Stay!

 

Alfa –

                      by Costache Ioanid

Alpha

 

Când Adam, în clipa cea deplină, 

 When Adam, at the right time
ochii de ţărâna şi-a deschis, 

From the dust his eyes opened,
a văzut un Om... într-o grădină...

He saw a Man… in a garden…
l-a văzut pe Alfa în lumină,

He saw Alpha in His light,
pe ISUS în scâteiri de vis.

Jesus, in glimpses of a dream.

Şi era grădina ca o carte...

And the garden was like a book…
Pomul cel de viaţă... pomul cel de moarte...

The tree of life… the tree of death….
Trandafiri de sânge... crini de rugăciuni.

Roses of blood… lilies of prayers.

Iar când umbre-albastre se lăsară

And when the blueish shadows dawned
peste taina ultimului ram,

Over the secret of the last branch
înălţându-se în liniştea de seară,

Ascending from the silence of the evening,
Prinţul sfânt Se despărţi de-Adam.

The Holy Prince separated from Adam.

Dar... urcând în zarea albăstruie,

But… rising on the blue horizon,
Alfa, chipul dragostei dintâi

Alpha, the face of the first love
aştepta ca primul om să-i spuie

Was waiting for the first man to say to Him
un cuvânt... doar un cuvant: "RĂMÂI!"...

A word…only a word: “STAY!”…

Au trecut pe urmă ani de-nfrângeri.

Then, many years of defeats passed.
Şi-ntr-o zi, la Mamre, sub stejari rotaţi,

And one day, at Mamre, underneath the oaks,
Avraam văzu pe Alfa între îngeri.

Abraham saw Alpha among the angels.
- Domnul meu, e greu prin soare să străbaţi.

“My Lord, it is hard for You to walk through this sun.
Tălpile în pietre ai să-Ţi sângeri.

Your feet will bleed.”
Şi uitând Avraam povara bătrâneţii,

And Abraham, forgetting the burden of his age,
a pornit cu robii şi-a ales un junc.

Went with his servants and got a calf.
Iar când isprăviră de prânzit drumeţii,

And when they finished eating,
spre bătrân Se-ntoarse Prinţul vieţii:

The Prince of life turned to the old man:
- Sara, pân' la anul, vei avea un prunc!

“Sara will have a son in a year!”

Şi ISUS dădu să plece spre Sodoma,

And JESUS started walking towards Sodom,
murmurând: - Voi arde tot ce-i putred, tot!

Whispering, “I’ll burn all that’s rotten, all!”
Vântul prin fâneţe răscolea aroma...

The wind was stirring through the fields their smell…
Iar Avraam, bătrânul, se gândea la Lot...

As Abraham, the old man, was thinking of Lot…
- Doamne, nici o făptură ochiul Tău n-o pierde.

“Lord Your eye doesn’t lose sight of any being
Sângele din uliţi trebuie să-l răzbuni.

The blood in the streets You must revenge.
Dar să arzi şi vreascul şi copacul verde?...

But will You burn together the dry wood with the green tree?...
Poate sunt acolo zece oameni buni...

Maybe there are ten good people there …”
- Iată, fu răspunsul, îngerii vor trece.

“Behold”, was the answer, “the angels will pass,
De vor fi buni zece, Eu Mă voi abate,

And if there will be there ten good people, I will stay My hand,
voi cruţa cetatea pentru-aceştia zece!

I will spare the city for these ten!”
Şi-a simţit Avraam în piept o plinătate,

And Abraham felt in his chest a fullness,
a simţit c-avea un frate-DUMNEZEU.

He felt he had a brother in GOD.

Dar ISUS, mergând către cetate,

But Jesus walking towards the city,
paşii-ncetinindu-Şi... aştepta mereu...

He slowed His steps… waiting, always waiting…
O, ce mult dorea El, nu lumeşti bucate,

Oh, how He desired, not worldly delights,
nu slujiri, nici fumul unei dulci tămâi.

Not obeyances, nor the smoke of incense.
Ci El, Prinţul Slavei, "Dumnezeu şi frate",

But He, The Prince of Glory, “God and brother”,
pentru-atâtea daruri binecuvântate,

For all the heavenly blessings He bestowed,
aştepta o şoaptă, un cuvânt:"Rămâi!"...

Was waiting for a whisper, a word, “Stay!”…

Prin Iaboc trecură Leea şi Rahela.

After Leah and Rachel have crossed the river,
Iacov, copleşit de frica lui Edom,

Jacob, overcome with fear of Edom,
se ruga în taină. Şi în ceasu-acela,

Was praying in secret. And that very hour,
i-apăru sub ramuri de lămâi... un OM...

Suddenly appeared to him under the trees… a MAN…
I-apăru un înger cu cereşti veşminte.

