

and creativity

beyond human concept,

for we all bear

sin’s mark,

branded by birth

with a failed future,

lifted by Grace

to the Heavenlies.

jfrancis©

january 26, 2003

Seven Stars

Lit the Columbia blue

of Texas skies

and flashed Heavenward

to eternity

bearing souls

and heroes

with the memory

of families left behind.

Soaring eagles

on the six point

‘Star of David’.

jfrancis©

february 2, 2003

The Giant Katz
(IAF Major Aharon "Areleh" Katz)

Often
man’s stature
increases with death,
not so the giant Katz,
his legend and life
of equal greatness.
Born of holocaust survivors,
he chose to serve,
not to be served.
Son.
Husband.
Father.
Pilot/Navigator.
Jew.
With humble strength
he stood above his peers
setting an example
few could touch,
then dying in service
to country.
His last words
as fouled chute
increased his speed
earthward,
"Does anybody hear me?"
The nation did,
and still does.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 24, 2002

Blind Truth

Truth of Scripture
written for man
by the G-d of Abraham
was given life
and breath
by the hand
of Arab land.
"Blessed are those
who care for Israel,
cursed are those
who rage their hand
against my land."
For those who serve
little gods,
the force of scripture
is lost
in the blindness of sin
as they stagger
in wander
with the wealth
of ages
and failure of time
to prove their way,
so the Potter
spins-------
one for honor
another
for destruction.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 17, 2002

Elijah

The power of G-d
in a man.
Prophet of Tishbe.
Enemy of Ahab,
spoiler of Jezebel,
destroyer of baal
and his prophets.
G-d’s man for the time
to an idolatrous people
mixing true worship
with paganism
as the world today.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 4, 2002


Song of the Soil

The rocks and hills
of Zion sing
the land’s perfect melody
played on #####
of woodland and winds
across the valley of Dan
beyond wadis of hope.
A song of the soil
only for ears of Israel
and never heard
in hearts of interlopers.
A gift of G-d most high
to the redeeming rain
for purchase of life
from the land eternal.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 29, 2002

The Giant Katz
(IAF Major Aharon "Areleh" Katz)

Often
man’s stature
increases with death,
not so the giant Katz,
his legend and life
of equal greatness.
Born of holocaust survivors,
he chose to serve,
not to be served.
Son.
Husband.
Father.
Pilot/Navigator.
Jew.
With humble strength
he stood above his peers
setting an example
few could touch,
then dying in service
to country.
His last words
as fouled chute
increased his speed
earthward,
"Does anybody hear me?"
The nation did,
and still does.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 24, 2002

Blind Truth

Truth of Scripture
written for man
by the G-d of Abraham
was given life
and breath
by the hand
of Arab land.
"Blessed are those
who care for Israel,
cursed are those
who rage their hand
against my land."
For those who serve
little gods,
the force of scripture
is lost
in the blindness of sin
as they stagger
in wander
with the wealth
of ages
and failure of time
to prove their way,
so the Potter
spins-------
one for honor
another
for destruction.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 17, 2002

Elijah

The power of G-d
in a man.
Prophet of Tishbe.
Enemy of Ahab,
spoiler of Jezebel,
destroyer of baal
and his prophets.
G-d’s man for the time
to an idolatrous people
mixing true worship
with paganism
as the world today.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 4, 2002


Song of the Soil

The rocks and hills
of Zion sing
the land’s perfect melody
played on #####
of woodland and winds
across the valley of Dan
beyond wadis of hope.
A song of the soil
only for ears of Israel
and never heard
in hearts of interlopers.
A gift of G-d most high
to the redeeming rain
for purchase of life
from the land eternal.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 29, 2002

The Shepherd Boy King

David,
anointed by oil and Spirit,
armed with sling and stone,
served the flesh
of Goliath and Philistine
to bird and beast
of Elah valley.
Boy by age.
Giant in spirit.
He stood
above all Israel
understanding
G-d’s vision
for the flock
of his pasture.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 11, 2002

Fear and Wisdom

Has not the G-d
of our fathers
authored wisdom
and wed it to fear
for many offspring?
Should we not sit
with wise men
and dine
on the succulent flavor
of his favor?
Is not
the fear of the L-rd
a guarding angel
for those who know right
and set their face
to the flint of obedience?
A bag of many shekels
stir the heart,
but wisdom is it’s own reward
with a still small voice
in the night.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 12, 2002

Choose You This Day . . . . .

Can a nation divided,
long stand?
Who can bind the wound
and pour oil?
Should patient
serve physician?
Or the dead
bury our living?
Or a woman
ransom the pious?

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 13, 2002

The Lady of Our Light

Her flame burns high
from a passion for light
filling earth
with hope
of truth
to set free
those who love
Lady Liberty.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 18, 2002

Judaism

Inspiration provided by a Rabbi’s
visit to American hospitals where
clergy of all faith minister to
the sick and injured.

The pains of our heart
are soothed
by the streams of Judaism
as good Rabbis
whisper
words of hope
and blessing
at the pillows
of hopelessness
where steams of healing
ebb and flow
to deep lakes
of smooth water
in peaceful tranquility,
renewing the spirit/body.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
august 18, 2002

Bethlehem Still

Gone are the guns
and garb of war.
Left,
vacancies
of Arab occupation:
silent streets
filled with
silent time.
Still
and real;
that night
with light
and praise
Jesus gave
creation
the Potter’s spin.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas, usa
novenber 1, 2002

Gethsemane’s Caretaker

shaded the footprints of Jesus,
sheltered his prayers
covered his disciples
in slumber
guarded the ages,
now waits
for his return
where they shared stars
as he nourished
Gethsemane’s soil
with the lifeblood
of his agony.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
October 27, 2002

Golden Is The Gate

that was
sealed by prophecy
with mortar
and Arab fear.
It is through this gate
the rising
Son of destruction
will visit his enemies.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
october 25, 2002

Their World

Children bring their load
of delight
to our world
putting life on hold,
with free smiles
wrapped in childhood wiles
and pieces of wonder
stolen
from Aliceland.

©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
October 21, 2002