Stories of Faith

On the day you die, what would you leave upon this earth?
Is what you treasure temporal, or of true, eternal worth?

What is left? A well-filled house? A closet full of clothes?
And influence that spreads as far as only Yahweh knows?

Would you leave a tidy Bible on the shelf displayed?
Or would you leave it open on the bed-stand—worn and frayed?

Would you leave much wealth and stuff you thought that you would use?
Would you be pleased with how you lived, with what you daily choose?

What is left behind? Your kids? Your husband or your wife?
And how would they describe you when they think about your life?

Would you leave regrets or grief or countless words unsaid?
And would there be so many things you should have done instead?

Would you leave behind old fights, or did you all forgive?
For sin and selfish pleasure, or for Yahweh did you live?

When your life on earth is done, what would you leave behind?
Sweet mem’ries of a life well-lived—a heart both firm and kind?

Would you leave a legacy of honest truth and love?
Would you have shown your loved ones how to get to heav’n above?

When this life is done, what could your bring to heaven’s reign?
Your blood-cleansed soul, and those who through your influence were changed

How deep is the fountain from which my joy floweth
How high is the mountain on which my feet stand
How vast are the marvelous wonders He showeth
How great is the strength of His mighty Right Hand

How sure are His mercies—made new every morning
How bright is His light in the the days that are dim
How great is His goodness stored up for those fearing
His Name—all those finding their refuge in Him

How strong is the bedrock on which I am founded
How dear is the heritage given to me
How deep are my roots—in that land I am grounded
How true are His words, and forever shall be

How free is His grace, never purchased by silver
How dear is His love, more than men e’er could tell
How full is my heart, satisfied by my Savior
How good is Yehovah unto Israel

My heart has found a greater joy
More strong than what I see or feel
My eyes have seen a better world
Though heavenly, still near and real

My strength comes not from earthly means
From wealth that flees, or man who dies
My might comes from the ceaseless fount
Of living waters He supplies

My eyes have seen a better way
Though narrow and hard-pressed it be
My eyes are fixed on Zion’s mount
Where I shall live eternally

My heart has found a better life
Than living for my selfish gain
My soul has found a kinder Lord
And I shall ever serve Him fain

My soul has found a lasting peace
Through pain it stands—sent from above
My ears have heard a sweeter song
Of priceless, covenantal love

My eyes have seen a fairer place
A portion beautiful is mine
My heart has made the better choice
Surrendering to His design

I praise the Lord of mysteries
For You cause wonders to unfold
The counsels of antiquities
Trustworthiness and truth of old

You made an oath to Abraham
Confirming it unto his seed
Your prophets wrote Your words to them
And to this day, we still can read

The things You promised, and arranged
We live those ancient words today
Through time, Your Word has never changed
You always do the things You say

You weave Your plot-lines through the years
And ne’er forget Your steadfast love
Amidst our world of temporal fears
You work Your wonders from above

For You build up the ancient walls
Establishing just as You said
Of all your promises, none falls
You raised Your nation from the dead!

You shall remain the Faithful One
And choose those faithful to take part
In doing that which should be done
To share in what is near Your heart

I praise You for Your wonders shown
Foretold millennia ago
And praise You for the things unknown
The beauties we do not yet know

Amidst the pain of temporal strife
Your matchless plans shall come to be
As ancient wonders line my life
Such knowledge is too high for me!

Inspired by Isaiah 25:1 and Psalm 139:6

This poem was written on Day of Trumpets, 2024

O shout the lordship of our King
Proclaim Him Master over all
May countless trumps and voices ring
May every knee before Him fall

Proclaim Him Master o’er this earth
Return He shall, once all is done
The infant of a lowly birth
Is now the high, exalted One!

Behold, He sits on David’s throne
To rule forever, with no end
The right to judge is His alone
He only reads the hearts of men

Proclaim Him ruler o’er all souls
For He gives life and He can kill
Amidst earth’s mess, He still controls
For naught can stand against His will

O praise the great Chief Cornerstone
Who pulls down reigns, and builds them up
He suffered much to gain His throne
His flesh the bread, His blood the cup

O praise the One Who heals dry bones
Who holds all hope, who earned all praise
O may we be His living stones
And see His Temple in our days!

Jerusalem, rejoice and sing
For He shall soon return to you
The Lord of Lords and King of Kings
The One called faithful, just, and true

My soul, will you wait for His promise to meet you?
My heart, will you trust that the answers will come?
Oh, why do you think He might fail or forsake you?
Shall His perfect plan not be flawlessly done?

My soul, are you scared of the pain or confusion
So quickly forgetting that Yahweh still reigns?
You shan’t miss His will if you walk right behind Him!
You shan’t be mislead if His hands hold the reins!

My heart, can you prove that your faith is now greater
Than all disappointments, confusion, or doubt?
Take rest now within the strong arms of your Savior
You stumbled and fell, but He will pull you out!

My mind, now admit you cannot understand Him
Just trust—He will show you the path you should trod
My soul, wait for Yahweh, for yet I shall thank Him
My fortress, my hope, my salvation, my God

One thing I have asked; this one thing I shall seek
To dwell in Your courts all the days of my life
Your tent is my shelter amidst evil days
You cover my head in the day of great strife

I yearn just to stand at the gate of Your house
I long to remain on the mountain You chose
Oh, just to be near You is my true desire
For only in You is my hope and repose

Of all life’s delights there is naught that compares
To those sacred moments with You by my side
Before You, I lose every fear, every doubt
For there on Your mountain, I know You provide!

My heart’s constant yearning is that I might see
The good of Jerusalem all of my days
The good of Jerusalem, Yahweh, is You!
For You make this city a blessing and praise

Faith isn’t feelings and faith isn’t words
It’s more than observing the lilies or birds

It’s more than believing—the demons believe
It’s more than proclaiming that I will receive

It’s more than just knowing that Yahweh will act
It’s something more constant—yes, faith is a fact

It’s not only knowing His strength for all things
Faith lasts through confusion, and loyally clings

It means that you see things through spiritual eyes
That though you have pain, He has heard all your cries

Faith means to steadfastly stand upon Him
When His paths are clear or when His paths are dim

Faith means you know Him, and know He is good
When He doesn’t do what you thought that He would

Faith means that you know that He still hasn’t failed
Although it might look like the devil prevailed

Faith means accepting that He understands
It’s trusting and yielding your life in His hands

Faith means “be ready” and often means “wait”
It makes you feel vulnerable, yet makes Him great

It means “press your oil—your candlewicks trim
The Bridegroom is coming—abide now in Him!”