took her for His own again
In matchless grace and mercy free.
Those that rebelled were not His own,
No mercy could for them be found,
But He redeemed them for Himself
And made them stand on holy ground.
Not only Jews, but others too,
A wild olive’s fruitless tree,
Engrafted into covenant
That unto Him their fruit should be.
And God shall plant her in her place
Where she shall grow forever more.
What love is this bestowed upon
The weak and wicked, vile and poor?
Blest be the faithful God of Grace,
Beyond imagination kind,
Who paid Himself the awful price
That He His wand’ring ones might find.
April 2012
On Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man
Look not alone on earth’s bare fruitless span,
Nor fail the Holy Word in faith to scan,
Nor unto wretched humanism nod,
The proper study of mankind is God.
May 2012
For Mrs. David Smith, on Her Death at 92 Years of Age
She honor graciously retains,
The tribute that to her pertains,
Of mercy lover, and of truth:
‘Tis well your given name is Ruth.
May 2012
On the Curse: Thorns and Thistles
The Scripture says work is accursed.
I think there’s something to it.
If bother is the thing you want,
Most likely, thistle do it.
July 2012
Intercession
As Abraham before besought for Lot Your grace,
As Moses intervened before Your blessed face,
As Amos pled for Jacob, because he was so small,
The images of Jesus, Who pleaded for us all,
So we in measure tiny when for the lost we pray
Thus image our Redeemer Who by Himself would pay
The price of our redemption, to make us sinners good:
Our privilege and honor, if in the gap we stood.
August 2012
A Secret Athlete
(Honoring Eric Liddell, who would not run on the Lord’s Day for love of his King, against the wishes of his king.)
I am a secret athlete
Though no one else might know.
I have a race to finish,
Must win, not place or show.
But unlike other athletes
I am not strong at all.
Debilitating weakness
Is mine since Adam’s fall.
Though newly recreated
By Spirit all Divine,
Yet sin around besets me
Although new life is mine.
What hope have I of glory,
Before His face to stand?
Just that my mighty Savior
Upholds me with His hand.
So though the flesh may bother
And frailty cling to me,
I shall arrive in Heaven
For Jesus strengthens me.
Eternal weight of glory
Exceeds Olympic gold,
And that shall be my story
When my last day is told.
August 2012
Hebrews 2:16
He does not help the angels
By strengthening their hands
As they fly at His bidding
Or follow His commands.
He gives help to His people,
Descendants of His friend,
The children born of promise,
To us He help will send.
August 2012
The Thorn in the Flesh
It sticks! It pokes! It bothers me,
Reminder of the Fall.
God sent it through Hell’s agency
To keep my puffing small.
If I felt not my weakness
Nor heard my thoughts so snide
I might think I were better
Than those I walk beside.
I want my sin to wither
And die upon the vine,
But not till Heav’n’s glory
Will perfect peace be mine.
And yet in this my weakness
I shall great power know
For He that sent Affliction
Shall also Mercy show.
August 2012
On the Death of D.B.
I know you heard the Gospel,
From my own lips you heard.
At least upon your outer ear
Did sound the faithful Word.
I wish I had some reason
To think you found your way
Unto the only Savior.
It would have made this day
On which you met your Maker
More easy for your friend.
But God knows what He’s doing,
And all things have an end.
I hope we meet in glory,
Both snatched from out the flame.
I hope you found your comfort
In Jesus’ holy name.
But God knows He’s doing.
To Him I bow the knee.
I hope you found the Mercy
Alone which comforts me.
August 2012
My Legacy
Let me so live that when I die
All