Christian Poetry

I’m Standing Lord
By Betty Scott Stam

I’m standing, Lord:
There is a mist that blinds my sight.
Steep, jagged rocks, front, left and right,
Lower, dim, gigantic, in the night.
Where is the way?

I’m standing, Lord:
The black rock hems me in behind,
Above my head a moaning wind
Chills and oppresses heart and mind.
I am afraid!

I’m standing, Lord:
The rock is hard beneath my feet;
I nearly slipped, Lord, on the sleet.
So weary, Lord! and where a seat?
Still must I stand?

He answered me, and on His face
A look ineffable of grace,
Of perfect, understanding love,
Which all my murmuring did remove.

I’m standing, Lord:
Since Thou hast spoken, Lord, I see
Thou hast beset-these rocks are Thee!
And since Thy love encloses me,
I stand and sing.

Laid on Thine Altar
By Morne Wallis

Laid on Thine altar, O my LORD Divine,
Accept my will this day, for Jesus sake;
I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine,
Nor any world proud sacrifice to make:
But here I bring within my trembling hand
This will of mine, a thing that seemeth small;
And Thou alone, O God canst understand
How, when I yield Thee this, I yield my all!

O Flame of God by Amy Carmichael

Give me the love that leads the way
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire
The passion that’ll burn like fire
Let me not sink to be a clod
Make me Thy fuel, O Flame of God

Unto Myself

“I bare you on eagle’s wings,
and brought you unto myself”
(Exod. 19:4)

Fearing to launch on “full surrender’s” tide,
I asked the Lord where would its waters glide
My little bark, “To troubled seas I dread?”
“Unto Myself,” He said.

Weeping beside an open grave I stood,
In bitterness of soul I cried to God:
“Where leads this path of sorrow that I tread?”
“Unto Myself,” He said.

Striving for souls, I loved the work too well;
Then disappointments came; I could not tell
The reason, till He said, “I am thine all;
Unto Myself I call.” Author Unknown

His Way

God bade me go when I would stay
(‘Twas cool within the wood);
I did not know the reason why.
I heard a boulder crashing by
Across the path where I stood

He bade me stay when I would go;
“Thy will be done,” I said.
They found one day at early dawn,
Across the way I would have gone,
A serpent with a mangled head.

No more I ask the reason why,
Although I may not see
The path ahead, His way I go;
For though I know not, He doth know,
And He will choose safe paths for me.

When is The Time to Trust?

When is the time to trust?
Is it when all is calm, when waves the victor’s palm,
And life is one glad psalm of joy and praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when the waves beat high, when storm clouds fill the sky,
And prayer is one long cry, O help and save!

When is the time to trust?
Is it when friends are true? Is it when comforts woo,
And in all we say and do we meet but praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when we stand alone, and summer birds have flown,
And every prop is gone, all else but God.

What is the time to trust?
Is it some future day, when you have tried your way,
And learned to trust and pray by bitter woe?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is in this moment’s need, poor, broken, bruised reed!
Poor, troubled soul, make speed to trust thy God.

What is the time to trust?
Is it when hopes beat high, when sunshine gilds the sky,
And joy and ecstasy fill all the heart?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when our joy is fled, when sorrow bows the head,
And all is cold and dead, all else but God. Author Unknown

My Father’s at The Helm

The curling waves, with awful roar, a little bark assailed,
And pallid Fear’s distracting power o’er all on board prevailed–
Save one, the captain’s darling child, who fearless viewed the sto
And, cheerful, with composure smiled at danger’s threatening form.

“And can you smile,” a seaman cried, “while terrors overwhelm?”
“Why should I fear?” the boy replied; “my father’s at the helm!”
So, when our worldly hopes are crushed, our earthly comforts gone,
We still have one sure anchor left — God helps, and He alone.

He to our prayers will lend his ear, he gives our pangs relief;
He turns to smiles each trembling fear, to joy each torturing grief.
Then turn to him, mid terrors wild, when wants and woes o’erwhelm,
Remembering, like the fearless child, our Father’s at the helm!

Author Unknown

If You Can Believe Poem from Streams in the Desert

Passive faith accepts the word as true, but never moves.
Active faith begins the work to do, and thereby proves.
Passive faith says, “I believe it! every word of God is true.
Well I know He hath not spoken what He cannot, will not, do.

He hath bidden me, ‘Go forward!’ but a closed-up way I see,
When the waters are divided, soon in Canaan’s land I’ll be.
Lo! I hear His voice commanding, ‘Rise and walk: take up thy bed’;
And, ‘Stretch forth thy withered member!’ which for so long has been dead.

When I am a little stronger, then, I know I’ll surely stand:
When there comes a thrill of heating, I will use with ease My other hand.
Yes, I know that ‘God is able’ and full willing all to do:
I believe that every promise, sometime, will to me come true.”

Active faith says, “I believe it! and the promise now I take,
Knowing well, as I receive it, God, each promise, real will make.
So I step into the waters, finding there an open way;
Onward press, the land possessing; nothing can my progress stay.

Yea, I rise at His commanding, walk straightway, and joyfully:
This, my hand, so sadly shrivelled, as I reach, restored shall be.
What beyond His faithful promise, would I wish or do I need?
Looking not for ‘signs or wonders,’ I’ll no contradiction heed.

Well I know that ‘God is able,’ and full willing all to do:
I believe that every promise, at this moment can come true.”
Passive faith but praises in the light, When sun doth shine.
Active faith will praise in darkest night– Which faith is thine?

