Two Ditches
Two Ditches Out on my own, but not equippedTo meet with life’s demands.From childish props I’m fully strippedFirst one and then another slippedFrom my unwilling hands. Oh, how it burned to let them go!I found the process hard,And though I wouldn’t let it show,I fondly clenched my status quo,Til I was deeply scarred. When finally […]
Old Soldier
Old Soldier Old soldier, have you left your post?The place for which you fought? The cross was once your only boastAnd held you to the spot. Not words of men, not wealth, not fameCould move you from the place, Where planted firm in Jesus’ name,You preached transforming grace. You stood for Christ, your faith was […]
Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany What was it Mary soughtThat caused the Lord to say,“The one thing needful she has got.“It won’t be taken away.”? It wasn’t service of the kindThat Martha tried to bear,That weighted up on her fretful mindAnd cumbered her with care. The outward kind that people see,That suits a worldly plan,Is measured by […]
The Road
The Road I took the road less travelled by I took the road less travelled byNot consciously I chose,But followed, without knowing why,The path that upward rose. It hasn’t been an easy course,My progress often blocked,But I look back without remorseFor walking where I walked. When stumbling in some dip or hole,To passion much inclined,I’ve […]
Running
Running You’re running from your troubles,But trouble comes along You’re running from your troubles,But trouble comes along‘Cause when a person’s running,It’s usually him that’s wrong. It may be something littleThat no one really knows,But anywhere you run to,That little trouble goes. Do what you can to shake it,It will not let you go,And all the […]
Dreams
Dreams The dreams I once cherished are lost in the floodOf fast-flowing waves from the current of life. The dreams I once cherished are lost in the floodOf fast-flowing waves from the current of life.The fancies of youth have been nipped in the bud.Reality choked them with trouble and strife. Their sweet-sounding notions can charm […]
Food in Egypt
Food in Egypt Ah, yes, there’s food in Egypt,But what will be the cost? Ah, yes, there’s food in Egypt,But what will be the cost?What troubles will you find there?What virtue may be lost? For no one goes to EgyptBut that he has to pay.It costs a man to eat there,However short the stay. When […]
Our Rose
Our Rose As beauty ripens, Must death invade? As beauty ripens, Must death invade?The grasses wither; The flower fade? The Lord has taken Our rose away;‘Twas He who gave it, We can’t say Nay. And memory hallows Her lingering scentThat sweetly eases Our sore lament. The pain of parting Was not our choice,But that we […]
I Shouldn’t Be Annoyed
I Shouldn’t Be Annoyed I shouldn’t be annoyedThough others seem devoid I shouldn’t be annoyedThough others seem devoidOf decency and common sense,And do their best to give offence. Despite recurring pain,I really can’t complain.Although I feel myself unnerved,No better things have I deserved. My own poor heart is vile,And filled with treacherous guile,And that deceitful, […]
The Wall
The Wall I’ve tried so hard to manage things,And make them work by pulling strings I’ve tried so hard to manage things,And make them work by pulling strings.I’ve laid my plans and thought up schemesTo seal my fortune, catch my dreams,But efforts clever and well-plannedCould not secure them to my hand. I reached a wall […]
A Minstrel
A Minstrel I used to have a minstrelWho sang his songs to me, I used to have a minstrelWho sang his songs to me,And pesky evil spiritsWould turn around and flee. But now the pleasing musicIs seldom to be heard,And devils that afflict meAren’t easily deterred. I need a purge more thoroughThan any minstrel’s songTo […]
Aaron’s Feast
Aaron’s Feast The man who spoke in Moses’ steadAnd stood by Moses’ side, The man who spoke in Moses’ steadAnd stood by Moses’ side,Who boldly lifted up his rodAnd challenged Pharaoh’s pride; The man who joined in Moses’ work,Obeying God’s command,Who helped to lead the flock of God,And held up Moses’ hand; The chosen servant […]
Faith and Pride
Faith and Pride Faith will sometimes be accused of being nothing more than pride,Though the boldness of its actions has humility inside. Faith will sometimes be accused of being nothing more than pride,Though the boldness of its actions has humility inside.Don’t be overly discouraged if like David you have foundThat your older brothers chide you […]
Treasure
Treasure Oh, we have this glorious treasureIn a vessel made of clay, Oh, we have this glorious treasureIn a vessel made of clay,Which has many imperfections,That we cannot wipe away. But we don’t despise the vessel,Though it’s marred with many a scratch, For the treasure that is in itWe can’t duplicate or match. God commanded […]
Christ Alone