An angel in heavenly robes.
Şi-L cuprinse Iacov ca pe-un vis din Rai.

And Jacob grabbed Him like a dream from Eden,
- Nu Te las, Stăpâne, până cănd nu-mi dai

“I won’t let go of You, Master, until you give me
binecuvantarea cerurilor sfinte!

The blessing of the holy heavens!”

Stelele pe boltă lunecau în vale,

The stars were slipping on their path in the valley,
urmărind pe Alfa în strâmtoare prins...

Watching Alpha caught in this embrace…
Iar când astrul zilei sângera-n zăbale,

And when the morning star was bleeding daylight,
Prinţul cel de taină Se lăsa învins,

The mystery Prince allowed Himself to be overcome,
aşezand pe Iacov mâini sacerdotale...

Laying priestly hands on Jacob…

Şi-a plecat ISUS încet, cum apăruse,

And Jesus left slowly, as He appeared,
aşteptând ca Iacov, de sub albi lămâi,

Waiting that Jacob, from underneath the trees,  
după ce primise darul care-l vruse,

After receiving the gift he had asked for,
să-L oprească şi pe Cel ce i-l dăduse,

To stop Him, The One that gave the gift,
cu un semn, cu-o şoaptă, c-un cuvânt: "Rămâi!"...

With a sign, with a whisper, with a word, “Stay!”…

Şi trecură iarăşi anii peste lume

Again, years passed over the world,
pân' să crească holda şi să dea în pârg.

Until the crop was grown and ready for harvest.
Iar cândva trei oameni se urcau cu sârg

And sometime three men were climbing
însoţind pe Alfa undeva, pe-o culme.

Together with Alpha, somewhere on a top.

Şi deodată... Doamne, peste muchii crunte,

And suddenly… Lord, over harsh cliffs,
nouri de lumină au venit de sus,

Clouds of light appeared from on high,
ca un miez de soare pe smerita frunte,

Like a sun core over the humble forehead,
pe vesmântul alb al blândului ISUS.

Over the white garments of gentle Jesus.

Se părea că Raiul iarăşi se aşterne,

It looked as if again Eden is restored,
cu oştiri de îngeri... într-un sfânt colind.

With hosts of angels… in a holy song.
Moise şi Ilie, lângă El venind,

Moses and Elijah came and sat beside Him,
ascultau cuvântul dragostei eterne.

And were listening to the word of the eternal love.

Şi-atunci Simon Petru, om de căpătâi,

And then Simon Peter, first among his peers
s-a-nălţat deodată în sclipirea dalbă

Rose in all that shining whiteness
şi-a rostit cuvântul... (El l-a spus întâi!)

And said the word… (he said it first)
- O, rămâi, IESUA, bine-i să rămâi!...

“Oh, Stay, Yeshua, it is good to stay!
Şi-am să fac aicea trei colibi degrabă!

And I will build here three shelters immediately!”

Spre Emaus, iată, trei bărbaşi mergeau,

On the way to Emmaus, behold three men walking,
cu suspine-amare, cu vorbiri ciudate.

With anguished sighs, with strange speech.
- Ce-s aceste vorbe între voi schimbate?

“What are these words you exchange between you?”
i-a-ntrebat. Dar cine-i? Vai! ei nu ştiau!

They were asked. But who is this? Oh, they didn’t know!

- Tu eşti singur oare în Ierusalim

“Are you the only man in Jerusalem
ce nu ştii necazul zilelor acestea?

That doesn’t know about the calamity of these days?”
Şi mergând alături, îi dădură vestea

And walking together, they shared the news,
despre-acel ISUS, MELEK ha IEHUDIM.

About that Yeshua, Melech Ha Yehudim (Jesus, King of the Jews).

- Noi trăgeam nădejde, domnule, că El,

“Sir, we were hoping that He,
Prooroc înalt în fapte şi cuvinte,

Highly esteemed prophet in words and deeds,
va aduce iarăşi slava-n Israel.

Will restore the glory of Israel.”

Şi-a-nceput străinul: - Oameni grei la minte,

And the stranger started: “Foolish men,
inimi de zăbavă, neam întârziat,

Slow hearts, people slow of understanding,
fără Jertfa scrisă-n sulurile sfinte,

Without the Offering written in the holy scrolls,
v-ar fi dat salvare Unsul aşteptat?

Would have the Anointed One been able to give you salvation?
N-aţi citit Geneza?

Have you not read Genesis?
Pe Moria, oare,

On mount Moriah, isn’t it so,
n-a venit să moară un berbec ascuns?

That a hidden ram came to die?
În Exod ce-nseamnă Mielul cel străpuns

In Exodus, what does the sacrificed Lamb mean?
şi-n Levitic Jertfa înlocuitoare?

