Faith Finds Expression
Faith Finds Expression M a r y D i x o n REDEMPTION PRESS
2007 by Mary Dixon. All rights reserved. Published by Redemption Press, PO Box 427, Enumclaw, WA 98022 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law. Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Scripture references marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture references marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ISBN 13: 978-1-63232-223-4 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006910324
This book is dedicated with love to: My husband Richard for fifty years of commitment and for listening to every poem as it was written, My children and grandchildren for their inspiration and encouragement such as, Go for it, Nan! My mother for making me laugh and being all a mother should be, My Sock-It-To-Me Bible Study Group for giving me a gentle nudge, My Turning Point Church family for being there, My God for giving me life, saving my soul, and dwelling within me.
Endorsement r Mary Dixon lets us go with her to the low points in life and the joys as well. We identify with her as we read her poetry that comes out of her heart and faith. She says, I sincerely believe that if one has faith, that faith must find expression. She has found that poetic expression of her faith and her readers are the richer for it. In Faith Finds Expression the author praises God, opens her soul to God, and invites us into that experience through her poems. As we read, we will identify finding ourselves and fresh new ways to worship. She says, Life has so much more meaning when one trusts in the Giver of Life. Mary Dixon, a former teacher, is a twenty-five year member of Phi Delta Kappa, a poetry club sponsor, and a poet. She and her husband (Richard) live in Indiana.
Table of Contents r Introduction...xiii Part I: Faith in Verse 1. Into Thy Hands...17 2. That is How Forever Will Be...18 3. Let Me Help You...20 4. Life s Meaning...22 5. He Loves Me Even More...24 6. The Land of the Living Dead...25 7. Faith Must Find Expression...27 8. Are You Sinking? Are You Sailing?...28 9. Better Way...29 10. Comfort...30 11. Child...31 12. Death...32 13. Face of Tales...33 14. Friends...35 15. Friend...36 16. Harvest Time...37
17. Home at Last...38 18. I Can t Imagine the Price...39 19. Life s Seasons...40 20. My Road...41 21. My Temple...42 22. My Own...43 23. New Beginning or Beginning of the End...45 24. New Day s Hope...46 25. Psalm 148...47 26. Sadness...48 27. Shine...49 28. Simple Things...50 29. Spring...51 30. The Holy Spirit Came...52 31. Tricks of Time...53 32. Transition...54 33. Unrest...55 34. Violence...56 35. Wasted Wisdom...57 36. Why?...58 37. Example...60 38. Young and Old...61 39. A Sad Farewell...62 40. Your Song...63 41. Do We Think?...65 42. Just Her Baby Boy...66 Part II: Songs of Faith 43. Cast Your Net of Faith...69 44. Keeper of My Heart s Door...71 45. Meet Me in Heaven...72 46. My Master...73 47. Peace and Grace...74 48. Pray, People, Pray...75 49. Road Called Straight...76
50. The Hem of His Garment...77 51. Keep My Babes...78 Part III: Family 52. My Daughter...81 53. Son...83 54. My Son...86 55. Nana s Black-eyed Boy...87 56. Granddaughter...89 57. My Gift...91 58. Jade...93 59. Margie Trousdale, You ve Come Home...95 60. My Song...98 61. Mom...100 62. Come Walk with Me...101 Part IV: Nature 63. Spring...105 64. Summer...107 65. Fall...108 66. Winter...110 67. Gone Fishing...112 68. Hollyhock Day...113 69. Nature s Rhythm...114 70. Robin Redbreast...115 71. Spring...116 72. Trees...117 73. Earth...118 74. Autumn Night...119 75. All Is Ready...120 Part V: Fun 76. Run, Tom, Run...123 77. I Love Junk Food...124
78. Watching Weight...125 79. Spaghetti...126 80. Sweet Little Cow...127 81. Beggar...128 82. Port-A-Potty Cleaner...129 83. Taste the Love...130
Introduction r Faith Finds Expression is a result of God s unfailing love for this sinner saved by grace. He gave the thoughts and words that are on these pages. Some of the poems and songs were written long ago and were stored in a portfolio until after I retired from teaching school. Joining the Sock-It- To-Me Bible Study Group (a group which collects socks for the homeless and for needy children), gave me the opportunity to share my poems when it was my turn to give the lesson. These wonderful ladies gave me a gentle nudge to pursue an outlet for these expressions of faith. There are many ways to express faith. It can be as simple as offering an encouraging smile or as complex as dying a martyr. It may entail using that beautiful voice in song or painting the beauty in the world of nature. Whatever the strengths and talents God gives, we offer them back to Him through some expression of our own faith. In the text, I have included some of my favorite Scriptures from the Bible which are taken from Thompson s King James Version. Though in this version the words are sometimes spelled differently and the sentence structure seems odd, its appeal to me is in its poetic, though sometimes graphic, nature. This book is divided into four main parts, Faith, Family, Nature, and Fun, although these intertwine at times. The first part contains poems and songs of faith. The next part focuses on family. I ve found xiii