Christ Alone Christ alone provides an answerTo the ills that plague our race. Christ alone provides an answerTo the ills that plague our race.Nothing frees and nothing cures us,But the cleansing work of grace. We may educate the masses;Tell them where the dangers lurk,But to stem the tide of evilAll our teaching doesn’t work. We […]
Best Wishes
Best Wishes I wish you the best that my Saviour can give.I wish you the happiest life you can live. I wish you the best that my Saviour can give.I wish you the happiest life you can live.I wish you the peace that surpasses all thought.I wish you the love my Lord Jesus has brought.I […]
Martha Hall
Martha Hall The marriage union God has givenTo be a type and taste of heaven.Faithful in Adversity The marriage union God has givenTo be a type and taste of heaven.Both man and wife He means to bless,Increasing earthly happiness, But in the case of Martha Hall,It didn’t work that way at all.The lot that fell […]
Chastening
Chastening And shall a worm complain to GodIf he should feel the chastening rod? And shall a worm complain to GodIf he should feel the chastening rod?No, rather he is reconciledTo thus be treated as a child. The Father’s discipline I feelAnd know thereby the Spirit’s seal;Accepted as a son by grace,I share in the […]
My Times and My Tears
My Times and My Tears I cannot guess the future;The past I cannot change; I cannot guess the future;The past I cannot change;My present situationI cannot re-arrange.My life is full of questionsThat I don’t understand,But God my Father tells me,My times are in His hand. And I can trust my Father;He knows my deepest fears;He […]
Gossip
Gossip After I have listenedto gossip for an hour, After I have listenedto gossip for an hour,Vainly I imaginethat I’ve escaped its power.Totally unconscious,I drank in every word;Soaked up all the passionof everything I heard.Thinking I’m impartial,I never really dreamSomeone I have honoredis losing my esteem.Haven’t I intendedto vindicate my friend?Haven’t I attemptedhis motives to […]
Swords for Souls
Swords for Souls Some men have swords with which to fightTo gain their carnal goals. Some men have swords with which to fightTo gain their carnal goals.The mortal body they will smite,But God has swords for souls. Like Mary, among women blessedAnd favored of the Lord,The servants we esteem the bestHave felt God’s piercing sword. […]
The Roaring Lion
The Roaring Lion There’s no utopian path of easeWhere trials won’t be met; There’s no utopian path of easeWhere trials won’t be met;Where I can think the prize to seizeWithout the lion’s threat. The devil walks about to seekFor souls he may devour.He preys on those whose faith is weakAnd takes them in his power. […]
If I Could Be a Martyr
If I Could Be a Martyr If I could be a martyr,I’d sooner die indeed If I could be a martyr,I’d sooner die indeedFor love shown to my brothers,Then sticking by my creed. The truth is all important,And doctrine comes from God,And I would never slight itTo thus escape the rod. Yet there is something […]
Mediocrity
Mediocrity O wretched mediocrity,With which the church is cursed, O wretched mediocrity,With which the church is cursed,How loathe are men to part with thee;How loathe thy bands to burst! How gladly men embrace thy ways,How low the goals they set!They live for one another’s praise,And God they full forget. They love to think that all […]
The Way of Escape
The Way of Escape There’s never a temptationOf all that might befall, There’s never a temptationOf all that might befall,That is a situationNot common to us all. There’s never a temptation,Whatever be its shape,But that a way is given,By which I might escape. However bleak my prospects,However dark my way,If I will heed God’s promise,I’ll […]
A Cloak for Lukewarmness
A Cloak for Lukewarmness Lukewarmness, though with self content,And with the status quo, Lukewarmness, though with self content,And with the status quo,Is not so foolishly intentHis temperature to show. He wants to shine in others’ eyes,And seem what he is not.He seeks a plausible disguiseTo make him look more hot. What calls for bland conformity,Yet […]
Worry and Quietness
Worry and Quietness Two passions that cannot agreeBoth try to be a friend to me. Two passions that cannot agreeBoth try to be a friend to me.The one more forward often gainsAn entrance to my heart and reins.In her I have no confidence;I find in her no real defense,Yet Worry often would pretendThat she’s my […]
Man Pleasing
Man Pleasing Oh, the crowd can’t be pleased, nor the members thereof, For what one will call hatred, another calls love. Oh, the crowd can’t be pleased, nor the members thereof,For what one will call hatred, another calls love. Though on pointing of fingers all seem to agree,The direction of pointing quite varied may be. […]
Wind
Wind The sound of whispers in the trees,The calm of summer’s evening breeze, The sound of whispers in the trees,The calm of summer’s evening breeze, The freshness of the gales in spring,All make the weary spirit sing. E’en winter’s blasts in beauty blow,When whirling flakes of pure, white snow. No season stops the mighty wind,No […]
Who Are You?
