You first knit me together

In my mother’s womb

Fearfully

Wonderfully

Created

In Your image -

Spirit, soul, body.

By the time

I arrived

Bang

On earth

You redeemed me

Already.

You loved me

Even before

I arrived here.

Saved

Rescued

Delivered

Healed

Restored and

Reconciled to God.

You made possible

Peaceful relations with all.

You who flung the stars

Into galaxies

Far and wide

Beyond human vision

And comprehension

Became flesh

Resided on earth

Awhile.

You offered your body on the cross

A perfect sacrifice

To remove all dross

In us.

Great wounds

Caused by cruel nails

In your hands and feet

Gushed holy blood

To set us free -

Sin, sickness, death, and the devil

Have lost their hold on me.

You who inhabit eternity

Entered time

Slamming the door on death

By dying

You opened Eternity’s door for mortals

By rising

Such unfathomable love.

Jesus

Last Adam

Messiah

Anointed One

How can we thank you?

You broke Satan’s power

Over us once and for all

Blessed Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

You planned it

All

Before we were born.

What can I say?

Lord, I love you!

You shall have the first place in my life.

Please help us love God and neighbor

Always.

Because you first loved us.

© Hepsimp 2022

Posted September 2022

You found a beautiful shell by the sea

Look at its glossy pink shiny cover

Isn’t it so pretty - you admire it…

Wait a minute, it’s only a shell.

What is important is the pearl

Inside.

I bought a ring at the Jeweller

It came in a beautiful case

Velvet trimmings soft to touch

Mesmerized I held it in my hand

Until I opened the box to look inside

There lay a beautiful ring of purest gold

Studded with sparkling diamonds.

In awe and admiration

I put it on my finger and

Dropped the case down

It is of no worth.

It was just designed to hold the treasure.

The human body a shell

We unduly parade, preen and pamper

Will join the dirt from which molded

One day.

But within the case is something invaluable

Inside every human being is a precious soul

Most powerfully created in the image of God.

Ordained to live eternally

Guard it with all your might.

It has an eternal destiny

Either to everlasting joy

Or eternal sorrow.

God graciously gave us a choice to make

The Key is in one name -

JESUS.

The Lamb of God slain on the cross for all.

Posted July 2022

© Hepsimp 2022

Unless the eye catch fire,

The God will not be seen.

Unless the ear catch fire

The God will not be heard.

Unless the tongue catch fire

The God will not be named.

Unless the heart catch fire,

The God will not be loved.

Unless the mind catch fire,

The God will not be known.

-William Blake (1757-1827) 

A Poem by Hepsi

Daddy, I think of you today with fondness

Your strong voice and your kindness

Integrity and godliness you pursued

Tithing and giving to the poor

All your days.

You did not much care for material wealth

Yet steadfastly believed in mansions in Heaven

Where you live eternally now.

I remember you got up to pray

Along with the birds every day.

We saw you kneeling down to pray

Each day every care on the Heavenly Father you did lay.

You became my spiritual guide and mentor

When I had a problem or care

In school or elsewhere

I’d go up to share with you

Then you laid your hand and prayed -

The burden rolled away.

No matter how busy - you were available for me

A selfless father - man of prayer.

Twenty years have gone by since you left us

But the sweet memories of you

Remain afresh in the hearts of mom, sister, brother, and I

Dad, we LOVE YOU.

You are the Best Dad Ever.

[On his 20th Death Anniversary – Rev. C.D. Andrew passed away in India on October 2nd, 2001]

Posted October 2021

© Hepsimp 2021

Turning to One Another

- A poem on Community by Margaret Wheatley

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.

Notice what you care about.

Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.

Talk to people you know.

Talk to people you don’t know.

Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear.

Expect to be surprised.

Treasure curiosity more than certainty.

Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.

Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.

Know that creative solutions come from new connections.

Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people closer together.

Trust that meaningful conversations can change the world.

Rely on human goodness. Stay together.

[I composed the poem in 2009 after I woke up from a vision.]

Before the dawn of the new year

I saw a vision rare

The sea turned upon the land

As by an unseen hand

Moving purposefully.

Wave upon wave of angry gray

Engulfing everything on its way

Molten electricity consuming,

Devouring everything.

Is this the wrath of God unleashed? 

I muse.

Confounded at the unnatural sight

I wondered what is mankind’s plight

Is this famine? financial crisis or a plague?

Words from Psalm 46

Sprang to my mind.

‘God is our refuge and strength,

An ever-present help in trouble,

Therefore we will not fear, …’

I stood in a building tall

Brightly lit

Among Christians

From all nations, hopeful who

Seemed to live inside.

Trembling I awoke

At midnight’s stroke

Fearing to sleep again

For the angry waves did still remain

Before my mind’s eye.

Yet one thing I could do was pray

Whatever calamity was on its way

Peace descended; fear ceased.

