Intimate with the Infinite

By Michael D. Johnson M.D.

A newborn baby cries. Once separated from the womb, the newborn's immediate desire is to find intimacy. There is no greater human intimacy than a mother's womb. That separation from intimacy defines us. We crave intimacy for the duration of our lives.

We are finite. We are mortal. We want to belong. We want to be a part of a family, a community, a group, and a nation. We want to be defined as not just who we are but to whom we belong. That is our desire to be intimate.

Human relationships are finite and all end in separation, either by choice or circumstance. Most of us seek to hold on to as many people as possible for the sake of feeling loved and giving love. Intimacy defines us. Ultimately, there is only one relationship that outlasts our mortality. That relationship is with our Creator. That relationship is timeless and endless and can only be described as being "intimate with the Infinite."

This collection of poems reflects my growth in seeking intimacy with the Infinite. As a son, brother, grandson, husband, father, and grandfather, I have learned to appreciate the multiple layers of intimacy in the family. These are all important links that help define who I am. I depend upon these relationships to give me peace, direction, and encouragement. I am reminded, however, that only one person can give me all that I need eternally and forever. Those are redundant terms but serve to emphasize this pursuit as extending timelessly.

Peruse this collection for a personal assessment of what the Holy Spirit will tell you about yourself and why eternal life is not about living forever. Instead, it is about knowing Christ intimately and infinitely.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (Jn 17:3)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685704575

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Intimate with the Infinite

Michael D. Johnson M.D.

ISBN 978-1-68570-456-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-457-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Michael D. Johnson M.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Come Die with Me

Appealing or Appalling

I Want It All

The Next Breath

Makes Sense

The Enemy Is Dead

Delightful Deprivation

Three Visits, One Visitor

Sharing with My Lover

A Kind Word

Break My Heart

Not Bright

Buy God a Watch

Careful Spending

Come and Eat

Damaged Goods

Did It in the Dark

Fall Asleep in My Arms

Far Beyond

Forgetful Father

God's Party Tricks

Growing My Grudges

Help Me to Die

I Hid in My Bed

I Hid in the Shadows

I Went Dark on Jesus

I Would Rather Be Lonely

Loosen My Belt

My Enemy's Pain

My Lover Called

Never Forgive You

Never Gets Easy

No Rest for You

Out of the Closet

Resolution

Only One Way Out

Send Someone

So Safe, So Warm

Surrender to Me

The Gift I Want Is You

The Other Cheek

Magic Prayer

Have It Your Way

Take Him for Granted

The Same Every Year

The Same Stuff

This Time I Travel Naked

If You'd Prayed

I Make You God!

You Are My Best

Your Doormat

Pimples and Dimples

You Won't See Me

Band-Aid on Cancer

Feeding on Froth

Deny Him

Not Happy, Not Healthy, but Holy

Turn Invisible Moo into Meat

Break Them Again

Silly Poor Man

Swallowing Time

My Enemies' Peace

The Vine

The Best You Can Do?

Submission, Not Permission

Me or You

He Always Celebrates You

Amend It

Grudges

Shake Hands with the Devil

The One Thing She Could Do

Default to Self

I Rebuild

He Listens

Just Twenty-Six Hours

Just Nod

Next Shiny Thing

Those

Tit for Tat

My Short List

A Pretty Bauble

What's Next

I Will Never Forgive You

Help Someone Today

Imagine This Imagine That

Live in Your Past

Stand Naked, My Child

Another Chance

Would I

I Withheld My Love

A Better World

Make the Devil Smile

Afraid to Abide

I Have a Secret

I Don't Want Holiness

Easy to Love

How Do I Know

Loved, Not Led

I Wish You Away

Closer to You

I Am Worthy

A Fresh Fight

I Hated the Sound

I Know How to Want!

A Little Pruning

I Don't Remember That

You Really Won't Need Me

Dirty Sheep

Give Me Power and Wealth

Please, God, No Miracle

Bits and Pieces

Favor and Fault

God Sees Differently

Give Me Your Body

Loving You

I Looked At Your Sin

Never Dine with the Atheist

He Calls You His

Always Here

Does Jesus Do Voice Mail?

