Tag Archives: Pause for Poetry

Pause for Poetry The Bridge of the Cross

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meadow lakeMan fain would build a bridge to God
Across the fathomless abyss
That lies between his earth-bound soul
And heaven’s perfect bliss.

He takes his knowledge, small and vague,
The great inventions he has wrought,
His mightiest efforts, finest plans,
And his profoundest thought.

He binds them with his strands of straw,
His strings of tow, his ropes of sand,
With all the power and the skill
Of cunning brain and hand.

Through swirling mists he strains his eye,
Above the unseen torrent’s roar
He pushes forth the makeshift thing
And hopes to touch the shore.

But when he seeks to cross the chasm
With eager heart and step elate,
He finds his bridge too short to reach,
Too frail to bear his weight.

Oh, baseless dream! Oh, useless toil!
Oh, utter and eternal loss!
For God has laid, to span the void,
His Son upon the cross.

And when man’s broken bridges fall,
And sink into the gulf at last,
Still wide and long and safe and strong,
The bridge of God stands fast.

Annie Johnson Flint

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You can find my March Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

Pause for Poetry – It Is Easy To Love Him

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It is Easy to Love Him

L. B. Cowman

It is easy to love Him when the blue is in the sky,

When summer winds are blowing, and we smell the roses nigh;

There is little effort needed to obey His precious will

When it leads through flower-decked valley, or over sun-kissed hill.

 

It is when the rain is falling, or the mist hangs in the air,

When the road is dark and rugged, and the wind no longer fair,

When the rosy dawn has settled in a shadowland of gray,

That we find it hard to trust Him, and are slower to obey.

 

It is easy to trust Him when the singing birds have come,

And their canticles are echoed in our heart and in our home;

But ’tis when we miss the music, and the days are dull and drear,

That we need a faith triumphant over every doubt and fear.

 

And our blessed Lord will give it; what we lack He will supply;

Let us ask in faith believing–on His promises rely;

He will ever be our Leader, whether smooth or rough the way,

And will prove Himself sufficient for the needs of every day.

L. B. Cowman

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You can find my February Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Sandy

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Pause for Poetry-Chance Has Not Brought This Ill

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Today’s Pause for Poetry-Chance Has Not Brought This Ill, is selected from Streams in the Desert.

Chance has not brought this ill to me;

It’s God’s own hand, so let it be,

For He sees what I cannot see.

There is a purpose for each pain,

And He one day will make it plain

That earthly loss is heavenly gain.

Like as a piece of tapestry

Viewed from the back appears to be

Only threads tangled hopelessly;

But in the front a picture fair

Rewards the worker for his care,

Proving his skill and patience rare.

You are the Workman, I the frame.

Lord, for the glory of Your name,

Perfect Your image on the same.

Selected from Streams in the Desert

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You can find my January Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Pause for Poetry-O Holy Night!

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mountain lakeO Holy Night!

John Sullivan Dwight

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friends
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
With all our hearts we praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

John Sullivan Dwight

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You can find my December Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Pause for Poetry-But God

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But God

Annie Johnson Flint

I know not, but God knows; Oh, blessed rest from fear!
All my unfolding days to Him are plain and clear.

Each anxious, puzzled “Why?” From doubt or dread that grows,
Finds answer in this thought; I know not, but He knows.

I cannot, but God can; Oh, balm for all my care!
The burden that I drop his hand will lift and bear,

Though eagle pinions tire — I walk where once I ran —
This is my strength, to know I cannot, but God can.

I see not, but God sees; Oh, all-sufficient light!
My dark and hidden way to Him is always bright.

My strained and peering eyes may close in restful ease,
And I in peace may sleep; I see not, but He sees.

