Whiter Than Snow (poem)

(Note: This is another entry from the archives. For the purposes of historicity, I will leave in my original introduction and closing remarks from January 2011. It seems timely to post this poem since I again recently saw some snowfall that got me some time off from work. And the clean feeling snow leaves after it washes the world in white is always a great metaphor for the washing clean God does of every dirty heart that anyone proffers to Him in faith. :-))


Here's one last poem to wrap things up. This one was inspired by the wonderful snow storm God sent us that got me 2 1/2 days off from work and allowed me time to stay home and work on further writing and other pursuits. This poem was written as a reflection on waking up to a snow day and the picture that God gives us with the invitation to reason it out- and it is the best, most reasonable deal out there- how He can make our vile, filthy, blood-red hearts as clean and pure and white as snow- and cleaner and whiter.

Whiter Than Snow
(poem by Nathan Ludwick 1/10/ 2011)
(Isaiah 1:18)

What amazing transformation transpires in the night
As we slumber and then awaken to a world of white
The joy and wonderment light our faces with a warm glow
For the ground's fresh carpet of clean soft snow
Everything somehow seems free, new and alive
The world feels at peace and love spreads far and wide
As I traverse the diamonds beset with beads of pearl
I look to the Heavens and think "What a Wonderful World!"
And I make a snow angel and hear a song in the air
The song all creation's been singing that I love to hear
A song of hope and courage, of light and good cheer
Which makes me think of the prophets' and sages' contemplation
Of a love that bears all and offers us all this invitation
Mired in rags stained with filth and dirt though we be
Our misdeeds red as our faces, like blood running down a tree
As we embrace The Lamb, He clothes us with His wool and though
Our sins a study in scarlet, He transforms us whiter than snow.
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(and yes, I have a couple of references to things within the poem too- like a famous Louis Armstrong song of course, a Sherlock Holmes story and "There's A Song in the Air" and "Angels from the Realms of Glory". :-))
And I should credit Rebekah Sewell for inspiring the "diamonds" line- brilliant. :-)

And this is really all for now. Hope everyone has a great week and I just love everyone today. And I really mean that- God loves me and because of His love, I love everyone. Because He loves everyone. And as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, everyone! :-))

Tie a Scarlet Ribbon in the Window Please (song)

             If I were to pick one word to describe God's work through The Bible and in the world- His will for all of us- I'd probably want to choose many because I'm no good at picking just one. ;-) But one word I would certainly choose is redemption. The whole picture of The Bible and all of history is moving towards redeeming humanity from our sins. The dawn of grace came with the birth of Jesus Christ in one sense, but God already has always had a totally outlandish outpouring of grace waiting for us since before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) One picture we get of that in the Old Testament is in the book of Joshua, where Rahab and her family are saved in the destruction of Jericho through her faithfulness to hang a scarlet rope out her window as a sign to the Israelites to spare them from death. Of course, we have the sign of scarlet blood down the cross that spares us from death. And though Rahab was a prostitute, we see that she has fear for The Lord and is changed through grace. And in another picture of grace and redemption, in Matthew 1 we find that she is included in The Lord Jesus' family tree. Thank God for His redemptive grace! :-)
       

"Tie a Scarlet Ribbon in the Window Please"
(parody of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ol' Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 4/29/2016)
(Joshua 2, Joshua 6, Matthew 1:1-17, Hebrews 11:1-6 and 30-31, James 2:24-26, Ruth 2:19-21, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ephesians 1:7, Titus 2:11-14)

We've come on home- we've done our time
Now we've got to go and win what's Israel's right
Send 2 sneaky spies out there scouting out Jericho's streets
You should go to Joshua 2
And you will then read how they escaped (the) king

Whoa- Hide those fellows, Rahab, on the rooftop please
They don't belong here- use flax stalks please (flax stalks please)
So they won't see us hidden when the king's looking
We'll stay on the run- misdirected 'em- thus, Rahab saved us
We climbed down on a scarlet rope and made a deal, you see

"You spies- Sirs, please look for me
'Cause I'm getting scared to see God fell the city.
So when He deals destruction, spare my loved ones- me and family."
"This simple scarlet ribbon's what you need to set you free."
And the soldiers told her this:

"Whoa, tie a scarlet ribbon in the window please.
Get kinfolk in here- no one will harm thee (But one thing)
If I don't see that ribbon in the window, see
We'll stay all guiltless. If you tell on us, put the blame on thee.
If I don't see a scarlet ribbon in the window, please."

[Instrumental Interlude]

Jericho's slammed down- kept deal then
And that prostitute's redeemed
Her son and a descendant will kinsman redeem
Christ comes by Rahab...mmmm.......

(Scarlet ribbon down Calvary's tree)
(Christ's blood spilling down Calvary's tree)
(Check the women in His family tree)

(Matthew 1- His genealogy)
(Try 11 Hebrews- "By faith" deeds)
(Rahab's listed there and in James 2- read!)

(Scarlet ribbon saved her and family)
(Christ's been given to save you and me!)

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