Enjoy the Ride

In Whom You Abide

Like Me

Your Substance

Into the Hole

My Enemy Is God

Hide Here

Wealthless Are Worthless

More Mercy and Grace

You Did Stink

Thrill or Habit

Do My Best

He Remembers, Not Reminds

Who I Am

I Pretend to Care

Only Bread

Lying Down with Fleas

Lead with a Limp

No Measure, Mention, or Merit

When Nobody Heard

Take One

Whom to Hate

Every Soul Matters

Now

Occurred

Wasted Mercy and Grace

Both Lion and Lamb

Stop and Start

New Laws

Black Outrage

I Will Figure This One Out

Sleep Peaceful

Breathe Again

A This for My That

Hurt or Harm

Cleaning Fish

My Bride

The Helm

Sweet Sleep

I Have Complaints

Others

After

Grown-Up Jesus

Leftovers to Jesus

How Far

Somebody Has to Die

End with Love

No Worth in You

Never and Always

Feed the Roots

Sweat

Having Less

What's Eating You

God Lowers Standards

Those Other People

Kill All the Evil People

Just a Smidgen

A Dry Cough

Feel Safer—He's Dead

Lord, Make Me Rich

The Same List, Lord

A Passion for Lepers and Whores

Fate, Fear, and Faith

Another Pharaoh

Your Own Dirt

Vilify the Vulnerable

About the Author

To the five most important people in my life. They all happen to be women: first, my grandmother, affectionately known as Nannie, who taught me how to love the word of God and memorize scriptures; my mother, Helen, who taught me the love of reading and creating and the importance of poetry; my aunt Roberta, who taught me to never settle for less than my best; my mother-in-law, Susie Mae, who has lived a godly life, making it possible for me to have a godly wife; and of course, my godly wife, Sandra Kay, who was used by God to protect me and help me mature in my faith. Together these five women taught me to be sensitive and desire to be a man who honors God, seeking integrity in professional and personal life. Intimacy with the Infinite is what I have seen in the lives of these five women. Them modeling Christ before me is the true inspiration for me to model Him before others.

Foreword

These days, many professing Christians think only of their personal relationship with one another and consequently wander loosely without regard for their relationship with Christ. This book from beginning to its end addresses closeness to our Savior and a walk with Him that reaches levels of love beyond belief.

God has designed that we be joined not only to each other but to Him as well. The New Testament metaphors that depict Christ are richly instructive in carrying the weight of this great challenge. A challenge to be, intimate with the infinite.

God calls us to be—intimate with Him and joins in the joy of love by loving us unconditionally.

What is intimacy with God?

A holy and royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God

A chosen race belonging to God

A spiritual nation whose king is the eternal God

A temple indwelt by the spirit of God

A set of branches connected to Jesus as the vine

A body of which the Lord Jesus is Head

All these metaphors feature the common characteristics of intimacy with God

Believers compose of the priesthood, one nation, one race, one temple, one plant, one flock, one family, and one body. We have all been made one spiritually, and we belong together in intimacy with God.

This helpful book lays out the crucial pattern for conduct in the fellowship that leads to the fulfillment of love. Love God with a blood-sealed love, born out of His blood He gave for us on the cross. Love Him with all your heart.

—Pastor James A. Lovett II

Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church

Come Die with Me

My sweet savior bid

Your life is no good

'Till in Me it's hid

Die to your pleasures

Die to your pain

To your earthly treasures

The things you count gain

Die to your pride

Die to your rights

In Me fully abide

On Me set your sights

For too long you contest

For too long you strive

Give in to this death

Submit and come alive

Lose yourself in My will

Lose yourself to My way

If you are dead, just be still

I will indwell you that day

Come die, My sweet child

Take your last selfish breath

Let My spirit inside

Let My life give you rest

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)

Appealing or Appalling

I find it revealing

As I hear my God calling

What I find appealing

My God finds appalling

So comfortable with sin

When I should be groaning

I strike a big grin

While my God is moaning

The world says it's right

Feed the flesh with all pleasures

So to end this flesh fight

Know that I'm His true treasure

He has placed His own sealing

He is continually drawing

God makes me appealing

So I could avoid the appalling

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 Jn 2:15–16 King James Version [KJV])

I Want It All

I want it all, not what you can spare

Not the remnants you don't want

I am not asking you to share

I want it all—don't tease and don't taunt

I am jealous, and I will not take some

You attempt to placate, appease

I find it offensive, not worthy of notice

Bend your heart and not your knees

Not the prayer position or posture

Not the appearance that others might see

I consider half measures, you impostor

I want it all; it all belongs to Me

You keep some aside for your just in case

You squander; you hoard and collect

Your giving is not sacrifice; it's a disgrace

Your generous offering I do reject

I gave you all without measure or merit

I poured My life's blood; I suffered and died

I withheld nothing so you could have heaven

You withhold and give less; you have lied

I want it all, and the promise I give

Is you will have even more; this is true

Give Me all; that is how My child must live

All that I am I give freely to you

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom 8:32, emphasis added)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Mt 13:45–46)

The Next Breath

Am I worthy of the next breath?

Will I just abuse this air?

Will I squander the grace You gave me,

Or will I generously share?

Will I seek the purpose You have?

Will I lift up those who've fallen,