And in Leviticus, the substituting Sacrifice?
Ce-i în cartea Numeri stânca cea lovită?

What’s in the book of Numbers the rock that has been hit?

Şi acel prooroc din Deuteronom?

Who is the prophet in Deuteronomy?
Nu plângea în David Dumnezeul-Om

Wasn’t the one crying through David, the God-Man?
şi-n Isaia oaia mută şi smerită?

What about in Isaiah, the humble and mute sheep?
Dar voi toţi aceia ce I-aţi fost cununa

What about all you who have been His crown,
n-aţi simţit puterea din Cuvântul viu,

Have you not felt the power of the living Word,
când Rabinul vostru biruia furtuna?

When, your Rabbi, was defeating the storm?
Când ieşea în giulgiu Lazăr din sicriu?

When Lazarus came out of his tomb all wrapped up?
Voi toţi, ucenicii Omului durerii,

All you, disciples of the Man of suffering,
voi ce L-aţi lăsat să fie prins şi dus,

You who allowed Him to be caught and taken,
voi care-aţi privit mărirea Lui ISUS,

You who watched the glory of JESUS,
cum de vă-ndoiţi de gloria-nvierii?

Now you doubt the glory of resurrection?

Ascultau cei doi mustrarea cea tăioasă

The two were listening to the harsh rebuke,
ce turna un foc în inima lor rece.

That was pouring fire in their cold hearts.
Dar trecuse vremea, vai! erau acasă

But the time had passed and oh, they arrived home
şi "străinul" parcă se grăbea să plece.

And “the stranger” seemed like in a hurry to leave.

Şi atunci din nou dorita primăvară

So then again, the desired spring
şi-a rostit cuvântul dragostei dintâi.

Spoke the word of first love,
- O, rămâi cu noi căci vremea e spre seară.

“Oh, stay! Stay with us because it’s evening
Ziua e trecută. Vin' la noi... RĂMÂI!...

The day has passed. Come with us… STAY!”

A trecut apoi peste Chedron o ceaţă.

Then a fog passed over Kidron,
Unsprezece Iacovi se luptau acum!

Eleven Jacobs were fighting now!
Cum să-ntorci privirea şi să pleci la drum

How to look away and start on your way?
cum să laşi atâta dragoste curată?

How to abandon so much pure love?
Pentru cea din urmă binecuvântare,

For one last blessing
mâinile străpunse Alfa Şi Le-a-ntins

Pierced hands, Alpha lifted
Si deodată... uite... parcă S-a desprins...

And suddenly … look… it’s like He slipped away…
Da. Se-nalţă. Urcă, dar plângând... în zare.

Yes. He’s ascending. Higher, but crying… in the distance.

Căci privind de sus pe cei legaţi de Sine

For as He watched from high for those tied to Himself,
cu eternul semn din mâini şi din călcâi,

With the eternal sign in His hands and His heel,
El citea-n toţi ochii aceleaşi dulci suspine:

He could read in all eyes the same sweet sighs:
- O, RĂMÂI, RABUNI! IEŞUA... RĂMÂI!...

“OH, STAY RABBI! YESHUA, STAY!”…

Răsunaţi în nouri, trâmbiţe de-aramă!

Resound from the clouds, trumpets of bronze!
Vino, MIRE tainic, din cereşti poteci!

Come, mysterious GROOM, from the heavenly paths!
Şapte continente zi de zi Te cheamă!

Seven continents every day call on You!
Vino, PRINŢ al SLAVEI!, DRAGOSTE DE VECI!

Come, PRINCE OF GLORY! ETERNAL LOVE!

AMIN

Amen

 

Alfa- by Costache Ioanid

 

I have nothing to offer You, Lord, my God and King. Nothing that wasn’t given to me by You. Whether things, feelings, thoughts… tears. Even me wanting Your return, sometimes feels like that’s Your yearning and I only feel ripples of Your feelings and I imagine them to be my own.

You know all things, Lord. You know my heart inside out and none of my thoughts are hidden from You, so You know I acknowledge that I have nothing Lord… but stay! In this nothing that I have to offer, stay! Help me create a pleasant place for You to dwell in… and stay! Until the very end, Lord, stay! 

Cristina Pop

Merry Christmas!

 ”There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1)

That’s a promise for God’s Salvation, Yeshua – Jesus. It’s a promise God made when there was no hope. And God made good on His promise, as He always does.

Christmas is a time of joy for all followers of Christ and it’s a reminder that God’s promises are true, no matter how hopeless the situation or how thick the darkness might be.

The same God that has sent His Son into this world to be born of a woman, to live like a human and die a most cruel death just to reconcile us to Himself, will stop at nothing for our sake.

