Sonnet IV
Peace is happiness, but war is our plight
Under the heavens. He -- prince of the night,
Severe captain-- and the World's vanity
Work for our corruption diligently.
Not enough is this, mighty Lord of all!
The Body, our home for fleeting pleasures,
Envies heedlessly the Spirit's treasures
Constantly craving our eternal fall.
How shall I wage a battle so terrible,
Frail, yet headstrong, a soul in isolation?
King Universal, Peace most veritable,
In Thee alone is hope of my salvation!
Do Thou, Lord, place me safely next to Thee
I will battle and win decisively!
poem by Mikolaj Sep Szarzynski
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Related quotes
Sweet empty sky of June without a stain,
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all they that forsake
Thee shall be ashamed ; and they that depart from
Thee, shall be written in the earth, because they have
forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed ; save me,
and I shall be saved, for Thou art my health, and my
great deliverer.
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to
the gates of the grave ; I have deprived myself of the
residue of my years.
I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the
land of the living : I shall behold man no more with
the inhabitants of the world.
O Lord ! by Thee doth man live, and from Thee is
the life of my spirit : therefore wilt Thou recover me,
and make me to live.
Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the
pit of corruption ; for Thou hast cast all my sins
behind Thy back.
For Thy name's sake hast Thou put off thine anger ;
for Thy praise hast Thou refrained from me, that I
should not be cut off.
For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot
celebrate Thee : they that go down into the pit, cannot
hope for Thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do
this day : the father to the children shall make known
Thy truth.
O Lord ! Thou hast been merciful, Thou hast
brought back my life from corruption : Thou hast
redeemed me from my sin.
They that follow after lying vanities, forsake their
own mercy.
Therefore shall Thy songs be with me, and my
prayer unto the God of my life.
I will go unto the altar of my God, unto God, the
joy of my youth ; and in Thy fear will I worship
towards Thy holy temple.
I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanks-
giving ; I will pay that which I have vowed ; sal-
vation is of the Lord.
poem by Henry Vaughan
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Be Thou My Vision
Be thou my vision, oh lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save that thy art
Thou my best thought in the day and the night
Waking or sleeping, thou presence my light
Be thou my wisdom, be 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
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
Be thou my armour and be thou my might
Thou my soul shelter, and thy my high tower
Raise thou me heavenwards, oh power of my power
Riches I need not, nor mans empty praise
Thou mine inheritance through all of my days
Thou and thou only though first in my heart
High king of heaven my treasure thou art
Oh high king of heaven, when battle is done
Grant heavens joy to me, bright heaven sun
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, though ruler of all
Da, da, da, da, da, etc.
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Desiring to Be Given up to God
That my heart was right with thee,
And lov'd thee with a perfect love!
O that my Lord would dwell in me,
And never from his seat remove!
Jesus, remove th' impending load,
And set my soul on fire for God!
Thou seest I dwell in awful night
Until thou in my heart appear;
Kindle the flame, O Lord, and light
Thine everlasting candle there:
Thy presence puts the shadows by;
If thou art gone, how dark am I!
Ah! Lord, how should thy servant see,
Unless thou give me seeing eyes?
Well may I fall, if out of thee;
If out of thee, how should I rise?
I wander, Lord, without thy aid,
And lose my way in midnight's shade.
Thy bright, unerring light afford,
A light that gives the sinner hope;
And from the house of bondage, Lord,
O bring the weary captive up,
Thine hand alone can set me free
And reach my pardon out to me.
O let my prayer acceptance find,
And bring the mighty blessing down;
With eye-salve, Lord, anoint the blind,
And seal me thine adopted son:
A fallen, helpless creature take,
And heir of thy salvation make.
poem by Augustus Montague Toplady
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The Greatest Gift
The greatest gift man has received, was from Heaven, and conceived,
In the very heart and mind of God, and delivered unto this earthly sod.
That gift to man was our Salvation, and given by God, to every nation,
That gift to all from our Creator, was Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
He is a Wonderful Counselor to us, who in The Savior place their trust,
Christ sends The Spirit to live inside, to be for us His Light and Guide,
In all problems, both big and small, Jesus assists us through them all,
A Wonderful Counselor in this life, is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Born a babe, yet He is Mighty God, and will rule men with an Iron Rod,
Until then, our Lord rules in hearts, through His Spirit which He imparts,
To all believers now born Again, as He gives eternal life to mortal men,
And He’s in control of everything, as Sovereign Lord and Eternal King.
