Jerusalem Road
The journey is hard on the Jerusalem Road
where we are graced with stories of old
and whisper His name
The journey is hard on the Jerusalem Road
where we are graced with stories of old
The virgin girl with belly round
searching for a place where room could be found
No longer on the back of a beast
walking slowly with the one inside
who would die for the least
As she traces her fingers along David’s city wall
the quickening continues,
the Child is near
She leans against the rock of stone with fear
she rests her head,
her breath returns
For a place to rest her head she yearns
The journey is hard along the Jerusalem Road
Her fingers continue trace the stone
Another entrance!
...and still they are alone
They hope and pray for an open door
but must continue on seeking some more
She rests again.... her song is gone
her breath returns.... but not for long
The inn is just up ahead, Joseph says
desperate to quicken his stride
but instead stays behind with bride
They come at last to the place of rest
Jacobs Inn
I’m sorry, he says,
we have no room within
But you're welcome to check the stable out back
so Joseph walked along the track
The path that many had walked before
to bring their beast when they could go no more
They settle in
the miracle begins
The beginning of the Beginning
of our own Jerusalem Roads
Where “it is finished" is to be born
weary and worn
No bed, no bath, no food.... with dirty feet
the new mom and dad don’t get any sleep
The baby is born and begins to weep
Heavens Light! the Indescribable Gift...
A world so unaware
of the gift of glory she just bore
Two became three
and three became four
As shepherds were told the story of Glory
they came to behold
what they have been told
The Christ, The Messiah, Savior, and King,
the one of whom the angels sing
They wanted to share
so they went and found some more that cared
No pen, no paper,
only The Heavens declare!
So Mary used tool of which she was born
she treasured the things upon her heart
For the things stored there,
she never will part
She pondered the glory of the miracle she bore
Oh! How she wished she could give Him more...
She looked into the eyes of Reedeming Grace
and traced her finger along His sweet face
The journey was hard
in sea of stone
on that Jerusalem Road
But here He is at last!
the Prince of Peace,
Hope Himself!
born to bring deliverances
She wondered while she whispered His name so sweet
Who is this King of Glory...
Where is His fame?
She thought about the journey afar,
as the wise men elsewhere studied the stars
Where yet another Road to Jerusalem begins.....
So on this Christmas....
As we journey on our own Jerusalem Roads
each carrying our own heavy loads
Might we like Mary pause just to wonder, and ponder
In our own Christmas stories
might we remember why He came
For deliverence, redemption, and glory
to conquer sin in our own selfish story
On the Jerusalem Road there will be pain,
but may it all be for Heaven’s gain!
In between all the busy
are lives everywhere
Some with hearts of stone
who say “They don’t care..."
They still bear His image,
if we dare to peek....
The lonely, the hurting, the sad, and the weak,
or the proud, and the pompous, pretentious of sort
Who have no earthly idea
what in their hearts truly seek
What about all the bitterness we keep?
those relationships that just make us loose sleep
or weep....
They are broken and begging for life anew
but apologies, overlooking offenses, reconciliation, and forgiveness are few
Will I see past the busy
and deal with the bitter
Or will I continue to pittle
with all the things that prove futile
Will I camp out in all that useless stuff
Hoping that ‘it’ will finally whisper:
“You are good enough...”
Will I continue to use my gifts trying to prove
what Jesus Himself has already proven?
Or will I turn to the One
who has already won....
Who gives:
Strength for today,
Hope for tomorrow
Guidance, mercy, and grace
Not all the souls we will see this Christmas, and past
have within them that which will last
They will walk through our doors
seeking more..... lest the know it.
We will share a smile and embrace...
But will be look past their face?
To share the story
of Divine Glory
Some hearts will be hard as the stone in David’s city
some will feel they are all alone, and want pity
But they are not a lot unlike Mary,
and that great wall she embraced
Looking for an opening that leads to deliverance,
rest, an end to the pain, and life anew
They may not know it,
but see it we do
Is there room in my heart for the mess they will bring?
Can I see past the visible to see the real sin?
Past the lifestyle choices, the language, the dress,
and that pretentious grin- dare I see deeper within....
There it is, the sin of all sins
Unbelief.... the place where all our roads begin.
Or am I too worried with all of my “musts?”
...for sure they will interrupt all of my fuss
Dare I press past
the busy and the bitter
Risk reputation, status,
or be called a quitter
LORD, grant me purpose
give me focus
To navigate the sea of stone all around me.
This Road to Jerusalem is hard
remind me of it’s worth
That I have been bought at a price,
and given new birth!
LORD, remind me along the path
not to fear humble holy places
or the difficult faces
Because even when we are
weary and worn
You can end pain and let deliverance
and new life be born
Help me wait for Your timing, Your grace, and Your glory
and give me perspective to see past my own story
Let us be salt and a light
on this Christmas night.
To tell of your goodness, mercy, and grace
with every single open door that we face
In this world filled with busy and bustle
Help me not be consumed by the hustle
Instead, find me at Your feet each day
seeking direction, promise, peace
and surrendering my way....
For this Road to Jerusalem isn’t an easy race
But in the end... just like Mary,
we’ll get to trace His sweet face.
Advent Season 2018
Margo Wookey
Poetic Story
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