Thanks A Million Times Only

Happy New Year
Happy New Beginnings!

I'm here

To say thank You

Thru the season of tears

If it had not been for You

I would not be here

I say thank You

For the Light of You

When things in the shadow

Were the spawn of evil.

To You alone

Lord, all praise is due

Still I thank You

For gifting me You

You're Lifter Of My Head

You're the Stone Of My Help

Father, I thank You

It's a great thing to serve You

And a good thing

To give thanks to the King,

A million times only.

I'm here to thank You

For the gift of life and friendship

For all the things that make You, You

You've been faithful and true

You've given me beauty for ashes

The garment of praise for distress

You are beautiful

And You've made beautiful

All things concerning this child

I offer You my life

To show I appreciate You

A million times only to

Humbly say, thank You.

Akpan

Absolute Emptiness

I will never

Go back to the world

Not ever

I've tasted His word

It's the taste of

Honey from the honeycomb

This world ain't my home

So I'll never

Not after a taste of forever

Turn again

To the substance of shame

Things are different now

He turned my life around

I am decided

As this world abideth

To maintain a closer walk

With nobody else

But my Lord Jesus

I'll give all and the best

Until there's nothing left

To give of myself

But absolute emptiness

That craves only the fullness

Of the Most High's presence.

Akpan

Myanmarssacre

The military junta in Myanmar forfeits the rule of law,
constantly abuses the human rights of citizens, kills with
 impunity, locked up elected officials without a fair trial,
and persistently, cracks down on protesters. There is
 no feasible plan for transition to civil rule.
Photo Courtesy: UNHCR

There are

Rats in the wall

Cats down the hall

Dealing whacks to the ball

There are

Gnats in a shawl

Bats sucking blood

Human sharks to a gull

There are

Scratch marks on the pall

Spinal cracks from a fall

Like slaps to the gall

There are

Mats on the floor

Shacks for the haul

Sights that wrack your skull

The cat sat on the mat

The patch set for the rat

The fact's tacked up the rack

And rattatat on the rat.

There are

Stacks in the hull

Mass for those shot

Fatal scars from a brawl

There are

Brats waging war

Masses on the run

Chased down by war dogs

There are

Blasts from a bomb

Tags for the lost

Rattatats from a gun

We are

Rats in the wall

The cats hunt for us

Like sharks to scent

Of blood

The new government's

Like boys with toys.

Akpan

Banner For Signs

Lord, make us a banner for your miraculous signs, an
 outlet for the flowing of Your healing grace that reads, 
‘I Am the God that Healeth Thee.’

We do not see our signs
Yet no one bats an eye
Nor is there any among us
Who inquires how long
Will the plague last
Before it comes to pass
The day is Yours
The night to You belongs
You formed the light of the sun
As a crown of glory
For this mortal world
Shower us with Your mercy
For we delight in Your love
Lord, restore the powerful signs
Unleash Your power and wonder
Shine, Jesus shine
Break the chains of darkness asunder
Turn rivers of blood
Into mighty healing streams of love
Tear down the high places
Crush the foe under our feet
From the throne of our high praises
Release Your Majesty
We want to see great signs
Make us battle-ax of Your might,
Your Banner for signs
Arise, O God
Plead Your own cause
Bring glory to Your name
Put us not to shame.

Akpan

Air Freshener

Kimberly Potter, the former police officer who killed
Daunte with a gunshot wound to the chest, was convicted
December 23 on two counts of first and second degree murder.
May the young black man's soul rest in power.

Too black, too young

Too legit to git eulogies

Scripted in his honor

Daunte bustled with energies

He was voted class clown

Now that he's shot down

Guess who's laughing now?

Cops pulled him over

And Daunte phoned his Mama

And said they said his fault

Was hanging air freshener

From his rearview mirror

That's what he told his Mama

That was his fatal error

Cops claimed it was

Rather for traffic violations

Related to expired regulation

Tags when they did a double take

And found a warrant for his arrest

It kinda shot the stakes

To a gunshot wound in the chest

When former police officer

Killer Kim Potter

Caught a whiff of air freshener

And Daunte caught a bullet

Claimed she mistook gun for taser

But that old ash of skillet

Don't deserve a rehash

She bore on him screaming ‘Taser!,’

But protesters screamed murder!