He is The Everlasting Father for all, saved by Christ, from Adam’s fall,
His everlasting arms comfort us, mere creatures formed from the dust,
Now brought into God’s own family, and one that shall last for eternity,
And now children of the Father above, secured forever by God’s Love.
He is The Coming Prince of Peace, with a Kingdom that will not cease,
And the peace He puts in our heart, during times of trial will not depart,
When you believe make no mistake, all believers, God will not forsake,
For when you come to faith in Him, you’re forever forgiven of your sin.
So come to The Counselor friend, for wonderful guidance, with no end,
Lead by Christ with staff and rod, for our Shepherd is The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, for all those, who believe in The Lord who rose,
To be Prince of Peace in a millennium, and into an eternity yet to come.
(Copyright ©12/2008)
Hosanna
Hosanna to our Lord and King, peace to many He shall bring,
A peace with God in our life, through our faith in Jesus Christ,
Many will be, by God, justified, by faith, in the One who died,
Christ, who died for all men, as in sin they stood condemned.
Hosanna to our Lord above, who fills men with unending love,
The Love of God poured on us, when in God we put our trust,
Trust in the work of our Lord, through who, the love is poured,
Down upon all believing hearts, a pure love that never departs.
Hosanna to our Lord of Hope, who helps us in our trials cope,
Through God’s endless Grace, we obtain through saving faith,
Hope extending beyond earth, to all who experience new birth,
Hope extended to each nation, to men who embrace salvation.
Hosanna to the One who came, to this earth that He may claim,
A peoples of His very Own, to gather about His Eternal Throne,
Saving them out of all their sin, when they put their faith in Him,
Not left here to stray and roam, given by God, an eternal home.
Hosanna to our Savior and God, who brought Hope to this sod,
The Love of God came for all, to save sinners from Adam’s fall,
Bringing peace to all at enmity, with God, by the way of Calvary,
When justified by God above, to grant us peace, hope and love.
(Copyright ©04/2009)
A Dialogue Betwixt God And The Soul
Soul.
Whilst my Souls eye beheld no light
But what stream'd from thy gracious sight
To me the worlds greatest King,
Seem'd but some little vulgar thing.
God.
Whilst thou prov'dst pure; and that in thee
I could glass all my Deity;
How glad did I from Heaven depart,
To find a lodging in thy heart!
S. Now Fame and Greatness bear the sway,
('Tis they that hold my prisons Key):
For whom my soul would die, might she
Leave them her Immortalitie.
G. I, and some few pure Souls conspire,
And burn both in a mutual fire,
For whom I'd die once more, ere they
Should miss of Heavens eternal day.
S. But Lord! what if I turn again,
And with an adamantine chain,
Lock me to thee? What if I chase
The world away to give thee place?
G. Then though these souls in whom I joy
Are Seraphims, Thou but a toy,
A foolish toy, yet once more I
Would with thee live, and for thee die.
poem by Henry Wotton
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Liberty Enlightening the World
Thou warden of the western gate, above Manhatten Bay,
The fogs of doubt that hid thy face are driven clean away:
Thine eyes at last look far and clear, thou liftest high thy hand
To spread the light of liberty world-wide for every land.
No more thou dreamest of a peace reserved alone for thee,
While friends are fighting for thy cause beyond the guardian sea:
The battle that they wage is thine; thou fallest if they fall;
The swollen flood of Prussian pride will sweep unchecked o'er all.
O cruel is the conquer-lust in Hohenzollern brains;
The paths they plot to gain their goal are dark with shameful stains:
No faith they keep, no law revere, no god but naked Might; --
They are the foemen of mankind. Up, Liberty, and smite!
Britain, and France, and Italy, and Russia newly born,
Have waited for thee in the night. Oh, come as comes the morn.
Serene and strong and full of faith, America, arise,
With steady hope and mighty help to join th brave Allies.
O dearest country of my heart, home of the high desire,
Make clean thy soul for sacrifice on Freedom's altar-fire:
For thou must suffer, thou must fight, until the warlords cease,
And all the peoples lift their heads in liberty and peace.
poem by Henry Van Dyke
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In My Solitary Hours in My Dear Husband his Absence
O Lord, Thou hear'st my daily moan
And see'st my dropping tears.
My troubles all are Thee before,
My longings and my fears.
Thou hitherto hast been my God;
Thy help my soul hath found.
Though loss and sickness me assailed,
Through Thee I've kept my ground.
And Thy abode Thou'st made with me;
With Thee my soul can talk;
In secret places Thee I find
Where I do kneel or walk.
Though husband dear be from me gone,
Whom I do love so well,
I have a more beloved one
Whose comforts far excel.