The Shout of Faith by A. Handmaiden

Do you know the shout of faith?
Like the shout of faith of the one,
Who, standing before Goliath tall,
Knew in his heart that the giant would fall?
Do you have the shout of faith?

Do you know the shout of faith?
Of the shout of the people of God?
Who, after the trumpet sounded its call,
Knew in their hearts that the walls would fall?
Do you have that shout of faith?

Do you know the shout of faith before the deed is done?
Do you know the shout of faith before the battle is won?
Not after the sea has parted, not after the storm is o’er,
Not after the time that God has stepped in, but with faith in Him before?

Why wait till the fever’s broken, why wait till the enemy’s floored?
Why wait till the catch has been caught in the net? Faith’s shouts should come before,
Don’t wait till the prison doors open, don’t wait till the oil has been poured,
Don’t wait till the ‘all clear’ is given, in faith raise a shout to the Lord!

HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

The Joy of The Lord

The joy of the Lord is our strength for life’s burdens,
And gives to each duty a heavenly zest;
It will set to sweet music the task of the toiler;
And soften the couch of the labourer’s rest.

Yes, the joy of the Lord is our strength for life’s trials,
And lifts the crushed heart above sorrow and care,
Like the nightingale’s song, it can sing in the darkness,
And rejoice when the fig tree is withered and bare.

The joy of the Lord is our strength for temptation,
And counts it the testing of patience and grace;
It marches to battle with shouts of salvation,
And rides o’er its foes in the chariots of praise.

Let the joy of the Lord be the strength of our service,
As it speaks in our faces and accents of love,
As it wins the sad world to the fullness of Jesus,
And draws hungry hearts His salvation to prove. Author Unknown

The Spirit Filled Life

O the Spirit filled life; is it thine, is it thine?
Is thy soul wholly filled with the Spirit Divine?
O thou child of the King, has He fallen on thee?
Does He reign in thy soul, so that all men may see
The dear Saviour’s blest image reflected in thee?

Has He swept through thy soul like the waves of the sea?
Does the Spirit of God daily rest upon thee?
Does He sweeten thy life, does He keep thee from care?
Does He guide thee and bless thee in answer to prayer?
Is it joy to be led of the Lord anywhere?

Is He near thee each hour, does He stand at thy side?
Does He gird thee with strength, has He come to abide?
Does He give thee to know that all things may be done
Through the grace and the power of the Crucified One?
Does He witness to thee of the glorified Son?

Has He purged thee of dross with the fire from above?
Is He first in thy thoughts, has He all of thy love?
Is His service thy choice, and is sacrifice sweet?
Is the doing His will both thy drink and thy meat?
Dost thou run at His bidding with glad eager feet?

Has He freed thee from self and from all of thy greed?
Dost thou hasten to succour thy brother in need?
As a soldier of Christ dost thou hardness endure?
Is thy hope in the Lord everlasting and sure?
Hast thou patience and meekness, art tender and pure?

O the Spirit filled life may be thine, may be thine,
In thy soul evermore the Shekinah may shine;
It is thine to live with the tempests all stilled,
It is thine with the blessed Holy Ghost to be filled;
It is thine, even thine, for thy Lord has so willed. Author Unknown

Have You Counted The Cost? By A. Handmaiden

You did run well, what did hinder you
In the path that you once trod?
You did run well, what did hinder you
In your daily walk with God?

What came your way?
What clouded your skies?
What made you take your eyes off the prize?
What blinded your vision, and caused you to turn
Away from the Scriptures which once you had learned?

Once the Cross was before you,
Once the world was behind.
Who, or what caused you, to then change your mind?
Was it pressure from family or the death of a friend?
The loss of promotion that caused you to bend?

Did peoples’ opinions get in the way?
Or was the fire in your spirit not burning that day?
Did the love of another steal you away
From communion with Jesus which you’d had each day?
The love of this world with its gilded toys
You now hold to your breast all its fading joys.

Was it some part of the Word of God that you didn’t quite understand,
Which made you lose your footing and fall upon sinking sand?
Or, was it ‘another gospel’ which tore your heart away,
From the truths which once you followed,
Christ, the Life, the Truth, the Way?

Was your love for the Saviour imitation? Not true?
Did the trials on the way alter your view?
Again, comes the question, please think it through,
You once did run well, what, pray, hindered you?

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past By C. T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day, traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, and from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, and stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, and to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfil, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, when Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, in joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervour burn, and from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

True Gems

I open it, my fingers trace the lines that Wesley’s, Moody’s, Spurgeon’s eyes have scanned,
Beneath my fingertips a promise shines, a diamond unearthed by my seeking hand,
A gem that countless saints have touched before and left among this jewel casket store.
I searched as one who searches long for gold, and oh what gleaming nuggets I unearthed.
All that my seeking heart and hands can hold I gather, and I know their precious worth,
And strange, the vein has never failed, though man has mined its channel since the world began.
The Holy Book, that gives its wealth unpriced to every seeker after God and Christ.

HYMNS

Take My Life
By Frances Havergal

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

All on the Altar
By Elisha A. Hoffman

You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain:
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest, And have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

Would you walk with the Lord,
In the light of His word,
And have peace and contentment always?
You must do His sweet will,
To be free from all ill,
On the altar your all you must lay.

Oh, we never can know
What the Lord will bestow
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and soul
He doth fully control,
And our all on the altar is laid.

Who can tell all the love
He will send from above,
And how happy our hearts will be made;
Of the fellowship sweet
We shall share at His feet,
When our all on the altar is laid.

Trusting Jesus

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Be Thou My Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

LIFE ON THE ALTAR

A Living Sacrifice For Jesus