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The Engraved Invitation:
A Valentine From God

There! Engraved on the hands of Jesus,
the Christ, the Lamb, the Son of God -
Deep in the flesh and etched in blood
by the deadly tip of the hard nails
are the innocent names of all those
who let the wooden hammer fall:
those who held within their grip
the tool that brought Messiah death.

The names were carved by Jesus Christ,
who took their guilt and fashioned a knife
in the blazing fires of God versus man
on the anvil of choice and God's will.
And the loss of blood that slowly took
away our sins and devoured His breath
is now upon the lifted heads
of those to whom He gave this death.

My hands were on the hammer that fell,
which should have sent my soul to hell.
My fingers held those nails that pierced
the spotless skin of Christ so fierce-
And yet for this He gives me life,
this Isaac of God who took my knife
when, left forsaken yet quoting Psalms,
My name was written upon His palms?

Can it be, that on the very palms of God
are scars I made, when Jesus trod
unto the cross and carried the sin
of one like me - Barabbas' twin?
Though scoffers may laugh at such a "lie,"
I will believe my Lover so died.
For endless ages may Christ be hailed -
For I am held by the Hand I nailed!

February 15, A.D. 2004