A Seed That Grew

Mathew Benthin

Description

Theological poetry of modern day psalms and proverbial insights for revealing and contemplating truth. Perfect for fans of Christian wisdom literature.
“A Seed That Grew” is modern wisdom literature at its best. Poetry with rhythm, meter and impressive symmetry. Philosophy that leaves you with more questions than answers. Theology that summarizes and expounds upon scripture. Wisdom concepts that will expose you to countless extremes and guide you toward a mature perspective that avoids traps while exposing lies.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Inspirational
• Themes
• Subjects
• Religious
• Christian poetry
• Theology
• Christianity
• Poetry

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 09 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781512765434
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Seed THAT Grew




MATHEW BENTHIN






Copyright © 2016 Mathew Benthin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.




WestBow Press
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Bloomington, IN 47403
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6544-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-5127-6543-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919522



WestBow Press rev. date: 09/11/2019



Table of Contents
Seeds Are for Growing
God’s Sent Word
The Truth of a Wish
That Which You Have
Less is More
Emmanuel
You Meet Me
The Paradoxical Heart
Repentance
He Declares
Problematic Unity
What Are Words but Wind?
As You Came, So You Should Stay
Homecoming
The Only One
Image to Nature
Dream Reality
Suffering Servant Standard
Spread the Word
Boys and Girls
Communion
Poured Out
Where Have I Been?
Change
To Bloom is to Wither
Intimate Branches
Agape
Past the Past
Where Have I Been?
Forever Unknown
From Maybe to Surely
Pleasure
Convenient Burden
Desire, Identity, Destiny, Worship
Unknowable Friends
Apathy and Amnesia
To Die Or Not To Die, That’s The Question
Sin
Mourning to Joy
Happiness
Single
Death Indiscriminate
Divine Assembly Defense
Questions
Do Not Arouse Love
Yahweh Our Love
Prodigal, Elder, Compassionate Father
Ticks on my Heart
To steal, kill, and destroy
The Storyteller
Cleaved
Marinotha
Way, Truth, Life
Destiny, Fate
Perfect Will
The Irony of Faith
I am the Problem
Know Thyself
Faith
Politics and Religion
Control
Tragic Falling Short
Sources of Identity
Confidence vs. Arrogance vs. Insecurity
Awareness + Ability = Responsibility
“Recovery”
Every Virtue is a Verb
Humility?
Habits vs. Plans
Graduation
A Yoke That Is Easy and A Burden That Is Light
God is a Selective Genie
The Virtue of Emptiness
Perpetual Dry Mouth
Principles of Influence
The Universal Testimony
Yeah, But...
Discipleship 101
The Jewel of Creation
Potency and Proximity
Over-familiarity
Seasonality of Friendship
An Empty Tomb



Seeds Are for Growing
For thousands of years truth has been subject to its generation,
The flame and shadows in Plato’s cave in unending acclimation.
For thousands of years seeds of truth have grown into many fruitful trees,
Sons and daughters dispensing their father’s love in glory or on their knees.
For thousands of years poetry has immortalized truth in a graceful rhythm.
Psalms and proverbs that ebb and flow with both freedom and wisdom.
These are the seeds that found their way to the soil of my heart,
Some by revelation and others by life’s lessons that tear me apart.
“Reviving wisdom literature one stanza at a time.”
-Mat Benthin



God’s Sent Word
Your word went out and creation obeyed;
Your word went out and mankind delayed.
You take a fallen tree and build a temple.
You take a fallen temple and build a kingdom.
You take a fallen kingdom and build a world.
You take a fallen world and trade your sons for it.
Your way is beautiful in its day;
Showing us that sorrow is not here to stay.
Your favor more effective than all our labor;
Showing us that trouble isn’t our only neighbor.
You are the light of life that satisfies.
One glimpse shares the fire in your eyes.
One whisper scatters your enemies like flies.
One touch and our selfish nature dies.
You call things into being;
We postpone faith till seeing.
Even eternity conforms to your every word;
We are lucky to keep pace with your advancing herd.
Your word goes out and creation has obeyed.
Your word goes out and your people are dismayed.



The Truth of a Wish
Be careful what you wish for, because you might get what you want but nothing more.
Mistake appetizers for the main course, and you’ll miss out on what eternity has in store.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Even if it’s shortsighted, your father can’t ignore his child’s earnest plea.
We live in a world that plants inferior wishes every day, so guard your heart.
For the heart is the wellspring of life, and all murky waters from there will start.
You end up getting what you want in this life and the next.
But a warped heart that gets what it desires remains unfixed.
Whether it be riches and recognition, or just a beautiful trophy wife.
A good father will always be asking what his child wants most in life.
We are all born into a world that is designed to inspire or satisfy dreams.
The best dreams grow bigger the more they are realized, or so it seems.
But some dreams are sent with us and end up as ash on the pyres,
While others spread across the land like unpredictable forest fires.
So fan the flame of desire when dreams are a wishful hope out of sight.
Do not let desire be satiated when you are rewarded with a little bite.



That Which You Have
A man can only receive that which has been given him from heaven above.
So if your convoluted efforts succeed examine your heart and deepen your love.
But when pure hope shatters, each shining piece be careful not to get rid of.
A man can only steward that which has been entrusted to hone his skill.
So if you harvest enough for a lifetime don’t adopt a lazy and faithless will.
But when it’s time to cut your losses, prepare to climb the next looming hill.
A man can only value and prize that which was set into his weary hands.
So if masses follow your every move be sure to lead them to fertile lands.
But when a flock refuses to budge, surely death will meet it where it stands.
Less is More
The less you suppress your own heart and mind,
the more self-control you will be able to find.
But the longer you insist on running from a past mistake,
the more control it’ll have and the more hope it’ll take.
The less you venture toward greener grass on the other side,
the more free you will be within pleasant pastures to abide.
The less you daydream of an easier and better future,
the more diligent you will be to make your hopes secure.
The more you try to trail-blaze your own path,
the more you’ll follow others toward certain wrath.



Emmanuel
It may be that Emmanuel means God is with us or among us;
The day marks an end to the times when our creator was distant.
It may be your birthday but on it you gave yourself as a gift to us;
The day you left your throne to be born as a helpless infant.
It may be your birthday but on it the king made a murderous fuss;
The day long desired when you would bring promises to fulfillment.
It may be your birthday but now it’s a day of merrymaking for us.
The day your promised son from Heaven for sinners was sent.
It may be your birthday but you left home to build a home within us.
Only an fool would create a story of God born outside an inn with no room to stay.
Only a God who loves us as children would come himself to break our sinful fate.
Only and fool would manufacture a story of a child King worshiped in a bed of hay.
Only a God who wanted to bring all people into his family would dare incarnate.
Only an fool would lie about a virgin birthing the Lord who birthed the world in a day.
Only a God who desired all men to ascend to Heaven would descend to reveal life’s gate.
Every year my birthday becomes less important and memorable,
While the value of your birth becomes more and more favorable.
Every year my birthday reminds me of bodily death that is inevitable,
While the love it took for you to come to us remains immeasurable.
Every year my birthday marks another year on a world that’s miserable,
While the light of your life guiding me home becomes more comfortable.
Christmas is the day you came so you could guide as one just like us,
The night Emmanuel’s star led the wise to a humble manger.
Christmas is the day your son came to live and suffer the same as us,
The night your love manifest faced cold and perilous danger.
Christmas is the day my best friend and savior came to free all of us,
The night your throne invaded Earth proved you aren’t a stranger.
You Meet Me
You meet me in a dry and thirsty land;
With water for my soul in your hand.
You meet me in a dark lonely place;