O stay my heart on Thee. my God,
Uphold my fainting soul.
And when I know not what to do,
I'll on Thy mercies roll.
My weakness. Thou dost know full well
Of body and of mind;
I in this world no comfort have,
But what from Thee I find.
Though children Thou has given me,
And friends I have also,
Yet if I see Thee not through them
They are no joy, but woe.
O shine upon me, blessed Lord,
Ev'n for my Saviour's sake;
In Thee alone is more than all,
And there content I'll take.
O hear me, Lord, in this request
As Thou before hast done,
Bring back my husband, I beseech,
As Thou didst once my son.
So shall I celebrate Thy praise
Ev'n while my days shall last
And talk to my beloved one
Of all Thy goodness past.
So both of us Thy kindness, Lord,
With praises shall recount
And serve Thee better than before
Whose blessings thus surmount.
But give me, Lord, a better heart,
Then better shall I be,
To pay the vows which I do owe
Forever unto Thee.
Unless Thou help, what can I do
But still my frailty show?
If Thou assist me, Lord,
I shall Return Thee what I owe.
poem by Anne Bradstreet
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Song V
To Thee, eternal Defender of all creation,
I call, frail, commiserate, nowhere secure.
Keep me in close watch, and in my each anxiety,
Hasten to bring aid to my wretched soul.
With Thy rod, do but quell the blind flesh
So laden with vain, lowly, ill-working lust;
For shame it seeks sway o'er its own soul:
Fairer if what's to decay serves what's forever!
And ye, cov'tous hosts (Lord God, my Defence),
Show your heels and take your infamy unending,
Ye who deny God's creation the wealth (whence you
Were forced) and the praise to thine own Maker.
My Bliss, my Praise, let them fast feel shame
Who sing me sweetness of other praise, not Thee.
What hath man not Thine? Yet who in Thy gifts
Be vain, eternal King, Thy gifts would he lose.
So happy, so jubilant they who confess
That the good be Thine, who seek Thee
And adornment unending, who take pains
To love Thee alone full-willing, O Lord.
Aye, reckon me in that count, kind Father,
Whilst here, grant me but mark I'm lowly dust
And, unmatched for a tempest's heavy ordeals,
May I know as my strengths thy great mercies.
Still who's content, arrayed yet in mail
Of adamant, if war long and hard he endures?
So I beg: Thou who in battle art Defender,
Tarry not, Peace redeeming, giving unto us Thyself!
poem by Mikolaj Sep Szarzynski
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Torn Between Two
At home I would prefer to be, home with my Lord Eternally,
Home with Christ, up above, in a mansion prepared in love,
In that place, free of all strife, when I enter into Eternal Life,
After I enter the eternal door, to be with Christ forevermore.
But, until then, I am here for Him, to labor in a world of sin,
Authorized by God’s Grace, pointing men to another place,
It’s a place far from this one, prepared by The Eternal Son,
Jesus Christ, the Creator of, all of earth and Heaven above.
God’s prepared work for us, when in Christ we put our trust,
To be a witness in this world, as a Lighthouse and a Herald,
His Lighthouse in a darkened sea, of sinfully, lost humanity,
With a message to be preached, until every soul is reached.
Like Paul, I’d rather depart, but, God’s Truth we must impart,
To a world that’s lost its way, while we still have light of day,
As soon the dark of night will fall, when we won’t work at all,
And earthly labor will cease, for our Mighty Prince of Peace.
First we will be taken home, as Christ raptures His very own,
A time that will also usher in, an evil reign of the Man of Sin.
So we must be loud and clear, for that time is drawing near,
So others can join us at home, gathered at Heaven’s Throne.
(Copyright ©03/2009)
A Courageous Battle
A courageous battle is being fought
By so many people today.
They've been stricken down with sickness
That has come their way.
Whether it's in the mind or body
It takes away their peace..
It's with them constantly, never ending
Until the pain does cease.
Those that are older seem to accept it
Better than the young.
And when it's a child, they are the strongest
For they seem to have hung
Their battle for life on a clothesline
Flowing with the breeze,
Never fearing the unknown at all
Facing their battle with ease.
This battle for life seems futile at times
But still we fight anyhow.
For that's the spirit of humanity at work
In its battle before its bow.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Hymn 110
Death and immediate glory.
2 Cor. 5:1,5-8.
There is a house not made with hands,
Eternal and on high;
And here my spirit waiting stands,
Till God shall bid it fly.
Shortly this prison of my clay
Must be dissolved and fall;
Then, O my soul! with joy obey
Thy heav'nly Father's call.
