The Golden Coin

A lovely, golden coin—

How it shimmered in the light!

I turned it over in my hand

With glee and much delight.

What richness it inspired

As I felt each rounded edge,

My finger traced each symbol

That resembled money’s pledge.

I thought I’d found true wealth

Within this golden coin,

But, alas! it was in vain

For its richness was employed.

Beneath the shining gold,

Which wasn’t truly gold,

Was just a little chocolate piece

Wrapped in a paper fold.

This golden coin could not be used

To purchase needed meat,

But of itself it only gives

A taste of useless treat.

If such a golden coin

Was placed within a fire,

The golden wrap would burn away,

The substance would retire.

Some folks are like that coin—

Their outward shines like gold,

But underneath the covering

The truth of them is told.

They have the looks and skill,

They know the talk to talk,

But when the rubber meets the road

They know not how to walk.

They advertise as true—

Display the marks of worth,

But nourishment they do not bring,

So brief their valued mirth.

When tribulations come,

Their cover burns away,

And strength and sweetness tucked inside

Is melted right away.

Do search thy heart of hearts

And ponder what’s inside;

Are you of true gold thru’ and thru’

Or just some chocolate pride?

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2015

Cup of Love, Communion

Long ago, when a Jewish man

Went out to take a bride,

His father, then, would go with him—

The dowry they’d decide.

If the father of the bride agreed,

The groom would take a cup

And offer to his chosen one

A symbol of his love.

That cup of wine would represent

His life laid down for her,

A token of the tender care

For her he would ensure.

And though he had not died for her,

It signified his heart

That, should the need ever arise

He’d bravely do his part.

Then, if the chosen bride received

The cup he offered her,

Betrothed to him, the marriage was

Upon her groom’s return.

Many years ago, our Savior came

From Heaven to seek His own.

In deepest love and richest grace

He left His Father’s Throne,

Became a lowly, human man

To enter sinful world;

He who had lived in Paradise

Fulfilled His spoken Word.

He did lay down His precious life

For His beloved Bride—

A Bride who was enslaved by sin,

Abused and left to die.

His gentle voice brought life anew,

His strength secured her soul,

His tender touch soothed every wound,

His friendship made her whole.

That cup of wine He offered her

Before He gave His life;

A cup of love inviting her

To be His chosen wife.

As she partakes of that sweet cup,

Accepting of His love,

Communion is their fellowship;

Betrothed she is thereof.

Awaiting, patient, for the day

He comes to claim His Own,

His Bride prepares to meet her Groom

And join Him at His Throne.  

  Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2015

*Please Note: Just because it is stated as Jewish tradition does not indicate that every Jewish household followed such customs. Not every family held to the Jewish traditions as strongly; and even when given commandments by God, not every household obeyed those laws as seen in the Old Testament. 

The Tender Commandments

(Exodus 20:1-17)

1.) Other gods before Me

Thou shalt never have;

For I, alone, am He

Who doth from bondage save.

2.) Bow not unto, nor make

Any graven image;

For vengeance I will take

In love’s jealous revenge.

3.) Thou shalt not take My Name

In vain and flippant use;

For he who will profane,

From guilt will not be loose.

4.) Remember, now, the Sabbath

And keep it holy still;

Six days for him that worketh,

But on My Day be still.

5.) Thy father and thy mother—

Do honor them, sincere;

For what respect you offer

Will bring you blessing here.

6.) Thou shalt not ever kill

Or murder any life;

Such is against My will

And brings much grief and strife.

7.) Abstain from fornication

And adultery;

They are abomination—

Their charm is but paltry.

8.) Let not thyself to steal

Of that which isn’t thine;

To conscience right, appeal

And make thy greed resign.

9.) False witness of thy neighbor

Thou shalt never bear;

And you will have My favor

If truth you always share.

10.) Thou shalt not ever covet

That which is not thine;

For as thy greed would have it,

Idolatry will pine.

Commandments written in

The cold and hardened stone,

Ten laws to ne’r offend,

Ten you must do alone.

“A new heart I will give you,”

Now speaks the Father’s voice,

“A spirit soft and true;

My words will be your choice.   

(Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Abide in Me, My child,

And I’ll abide in you;

No good fruit can you yield

Nor My commandments do,

Except that by My grace,

As in My Word you trust;

And as you seek My face,

In Me your heart can rest.

(John 15:4-5)

Those Ten Laws I had given

Are from My heart of love;

Such Tender Laws from Heaven

Are valued up above.

1.) You have not chosen Me,

But I have chosen you

And I have ordained thee

To love and bring forth fruit.

(John 15:9-10, 16)

Seek not another god,

For there is none like Me

Who formeth clay and sod

To make a vessel free.

2.) These things I speak to you

That in Me you might have joy,

For I, alone, am true,

No fears need you employ.

(John 15:11)

Man’s images are feeble,

Sad are the ones they’ve lured,

But happy are the people

Whose Father is the LORD.

(Psalm 144:15)

3.) Peace I leave with you;

Not as the world would give,

For their peace is found through

The thoughts they might conceive.

(John 14:27-28)

They find their power in

Trampling My Name;

But unto My children

I give My power’s claim.

(John 15:7)

4.) And here remains a rest

Unto the laborer,

Where nothing can molest,

Here by the dear Savior.

(Hebrews 4:9-11)

For in longsuffering

I am your Sabbath sweet,

I know your deepest need,

And offer safe retreat.

(Hebrews 4:14-16)

5.) Then, honorable of heart,

Esteem authorities,

In gentleness impart

Respectful qualities.

(Titus 3:1-2)

Give honor unto those

Who are placed over you—

Your father, mother both;

My Word hath said it true.

(Ephesians 6:1-3; I Thessalonians 5:12-13)

6.) Oh, do not hoard My goodness

 To practice self-revenge,

For hatred is not harmless,

And murder is a sin.

Be swift to share with all

My gift of love and grace—

To the beggar by the mall

Or the brother full of hate.

(I John 3:11-15)

7.) Flee dangerous youthful lusts,

Enticing wickedness;

Through thine own soul they’ll thrust

A dagger of regrets.

(James 1:13-16)

But follow after faith

And purity of heart;

To those who walk My way,

Will good gifts I impart.

(James 1:12,17; II Timothy 2:22)

9.) The foe, deceiving foe,

Is father of all lies,

He thirsts for you to fall

Into his trap to die.

(John 8:44b)

But ye are set apart

To shine the light of truth;

With meekness in your heart,

Share what is right and true.

(Ephesians 4:29-30)

8, 10.) Would you but grieve your Lord

By acting as a fool,

To covet, steal, and hoard,

When I have given food? 

In temperance, then receive

My blessings gratefully;

Thee will I never leave—

You’re Mine eternally.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2015

Set Free

The tomb stood cold and silent,
Sealed by a heavy stone.
He, whom death held as captive,
Lay perished and alone.
The crowed of mourners gathered,
Each with his flowing tears;
Oh, how they'd sought the Master,
Beseeching with their prayers
That He would come deliver
Their brother from death's grip.
Yet, in their grief they watched him
From them slowly slip.
When all was said and done
And hope's last ray was gone,
The Savior was not finished--
His work had just begun.
A word he could have spoken
To roll the stone away,
Instead, He spoke to them
A word they could obey.
Then piercing through the darkness
And melting death's cold chain,
The Savior brought a dead man 
To life in Him again.
He that was dead, now living
Came forth to walk in light.
Yet, though from death he'd been freed,
Still grave's clothes bound him tight.
The Savior didn't promise
Those clothes would soon wear off,
Nor did He blush and offer
To cover up that cloth.
Turning to His disciples,
The ones who followed Him,
The ones He'd taught and nurtured,
Who had been cleansed from sin--
To these He gave instruction
To 'loose, and let him go,'
To help remove the hinderance
That kept the new as old.
None but the Master could
From death's hard clutches save,
But their's it was to help one
Walk in the life Christ gave.

