North and South Winds, awake!
North and South Winds, awake!
Come down from His spice-laden mountains.
Dark clouds hide the sun, yet full they come with latter rains.
Come and awaken our love!
Blow on our garden that its fragrance may spread far and wide.
Listening to Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter— The Bringer of Jollity” from his “The Planets” suite, inspires on how Easter and the coming resurrection— points to the coming redemption of all time, space and matter— the soon flooding of all creation with the Spirit of Justice, Love and Beauty through Christ our ComingKing.
The far reaches of the universe— I want to explore, and see the birth of a thousand stars. I want to see the glorifying of all earth’s creatures in the coming new world of perfect love! What we seek are visions of beatific wonder, the uniting of heaven and earth in Perfect Love. “With unfailing love, He satisfies your longing, and beyond every star— establish your name in the kingdom of my Son.”
There is much I cannot see, darkened by this unknowing cloud.
Yet the wind blows and through all the earth’s beauty I hear the sound of a new world whispering my name.
Be still my soul, for in the sacrament of this present moment, His kingdom comes. So I say Father, may your kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
“Victor” over our foes— death, sin and the devil, does the Spirit declare our risen Lord!
Victory does the Spirit of Perfect Love declare for all fish of the seas;
For all birds of the air, for all creatures of Christ ourKing!
Victory the Spirit declares for the royal image-bearers of God Almighty!
For the renewing of all creation— our shame He rids.
Our voice He now restores, and pours on us the glory of His name—
Jesus, our coming King!
Green leaves, blue sky, morning star.
One of my favourite colours is green because so often as I look into the trees, into every leaf, into the forest, and into every plant rising up from the earth, I am seeing God creating new life and a new order emerging beyond this present darkness.
It is thekingdomofHis Sonbreaking forth that dispels the darkness and says to you who are barren, “What was lost, I am restoring to you.
I give you a new name.
I will give you a heritage— a posterity that is better than the women who bore ten sons. What I give to you will endure even beyond the farthest star you see through the night sky, even to the morning dawn.”
I am also fond of blue because of the ocean, the sky, and beyond the sky are stars.
When those stars are no more, we will replace their brightness, for beyond them are the words of God.
The Lord God has given me an instructed tongue;
to know the word that sustains the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens my ear to listen.
He opened my ear, and I have not drawn back.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
And I know I will not be put to shame, for He who vindicates me is near.
Now will I lift up my voice with a shout, and proclaim His righteousness in the assembly of His Beloved.
The faithfulness of Jesus—
Disarms the powers of fear, worry and shame;
Strips naked the illusions of this world’s pomp;
Bestows confidence in prayer, and empowers us with the Spirit of unflinching courage, unwavering tenacity, and undying love.
In the rising of my strength;
Love that will not let me go, wounded me.
Low he brought me down.
But in my weakness, my feet He made strong—
Here, on a rock, no man shall move.
Here my heart His Spirit pierced;
With flames bright in hope of my coming King;
Love that will not let go.
I heard the voice of Jesus calling;
He spoke my name.
Across the waters and through the trees,
My path He lit;
He showed His face—
I saw the glory of His name.
I heard the voice of Jesus calling;
He spoke my name.
Beside me and before me,
Behind me and around me,
I hear the voice of Jesus calling—
I see the glory of His name.
The wonders you have done; many they are.
These for us you planned, which none can recount.
A new song in our mouths have you filled;
Many will see and hear, and in the Lord put their trust.
Here we are, with bodies prepared; our ears have you pierced.
Your will we desire, for in our hearts is written the Word of our God.
“Among all nations I will be exalted;
Still your heart on me and know I am God.
Within your own heart, there flows a river— that makes glad the downcast soul.”
In the land of the living, wait for the Lord;
Take heart through the seeking of His face.
For though mother and father forsake you, the Lord will receive you to Himself—
Teaching you His ways and leading you in straight paths.
Monte Lee Rice, PhD 