xiv Faith Finds Expression that honoring family members in poetry sends them messages that are sometimes difficult to express in other ways. Then, there are poems about nature. In personifying certain elements in nature, it is not my intention to take away from the fact that all of nature was created by God. The last part of this book is about having fun. I believe that God enjoys humor. I have often said and done things that, after thinking about them, fall short of my intentions. I envision God chuckling at my ineptness, or my lack of knowledge, or my childishness. I even laugh at myself sometimes. I hope you enjoy the few silly thoughts that are included toward the end of this book. Next, it is my sincere prayer that the words and thoughts in Faith Finds Expression will uplift, comfort, inform, allay fear, encourage, provide hope, and prompt serious thought about how to make sure that faith lives and thrives. In short, I hope they will touch someone s life in a positive way. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank my family for their inspiration, encouragement, patience, and technical support during the creative phases of putting a manuscript together. I must also thank my mother for making me laugh when I start to take myself too seriously and for passing some of her much greater talent on to me. For all of these things, I say, To God be the glory!
Part I Faith in Verse
Into Thy Hands r As the crown of thorns stuck in your brow, I ve often wondered just how You bore the humiliation as they cried, Behold the King of the Jews. When the cross became so heavy That you fell upon your knees, Could these be the same people who, Just days before sang, Praises to our King? With each stripe they laid across your back, I lack the understanding to see how love Still flowed from your eyes As a centurion cried, Carry his cross. With each step you struggled on up that hill, God s will and your earthly destiny nearly done, How it must have broken your heart to hear them Continue to urge, Crucify him! When the nails tore through your flesh, I can only guess at your Depth of pain as they Chanted, Kill him, kill him, kill him! Then, they raised that cross and pierced your side, And slaughtered an innocent lamb Who, just before the last breath, cried, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark 15:39 17
That is How Forever Will Be r I ve so often wondered how forever will be. I know there s a mansion waiting for me. But how will I spend all that time with no end Where there are no crops to plant, no fences to mend? I don t know exactly what my job there will be, But I know that we ll all be able to see How children will never suffer abuse, And no one will ever make an excuse. They won t have to worry about carrying a load. There ll be no burdens on the heavenly road. That is how forever will be. There ll be streets of gold, on which we will walk, And to the saints of all ages, Jesus will talk About all of the mysteries we ve wondered about, And the great joy we feel will cause us to shout. There ll be no sin in that glorious place, Only peace, and love, and his redeeming grace. We ll meet our fathers and mothers and kin of all kind. No jealousy, no friction, will we ever find, For there ll be no reason for placing blame. We ll be too busy praising his name. That is how forever will be. There ll be no sadness, no trouble, no fears, And only cause to shed happy tears. We ll see Christian martyrs and prophets and kings, And hear sweet music when the angel chorus sings 18
Faith Finds Expression 19 Hallelujah and we all join the throng Of souls that were saved and now belong To the heavenly realm where there ll be no end Of the beauty and richness where all will spend Endless time with other sinners saved by his grace And feel at home in that wonderful place. That is how forever will be. But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9