'Tis he, by his almighty grace,
That forms thee fit for heav'n;
And, as an earnest of the place,
Has his own Spirit giv'n.
We walk by faith of joys to come,
Faith lives upon his word;
But while the body is our home,
We're absent from the Lord.
'Tis pleasant to believe thy grace,
But we had rather see;
We would be absent from the flesh,
And present, Lord, with thee.
poem by Isaac Watts
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His Present Peace
A peace the world does not afford, is granted to us by The Lord,
Peace which one cannot explain, given in the power of His Name,
The Lord and Savior from above, provides this peace I speak of,
An abundant peace to all of us, who in Christ, have put their trust.
The peace afforded all by Grace, sustains us in the darkest place,
Even through the darkest night, peace from God becomes a light.
And in the light of God’s Word, His Peace to us isn’t just inferred,
God’s Peace to us is guaranteed, for Christ Himself, has decreed.
God’s Peace, is offered to all of us, from the lips of Christ Jesus,
While in this world of tribulation, we have peace through Salvation,
When our trials, by men are ignored, we draw hope from The Lord,
Who, while darkness does increase, with His Light gives us peace.
Earthly things are often priced, but, not the Peace of Jesus Christ,
As its true worth is immeasurable, all provided by The Father’s will,
Provided by Him, absolutely free, to all believers, like you and me,
Transcending all we understand, while guided by our Father’s hand.
Christ’s Peace isn’t of this world; this is the victory we must herald,
For with His Peace there is hope, and His strength to help us cope,
When our trials seem not so right, to point all men to Christ’s Light,
As we live in the world’s uncertainty, with hearts at home in Eternity.
(Copyright ©01/2010)
Song III
Have mercy on me, my Lord,
For a foe treds o'er me and strives
Mindfully that time and again
I be wearied by all adversity.
Cruelly he treds, proud in his throng,
Stifling me with cruelness undue;
Never's the day I'm free of him,
Nor is my night empty of grim fear.
Yet, be it day, be it night when
Pondrous fear doth oppress, kind Father,
Thou, my Defender, art my hope,
And in each need to the end shall be.
Whilst I, Lord, being assured
In Thy promises, neither blind
Human connivance, nor fierce threat,
Nor battle's dread would I fear.
Whatever I say, they wrongly construe;
To my each deed they give rebuke;
Impious ones have turned all care
To rendering me most loatheful.
In temples by veiled treachery
Or open offence they conspire
To smite me; my every path they mark,
No safety would they afford me.
And this Thou wouldst suffer, just Lord?
Evil ones are to rejoice in such doings?
Wouldst Thou waiver bringing unrising
Ruin to a Temple of such calumny?
I know, verily I know, Lord eternal,
That my every defeat Thou dost reckon,
Tears from sad eyes Thou dost retain,
And dread afflictions' cause Thou dost know;
Work of evildoers Thou turnst to naught,
But to me a kindly ear dost lend,
And brights signs of Thy benevolence
And constant love to me Thou dost reveal.
Whilst I, Lord, being assured
In Thy promises, neither blind
Human connivance, nor fierce threat,
Nor battle's dread would I fear.
And ever to Thee, fatherly guard
Of my being, fuli praise I'll offer
In fitting song; unhindered, I'll feign
Not giving, free by thy grace, my avowed
Sacrifice. With Thine aid, my feet
Shall stray not from Thy sacred path,
For such time as my spirit's abode
In this frail body be, O my Lord!
poem by Mikolaj Sep Szarzynski
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Praise For Thee, Lord, in Zion Waits
Praise for Thee, Lord, in Zion waits;
Prayer shall besiege Thy temple gates;
All flesh shall to Thy throne repair,
And find through Christ salvation there.
Our spirits faint; our sins prevail;
Leave not our trembling hearts to fail:
O Thou that hearest prayer, descend,
And still be found the sinner’s friend.
How blest Thy saints! how safely led!
How surely kept! how richly fed!
Savior of all in earth and sea,
How happy they who rest in Thee.
Thy hand sets fast the mighty hills,
Thy voice the troubled ocean stills;
Evening and morning hymn Thy praise,
And earthy Thou bounty wide displays.
The year is with Thy goodness crowned;
Thy clouds drop wealth the world around;
Through Thee the deserts laugh and sing,
And nature smiles and owns her King.
