Image: Early morning our first full day the beach next to our hotel

 

Written before breakfast

29/11/2016 - 8) Morning sky grey, wind blowing

but I’m knowing

I’m where I’m meant to be,

walking on the beach of the Sea of Galilee

 

Putting myself in the scene

9) Jesus said follow me, there’s something you need to see

He took with him Peter James and John

From a distance I followed on

On a mountain top they made a stop

Where I saw his robe glow, whiter than the purest snow

Then there came Moses and Elijah walking

With Jesus they began talking

Peter exited said with glee

“Let us build shrines, one for each of the three”

Then a cloud fell on us and the light became dim

I heard a voice say “This is my beloved son, listen to him”.

Then Moses and Elijah were no more just Jesus and us four

As we came away Jesus said

“Tell no one of this until I’m risen from the dead”

 

10) Jesus was in Cana, Galilee, talking with others at a wedding spree

The wine ran out, further celebrations looked in doubt

Mary went to Jesus and said “things aren’t fine; they’ve run out of wine”.

The wedding host has run out of wine

He replied “Nothing to do with me, I’m busy can’t you see?

And understand Mother, my time is not yet at hand”

She said to the servants “see that man go and do what he tells you too”

Jesus pointed to six water pots saying “fill them to the brim

Draw some out find the steward and take it to him”.

To the steward it was passed

Who was puzzled as to why the host had kept the best till last

Jesus had turned the water into wine, was it a sign

Of Jesus showing what could be

As if to show, “Good things come to those who listen to me”.

 

11) From my balcony I can see

Lights shining on the far side of the Sea of Galilee

It’s been kind of grand, my first full day in the Holy Land

Our first destination, the Mount of Transfiguration

And the site of his first miracle to say the least

Changing the water to wine at the wedding feast

Then Nazareth to where it all begun

Where Mary conceived God’s beloved son

I’m on my hotel room balcony and now its night

It’s nearly time for dinner after which more poems to write

 

12) Gabriel on meeting Mary hailed her with a greeting

Saying “do not be distressed for among women you are blessed”

God has chosen you to be the one to bear his beloved son

Mary said “how can you be sure, for I have known no man before

Gabriel said “By the power of the most high I can tell,

You will bear his son and call him Emanuel”

God knows you will bring him up well

Joseph heard and to his dismay was ready to send her quietly away

To he parents place to save her from public disgrace

But Gabriel spoke to him in a dream saying “do not tarry

You and Mary go ahead and marry

In you God has put his trust, an earthly father to raise his son true and just

So they did as God had willed and the prophecy was fullfiled

 

13) Before his mission begun, he was a lowly carpenter’s son

Hands learning to craft the wood, hands that would be used for good

Hands for the tools that bored the holes,

Hands that would repair broken souls

Hands that would smooth with the plane

Hand that would heal the insane and make the sick well again

All these things would come to hand

By a prophet not accepted in his own land

 

30/11/2016 – 14) Morning prayers said, today we head

To see more of Jesus’ ministry around The Sea of Galilee

Make every minute count to where he did the Sermon on the Mount

Preaching; Blessed are the reviled, persecuted, meek, the down trodden

To those assembled of one accord

Through Our Father in Heaven they already have their reward

And they heard and took to heart his word

Knowing full well whatever their pain and strife

The would see God and through him have eternal life

 

15) And so we carried on to the sea Jesus walked upon

To where people gathered and heard his word

Where he had said to the fishermen, follow me and then

I will make you fishers of men

Where he spoke to many

And when they hungered for food there wasn’t any

Save for a few loaves and fishes, bring them to me he said

He blessed them and it was said five thousand were fed

As if The Lord really did give them their daily bread

And the place where it was said

Jesus breakfasted with his disciples after he rose from the dead

Where Johns Gospel will tell

Peter rose to Jesus’ challenge and rose to it well

Knowing Jesus’ trust would not be lost

When he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

 

16) So to Capernaum the place, Jesus used as his base

The hearts of the people reaching through his miracles and teaching

But unlike in Jesus’ day no Centurion approached us to say

“Lord my servant lies gravely ill; please heal him if it be your will”

Jesus said I “I will come and see”

The Centurion said “it doesn’t have to be

For I am a man of authority with soldiers under me

What I say they obey

And of you I can tell, just say the word and he will be well”

Amazed Jesus said “Never have I found faith so great, not in Israel of late”

And to The Centurion “Go home and you will see

What you have requested will be

And through his belief in Jesus’ power

His servant was healed that very same hour

 

I read this for the first time ever on this day whilst on a boat on the Sea of Galilee

17) Across the Sea of Galilee they set sail not expecting a gale

A gentle breeze blowing them along

Then shock as the boat began to rock

Well away from the shore it rocked even more

As the wind blew stronger it seemed the boat wouldn’t last much longer

Fear in their eyes thinking the boat may capsize

Jesus obliviously sleeping they woke him almost weeping

Saying Master “Do you not care for our despair

there blows a gale we fear the boat may fail”

Jesus rose with a weary sigh, looking first at the sky

Then to the sea and what may be as the boat began to fill

Stretching out his arms saying “peace be still”

At once the sea became calm as the storm abated causing no further harm

His disciple’s looked in awe at what they just saw

Wondering as the boat carried on its way

Who is this man whom the wind and waves obey?

 

18) Time for us to set sail and leave the shore

From where many had left before

This time no storm to disturb the tranquillity

As we sailed The Sea of Galilee

Stopping for a reading where Jesus willed the ridging storm to be stilled

A prayer of raise given a hymn that our foolish ways be forgiven

And of the storm a rhyme written as if in Jesus’ time

With more stories coming to the fore of what Jesus had done before

Not even the rain that fell as we made our way

To land would spoil another great day

 

19) Time to turn in but not before

A last look at the lights on Galilees distant shore

For a few days part of our roam

A beacon leading fishermen home

And tomorrow we follow more

Of the footsteps of Jesus where he went before