The Baptism of Jesus

Jael

Photo courtesy of Akn on Unsplash

                    Judges 4-5

 With Heber, severed from my kin,
        In wild and distant lands,
My husband’s friends I welcome in
        And serve with willing hands.

Content to lead a peaceful life,
        Though far from all I’ve known—
Til from the men I heard of strife
        That chilled me to the bone.

For Israel, with whom we dwell,
        Is turning to the Lord,
But Sisera, their faith to quell,
        Was taking up his sword.

Conflicted, inner war I waged
        With all that’s dear to me;
While soldiers in the battle raged,
        I chose my loyalty.

Though with the armies of the land,
        I don’t expect a part,
With Moses and his God to stand
        Was settled in my heart.

As Sisera from battle fled,
        I bid him be my guest;
With milk and butter richly fed,
        He wearily took rest.

He didn’t know my quiet soul
        Hid rugged strength of mind,
Or that my God-appointed role
        Was of a lethal kind.

The unsuspecting general slept
        And bid me watch the door,
But with my tools I softly crept
        And nailed him to the floor.

His wicked ways I couldn’t brook;
        I used what chance I had
To slay the terrifying crook
        And make God’s people glad.

Now some may think my methods wrong;
        My deed they can’t applaud,
But blessed am I in Deborah’s song—
        And honored of my God.

Esther

Photo by Narges Moaddab on Unsplash

I didn’t ask to be a queen,
I would have rather gone unseen.
An orphaned child of immigrants,
Expecting insignificance,
I never dreamed of palace life
Or wished to be a royal wife.

But, chosen by the king and crowned,
I’m steeped in luxury all around,
And stuck behind a palace wall
To wait my husband’s beck and call,
While Mordecai’s outside the gate
Just hoping he can learn my fate.

Though not a circumstance I’d choose,
Despondent sorrow I refuse.
By blessed Mordecai well taught
To be content whate’er my lot,
I’ve found the courage to rejoice
And trust the providential choice.

But now I face a greater ill
That makes my hardships keener still,
For Haman will the kingdom use
To vent his hatred on the Jews.
I feel a weighty need to act
Before my people are attacked.

I’m scared to go before the king.
His law is death for such a thing,
But I’ve been set in such a place
As could be used to save my race,
And come at such a time as this,
I dare not cave to cowardice.

Thus I, outside my comfort zone,
With firm resolve, approach the throne.
When in his presence I appear,
He grants me favor to draw near
And make what seemed a strange appeal—
That Haman join us for a meal.

Supported by my people’s prayers,
I catch the villain unawares,
The king with anger towards him burns,
And fate in one sweet moment turns.
Vile Haman falls in deep disgrace,
And Mordecai obtains his place.

It wasn’t following my dreams
That foiled the adversary’s schemes,
But rising up to meet demands
That fell in my unwilling hands,
Not seeking self or serving kings, —
Just faithfulness in little things.

 -Nita Brainard

Vashti

Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash

 In opulent display of wealth,
Ahasuerus made a feast
To show the glory of his realm
To both the greatest and the least.
His banners hung in colors bold,
And marble paved the floor’s design.
They drank from goblets made of gold,
      And stinted not on wine.

I, too, of luxuries took my fill
And celebrated like the king,
But when his vain, capricious will
Demanded an unrighteous thing
And asked to put me on display,
I scorned the pride of empty show
And risked my all to disobey
      When I refused to go.

With hastiness unparalleled,
In selfish fear and wounded pride,
The coward who was thus repelled
Forever put his wife aside.
I haven’t seethe king since then.
Another woman takes my place—
So fleeting is the praise of men,
     So vain, my pretty face.

-Nita Brainard, August 2021

Too Good to Be True

This was inspired by a friend who told me the gospel seemed too good to be true.

Photo credit: Rob Long on Unsplash

 

  Too Good to Be True

                 Ephesians 1 and 2

Too good to be true! I’m afraid to believe
That God cares enough about people like me
To offer salvation that we might receive
His life everlasting entirely free.

Chorus
Too good to be true; it’s too good to be true
And yet I believe it, By faith I receive it,
And walk in His blessings: Do you?

Too good to be true! But it’s true nonetheless.
The promises made by the world are all lies,
But God can be trusted, who’s ready to bless,
And gives us good gifts that I dare not despise.

Too good to be true, but He gave us His Son,
Who died for our sins and has risen above.
Predestined in Him, our position is won,
Adopted as children and wrapped in His love.

Too good to be true, but we stand on a Rock.
By faith, and not works, we are saved and sustained;
Made holy in Christ, we are able to walk
In works that the Father beforehand ordained.