Another grave once guarded
Its victim fast and sure,
The cold stone placed upon it
Was sealed and quite secure.
But cruel death lost its sting,
The grave its victory,

As God Almighty, The I Am
Broke forth triumphantly!
He needed no one else
To roll away the stone,
Unbinding His Own grave's clothes,
he placed them all alone.
The very Lord and Savior
Who brought life to the dead,
He IS the resurrection,
Yet He it was Who bled.
The life He gives to others
Was that which He laid down,
Then in His glorious power
He rose with victory's crown!
He rolled away His Own stone
And other's He could part,
Yet it is us He's bidding
To touch a hardened heart,
To gently move the stone
That's covering the hole
Of sorrow, shame, and darkness,
Where death has taken hold.
Then he can pierce the gloom
With His eternal life
And bring a soul from darkness
Into his glorious light.
Yet, though from death they're free,
We, as the Lord's disciples,
Are called upon to loose
The garments that still stifle,
Helping to remove things
That hinder Christian growth,
Unwinding lies and teaching them
How to walk in Truth.
And all would be in vain
If he Who gave them life
Had not unrolled His Own stone,
Laid His grave's clothes aside.

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2014

The Rod of Love

I first would say it doth depend
Upon the foolish heart,
Whether correction he'll receive,
Or from the law depart.
If in humility he will 
Accept chastising stroke,
Great freedom he will gain, and thus
Obedience provoke.
The rod that will but lose success
And harm instead of build

Is that which comes from angry hand;

To this, one will not yield.

Though grave and sober is the time

One takes a punishment,

If love and care cannot be felt,

He'll run and not repent.

It's not how hard, how many strokes,

Or if his tears you see,

But clear instruction, calm reproof,

And firm consistency.

As here I speak about the rod,

There's one thing I must say,

That anywhere the rod may be

The staff must also stay.

The staff of gentle guidance and

Retrieving from a fall,

The sweet assurance that I'm loved 

And will be my life all.

If you're a child learning how

To walk obediently,

Embrace correction and reproof

And walk submissively.

And to the guardians of young souls,

I urge you to take care

That, above all, you teach them by 

Your life of godly fear.

For vain will be the rod by which

You raise your little ones,

If in your life there are battles that

By God have not been won.

O rod and staff, they comfort me

And help me not to stray,

But more than all it is the life

That shows me Jesus' way!

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2014

Hospitali-Tea

A simple act of culture, 
Kind hospitality,
It makes one's guest quite welcome-- 
This little cup of tea.
Whether your visit's brief,
Or for a time prolonged,

If chai you'd not been offered, 
You've just as well been wronged.
Though not uncommon is 
This spicy cup of warmth,
It sweetly signifies 
A gracious, open hearth.
The cup of chai is small, 
It gives you but a taste,
But when you're with a friend, 
You never drink in haste.
Our Father has bestowed 

Each one with 'cups of tea'--

A smile, touch of kindness, 

A thoughtful word or deed.

The moments we have to share

May be but very brief,

Or they may linger long 

And give the faint relief.

Don't hoard the cup of warmth 

In anger, pride, or greed,

But give to all who come 

Sweet 'hospitali-tea'.

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2014

Follow the Fence

Lightning flashed and thunder rolled,
The rain torrential poured;
In stormy violence near the road
A dangerous whirlwind roared.
Two men were gazing at the sight
Not very far away,
When fascination turned to fright--
The storm had come their way!
Assessing their predicament 
They tried to quickly flee,
But blinding was the storm's torrent --

The road they could not see.

'What CAN you see?!' One man cried out.

'The fence! The fence I spy!'

'Then follow that!' Came urgent shout,

'Or we are bound to die.'

The storm is raging all around,

Great dangers are ahead.

Sometimes we cannot see the ground

Or see the road we tread.

But God has placed a boundary

To keep us in His way,

When in the storm we're floundering

He urgently will say,

'Follow the fence! Follow the fence

I've placed beside your road.

This boundary will lead you hence

And safely you will go.

I've given you authorities --

A father, mother too,

A pastor and a family 

To help to see you through.

Do not despise their counsel wise,

But honor what they say,

For though, sometimes, you'll know not why

'Twill help you not to stray.

The raging storm will sweep along --

The lost have no defense;

But you will be led safely home

By following the fence.'

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2014