Poetry

A Confirmation Blessing

/ The Pastor

The following is a confirmation blessing I wrote in honor of my niece, Meara, who is professing her faith today. I had the privilege of baptizing her in 2004 (my second ever baptism) and now I am here in Minnesota to be part of her big day. I pray that God may work in her heart to bring glory to his name through her life.

Today you profess your faith,
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
May your light shine ever bright,
With him you are adored.

Stand firm and never back down,
Though Satan push against.
For God is your strong fortress,
Through Jesus he’s dispensed.

You are His beloved child,
Forever in His arms.
So don’t ever fear or fret,
With Him will come no harm.

So proclaim your faith boldly,
And never be ashamed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
You are forever claimed.

Befitting

/ The Pastor

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly. [Psalm 149:1 ESV]

Studying Psalm 149 with my midweek Bible study crew inspired me to write the following poem.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
You are awesome, indeed that’s true.
Your great power has broken through.
To make my heart completely new.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
Lead me now that I may review.
Jesus died – my days won’t be few.
Jesus lives – I am made holy new.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
Something that I can’t overdo.
My praise now is just a preview.
Your praise will not discontinue.

A Reformation Poem

/ The Pastor

The 5 Solas of the Reformation are highlighted in bold in this poem. They are important statements in understanding the Good News of Jesus Christ as proclaimed in Scripture. The Gospel is from God alone, and praise be to God for that, otherwise we would surely mess it up and condemn ourselves.

Salvation from God was needed by me.
A sinner i am, i can’t disagree.
A Savior i needed, that’s my decree.
Listen right now and i’ll share how i’m free.

God’s grace alone is where it starts,
His love is free straight from His heart.
Through faith alone He will never depart.
For in Christ alone i have a new start.

So where’s this news? Well, it’s God’s Word alone.
It is there it says your sins He atones.
Jesus died and rose, he now sits enthroned.
Through faith alone you will ever be known.

Confess your sins and admit you need Him.
And forgiveness is yours way to the brim.
His light will shine and never grow dim.
And in His great love you will always swim.

Written to the glory of God alone.

My King

/ The Pastor

As I survey our current political scene, I need to remind myself over and over again that God is in control. No matter who holds elected office, God’s plans will not be thwarted. Yes, Satan is running wild, deceiving and leading many away but he is not king. There is only one King and He reigns forever. Let the politicians – the kings of this world – fight it out, but you, let’s praise our Father and King…

Hear my praise as i rise this morn,
oh God my Father and King.
You are
Creator,
Sustainer,
and Redeemer of my soul.
You are the One who i adore.
There is none other worthy of praise,
for You are the One who reigns.
The kings of this world vie for position,
striving for their honor to be conveyed.
But i’m not going to follow the false kings,
them i refuse to raise up.
They lead for their glory and not for You.
Their praise i refuse to sing.
For You are my King who forever reigns.
It’s Your praises that i want to proclaim.
You and You alone are worthy, oh God,
For in the end, You are the King who remains.
So receive my praise as i rise this morn,
Your mighty acts are to numerous to name.
You have saved me through Jesus Christ my Lord,
And through him i’ve been reborn.

Morning Son

/ The Pastor

The rainy season seems to have arrived in Western Washington (and no, it does not rain here every single day like my mother-in-law thinks). The summers are beautiful and therefore it is a very sad thing when the sun seems to go into hibernation. The gloom yesterday started to catch my imagination and I started to contemplate (as I like to do). This morning as I was praying, I started writing this prayer but had no idea it would take this poetic turn – weaving the outside gloominess with the Son. As I know that another beautiful spring and summer are coming to Western Washington next year, so I know that Jesus reigns, always and forever. I just love how the Spirit captured this one. To God be the glory.

Bright and shining is the day,
despite the gloom in the air.
The rains are falling and the sun is hiding,
but You reign here and there.
I can’t see the sun, but I know the Son sees me.
I can’t feel it’s heat but the Son’s love is all around me.
The clouds and gloom seem to rule the day,
but it’s not the final word.
Jesus my Lord is King forever,
and he is the only Word.
So may I enter this new day,
with hope and a smile that is bright.
The gloom is in the air but Jesus is everywhere,
so Satan can just give up the fight.

Holy God, may I shine with the radiance of the Son that others may see Your light and come to know the Truth. Amen.

More

/ The Pastor

Father God,
I take this breath and i praise You.
My heart beats this beat and i praise You.
My eyes see this creation and i praise You.
I am alive another day and i praise You.
Each and every blessing,
Every single thing,
All that i am,
And what You saved me from,
I praise You.
Jesus my Savior,
Your Spirit sustains me,
Your grace is amazing,
Oh my God and Father, i praise You.
So please give me more breaths to breathe,
more beats to my heart,
more days to behold You,
So i can praise You
More.