Daunte Wright's a hashtag

Daunte Jr. is an orphan

Former police officer

Kimberly Potter

Rolled with her crew

Patrolling the hood

For blacks that smelled good

But this wasn't just some kid

With an air freshener

He was the prince

Of the Brooklyn Center

Killer Kim's down

On a count

Of first degree and

Second degree manslaughter

Daunte's maggots riddled cadaver

May now rest in peace proper

But at what cost

And how long must

This level of hate go on

Before someone says enough?

Meanwhile, it's official

It is now illegal

To kill blacks fo

Smelling good,

Looking good,

Or feeling good

Up in the hood.

Akpan

Birthplace

Bethlehem

Salvation's birthplace

Eternal emblem

Of the coming of grace

A city after God's heart

King David's town set apart

For the fulfilling

Of divine prophecy

Rama that soon weeps

When the blood

Of her children is spilled

But is spared her only Son

Whose sacred blood will

Save the entire world

Royal David's City

Our fountains are in thee

Springing up unto eternal life

Thru the gifting of Christ

Beautiful Bethlehem

You make our hopes ascend

Just the thought of thee

Fills with expectation to the brim

Scene of the nativity

We welcome Christ

In you tonight.

Akpan

For The Father's Pleasure

It pleased God

Before the foundations

Of the world

To predestine

The coming of His Son

And enact the season

We celebrate as Christmas

It is an anniversary

The celebration of Jesus

A supernatural party

Commemorating the agape

Long before

Men ever trod

This guilty sod

It was ordained by God

That one sweet day

On a cold winter night

On cattle hay

Shall be born the Christ

Savior of the world

Wonderful Counselor

Prince of Peace

Kingdom Authority

It went according to plan

God translated to man

Thus was the Father's good pleasure

To give us the Kingdom

Thru the gift of His Son.

Akpan

With Us God

He wouldn't leave us alone

To die out in the winter's cold

Fury even when our souls

We sold to the Enemy

Of our souls

He felt our frailty

And took on our humanity

Unconditional Love

Came down at Christmas

With Us God

To redeem us

In all points

From the guilt

Of all our sins

And to abide with us

And within us

And express His great love

Through us all.

Akpan

Flesh Appearing

That man may die

No more

He came from on High

Word of God

In flesh appearing

Fall of man repairing

He came to set

The captives free

Our Heaven-sent

Redeemer-King

The Word became flesh

Got born in a cattle shed

And dwelt among men

It came to be

Conceived of the Spirit

Now in flesh appearing

That men may truly live

He Who can't be touched

Who is eternally God

Took on a housing of dust

The Word of God is

Now in flesh appearing.

Akpan

Happy Birthday Jesus

God's Son is born

Celebrate the Savior

The With-Us-God

His name is Jesus

Born in Bethlehem

And in the hearts of men

Congratulations God

Happy birthday, Jesus.

Akpan

Grace Looks Good On You

Every December 24th, I celebrate my mom's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mma. 🎉🎂🍰🎊
More grace to your age.

Mother,

I love you, forever.

Grace looks good on you

Grace was made for you

Like that fabric of lace on you

Beauty defines you

You're aging with grace

Radiance adorns your face

You are made of grace,

And molded to the Master's taste.

Grace looks good on you

It's like the Dew of Hermon

Is raining all over you.

Daughter of Zion

His banner over

You is everlasting love

Yours is a story of hallelujahs

His grace looks good on you

Cause you are living proof

That God is good,

Grace erased the stress

Of your years

You are indeed blessed

Not a scar nor a tear,

Grace looks good on you

Grace brought you thru

Grace kept you

And delivered you

Whole into a fresh 365,

Yours is a blessed life.

You were fashioned

To be a Divine light

And crowned with glory and honor

Therefore grace,

Like that blouse of lace

Looks real good on you.

Happy birthday to you,

Jesus bless you and keep you.

Akpan