on
In agony alway.
But little time until
that glad, eternal Day.
For You will raise us up
in image like to Him.
And we shall see our God
apart from shadows dim,
forever like to Him
Whom we alone adore
To be with Trinity
forever, ever more.
January 2012
Vanity
(Ecclesiastes, Matthew 5:4)
Beneath the sun there is no hope,
no glory, no reward,
but higher up is life and peace
in heaven with our Lord.
A few short days of sorrow more,
a few more tears and sighs,
and we shall be with Him above
enjoying Heaven’s Prize.
Eternal rest and peace and joy,
eternal blessedness,
for those who in their pain below
their Savior did confess
and to the end did persevere
in mockery of pain.
In self-abasement, these the Sad
received eternal gain.
January 2012
But the Greatest of These is Love
How strong is Faith and stalwart!
How vast is Hope and free!
But Love is still the greatest
of these, the greatest three.
January 2012
On the Marriage of a Friend
I did not think I’d live to see
this day become reality.
So hard this world, so sad and ill—
who would have guessed that grace would fill
the deepest, saddest voids that ache
with peace that love and kindness make.
October 29, 2011
Canticles 8:6, 7
How strong is Death, the murderer,
that sweeps all men away,
but just as strong is gentle Love
that can its force allay.
No flood can drown sweet Charity,
nor waters wash away,
nor can a man obtain her
or for her favor pay.
Beyond all price, enduring still,
the greatest of the three,
first Faith, then Hope, then Charity,
that shall forever be.
February 14, 2012
For the Rev. Dr. Henry Krabbendam
(From Psalm 92:14)
Now you are old, but glory shines
brighter and brighter on your way,
the evidence of Love Divine
which shall shine to the perfect day.
Mercy that’s come to age, and faith,
peace, love, and virtue, hotly tried,
hope that’s more near fulfillment now
than when your soul was justified.
About to feast on Heaven’s joy
more than your little taste below,
still full of sap and very green
that shall eternal Glory know.
So shall the cold, refreshing chill
of Grace from Heaven streaming down,
quench the hot, fiendish fires of Hell
with Mercy flowing all around.
February 2012
The Unintended Blessing of Balaam
How can I curse when God has blessed
His very own, though vile and weak
In their own selves, yet strong in Him
The mighty, holy, and the meek.
I see him from the highest rocks,
God’s Israel dwelling safe below,
A sprawling city, tent on tent,
That shall eternal Glory know.
Who can the dust of Jacob count,
A quarter of their army see?
O let me die like one of them,
A righteous end give Thou to me!
This people all shall dwell alone,
No other folks shall venture nigh.
No unclean soul may enter in
Unto the holy city high.
For God has sworn to bless His own
Who will not change His holy will,
Who