Annie Johnson Flint

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You can find my November Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Sandy

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Pause for Poetry-Dear Restless Heart

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Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;

God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;

Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

 

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,

His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;

Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

 

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,

He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;

Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

 

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,

His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;

Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

 

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;

God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;

Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

Edith Willis Linn

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You can find my October Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Sandy

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Pause for Poetry-Be Not Anxious

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Be Not Anxious

Annie Johnson Flint

I cannot change the yesterday when I distrusted Thee,

Though all my fears unfounded proved, and shame me now as then;

I cannot promise that my faith will last throughout the night,

Or that, when Thy tomorrow comes, I will not doubt again.

But grant, O faithful Lord and true, that I may trust Thee now,

Just now, each moment of each hour of this Thy present day;

That, looking backward, I may read the record of the past,

And, forward, see Thy steadfast word light all the future way.

With Memory to guard the rear and Faith to lead the van,

And all Thy tested promises like beacon lights to shine,

How can I dread that demon shape of anxious, faithless fear?

For he shall lose his power when I fully trust in Thine.

Annie Johnson Flint

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You can find my September Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Sandy

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Pause for Poetry-It Isn’t the Thing You Do, Dear

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It Isn’t the Thing You Do, Dear

Adelaide Proctor

It isn’t the things you do, dear

It’s the things you leave undone,

That gives you the bitter heartache

At the setting of the sun;

 

The tender word unspoken,

The letter you did not write,

The flower you might have sent, dear

Are your haunting ghosts at night.

 

The stone you might have lifted

Out of your brother’s way,

The bit of heartfelt counsel

You were hurried too much to say;

 

The loving touch of the hand dear,

The gentle and winsome tone,

That you had no time or thought for,

With troubles enough of your own.

 

These little acts of kindness,

So easily out of mind,

These chances to be angels,

Which even mortals find.

 

They come in nights of silence,

To take away the grief,

When hope is faint and feeble,

And a drought has stopped belief.

 

A life is all too short, dear,

And sorrow is all too great,

To allow our slow compassion

That tarries until too late.

 

And its not the thing you do, dear,

Its the thing you leave undone,

That gives you the bitter heartache,

At the setting sun.

Adelaide Proctor

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You can find my August Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

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Pause for Poetry Only Jesus

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meadow lakeOnly Jesus

by Frances Gregory Pasch

Who knows each moment how you feel?

Whose love for you is always real?

Who cares for you and guides your way?

Who holds your hand so you won’t stray?

Jesus!

Who’s there when others turn their backs?

Who helps you get your life on track?

Who always wants to be your friend?

On whom alone can you depend?

Jesus!

Who’s there for you both day and night?

Who soothes your pain and makes things right?

Who walked the road to Calvary

And gave His life, so you’d be free?

Jesus!

Who is Our Savior and Our King,

Our Counselor-Our Everything?

Only Jesus!

©Frances Gregory Pasch

Frances Gregory Pasch’s devotions and poems have been published hundreds of times in devotional booklets, magazines, and Sunday school papers since 1985. Her writing has also appeared in several dozen compilations. Frances’ latest book, Greater Than Gold is available on Amazon. Her first book, Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life Through Devotions and Poetry, which was published when she was eighty years old, is also available on Amazon. Frances has been leading a women’s Christian writers group since 1991 and makes her own holiday greeting cards incorporating her poetry. She and her husband, Jim, have been married since 1958. They have five sons and nine grandchildren. Contact her at http://www.francesgregorypasch.com.

Pause for Poetry-Count It Done

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Count It Done

Annie Johnson Flint

A father wrote to his son, who was faraway from home;
“I have sent you a beautiful gift, it may be delayed, but ‘twill come;

It is what you have wanted most, and have asked for many days;”
And before the child received the gift he voiced his thanks and praise.

Our Father saith unto us: “Your need shall be supplied;
Ask and receive that your joy be filled, and My joy in you abide.”

Shall we wait to thank till we see the answer to every prayer?
Forbear to praise till we feel the lifted pressure of care?

Nay, let us trust His word and know that the thing is done,
For His promise is just as sure as a father’s to his son.

Annie Johnson Flint

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You can find my June Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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