Poetry of Gary Bertnick - Page One
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Some years ago as a college student I stood facing intellectual despair, with nothing at all to counter that personal abyss. My will was numb. Then a friend spoke honestly to me with simple words about Jesus. She talked clearly about simple belief. Suddenly I knew within that I could will to believe in Yeshua, too. I realized somehow the door was opening to believe- and I could. And I did. Twenty-five plus years later I have shalom. I have abundance, and perseverance wrapped about patient endurance. These few writings are meant to encourage and stimulate the same for you, our guest reader.
Shalom,
Gary Bertnick
KNOWLEDGE Revelation knowledge Truth by the finger of God Knowledge spoken within of the love that purchased, The blood and water and testimony Words pure and true Holy and perfect action The rescue, the separation. Kiss on the cold, cold forehead Wakes one soul to secret kingdom life Free from the death sleep of self. "Eternal life--that they may know You..." Amazed, thrilled at knowing the reality- Yeshua who loves; Father who foreknows; Spirit of wisdom and revelation. How wonderful is the knowing That becomes delight that grows, A new creation in Him. You and I now created within Himself Words spoken, words heard deep within An intimate knowing that passes through the outer gate Flows through the courts, Enters within the hidden, secret temple place of eternal rest; To behold the radiant emerald beauty Brilliant splendor of consuming light. The King on His golden throne, The entire earth merely His footstool!
Eyes fully opened spirit and soul as well Heart clear and crisp, Spirit painfully sensitive. "Behold the hand of the Lord, the Lord speaks!" ...Ends of the earth draw lazy breaths, minds anchored and thickly clouded, fat and lazy eyes... But those royal eyes that hold eternity in an intimate glance, Deepest crystal pools always invite tender warmth Sacred trust of caring, gentle eyes. A delicate embrace of your past, your present and future; Powerful eyes of the lion Red as blood, commanding obedience at the slightest look Blazing fire eyes once self-restrained, now unleashed beyond understanding.
And the Holy Spirit whispers The voices of many servants beneath the throne cry out, Groan for justice; Told to wait and watch a little longer... Yes! we all look to Yeshua and wait We fix our thoughts on Messiah and wait The longing, the heart pain of yearning Hope nearly drawn out And yet, we watch, we obey, we wait For we know him! Groanings of a soul in prayer In ways more than a woman in labor Mourning hearts, sick with yearning, Image of the "ten virgins" in mind.
Who but the Father knew Who but the Father understood the cup, All Messiah had to drink To the very last droplet of bittersweet droplets The eternal separated from the eternal In death, separation from the Father. Oh, the waiting in eternity to come, to die; And now waiting once more to come, to rejoice and to be marveled at; To see his smile bursting with pleasures beyond a thousand thousands of starbursts! To be seen by those who truly know Him, Even through small measures of like suffering Because they know His love And forever love this ancient Holy One, This true Messiah who keeps his unchanging word.
Gary Bertnick Silver Cord N8726 50th St. Spring Valley,WI.54767
Separated from time Joined to obedience Now listening to the voice within Once unknown and without Voice separate from time Eternal Word indwelling Voice that speaks A heart that hears, An enabling to obey. Enter freely the timeless place of trust and rest Patience learned through doing Quiet being always before the Throne Separate from time Endures forever, eternal; Patience a timeless practice.
Gary Bertnick Silver Cord
The shadow of a hand A presence now sensed drawing near, Without any fear the head turns And the eyes gaze as the touch moves ever near Kindness radiates and gentleness surrounds A warmth surges The heart flutters like a small excited sparrow, Until the hand of love touches, And eyes meet those eyes... An unearthly fire floods within From the blazing eyes on the brilliant face set off by majestic white flowing hair, And a voice rushes within saying: "Awake my beloved, in whom I delight!"
Warmth of the Holy Spirit Healing power moves from row to row, Up and down each and every aisle, Settling upon every chair. Compassion and mercy reign supreme In this place of wonder, In this place of awe. Songs of praise thunder Waves of power surge back and forth, The servant of the Lord speaks And more waves sweep the audience. Time flees Human understanding is set aside Every sort of personal and collective pride withers away As the Name above every name is spoken again. His Presence flashes forth with absolute authority, With absolute power over every circumstance of every person there, Every person humble before the invisible Throne, King Yeshua enthroned upon the praises, The shouts and songs of thanksgiving that now flood this fellowship, this place of joy!
