A Hand Along the Journey: Poems for the King from One Pilgrim to Another

This poem was a birthday gift to my brother David in 2018, but it rings true for all of us. Though God is not obligated to give us all these things every year, He often chooses to do so.   I give you the start of a fresh 365 days of life.             365 new pages for your autobiography, clean and white,             That you may fill with deeds of honor, integrity, and right.   I give you things you can see to remind you of Me.             365 sunrises, the grandeur of the mountains, a caressing breeze,              Vastness of the starry sky, birds singing from the trees.   I give you things you cannot see.             Eternal strength to sustain you whatever life brings, ...

  “Blessed  are  the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:3   The pure in heart: washed clean, unstained, From hidden vice unchained, Who’ve come to love His name, And seek to honor all His claims. They care not for the praise of man, But obey orders from His hand. They look and long within His Word   To see clearly, and know Him more.   They shall see God: what rich reward By very promise of our Lord! In heaven, yes, but also now, His home with them He will endow*. Then their home will His shadow be**, As they behold their Lord’s glory. Faith’s eyes will see Him as He is; There is no greater gift than this!     *John 14:21-23 **Psalm 91:1

  “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7     Blessed are the merciful, compassionate: Ones in whom the Shepherd’s heart resonates, Who look at others with kind eyes. There truth is wed to grace – a prize Of beauty rare this holy gift, That reaches out to others lift, Rescuing from a miserable condition.* Christ’s love in them has found extension.   And how shall they be blessed by Him Whose very scars sing mercy’s hymn? They shall obtain mercy at His hand; This is the wonder God has planned.   Compassion’s smile a triad makes: From Him to them as others partake. Let His mercy then in me find rest, As I reflect the image of the Best.         *This line is the definition of mercy as given by Dr. Jim Berg in his sermon “More Than Enough Mercy.”

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Papa, Right now I pray for those who stand for You against the rip current of society’s sin, and as lights in a confused Christendom . Give them the courage of Daniel and his friends, The boldness of Stephen before the council, and Isaiah before kings. Speak with them as You spoke with Moses on the mountain; Let them walk with You as Enoch did. Let Abraham’s faith and Matthew’s following find resonance in their souls. Duplicate in them the worship of David, and the love of John. Bring them through discouragement as You did Elijah, And persecution as You did Paul. May the Biblicity of Josiah be a hallmark of their lives, And grant them understanding of the times as You did for Isaachar’s 200. Make them watchmen who stand in the gap as You instructed Ezekiel, Filled with the Spirit as...