Posts Tagged ‘Poems’
Conversion
Posted in General, Poem, Work of Jesus, tagged Poems, work of christ on January 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »
How do you know you belong to God? How do you know you are going to heaven?
Many falsely hope in their own deeds or the one deed of responding to a gospel call.
The Way Forward
Posted in General, Poem, Strength, Sustaining, tagged faithfulness, Poems, Strength, Sustaining on July 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Moving forward is such a hard thing When the battle within is so strong Steal your purpose, rob the song you sing Tedious moments, days that are long Being consistent is harder still Failing once makes a lie of it all Cannot be done by an act of will Unavoidable that you will fall God is faithful and He is your song He is your reason for living well The One Who supplies and makes you strong That you may of His faithfulness tell
Tree Firmly Planted
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged God Thoughts, Poems on June 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Psalm 1 compares the righteous one to a tree firmly planted, well watered, fruitful, in no danger of withering. I see it as one whose branches reach upward in praise and roots downward into truth. Click on Tree Firmly Planted to see how I visualized it.
Blessing of ERB
Posted in General, Photo, Poem, Sustaining, tagged Photos, Poems, Sustaining on June 6, 2012| 1 Comment »
May God’s blessing be on this child, my first grandchild.
May He save her and sustain her throughout her days.
Miss ERB
Our Demise
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, Strength, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Remembering, Strength, Sustaining on May 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »
We don’t know how, when, or why
The timing of our demise
Whether slow and painful, cry
Sudden horrible surprise
Or to loved ones good-bye say
See a vision from above
Then in peace just drift away
To glory fly as a dove
But, oh, our pain is so slight
Compared to burning below
That will give the hardened fright
Pray for souls that they not go
To avoid death’s awful sting
Look to Jesus’ sacrifice
Daily to His promise cling
Thankful for the purchase price
By His sacrifice we win
Heaven for which praise we give
Away from trials and pain and sin
In His presence there to live
Faith or Fear
Posted in General, Poem, Remembering, Strength, tagged Poems, Remembering, Strength on May 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Faith or fear, which will it be?
Fixed on Jesus, wait and see
What provision or rescue He will bring
Or falter by small degree
And fret and fail to stand free
By looking to yourself where sin will sting
Trust or retreat on the way
Trivial pursuits that may
Distract from weightier tasks to be done
Or track with His plan today
With the Spirit always stay
Until the path laid out for you is run
Practice evil no one should
Pass judgment that you could
Wrath and indignation eternal night
Persevere in doing good
Pursue glory all you would
By grace enabled to do what is right
Make His resurrection known
Share your faith eternity sown
Not afraid to live and speak out for Him
Or just keep silent or moan
Seeds of discontentment grown
Timid, no purpose and your joy is dim
A Song of Salvation History
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, tagged God Thoughts, historicity, Poems, Remembering, salvation history, second coming of christ, work of christ on January 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »
There are so many good hymns. As with most things we have a tendency to rush over them as if to extract the sweetness without savoring the deeper substance. So as time allows on occasion I try to assimilate a little more of the spiritual nutrients from these poems that we sing. In poetry I like completeness of thought with conciseness of language. Of course that is a challenge. The hymn “One Day” seems to be just such a hymn, surveying the incarnation, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and second coming of Christ. Emphasizing this idea of these events happening on a certain ‘one day’ each produces a unity of the verses and points to the historicity of the works of Christ. In each of the verses Christ and His work are exalted and personalized to the person singing the song. These are all wonderful elements, but I’m rarely quite satisfied, so I thought that it covers from Christ’s incarnation at Bethlehem to the beginning of eternity, shouldn’t it include eternity past forward to Bethlehem? I sat down and wrote two more verse to “complete” the thought of salvation history conveyed in the song. I was unable to bring in the element of personalizing the work of Christ to the singer and I’m confident that my poetry is not so good as the author, J. Wilbur Chapman, but I enjoyed the effort and contemplation anyway, and so may you.
One day the Godhead took counsel in heaven One day the Christ was appointed to die Jesus submitted in full to His Father While He still sat on His throne up on high One day Christ Jesus created first Adam One day He walked in the garden with him Then Adam sinned and all mankind was fallen As second Adam He would rescue themOne day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
Refrain
One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
Refrain
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
Refrain
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my belovèd ones bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Refrain
I noticed something after I wrote the first two verses. The refrain repeats and reviews the five themes of incarnation, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and the second coming of Christ presented one at a time in each of the five verses. I guess the hymn was wonderfully complete and filled out after all. Oh well, I reviewed all the more God’s wonderful grace in the process.