A new song of the Lamb A new song to the Lamb Unspeakable joys, bliss of the heart Swept up in the arms of love Spirit-###### aroma of life Fragrance of delight before the Mercy Seat; Celebration of Father's love! The lion roars and the earth melts. Gratefulness soars in thunderous praise. Thanksgiving-the holiest worship, A most beautiful melody surrounds all. Suddenly new words in Heaven's language, Purist Hebrew tongue, in one voice proclaiming- Love for Yeshua, Our unending love for Messiah, Our new song of love for our Lord.
Things of beauty At every hand If you look you will find some. Past the pain, Past the sorrow, Past all the cold hearts that would deaden; Past the foolish and all the deception. If you look you will find some. Take an inner look; take a deeper, holy breath Open to revelation wonder... Bow on earth Bow at the footstool; If you look for His beauty you will find some. The eyes of the Spirit Awaken the dawn The brilliance of new light in a place without a sun; Brightness radiant, streams rush from a far distance So many fields of fields of flowers; Multi-colored beauty at every hand! Speechless. Deep laughter bubbles up and smiles burst at the goodness The perfect wonder prepared for the servants of love. Eyes drink in the splendor and then begin to search, As a greater drawing nurtures, stirs the heart. Up the vast plains they move, carried by swift and gentle winds; The eyes are raised in ever-increasing delight. Ever-increasing brightness envelops them Yet, the view is always clearer and more distinct. The heart begins to race, yearning, longing Hoping until the brilliance of ten thousand suns towers ahead; Raised high above the endless fields, a glowing mountain stands supreme... Mountain source of this light, mountain of Glory City of Zion, of Messiah our King!
Sitting by a fire, Easy rocking chair The quiet of evening calling. Thoughts travel about- Of things to do, Things half done, Things finished without satisfaction, And more in a merry-go-round Of distraction. Until suddenly the moment settles. Stillness falls as time surrenders And greater things fill the mind. Like knowing Yeshua's presence; And holding his purpose for you... Seeing wonder and simple pleasures In resting and trusting, Quiet confident strength. Peace nestling peace, Savoring such a moment!
Path of ultimate cost Road with a heavy price The "Everything Road" of total and complete cost Everything laid down; nothing held back Nothing taken up except the Cross of Messiah And rejection, hatred and shame from the world, Maybe also persecution from family and friends. Faith from above- the Heavenly calling Chosen from the earth to know Separated, plucked out of the fire Carried suddenly into the heart of the greatest, Eternal Mystery... What the world can never give or understand A new light beyond the natural Discovery of Heaven beyond the Universe Revelation life out of common earthly death. Fear of physical death removed. Narrow road of perseverance, of selfless endurance. Small, small gate and ever narrowing road of His cross/our cross; Now thrown wide open Free for all to enter To believe, to receive, to live and walk- The escape with no earthly excuse remaining.
Lips form a smile The heart quietly sings As a Godly melody rises up, The spirit grows a little brighter Sweet honey about the mouth The pleasure of delight, confidence and contentment A beauty beyond the sensuous Above the earthly Settled as dew upon an earthly head. Grateful to the Lord of creation Who loved and spoke and loves today One from above who walked as a man, Yet humble and obedient... Who gives and gives and gives again! Knowledge too great, secrets of the Heavenly Kingdom Treasure and wealth the world cannot give. A rich man walks a golden path, The light of jewels sparkles about; A rich woman sees stars as pure kisses, flowers that seem very near Pearls of gladness drip at every hand; They stand "mature and fully assured".
An honest look within a mirror Reflects a look, A mirror within a mirror Within the within The master image meant within Reflected in the eyes The soul's within; The eyes that search the heart Reflection from a pool Still waters that rest within, A calm about, mirrors a true image in his likeness The eyes that see The look that creates, that reflects, The image born within Lived without Fully expressed, fully seen From the secret place The seed within Bursting life without The knowing, the seeing, the eternal reflection The light in the eyes, in the heart In the beautiful face Perfection reflected and seen Mirrored and overflowing light of light Joy of life seen and suddenly known Revealed and given Image repeated over and over and over In the numberless priceless, searching ones, A longing for light and life and all that aches within... To be seen in His Holy Light In his true image In his eternal Shabat Spirit rest! Bowed before the Jerusalem throne King Yeshua the only Messiah Who reigns majestically over his earth, All his enemies destroyed. Gary Josef Bertnick Silver Cord
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