Sardis by William Cowper

“Write to Sardis,” saith the Lord,
And write what he declares,
He whose Spirit and whose word,
Upholds the seven stars:
“All thy works and ways I search,
Find thy zeal and love decayed:
Thou art called a living church,
But thou art cold and dead.”

“Watch, remember, seek, and strive,
Exert thy former pains;
Let thy timely care revive,
And strengthen what remains:
Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall,
Lest my sudden stroke descend,
And smite thee once for all.” 

“Yet I remember now in thee
A few that are upright:
these my Father’s face shall see,
And walk with me in white,
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confessed;
Let my faithful servants hear;
And woe be to the rest!”

(Rev.3:1-6)

 

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The Test by Dennis Allen Lange

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This earthly life is a test to find
Which ones of us are the heavenly kind.

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The photo is mine – early morning in the Shenandoah Mountains.

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© Dennis Allen Lange, 2019.

 

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Restless by Dennis Allen Lange

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The world is as restless as the sea;
…I stand, while it is swayed.
The winds and the clouds go whistling by –
…A briskly marched parade.

Wind fondles the leaves in ev’ry tree;
…It rustles grass like hair;
It touches me and I am not moved;
…I’ve not gone anywhere.

The chimes too, are tickled by the wind
…And move to get away.  
But wind works them like the ivories
…That men sit down to play.

The wind moves by, caressing the grass,
…And makes green churning waves
That ripple across the lea as the wind
…Says goodbye to its slaves.  

It is a most restless world today;
…Men’s feet cannot be still.
And the leaves and grass and swaying limbs
…All dance the same quadrille.

The smallest of creatures, e’en the ants
…Who run a settled route –
A searching for food and home again –
…Know what they’re all about.

But men on an artery don’t know;
…They haul their lives behind.
They cross in their moves from east to west
…To find what fate’s designed.

Feet restless and minds quite restless, too
…Leave city, job, and mate
For something that has more zest and spice,
…More tasty on life’s plate.

If there’s a solution, most reject
…As though a bitter taste.
And temporary won’t satisfy
…So all becomes a waste.

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photo by Adrian van Leen at http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/mMCEE8c/sepia+palm+tree+silhouette

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© Dennis Allen Lange, 2019.

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My Poems Of God’s Psalms And Proverbs by Dennis Allen Lange

……………………………(available at Amazon – see link below)

   Psalms and Proverbs are two of the most beloved books in God’s word. We are attracted to the beauty of Psalms because we find very little of man there, and much of God. God’s majesty, holiness, power, and love shine forth:

     Ps.126:3 The Lord has done great things for us.
     Ps.104:1 He is clothed with splendor and majesty.
     Ps.77:13 He is holy and great.
     Ps.136:4 His lovingkindness is everlasting.
     Ps.145:17 God is righteous in all His ways.

The result of contemplating the person, promises, and protection of God is praise by the psalmist and praise by us believers who read the Psalms.

   Proverbs is loved for another reason – the wisdom of God in its pages to guide our daily lives. God’s instructions are presented in vivid ways that sink into our hearts. We find His wisdom about anger, faithfulness, laziness, discipline, counselors, knowledge, and much more. 

   My poems of these two books provide, as much as possible, the message of God in a new way, and a memorable way.   They will cause the reader to slow down and contemplate God’s thoughts as if he were reading them for the first time. One will hopefully draw nearer to God by meditating upon Him and His word and that will make these poems worthwhile.

…The book makes a wonderful gift to others who love God’s word.

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link to the book at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/172863461X

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Psalm 9 by Dennis Allen Lange

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…..1 O God, I give thanks with my heart:
…………I’m warned by Your thunders;
…………I’m awed by Your wonders;
…..2 To praise and obey is my part.

…..3 My foes are oft found in retreat;
…………You make them to stumble,
…………Cause kingdoms to crumble;
……..You crush them like stubble of wheat.

..4-6 You judge all of man from Your throne:
…………Their cities uprooted;
…………Their memory muted;
…..7 Yet, You, O my God, still go on.

…..8 You’re just as You judge all the earth;
………….Your judgments are equal,
………….And final, no sequel.
……..Man’s trust in Your grace finds its worth.

.9-10 For those who’re oppressed, You’re their strength –
………….A stronghold in trouble,
………….A fortress that’s double –
………You last and You lead the full length.

11-12 Declare to the world all His deeds;
………….Sing praises in Zion
………….For each is a scion;
……….We’re heirs and He fills all our needs.

13-14 From depths of the pit rescue me –
………….Lord, see my affliction,
………….My foes and their friction,
………That praise in Your gates is a sea.

15-17 The trap that the nations have made
………….Will on them be springing,
………….And woe to them bringing,
……….When all of the cards have been played.

……….Like lion You rise from Your den,
………….The wicked all perish
…..18….That You some may cherish,
…..20.That men may all know they’re mere men.

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I’ve written all of Psalms and Proverbs in poetry that rhymes and has rhythm.  The book will be available at Amazon before Christmas.  If you’re interested (and have not already said so),  let me know in the comments.

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copyright Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill@wordpress.com, 2018.

 

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Proverbs 12:21 by Dennis Allen Lange

The righteous man escapes much trouble,
But wicked men receive it double.  (Proverbs 12:21)

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I’ve written all of Psalms and Proverbs in poetry that
rhymes and has rhythm.  I’m in the process of having
the book published before Christmas.  If you are
interested, let me know in the comments.

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Photo by Billy Frank Alexander at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/o5Qx1di/Proverbs+Banner

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© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2018.

 

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Psalm 123 by Dennis Allen Lange

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(please read the note after the poem after reading the poem)

1,2 Behold, as the eyes of a servant
…..To the hand of their master they glance;
…..Behold, as the eyes of a maiden
…..To the hand of her mistress advance –
…..So, too, do my eyes as I worship
…..Look to God in grand heaven’s expanse. 

3,4 Be gracious, O Lord, do be gracious,
…..For we bear much contempt from the proud.
…..At ease, they are brazen in scoffing;
…..The sound of rude mocking is loud.
…..In judgment, O Lord, be forthcoming;
…..And ride, swift to save, as You’ve vowed.

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I am in the process of publishing my poems in rhyme and rhythm
of all of God’s Psalms and Proverbs.  I hope to have it finished in
time for Christmas.  I think they would make great gifts for those who
love those two books in the Bible.  Let me know if you’re interested.

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Photo by Bill Davenport at http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/mg1TTLu/The+Living+Word

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© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2018.

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The Pulley by George Herbert

…….When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
…….Contract into a span.”

…….So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
…….Rest in the bottom lay.

…….“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
…….So both should losers be.

…….“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
…….May toss him to my breast.”

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Recessional by Isaac Watts

O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
And our Eternal Home! 

Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same. 

A thousand ages in Thy sight,
Are like an evening gone:
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun. 

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day. 

O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guard while life shall last,
And our Eternal Home.

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Sung on Youtube (2:42) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-hN740J6qA

 

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My Evening Prayer by Charles H. Gabriel

If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way –
…….Good Lord, forgive! 

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself should suffer through the strain –
…….Good Lord, forgive! 

If I have craved for joys that are not mine,
If I have let my wayward heart repine,
Dwelling on things of earth, not things divine –
…….Good Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some part to hold –
…….Good Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
That which I know not, Father, teach Thou me –
…….Help me to live.

 

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