My fellow soldiers in Christ, I pray God will continue to build you up in faith and grace. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve won some battles and you’ve lost some this year. Some of you are fighting as we speak… may God grant you victory. Do not lose heart, no matter how hard it seems. The enemy has no pity on your poor exhausted soul. So, sharpen your sword, be ready and above all, trust! Trust that our King is returning. Trust that just as God has promised The King to be born to us, He also promised to never leave us alone and that He shall return. It might look like our hope has been cut down, but out of a stump our Salvation came the first time, His return will seem even more impossible. But take heart, The King IS coming and all those that have served Him faithfully will see a reward for their toil. Be brave, you’re not alone. The enemy wants you to think that, but he’s a liar. You have defeated him because The One inside You has defeated him on Calvary. Fight the good fight, encourage other soldiers and never stop. Our King is coming. Immanuel! God is with us!

Merry, blessed Christmas! 

With gratitude, Cristina Pop

Master and slave

I woke up this morning with this poem in mind:

Waiting

 My God and King, remember that I am dust. All that I am is before Your Holy eyes. My heart stutters inside me as it fights my mind. I grasp at every word You have said, and I believe. My Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Look with kindness upon my weaknesses.  

It feels like a war rising against me and I spoke boldly in my time of peace. I have made loud declarations about how I will stand and fight because You train my hands for war. I have bragged about my courage. I have told others how to fight and now Lord, I am afraid. Forgive Your daughter’s cowardice. “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. 
 You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps 73:21-26)  

I do not waver in my faith. I know in Whom I have placed my trust. I am just afraid. Do not let me put to shame. Redeemer of my tears, strengthen my heart. Do not allow me to dishonour You. Remember I have walked faithfully in Your sight all my life. Do not allow my steps to falter now. Do not allow my hands to drop the sword. Just say a word and my soul will be uplifted. No, not even a word, a thought will do. A glance... I am Yours, “LORD Almighty, may those who hope in You not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek You not be put to shame because of me.” (Ps 69:6) 

I will fight, my King. I just need You to know I acknowledge that I am scared and unless You fight for me, this battle will be lost. Even as I say that I will not be another king Saul who got so scared that he broke Your will just to get help (1 Sam. 13). I am scared but not that scared.  

Plant my feet into Rock just do not let me run even if I am tempted to. You have fought greater battles than mine and won them all. So, I will wait for You, Lord. Just do not let my trembling offend Your Holy eyes. I hope in You, may Your will be done. 

 

by Cristina Pop 

For Your sake

I was looking through some Romanian Christian poems. I do that when I miss my mother. I try to remember her voice reciting poems or singing songs. One of her favorite authors was Costache Ioanid, so I have decided to translate, very poorly, one of his poems. 

 

                 De dragul Tău          For Your sake

             de Costache Ioanid           by Costache Ioanid

 

Ce dor frumos, ce Rai ne leagă!   What beautiful yearning, what Heaven binds us! 
Eu cânt cu lacrimi, Tu le-alini  I sing with tears, You wipe them away,  
De dragul Tău mi-e lumea dragă, For your sake the world is dear to me, 

că-n ea Te văd și-n flori și-n spini.  For in it I see You both in flowers and thorns. 

În crinii albi Ți-e sărutarea,  The white lilies hide Your kiss, 
în maci văd sânge pe Calvar. In poppies I see the blood of Calvary. 
De dragul Tău mi-e dragă marea  For Your sake I love the sea 
și cerul fără de hotar!                    And the limitless sky! 

În bulgări reci Te văd cum sameni  In cold lumps of dirt I see You sowing, 
și-n spini văd pașii sângerați.          And in the thorns I see Your bloodied steps.  
De dragul Tău iubesc pe oameni;    For Your sake I love people; 
azi sunt străini, mâini, poate frați!   Today's strangers, tomorrow might be brothers!

Când turme trec ducându-și dorul    When flocks pass by carrying their yearnings  
și spune-un fluier: "Sunt cu voi!"     And a flute is saying, ‘I’m with you!’
de dragul Tău mi-e drag păstorul      For Your sake I love the shepherd, 
ce-și pune pieptul pentru oi!             That bares his breast out for the sheep! 

În cei aleși Îți văd iubirea,               In the elect ones I see Your love, 
cu ei cântându-Ți psalmi în văi...   Singing You Psalms with them in valleys, 
De dragul Tău le sorb privirea;       For Your sake I drink in their eyes,
pe-obrajii lor, sărut pe-ai Tăi!        And I kiss their cheeks imagining they’re Yours! 

Și cât mi-e dat să nu-Ți văd fața,    And when it’s my lot not to see Your face, 
dorit de stele ca un mag,                 Desired by the stars as a wise man,  
de dragul Tău mi-e dragă viața,     For Your sake I love life, 
și moartea nu-i decât un prag...      And death is nothing but a threshold ...