If God is for us

Haiku responding to Rom 8:26-39

The Spirit helps us;

we are weak we do not know

just how we should pray.

Spirit intercedes

with deep groans when words fail us.

God understands groans.

Things work together

for those who love God, who are

called. (But not always!)

We who have been called

are bearers of Christ's image.

We are justified!

If God is for us

there can be none against us.

Who would dare condemn?

In all our suff'rings

we are more than victorious

through him who loved us.

Nothing; death nor life,

rulers, powers, height, depth, can

keep us from God's love.

In all creation,

nothing can part us from God's

love in Christ Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Abba! Father!

Haiuku responding to Rom 8:12-25

Brothers and sisters,

don't live by the flesh; the flesh

is the way of death.

Live by the Spirit

and put to death sinful deeds;

this way leads to life.

Led by the Spirit

you are made children of God;

free, and without fear.

You've been adopted

by God. Cry Abba! Father!

you are God's children!

If you are children,

then you are also God's heirs;

heirs alongside Christ!

As joint heirs with Christ

you're called to share his suff'ring;

and then his glory.

Present day suff'rings

are nothing when compared with

the coming glory.

Creation's waiting,

yearning; asking, when will God's

children be made known?

Creation's enslaved,

futility reigns; when will

creation be freed?

The whole creation

is groaning, as in labour,

waiting its true birth.

We have the first fruits

of the Spirit, we groan too,

waiting adoption.

In hope we were saved.

Hoping for what is unseen,

we wait with patience.

© Ken Rookes 2025

No Condemnation

Haiku responding to Rom 8:1-11

No condemnation

now for those who are in Christ;

freed through the Spirit.

The Spirit of life

in Christ Jesus sets you free

from the law of death.

God has done what Law,

made weak through damaged flesh, was

unable to do.

God sent his own Son

in the guise of sinful flesh

to straighten out sin.

Law has been sorted

for us. We walk not as flesh,

we live through Spirit.

Those who live by flesh

are focused on flesh; the flesh

is the way of death.

Live by the Spirit!

Think upon the Spirit; this

leads to life and peace.

The mind set on flesh

is hostile to God; such as

these cannot please God.

You are not of flesh.

Since God's Spirit dwells in you

you're in the Spirit.

Without the Spirit

we do not belong to Christ.

But Christ is in you

The body is dead

because of sin; the Spirit

gives life, makes righteous.

God who raised Jesus

from death, gives your bodies life,

gives you his Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2026