Is it So...

This is a wonderful poem written by my good friend Al Hartman which he was kind enough to allow me to share with the readers of this blog.

Is It So...

Is it so, Thou hast forgiv'n
All my heart contrived amiss,
Hell denied, replaced by heav'n,
Is it so, I'm granted this?

     Is it so Thou'st borne for me
     Sentence more than I could bear,
     Taking my reproach and shame,
     Paved for me a drawing near?

Became Thou, LORD, the very sins
Which made the rift 'twixt Thou and me,
Crimes of my fathers, and that I'd done,
Ill deeds present and yet to be?

     Bore Thou, then, my sins' own curse,
     By cruel suff'ring on the tree,
     Damn'd by Father faithf'ly served,
     To the grave that 'waited me?

No tomb e'er could fast Thee hold,
For that damnation Thine was not,
But taken on for Father's sake,
And by it Thou His seed begot.

     The time was set before the world,
     Thy stay beneath the ground would be,
     Telling, thus, to earth and heav'ns
     Mercy and truth have met in Thee.

Yea, Thou wast raised and hast aris'n,
Conqu'ror o'er all death and hell,
Trump'ting grand redemption won,
And to death its final knell.

     Ascended now, and seated fair
     At Father's throne Thou dwell'st in wait
     Until Thy foes be all subdued
     And judgment fall before His gate.

Redeemer righteous, holy Thou,
How look you on this worm I am?
Seeing my vile heart and mind,
Turn Thou away, O spotless Lamb!

     What? Say'st there's no corruption now?
     No sin's vile stench and ugly stain?
     That Thou hast borne it all away,
     Until no remnants yet remain!

But, e'en so, I'm undone, my LORD,
Naked with no claim to lay.
What? Hast thou me with right'ness wrapped?
Clothed in Thy garb, Thou bidd'st me stay?

     O, wondrous grace! O, love sublime!
     O, mercy so unparalleled!
     That one so undeserving should
     Be thus embraced and thus be held.

When time has passed fore'er away,
And we His own the Great King know,
I shall with wonder e'er proclaim,
O yes, all creatures, it is so!

[by grace, through faith. al Hartman, April 19, 2012]

Inadequate Words

Lord, how can I write my thoughts on you?
Inadequate they are through and through.
How can I show my love in a poem such as this?
When every word is but a speckle in a great abyss?

In a fragmented life you are the greatest part,
How can I convey this with words or in art?
I cannot, I must admit, my precious Lord,
Convey how deeply in this life you’re adored.

In a poem I cannot reasonably articulate your priceless gift,
Between my heart and my pen there is a rift.
Your condescending love came with such a great price
So in awe I merely thank you for your Son Jesus Christ.

In wonder I stand amazed that a man such as I
Would be pardoned his sin and his destruction passed by,
I love you, I thank you, I Kiss the Son,
My words are a sacrifice for the omnipotent One.

Happily I am…

Grateful for gracious giving of grace,
Omnipresent occupier of time and of space,
Delivering daily the damned from their sin,
Saving the wretched, like me, from the state they are in.

(Based on Ps. 2:12)

Youth’s Lost Innocence

Loathe the day when naïve eyes
Lose the brightness of their view;
Lost from focus is the prize
Like an old toy no longer new.

Oh! The pain to see it slip! When
Offended by the good and pure,
Once and for all their eyes are dimmed;
Obviously no longer demure.

Valiantly we try to save,
Victory we seek to secure,
Very little seems to sway, when
Vying against the world.

Everyone must see this,
Everywhere it’s true,
Every child’s lost innocence
Engulfs our hearts in blue.

Underneath it all I pray,
Unconditional love will last.
Unbreakable bonds with God will stay, when
Unthinkable things have passed.

If any of my dear children should be reading this then I ask that you pay attention for there is a less obvious message written in this poem directed exclusively at you.

Christian Martyrs (a poem)

Christian martyrs:
You press heavy on my mind;
For you have died for our Lord…
A price that few afford.

Christian martyrs:
I wonder if my strength would be as yours,
If wicked men came to my door
To take my life for our dear Lord.

Christian martyrs:
I pray that God will free me from such times;
But if the devil should come and call,
I pray like you I’ll stand strong and tall.

Christian martyrs:
You have traveled a blessed path,
Where to be counted with Jesus Christ
You happily laid down your life.

Christian martyrs:
I know you rest in Jesus’ bosom today;
And would not trade one moment there
To be back with us down here.

Christian martyrs:
Many will be added to your number;
And may they all remember what you know now,
That their reward is a glorious crown.

Christian martyrs:
We will worship our God together;
Never afraid of the hands of men
And never to be threatened by them again.

Christian martyrs:
Thank for your sacrifice;
For like the waves of a crashing flood
Is the enduring witness of your blood.

Christian martyrs:
Rest easy as you should;
Safe, secure, blessed forevermore,
In the hands of our dear Lord.

Eyes on Heaven - A Poem

If satan should come again and again
And beat me bloody, still
It would all be worth the death of sin
For in Christ I have my fill.

Dramatic endings matter not
When crossing into heaven,
Truly the fight of faith was fought
When victory’s strength was given.

So peacefully call me home, I pray,
And make me stronger yet,
Herd me with the sheep to stay
That I should not forget,

That You my Lord are all in all
The best that I could know,
And always upon You I will call
Until You bring me home.

So if I should die while not yet old
Please don’t cry for me,
For in His presence I am bold,
And freed from misery.

Strangers (a poem)

I am a stranger in this land,
I have no place to go,
This world does not love me,
Of this I surely know.

Yet a family has been sent with me
And care for me they do,
Waiting to be beckoned home,
To spend eternity, Lord, with You.

And oh what faith we have,
That in You we persevere,
Until that day has finally come
And Your radiant face is clear.

So come Lord Jesus!
Relieve us from our pain;
Heaven is where we long to be
To forever praise your name.