Who Are You? Can you plunge the depth of seas;Understand the ways of bees; Can you plunge the depth of seas;Understand the ways of bees;Count the waves upon the shore;Or instruct a dinosaur? Did you choose our planet’s course;Or give strength unto the horse?Can you reach up to the sky?Can you cause the hawk to […]
What I Wanted
What I Wanted Ah, this is what I wanted, And this is what I got, Ah, this is what I wanted, And this is what I got,To be a quiet poet, In my own quiet spot. But oh that I had hungered For things of greater worth,That I had longed and panted To bring a […]
We Can
We Can We can have sorrow and rejoice,In praises lift our faltering voice. We can have sorrow and rejoice,In praises lift our faltering voice. We can be weak and yet be strong.We can have suffering with a song. We can be chastened and yet cleave.We can be sifted, yet believe. We can, for grace is […]
To Taste a Real Revival
To Taste a Real Revival I want a visitationOf manna from above, I want a visitationOf manna from above,Another Great Awakening,A feast of heaven’s love.I want the Spirit’s powerTo move among the saints,To purify our flagging faith,And purge our selfish taints. I want the living watersTo flow from every soul,To bring a great refreshing floodTo […]
The Well of All Wells
The Well of All Wells If I draw from the well of my own shallow heart, Then the blessings are few that I have to impart, If I draw from the well of my own shallow heart, Then the blessings are few that I have to impart, But a fountain is flowing that never runs […]
Pain
Pain “Man of Sorrows” knows my griefHe can soothe and bring relief, “Man of Sorrows” knows my griefHe can soothe and bring relief,Who himself such pain did bear,That none other can compare. All that sinners put him throughNo one shared and no one knew.I am not thus left alone,All I face to him is known. […]
Thou Art Able
Thou Art Able No temptation thee assaileth,But what commonly prevaileth. No temptation thee assaileth,But what commonly prevaileth.Others also patience borrow,Who must face thy self-same sorrow,Who like thee with burdens groan.Even when the Lord’s allowed thee,That the blackest sky becloud thee,Even in the dark confusion,Give no heed to the illusionThat thou sufferest alone. Though of hope […]
Healing
Healing The wound is sore and open wide,Revealing wrenching pain inside. The wound is sore and open wide,Revealing wrenching pain inside.’Tis so the healing process starts,When God binds up our broken hearts. The hungry are the ones he feeds,He bandages the heart that bleeds.The weary only find his rest,The poor are they who most are […]
Free
Free In Christ I have sweet liberty.From condemnation I am free, In Christ I have sweet liberty.From condemnation I am free,From fear of death, and from its sting,From minding every fleshly thing,From fear of man, and pride of life,From worldly sorrow, lust, and strife. I’m free from worry, free from care,Free from the yoke that […]
As Dead
As Dead As over me the world once reigned,And lust and pride their hold maintained, As over me the world once reigned,And lust and pride their hold maintained,Let now the Holy Ghost control,And be director of my soul. Once death, in which I loved to dwell,Would keep me from the living well,So now an equal […]
A Refuge
A Refuge That a refuge we needIs quite certain indeed That a refuge we needIs quite certain indeedIn this age of such sorrow and strife.Every man has his wayHis own pain to allay,And to bury the hurts in his life. There is nowhere to hide,Where my soul would abide,But in Christ, who gives comfort and […]
Wisdom
Wisdom Experience instructs, but it gives no relief,For knowledge brings sorrow, and wisdom is grief, Experience instructs, but it gives no relief,For knowledge brings sorrow, and wisdom is grief,And yet by the preacher of wisdom we’re toldTo seek it as silver and prize it as gold. It’s better to hear a rebuke from the wiseThan […]