Words of the Psalm

Assured me stay calm.

[The poem is taken from the story of the Samaritan woman of John 4. I invite you to travel with me to a different land, a different age and a different time.]

Hear the testimony of a woman of long ago

She was from Sychar town in Samaria.

Let’s call her Priscilla.

Her life seemed hopeless and meaningless

People labelled her ‘a sinner’ and a ‘castaway.’

Born into poverty Priscilla was

Trapped in its dark dungeon

Unable to free herself from her bondage

Is vexed.

Yet she had dreams impossible

To lead an honourable life -

Worthy, respected, purposeful.

Is there hope of such a miracle?

She was only a woman, a castaway, and a sinner

One hot afternoon

Weary with her thoughts, she picked up her pots

Proceeded to Jacob’s well.

For that was her usual hour when she would meet no other

She chose it on purpose to avoid

The village women’s spiteful gossip.

Reaching the well Priscilla is surprised to find some company today.

She had recognized him by his garments – A Jewish Rabbi sitting by Jacob’s Well.

Hurriedly Priscilla set about her usual business

Filling her many water pots.

“Can you give me a drink?” said the Rabbi.

Priscilla looked up. His voice was gentle, his eyes kind.

Yet puzzled she thought,

“Who is this Jew who knew not

That Jews and Samaritans had no dealings?!”

She boldly questioned him.

The Rabbi makes conversation without prejudice.

Theology, ecclesiology and her personal history they discussed.

Without inhibition, Priscilla listens in rapt attention.

“True worshippers will worship God in Spirit and truth.”

“Now the time has come,” he announced - voice earnest and passionate.

Worship is not about a place or an institution

God has come to change the human situation

The Divine desires a relationship with every human

He seemed to say.

The Rabbi promised her ‘the gift of God’ - Living water.

Excited to discuss theology with the Rabbi, Priscilla confidently relates,

“The Messiah is coming; he will explain everything.”

The Rabbi looked into Priscilla’s eyes deeply, he said,

“I, the one speaking to you – I am he.”

Priscilla stood speechless with wonder, rooted to the spot, amazed!

Just then his disciples quickly gathered around.

Dropping her pots to the ground, she ran into town.

Tears of joy welled up in her eyes: “It is true I’ve met the Messiah!”

The Christ met her personally,

She began to live victoriously.

People no longer called her names

She was known as ‘the woman who met the Messiah.’

She went to draw natural water

And returns with the Living water.

Her testimony was: “Come see a man, who knows all about me, Isn’t this the Messiah?”

Priscilla faced no more oppression.

She was now a woman with a mission

And a purpose in life.

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if,  full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

On Courtesy

Only the courteous can love,

but it is love that makes them courteous.

C.S.Lewis

On Humility

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,

but thinking of yourself less.

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

C.S. Lewis

On Leadership

You can't force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves. -  Phil Jackson.

Develop the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness in life it is immensely beneficial. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5: I6 -18, we are encouraged to Rejoice always, pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances.

I found the title below at a difficult time, reading which had tremendously blessed me, I would like to share some excerpts:

How grateful I am for the individuals and activities that "keep my soul steady" - spiritual guides and times of silence, yoga, meditation, prayer, journaling, long walks on the beach, meals with family and friends, good books, and great music, playtime with children, conversations over tea, opportunities to give thanks - like this one!

-Anonymous

Open your eyes and look around! Beauty is EVERYWHERE. It is in a blade of grass...the dew-drops of morning...the tenderness between mother and child. When we dig deep, beauty emerges. Take the time to appreciate the beauty in all things.

Life is beauty...and you are beautiful.

-Anne O. Kubitsky

I am thankful for sunlight.

I am thankful for difference

Which reminds us we are all the same.

I am thankful for love

Fighting against hate.

Most of all I am thankful for freedom.

May we use it to recognize who we truly are!

-Anonymous

When I reflect on Freedom, what comes up in me is freedom from myself, the "self" that sees me as being separate from the world. I have realized freedom in the infinite universal space within myself that is love and unlimited power (creative force), and it is through this foundation that I choose seeing over neglect, ease over crisis, and love over fear. I am grateful for these gifts of freedom, as they help me take conscious responsibility for my thoughts and actions so that I may be in loving service to others.

- Lisa Sobolewski

Gratitude is my life's work. It has changed my life.

-Jody Prusi

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."

-Mahatma Gandhi

"Congratulations! You're alive! If that's not something to smile about, I don't know what is."

- Anonymous

"I'm grateful for people who see with their hearts."

-Donna Marie Joyce, Esq.

"I'm grateful for second chances!"

- Wendy Natter

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expresssion is unique."

-Martha Graham

Time is very slow for those who wait.

Very fast for those who are scared.

Very long for those who lament.

Very short for those who celebrate.

But for those who love, time is eternal.

-William Shakespeare