Through vivid imagery and rich prose, the poems in Reflections of a Searching Heart bring the Bible’s key stories to life for young and old alike.

These story poems transform famous biblical figures into familiar friends. From the creation of the world to Christ’s birth and resurrection, J. F. Brindley celebrates the miracle of Christianity through her deeply moving poems. Watch as Moses is drawn from the water, witness Daniel as he survives the lions’ den, and feel the warmth of Joseph’s coat of many colors.

In poems on Christmas, join Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem, celebrate Jesus’s birth with lowly shepherds and wealthy wise men, and flee to Egypt to escape King Herod’s wrath. Poems on Easter chronicle the remarkable time of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Come into the upper room and pray with the Lord and his disciples. Stand at the cross and the empty tomb, and witness the triumphal ascension of Jesus.

Reflecting a deep religious devotion, these prayers and praise poems provide a clear view of God’s love and majesty. This beloved treasury will strengthen your faith and provide comfort and confidence that our heavenly Father loves His creation!

Reflections of a Searching Heart

By J. F. Brindley

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 J. F. Brindley
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-8094-5

Contents

Introduction: A Searcher..........................1Bible Stories.....................................3Creation..........................................5Out from the Water................................9The Lion's Den....................................15The Coat..........................................19Witness...........................................27Christmas Stories.................................31The Light.........................................33The Night.........................................41Easter Stories....................................45It was Just a Donkey..............................47Questions.........................................51When the Time was Right...........................57A Searcher's Challenge............................61The Street Finally Taken Home.....................63No Man Can Stop the Wind..........................65Spectator Christian...............................67It's Not Too late.................................71Haughty Eyes......................................73What Can I Bring..................................75Worship And Adoration.............................77Our Holy Father...................................79God's Voice.......................................81God's Way.........................................83Christ Church.....................................85Heart Eyes........................................87Jesus.............................................89Call on the Lord..................................91A Renewal.........................................93Bedtime Prayer....................................95Last Moments......................................97Closing Prayer....................................99

Chapter One

    Creation

    A God too amazing for us to understand
    created the sky, the sea, and the land.
    He created all plant life, fruit, and flowers.
    This creation was done in just a few hours.
    Next, He filled the sea, the land, and the sky
    with animals that could swim, run, and fly.
    God knew it was time, so he created man
    to have dominion over sky, sea, and land.
    Carefully he picked up a hand full of sod,
    and man was molded by our glorious God.
    It was God's own breath that man first breathed,
    and the name "Adam" from God he received.


    Now, Adam was given an important task—
    to name all the animals from the first to the last.
    All the animals in the air, on the land, and below
    were lined up by God in one very long row.
    Every size, shape, and color was represented by God's creatures—
    whether tiny, gigantic, bright colored, or muted their features.
    Each animal presented himself in all of his splendor,
    patiently waiting for Adam his name to render.


    The mighty lion with his magnificent mane
    was standing in line behind the whooping crane.
    The kangaroo, the beaver, and the koala bear
    were careful not to step on the turtle or the hare.
    From muskrat, bobcat, tsetse fly, and toad,
    to elephant and inch worm their names from Adam flowed.
    Their names were as different as every animal's shape—
    the penguin, toucan, the horse, and the ape.
    The many colorful creatures delighted Adam's eyes.
    God had chosen colors to sparkle or disguise.


    Adam loved the blue of the peacock and the gray of the slug,
    the yellow canary, and the black dotted ladybug,
    the red of the fox, the bright green of the parrot,
    the pink of the flamingo, the soft brown of the ferret,
    the sleek black panther, the snow-white swan,
    the striped zebra, and the chameleon.
    The line seemed to be moving very, very slowly,
    through dragonfly, magpie, centipede, and crow.
    Finally, Adam came to the end of the line.
    The very last animal he named "porcupine."


    The newly named animals spread throughout the earth,
    and many were soon waiting their first baby's birth.
    Only Adam was left completely alone,
    so while Adam slept, God took one rib bone
    from Adam's side, and created a new life.
    God named her Eve and made her Adam's wife.
    Dear God, we give you all of our praise
    for the world you created in just six short days.


    Out from the Water

    The little reed basket floated in the Nile.
    Inside slept a blessed and beautiful child.
    A desperate mother stood on the shore
    and prayed as she had never prayed before.
    This plan had come to her in a dream—
    put the babe in a basket and float him downstream.
    Now she reflected on what she had done.
    Had she thrown away her own infant son?
    The tar and pitch on the boat might leak;
    the baby could drown while it was asleep.
    What if the basket turned over or sank?
    All these thoughts came as she stood on the bank.
    She knew that the river was a dangerous place
    and she had acted in such great haste.
    What if Pharaoh's daughter didn't come today?
    Or if the basket was ignored or just pushed away?
    Her daughter Miriam watched the small boat,
    as it bobbled and rocked but somehow stayed afloat.
    She hurried away to pray and weep all alone.
    It was the saddest moment she'd ever known.


    Miriam waited and watched, for hours, it seemed.
    As the day grew warmer, inside the basket it steamed.
    A crocodile eyed the basket as it slowly slid by.
    Now Miriam prayed the babe wouldn't wake and cry.
    The sun's boiling heat was directly overhead,
    when Pharaoh's daughter came, dressed in purple and red.
    Her giggling servant girls were leading the way
    down to the water's edge to bathe on that day.
    "Bring me that basket, the one half hidden by the reeds,"
    Pharaoh's daughter commanded as the girls tended her needs.
    One sturdy servant lifted the basket from the water
    and carefully carried it to the feet of Pharaoh's daughter.
    Removing the lid, the servant drew back and sighed.