Through Storm and Pain
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Random thoughts, Strength, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Random thoughts, Strength, Sustaining on December 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I’m so enamored with the short-term benefits and successes while God sees
eternity along with my utter good and His ultimate glory. Help me, Lord, to
seek what is lasting, to make real breakthroughs through the muck and mire
of life.
Lord, I long for something new
Something with a tremendous view
Perhaps a perch overlooking the heights
So my soul might take its fanciful flights
Life is not lived on that plane
We must first teach the heart and train
That you fully see the view above
Fully know all My holiness and love
I don’t want hardship and pain
I want victory without rain
Love, security, adventure, too
Fun, satisfaction, oh, and something true
You have those more than you know
Through rain and storm there’s more to show
Know Me, you must cease to worship you
Submit to Me and know all that is true
Then you will fly in My strength
Know joy and completeness at length
Thankful for trials and what they have done
Building you up, bringing praise to the Son
On You I Depend
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Sustaining on December 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »
It is probably a mistake to try to explain a poem but having read the second verse of this one I think my perspective while writing it might help to show why these thoughts follow from one another. The sister on one side of me prayed for our awareness of His glorious grace which Jesus shone upon us. The brother on the other side of me had just read a verse about our need to diligently pursue righteousness. The immediate thought in my heart was that I could do neither without the guidance and empowering of His Spirit and the need to “be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:11) Faith rest is simply saying and clinging to God because ‘on You I depend’.
Father of Light on You I depend Show me Your way my life to defend When I am restless and given to fear Give me Your peace and by me be near On me Your Son shone glorious grace Eternally comforting embrace Pursue righteousness fervently You’ve said Careful to enter Your rest, be led Given at times to much confusion Resisting the world’s fond delusion You give me truth and direction instead That I might know You, be Spirit-ledThe Way of Science
Posted in General, Poem, Science, tagged Poems, Science on November 18, 2011| 1 Comment »
The first poem I remember writing as an adult came to me while my students were taking a test. I was struck by their recent questions of why they should know this material, how I got interested in science, and what difference it makes. My thoughts added what truth and true science are. Science succeeded and grew in Western thought because people who believed in a God of order and reason who reveals Himself sought greater understanding of Him through His Creation. That should tint how you read my poem:
I love science For in it there is compliance With all of the laws Upon which this space-time drawsI study science Because of its reliance On a complex design That is beautiful and fine
I teach science That screams with defiance Of all that is false And dearly held without cause
If you pursue science Prepare for acquiescence To ways of thinking Both disturbing and satisfying
When And His I
Posted in General, Poem, Remembering, Strength, Sustaining, tagged Poems, Remembering, Strength, Sustaining on November 3, 2011| 1 Comment »
What do you do on a less than profitable day?
You search for the hidden, more lasting and substantial, intended profit for the day.
When all goes awry And my spirit wants to fly His calling on my life I must recall amidst the strife When there is stress And my spirit feels duress His goodness every day I want to graciously display When hard things come And my spirit would succomb His strength is my stay I need each step of the way When joy comes to me And my spirit knows it’s free His all sufficient grace I am keeping before my faceHis Sovereign Hand
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Sustaining on June 9, 2011| 1 Comment »
Spurred on by an intense discussion last evening I flowed over with these thoughts I hope will glorify the Gracious Sovereign of all existence.
You extend Your Sovereign hand
To choose those who will be Yours
Blessing and cursing each land
By where sounds salvation’s cures
It is You choosing troubles
Each good gift comes from above
All that You do enables
Fits your plan just like a glove
But how can it be this way?
Are you not both good and just?
That You would choose some to pay
While some hear Your name and trust?
It must be that He alone
Controls and chooses each thing
Or He is not God alone
All who choose are deciding
For this is a world of fear
If each one controls his fate
Each one is to god a peer
No one sufficiently great
Scripture reveals not this god
Created in man’s own form
To fairness we must him prod
To his weakness we can warm
The truth of Himself revealed
The exalted One is He
His benevolent rule sealed
His choice through grace makes us free
Them to Jesus
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged God Thoughts, Poems on March 19, 2011| 4 Comments »
Jesus came to save the whole man so it should seem obvious that we should present Jesus as the Savior of the whole man and appeal to the whole man, body, mind, and spirit. The inside is blackened by the sin nature and sin; the person was created in the image of God. May His Spirit reach more people through us and we pursue the whole man.