My Reason to Rhyme

/ The Pastor

You have probably noticed that I like writing poetry. I’m nothing special and definitely not the best thing since sliced bread, but I like trying to write it. Sometimes my poems are pretty strict in structure and beats per line. Sometimes I mix things up. Sometimes I write poetry that seems to break all the conventional rules. But no matter the poem, I have found a peace in writing them. As the following poem says, in my writing I am forced to think deeply about words I choose and in doing so I am thinking more deeply about my relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And so there you have it – my reason to rhyme…

Morning has broken, this day is new.
And my coffee is ready to brew.
Jesus my Lord, to him i will pray.
Doing no other to start my day.

It’s Your grace i think on and review.
Yet i’m writing a poem about You.
It seems i’m lost and going astray.
But in this style Your love i convey.

For as i write i think on You more.
And that is great for You i adore.
I’ll keep on going with You my God,
What i’m doing is not a facade.

And so i sit with coffee in hand,
thinking on You as my love is fanned.
I think about each and every rhyme.
knowing it’s never a waste of time .

To God be the glory. Amen 🙂

The Evil Monster

/ The Pastor

Satan,
you are an evil monster,
deceiving and leading away,
the father of lies,
hiding in the shadows,
a lurking lion waiting to pounce,
a wolf wearing sheep clothing.
To hell with you.
Away.
Your dominion has been conquered by my Lord Jesus Christ.
He has shattered your hold through his resurrection.
And that is no lie for Jesus is the Truth.
You try to sell despair, but Jesus is the giver of Life.
You try to blind hearts, but Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to reside therein.
You try to reign but Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
You are nothing.
Defeated,
Crushed,
Condemned.
I will not listen to your whispers – no, I will not listen.
I will not buy what you are selling – throw it on the dung heap.
Silence and to hell with you –
forever.
My Lord Jesus reigns.
He is my Truth.
He is my Hope.
He is my Life.
Silence and away with you.

Holy Spirit Prayer

/ The Pastor

I am teaching an adult Sunday school class on the Holy Spirit and as i get into this more i am becoming more and move overwhelmed (in a good way) on the depth of this topic. I know i cannot do this justice and thus i pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me. But as i pray, i am being ever reminded on my deep need for the Holy Spirit to teach me, guide me and keep me in the Truth. And thus i continue to pray, in the name of Jesus, for the Spirit of God to help me. I cannot do this – or anything – on my own. Let us pray…

Oh Spirit of God open the Word to me.
Oh Spirit of God how i adore thee.
You are perfect in knowledge and wisdom.
You open my heart to know You.
You show me Jesus my Lord and Savior.
You seize my heart and make me new.
Oh Spirit of God teach me to follow again.
Oh Spirit of God may i shout my “Amen!”
Without You i would be lost to the truth.
Without You i would be condemned to death.
Without You i would leave for the world.
Oh breathe into me Your holy breath.
So Holy Spirit show me the Way.
For i need You each and everyday.
Teach me that i can learn to obey.
Oh Spirit of God, in Jesus’ name i pray.

A Gospel Poem

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

This poem is something I wrote as I prepared a sermon on Romans 10:8-17 — thinking about “beautiful feet” carrying the Gospel. I want people to call on the name of Jesus, but first we need to constantly reacquaint ourselves with the Gospel. So the Spirit placed this on my heart. May you receive this Good News again and again. To God be the glory, Amen.

You are a sinner, that is true.
God’s wrath you’ve certainly accrued.
Condemned to die, yes, you deserve.
A judgment from which you can not swerve.

Salvation you can not obtain.
You can’t do it, i’ll say again.
You need help, you certainly do,
In order to be made brand new.

So, what’s our hope? Well, i’ll proclaim –
You’re saved by Jesus holy name.
God’s holy wrath, he took for us.
For His love is in great surplus.

Jesus took your sins to the cross.
So your life would not be a loss.
Jesus died but death did not win.
Jesus rose much to death’s chagrin.

Now look to him and see God’s grace.
For this gift is yours to embrace.
You are a sinner that is sure,
But Jesus lives so you’ll be pure.

So repent and run fast to him.
And know peace filled over the brim.
Confess your sins, Yes, every one.
You are forgiven through the Son.

Now, Jesus lives and so will you.
And it excites me to review.
You are precious – his beloved bride.
Forever with him, you’ll abide.