    All were amazed to see the baby inside.
    Miriam held her breath and she closed her eyes.
    Pharaoh's daughter would determine if the baby lived or died.
    Miriam thought of her most daring mother
    who'd trusted this Egyptian princess would love Miriam's brother.
    The plan had seemed so wonderful just yesterday.
    but now Miriam feared she should just run away.


    Carefully lifting the baby from its little cradle boat,
    Pharaoh's daughter suddenly felt a catch in her throat.
    It was a Hebrew baby boy—she could see by its dress—
    but he was beautiful as he opened his mouth to express
    his unhappiness at someone for disturbing his rest,
    for his frets became loud cries and tears ran from his eyes.
    "Hot, hungry, wet, and scared, I do surmise."
    Pharaoh's daughter, to soothe the baby, tried
    to hold him close and pat his sweet head.
    "He is a gift from the gods," she said.
    "But he is a Hebrew," one servant boldly declared.
    "Hebrew baby boys are not to be spared."
    She had heard her father's edict to kill Hebrew boys,
    but until now her father's edict had only been noise.
    She knew the number of slaves worried him.
    By murdering their male babies, he could control them.
    "This gift given to me will not be denied.
    This babe is now my son and with me will abide."
    She clutched the baby tighter and said nothing more.
    She could manage her father; she had done it before.


    Now Miriam left her hiding place,
    and, nearing Pharaoh's daughter, she fell on her face.
    "Great One, send me to find a wet nurse for him."
    The Egyptians were deadly quiet—not a sound came from them.
    Finally, Pharaoh's daughter said, "Rise and speak to me.
    Why, you are only a child yourself, I see."
    "Great One, many a Hebrew mother has lost her son.
    If you will send me, I will find a special one
    to nurse the baby as if he were her own
    and then return him when he is near grown."
    "Oh, yes, I'm quite sure what you say is true;
    go now and hurry; I'll wait here for you."
    Miriam ran as quickly as a deer.
    She left so fast that she didn't hear
    a servant request to follow the child
    to find the Hebrew mother so full of guile
    that she would tempt Pharaoh's daughter this way,
    but Pharaoh's daughter knew just what to say.
    "The woman who comes will protect the child
    and return him to me in a very short while."


    Now Miriam and her mother neared.
    Pharaoh's daughter at the Hebrew woman peered.
    "The gods have given this child to me.
    He needs a wet nurse, as you can see.
    Can you perform this important task?"
    'Twas the question Pharaoh's daughter asked.
    "Oh, yes, Great One, it would be my joy
    to nurse and care for this baby boy."
    "Then take him home and I'll provide
    for him as long as he does abide
    in your care, but prepare my son for the day
    when he returns to me to stay."
    She took a ring from her right hand
    and strung it on a leather band.
    "Put this ring on the babe's neck to signify
    to Pharaoh's soldiers he is not to die."
    His true mother took the babe into her open arms.
    Gone now were all her mother's fears and alarms.
    She knew her son would live to become a man,
    but his importance she didn't yet understand.


    What she did know was that her God was good.
    She remembered the spot on the bank where she'd stood
    and prayed that her child would be spared,
    but she most certainly was not prepared
    to see her child, who'd been condemned to die,
    raised up and accepted by Egypt's most high,
    not as a servant but as an adopted son
    whose life of great privilege had just begun.
    Her day, begun in the dawn with fear and tribulation,
    had ended at dusk with joy and elation.
    God had answered her prayers and more,
    for her faithfulness and trust had meant a downpour
    of blessings from the Holy Father above
    to prove to her, and to us, the power of God's love.


    The Lion's Den

    In the Old Testament, Daniel was put in the lion's den,
    his love and prayers to his God—his only sin.
    Daniel knew he would live if it were God's will.
    If he died, he knew he was God's child still.
    He sank to his knees and began to pray,
    thanking God for His blessings that very day.
    Now, God closed the mouths of those hungry beasts.
    That was totally out of the lion's character, to say the least.
    Those powerful jaws and huge dangerous paws
    were made to clutch and devour any and all who dared
    to approach and enter their blood-drenched lair.
    But, now gentle, these lions curled around Daniel's feet,
    and Daniel lay amidst them to go to sleep.
    While Daniel and the lions peacefully slept,
    his family and friends quietly prayed and wept.
    They prayed that God would somehow let Daniel survive,
    but they were amazed when Daniel walked out alive.
    "How did you do it?" they asked of him.
    "I did nothing; it was God who answered our prayers," he told them.


    Have you ever been in a lion's den?
    You may answer no, but I ask you about when ...
    you got caught between two warring friends,
    each expecting to be the one you defend.
    Or when your adult children expect your total support
    of their decisions, when you believe they're at fault?
    Have you ever felt your job was eating you alive
    by an eighty-hour week instead of the promised nine to five?
    Have you ever caused dissension by a stand you took?
    Expecting approval—not expecting that dirty look!
    Have you ever been cornered and forced to choose
    blindly, without knowing if you will win or lose?
    Have you ever been pushed by conflicting beliefs
    when your mind and your soul each seeks
    the answers and choices you will have to make
    when the central core of your being is at stake?
    If you have ever faced these challenges, my friend,
    you have certainly been in the lion's den.


    I don't expect Daniel really knew why God placed him,
    a true believer and servant, in a place so grim.
    But I believe Daniel's life is a lesson God's taught again and again—
    that He's in control right now, just as back then.
    We just need to get out of his way and put our faith in Him.
    At times He will send pelting rain, heavy snow, and mighty wind,
    but they are just reminders that we depend on him.
    When we pray, He will deliver us from the horrible places we are in
    and will ultimately take us home to be with Him.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Reflections of a Searching Heartby J. F. Brindley Copyright © 2011 by J. F. Brindley. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.