Them to Jesus
Love them to Jesus Smile and be kind Pray for them often Peace they may find Point them to Jesus Speak to their mind Challenge them to think Wisdom to find Call them to Jesus Problems unwind Teach them the Scripture Answers to find Take them to Jesus From lonely grind Love from the Savior Relationship findWhen………Every
Posted in God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Sustaining on February 3, 2011| 4 Comments »
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3)
Reckon, consider, count! It is so, therefore, calculate assuming it is so. It will cause a conversion in your heart through testing and an endurance in your walk before God.
When the unexpected jolts your day Every interaction your nerves fray Responsibility overwhelms Look up and prayWhen fears of failure on you descend Every impulse is yourself defend Anxiety all thoughts penetrate On God depend
When short cuts and schemes call out and say Everyone does it come on and play Temptation so relentlessly flirts Christ is the way
When hard to hear for accusers’ din Every skeptic’s word makes your head spin Satan with ferocity attacks The Lord will win
When joy breaks out in conflict and mess Every problem brings peace nonetheless Difficulty turns to means of good Jesus did bless
Focus and Cling
Posted in God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Sustaining on January 25, 2011| 2 Comments »
I just had the following encouraging thoughts a few moments ago when reading and commenting on a friend’s quotation of a poem (http://pennedpebbles.wordpress.com/ “Admire Whom?” (poem: CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED translated by Joseph Morris ))
I had a day of victory after a day of defeat yesterday, and why? Because of nothing other than focus and clinging. And that is what this poem is about- the way of life, the way of witness, the way of victory, the way of death, and the way of eternity- focus on Him and clinging to His enabling power.
When I cannot see Him plainBecause of thunder, storm, and rain
I must focus on His glorious face
Cling to His unchanging grace
To rise above the white-capped wave
That He enables me to brave
Ichthus (ichthys or ΙΧΘΥΣ) Rhyme
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged God Thoughts, Poems on January 10, 2011| 3 Comments »
The Christian fish symbol was made popular on bumper stickers so many know of it. As a result quite a few know of its use by persecuted believers. But far fewer know its meaning.
http://gospelgifs.com/clips/clips3/art1115.htm
And here is a good youtube explaining the eight spoke wheel and letters www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydx3OMNzfP8
Jesus Christ God’s Son our Savior Mt1:21,16:16; Lk1:35; Jn1:41 By His blood we have found favor Heb 9:11-14; Eph 1:7 Undeserved, so more we savor I Cor 6:20; Rom 5:2,8; Tit 3:5-7 And sin appears all the graver I Tim 1:15 Jesus is the name of power Phil 2:8-11 Help in trouble, a strong tower Ps 46:1; Prov 18:10 Demons from this name do cower James 2:19; Luke 4:33-34 Mighty One, yet pure white flower Isa 49:26; Song 2:1 Christ the Anointed Priest and King Zech 6:12-13 Exalt His majesty and sing Micah 5:4; Ps 96:1-6 Spirit came as a dove on wing Matt 3:16 Sacrifices and praises bring Ps 50:13-15, 9:14; 2 Cor 9:7; Mt 9:15 God’s true, only begotten Son John 1:14 He is God’s radiance like the sun Heb 1:3 Equals in holiness are none Isa 40:25; Exodus 15:11 Creation by and for Him done Col 1:16 Son of God our life’s one true vine John 15:1 Abide in Him, bear fruit and wine John 15:2-4 Open to Him and with Him dine Rev 3:20 Son of Man coming, He is mine! Dan 7:13; Song 2:16 Savior of those who on Him call Rom 10:13 Redeemed from the curse of the Law Gal 3:13 He paid our sin’s penalty all John 19:30; Col 2:14 His presence will our hearts enthrall Ps 16:11Looking for Better
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged Poems, Sustaining on December 7, 2010| 3 Comments »
A prayer more than a poem really, but the heart fixed on Jesus
finds reality in it.
Looking for better, a longing within, God is the answer, the place to begin. Oh, to be like Him, to gaze on His face, Full joy and longing, to live by that grace. But how the flesh pulls, it tugs on my heart, Promises good times, it looks like it’s smart. But, oh, it deceives, it robs you of joy, Go ahead do it, no harm is the ploy. The Spirit is strong, depend on His voice, Listen, it’s quiet, His way the right choice. Overcome the flesh, world, and the devil, Peace and rest are found, vanquishing evil. God’s Word is a sword, the truth in my hand, It cuts to my sin, can heal all this land. When with ears to hear, my cup is filled up, The lost see Jesus, God is lifted up.