Lord, on our souls Thy Spirit pour;
The moral waste within restore;
O let Thy love our springtide be,
And make us all bear fruit to Thee.
poem by Henry Francis Lyte
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Object of My First Desire
Object of my first desire,-
Jesus, crucified for me;-
All to happiness aspire,
Only to be found in Thee;
Thee to praise, and Thee to know,
Constitute our bliss below;
Thee to see, and Thee to love,
Constitute our bliss above.
Lord it is not life to live,
If Thy presence Thou deny;
Lord, if Thou Thy presence give,
'Tis no longer death - to die.
Source and Giver of repose,
Singly from Thy smile it flows;
Peace and happiness are Thine,
Mine they are, if Thou art mine.
While I feel Thy love to me,
Every object teems with joy;
Here, O may I walk with Thee,
Then into Thy presence die.
Let me but Thyself possess -
Total sum of happiness -
Real bliss I then shall prove,
Heaven below and heaven above.
poem by Augustus Montague Toplady
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Prayer for Peace
Lord, I pray for nothing else
Just “Peace” Lord!
Peace with a dash of happiness
But, only if you please.
Otherwise, Lord I will satisfy
Myself with just peace.
I have no other wish, Lord
Other than your own abundant, enduring peace,
The peace that passeth all understanding.
Yes Lord! You knew full well
Where there is understanding
There would be peace.
So, I ask just for your peace
For peace brings with its flow
Contentment, forgiveness
Graciousness, love and happiness.
Once you anoint me with your peace
All else will follow – So
I will only pray that your peace will stay
With me today – each day!
poem by Angelina Pandian
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In God’s Mighty Hand
In light of God’s Truth and Grace, man can find no better place,
Than The Hand of Mighty God, Who maintains Love and a Rod;
His Rod of Judgment will extend, to a world that is condemned,
So indifferent to The Lord above, that they cannot see His love.
The love that men refuse to see, is Hope that sustains humanity,
One holds together everything, Christ our Lord and Eternal King,
The Blessed Hope of ages past, Hope, that for this age will last,
When at the end of this age, God will stop man’s darkened rage.
Today, God’s Hope extends to all, every nation, great and small,
Hope, that for believers endured, even as Judgment was poured,
On man’s rebellious wickedness, opposing God’s righteousness,
A battle for us, today that’s won, through the Love of God’s Son.
The Lord God today waits patiently, for men that have yet to see,
The love of Christ, many cherish, so that they too, will not perish,
But, come to repentance, in Him, Who, came to save all from sin,
And accept from God, eternal life, through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Even as evil powers, today assail, His Righteousness will prevail,
The evil, who God, they ignore, will see the wrath, He has in store,
While in Jesus Christ I will stand, protected in God’s Mighty Hand,
Saved from His wrath by salvation, that will come on every nation.
(Copyright ©04/2010)
Work Prepared For Us
The Lord has work for all to do, prepared good works for me and you.
A work that is intended to Glorify, the One who on the cross had died.
Jesus’ work accomplished for all, man’s redemption from Adam’s fall.
Christ’s finished work for all of us, a work in which we place our trust.
And nothing can be added to, His work accomplished for me and you.
For salvation is a gift of Grace, secured when Jesus died in our place.
No righteous works on our part; it was all of Christ right from the start.
Christ’s finished work on that cross, alone is what saves sinners lost.
The work prepared for us you see, is to point others towards Eternity.
As God will use you in many ways, as you live out your earthly days.
God above can use most any skill, as it’s tempered by His loving will,
Pointing other men to Jesus Christ, as The Holy Spirit leads your life.
This work was prepared long before, anybody knew Christ was Lord.
An Eternal Plan by The Lord above, and centered on a cross of Love.
Where Christ Jesus paid the price, by offering Himself as a sacrifice.
For a body was prepared for Him, as the atonement for all of our sin.
Now for us the work to be done, is to lead all men to God’s Only Son.
What better work could there be, than in helping other people to see,
That The Lord Jesus died for us, and in Him we must place our trust,
So when all earthly labors cease, with Him we’ll have Eternal Peace.
(Copyright ©03/2006)
Per Pacem Ad Lucem
I DO not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me
Aught of its load;
I do not ask that flowers should always spring
Beneath my feet;
I know too well the poison and the sting
Of things too sweet.
For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead,
Lead me aright—
Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed—
Through Peace to Light.
I do not ask, O Lord, that thou shouldst shed
Full radiance here;
Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread
Without a fear.
I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see;
Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand
And follow Thee.
Joy is like restless day; but peace divine
Like quiet night:
Lead me, O Lord,—till perfect Day shall shine,
Through Peace to Light.
poem by Adelaide Anne Procter
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