Hopefully, this post will start a long and creative comment thread... of example of your creative efforts while tapping into God's Spirit. Share with a comment how you came alive creatively in the Spirit. Share how you felt. Share the result (poem, story, song, etc.) in a comment. We are all family here, so there's no need to be shy, so go ahead... share.
Here is a song I wrote to include in my annual Christmas card in 2001. I print and fold 500 cards, and then give them out (personally, by hand) to family, friends, co-workers, and my Messiah family at most of the services on Christmas. This song only took me about an hour to write. Sometimes the Holy Spirit just lays things almost fully formed on my heart. I almost feel like I just have to transpose it. Praise God!
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They Call The Child Messiah----------
(to the tune of “They Call The Wind Mariah”)
Messiah… Messiah…
They call the child Messiah.
On a cold and starry night
One star shone bright as fire,
Three wise men came and each brought gifts
For the child they call Messiah.
A baby born to be like us,
To feel each base desire.
Temptation had no hold on Him
On the child they call Messiah.
Messiah… Messiah…
They call the child Messiah.
To touch his cloak or see his face
Shook you to your soul.
When his eyes turned to gaze at you
You had faith to be made whole.
Ten outcast men cried out his name,
Diseased and surely dying.
All were healed, but just one returned
With praise to God, and crying…
Messiah… Messiah…
He called the man Messiah.
To pay our debt, he sacrificed
Himself to set us free.
He kept his word, and rose again
And will walk with you and me.
So now you know you’re not alone,
But you don’t know where to start.
It’s not too hard to feel his touch,
Simply open up your heart.
Messiah… Messiah…
Just call out to Messiah.
Messiah… Messiah…
Such great love for me… Messiah.
Your brother in Christ, Dave
I am glad to be able to read yours (and collect them); I have not been the type to do poetry or songs; that was Diehl and his Mom. The conversation there has enriched my life much, spiritually. There are many many songs of faith which I spend time running through my head and heart, which although I am not pouring out myself in that fashion, I still relate my self to.
ReplyDeleteI have been feeling lonely lately. Father's Day weekend Marie was here to help with the website (she updated Diehl's and we are working on mine). She spent most of the time multi-tasking and texting on her phone which I cannot talk through, even at dinner and on the drive to the airport. Last night our church had a singing; mostly gospel. The men's ensemble sang "Beulah Land" which is not something most Lutherans are aware of; but the last time I heard that the then-choir director came with the men's ensemble to practice here and sing with Diehl, and I took photos of him singing with them. Of course I was a leaky fountain. Then three high-school girls sang "I'll Fly Away" which is something I have sung in the past, was sung at the funeral of one of my darkroom students (his funeral was 2 weeks before Diehl was diagnosed; he also had pancreatic cancer). So I cried some more. Then the ladies ensemble sang (I'm a part of that). I can't say I always sang the right part after that... but it is a true blessing to be able to sing His praises. Fortunately *I* wasn't asked to sing any that set me off. (In the morning service, the choir anthem was "Salute to the Armed Forces" which includes a verse of all 5 of the service branches. I was fine, except for the Navy's Anchors Aweigh - couldn't sing that at all.) Then about 50 of us, all who had had some part in the evening's presentation, got up front and sang "Amazing Grace" (all 4 verses, from memory, parts, with the congregation). That was powerful. Wonderful fun.
I bought a cast-aluminum glider for the front porch (seats for 2). It's nice. Diehl would have liked it. When we were in Milton, FL we rented an apt. on Escambia Bay. The main house had a swing for 2 facing the bay, and we sat out there a lot, the four months we were there.
Last night also a couple of people told me they thought about Diehl singing, and one lady said it was obvious right away that we had such a special love. So although I cry more again lately, I am not 'down' - thankful for having had his love. But I do miss him.
Thank you for letting me talk. You (Dave)vare one of three people, besides his sister and cousin, that knew him for longer than when we have been here, that I can talk to.
I have been thinking about this all week. Although I do not myself write poems or songs, as a photographer I know that sometimes when I am trying too hard to do something to express *me* (aside from the business end), that it doesn't turn out nearly as well as when it flows out from me, from a reaction, and communicates non-verbally to others. For it is not really interesting to me if it does not communicate something to others.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite books is "Singing With Understanding" because it tells the story behind 101 favorite hymns. "It Is Well With My Soul" is one that Diehl, my daughter, and I sang a capella shortly before he died. Horatio Spafford, a wealthy attorney with lots of real estate lost all his holdings in the Chicago Fire which was right after his son died. So he sent his wife and four remaining children to England (he was supposed to have gone but business intervened), but the ship they were on, and his wife was the only one of his family left. He wrote this probably near where his four daughters drowned "When sorrows like sea billows roll...". No matter what life threw at him, he still focussed on Christ's redeeming and His coming again, and had the confidence that since Christ was in charge, "Even so, it is well with my soul!"