Ultimate Love Story Rap
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Song, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Songs on November 21, 2010| 2 Comments »
Yeh, you read it right, rap! You’ll need some bling, yo, ’cause this rap involves some “great and magnificent promises” says II Peter 1:4, “so that you may become partakers of the divine nature…” Yeh, that’s rich!
Begins within the trinity
In the far past eternity
Love expressed to infinity
Through interactive Deity
Refrain:
The Ultimate Love Story told
Love eternal never grows old
Reject it and your life will fold
Receive it for a new life bold
A story of marriage lovely
Of promises kept totally
Same and discontinuity
All patterned with typology
Father loves Son eternally
Loves rebellious humanity
Loves His people distinctively
Loves sinners that they might be free
God loves all providentially
He loves so sacrificially
Perfectly and perfectingly
His own want holy living see
God chooses to love us freely
Because God loves His Son you see
It benefits both you and me
Bring God much honor and glory
Warn a Sinner from his ways
Posted in General, God's Word, Poem, tagged God's Word, Poems on November 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »
As I sought to choose hymns for the evening service at church I desired to choose one that suggested the text, II Peter 2:1-9. I struggled to pick a song that spoke anything signifcantly about judgment. My wife said so simply, “Who wants to sing about that?” Well, of course she is right, but people of the church did not always fear to sing about death and the consequences of rejection of Christ. Having laid the foundation for strong faith in chapter one, remembering what makes for salvation and godly living, Peter sets out in chapters 2 and 3 to guard the believers against two threats to strong faith: one within the church, namely false teachers, and the other outside the church, namely, mockers. Early in chapter 2 reminds me very much of Jude who says in verse four of his short epistle, “Certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation.” If their judgment is so certain, I wonder, why should we even discuss it? It is a warning to others for God says through Ezekiel, “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” ‘Say to them,”As I live!,” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?”‘” (33:10-11) The following poem comes in lieu of the hymn that I did not find:
From hell to save my Savior came To raise the dead and heal the lame He taught of His Father full breadth Of both eternal life and deathSecond coming differs from this Bought ones ascend to heaven’s bliss While those who refused life in Him Face an eternity that’s grim
Saints, pray and preach to your last breath Hold them back who stagger to death Prov.24:11 O, Sovereign Lord lend us Your aid Show us ones whose sin debt is paid
O, Sinners heed Christ’s pleading call Ezek.33:11,Rom.10:13 Of rescue that goes out to all Call for mercy with all your might Escape your end of flame and fright
Jesus is the Savior and Judge On His justice there is no smudge Receive from Him payment for sin Or ever hurt without, within
Washed, Rinsed, Eternally Clean
Posted in Beauty, General, God Thoughts, Outdoors, Photo, Poem, tagged Beauty, God Thoughts, Outdoors, Photos, Poems on September 12, 2010| 4 Comments »
I made a new aquaintence in church today. We exchanged interests and learned that one was classical music and another was potentially poetry. He wrote down a poem from memory and gave it to me at the end of church. At home I sat down to read the poem. I was really enjoying it, but then I got to the last three lines and felt disappointed. Perhaps the author did not know the good news that I know, or perhaps his focus was elsewhere. At any rate I include the poem here and two verses that I quickly added (in a different color) to, as they say in music, resolve the dissident chords, caused in me at any rate. In defense of both Dr. Stidger’s thoughts and mine, I remind you of what it says in John 13:10: “Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'” I believe Jesus means both that Judas was unclean and that His disciples can pick up dirt from this world, that though they are clean, “needs only to wash”. Oh, how glorious, I’m clean!
I saw God wash the world by Dr. W. L. Stidger
Junco
The red is more red
Since God washed every fragrant face
And put them all to bed
There is not a bird, there is not a bee
That wings along the way
That was a cleaner bird or bee
Than it was yesterday
I saw God wash the world last night
Ah, would He had washed me
As clean of all my dust and dirt
As that old white birch tree!
But oh, He has and cleaner yet
But not with rain and wind
He washed me in the blood of Christ
And I’m completely cleansed
Yet I will have dirt settle on me
As indeed will flower and tree
But my soul is cleansed of all its sin
And could not cleaner be
CreatorWorship 