Christian thoughts as Poems
by
Joan Clifton Costner

A BlessingI’ll send you a blessing, with Heaven in view.
There won’t be a thing required of you.
A Song In My HeartThere’s a new song in my heart, each day,
A brand new song that starts with dawn ~
When we step upon the way.
All They Need Is HelpFields are white. Gleaners are few.
Will Jesus’ helper be you?
Amazing LoveThere are hideous crimes committed,
Every hour of every day,
Things we’d rather not hear about.
But, the newsman has his way.
As I Live Saith The LordThere’s a story, I read in the Bible,
Of a man who was living in sin.
Our dear old Paul had the answer,
"Go there and deal with that man!
BaptismOn a battlefield, deep in the sand,
I lay my body down
When face to face with life and death,
A Savior I have found!
Be True"You can’t fix everything!" ~ Oh, yes, I know.
But, I am called to bear more than my woes;
Sometimes a prayer ~ sometimes a deed,
For someone who is in such need.
So, help me, Father, when I’m feeling low.
Beautiful Spirit of GodCome, holy and beautiful Spirit of God.
Let blessings fall on Your children.
Occupy all of our being, nor hide
Any thing You are doing.
Climax of HistoryThere was a night when stars were bright
And angels came to earth,
Announcement sent by God’s consent;
A manger for His birth.
Come Unto HimA day is coming, and you may be sure,
When things not eternal will cease to endure.
All will be new (pure, clean and blest),
Good separated from all of the rest.
DavidLittle David, shepherd boy,
Sleeping there beneath the stars -
You may not know it, yet, but God
Knows the wonder that you are!
Don’t Pity Me"Don’t pity me!" someone fairly shouts and I just wonder,
"What’s wrong with pity?"
Then, the old familiar words seep out of my mind:
ChristmasC - is for the Christ Child and the child in all of us.
H - is for the Heart of God, in Whom we place our trust.
EasterEaster came to Martha
And Mary Magdalene
When they came, that first morning,
Upon the garden scene.
Eternal LoveJesus, my Lord! Oh, what a Savior!
He took my guilt and shame away.
He left His home in Heaven, above,
To bring me God’s great love.
He lived and died for me
That I might be free.
For The Love Of A FriendI said, to the Lord, "Can I be a friend
And will the price be high?"
He did not answer, but looked intent -
With the hint of a tear in His eye.
For This We Give Thee ThanksFor hands that reach and touch our own,
For baby’s laughter in our home,
For shoulders that in grief are loaned,
Dear Lord, we give You thanks.
Games People PlayPain that cuts without incision,
Tears that fall from depths within;
Blows that make a strong heart stagger ~
Brought about by just a whim.
GethsemaneIt’s so dark here, in the Garden.
But, I’ve always found You here.
Yes, when all My strength was ebbing,
You would suddenly appear.
GideonHe thought he was a farmer.
But, then, the angel came.
He called him "Mighty Warrior".
Why, he knew Gideon’s name!
Grace and GloryWe thought there should be a photo, at least.
So, we pleaded ... with broken hearts, too.
Just one shot of the twins, with Mother,
Who was worn from the labor, we knew.
GreetingsI slip into my category.
I notice you’re there, too.
So, maybe we are cousins
Or siblings - could be true.
I Am Not AloneI am not alone, for He is with me
And His Holy Spirit fills the air.
Though I’m weak, His strength is all consuming;
Greater far than anything I bear.
I Cannot Forget YouI cannot forget you.
You are a part of Me.
I will always be with you,
Right where I want to be.
I Give Thee ThanksFor all the blazing sunsets of this year.
For all those precious children, Oh, so dear.
For small and insignificant things
And for the songs that my heart sings,

I give Thee thanks.
I give Thee thanks ...
I Have A RendezvousI have a rendezvous with God,
A magnet, within my heart,
That pulls me ever to Him when
I fear we’re drifting apart.
I’ll Pray For YouOf course, I’ll say a prayer for you ~
A blessing for us both;
For me, another touch with God ...
For you, to wake a hope.
Idle WordsTo be condemned and sentenced
By someone that you adore,
To, suddenly, find your efforts were
Received and used with scorn ...
I’m Going To HeavenIf I can, I’m going to Heaven.
Though, I cannot chart the course
And I care not if by death’s door
Or by fiery chariot horse.
IneptI had no pulpit or platform,
No stage and couldn’t perform.
But, I had words the Lord gave me
And they were mine to hoard.
It Is AppointedWhen my time comes
And I know I’ve locked horns
With a beast that would take my life,
I’ll bow, on my knees, to my Father, above.
I’ll know it will come out right.
It’s Almost TimeIt’s almost time! Just hold your eyes
Upon that gorgeous cloud.
Could that be Him? Oh, let me see!
The trumpet will blow loud!
JosephJoseph loved the colours
Of the coat his father bought.
He didn’t understand his dreams
Like he thought he ought.
Keeper Of The SpringI found the living water, so soothing and so pure.
It gave me all the strength I needed to endure.
And as my eyes beheld the crystal stream, so clear and bright,
I wondered at the source of my delight.
Lessons So DearThe past’s mistakes have I marked well
And put them down, for future help.
Tomorrow’s promise may not be
Just as today, it seems to me.
Lord, I BelieveI ask the same searching questions
My grandmother asked, long ago.
The same God Who comforted her fears
Will comfort mine, too, I know.
Love Walks InAlong Life’s road,
We walk with Hope
And Faith, and Love tucked
Tightly in our hearts.
MosesWho put that baby in the river?
Who watched him, there, in love?
Who drew him from the water?
(Who was watching from above?)
My StoryHow easily my head was turned!
How quickly I believed!
How readily I played the game
And my great sin received!
My WayI follow the footprints of Jesus,
So plain in the valley below.
When I, o’er the way, would falter,
They show me the way to go.
Never AloneNever alone, in the sunshine or shadow;
Never alone, in the Spring time or fall.
With Jesus, the wonderful all present Savior,
I’m never, no never, alone at all.
NoahHow’d you get all those hens,
Birds and cats, and goats back then?
How’d they come to just that place?
Did some of them have to race?
One DaySome day, I’ll meet the Maker of the sunset’s glow.
He’ll show me how the colours mixed just so.
He’ll show me, too, the way the rainbow curves
And help me make my own (if I’ve the nerve).
Our Father’s EmpathyToo wise to make an error,
Too just to do a wrong;
When darkness, here, surrounds me
Then, I list for Heaven’s song.
A Pound Of SpikenardIt started with the tears;
Like something, some One, had hold of me
Stronger than any Force I’d ever felt,
Yet, strangely gentle.
I knew they were having supper in an upstairs room.
PrayerWhat an awesome thought,
That we can speak to God,
Whether high or low,
Wherever we may go ...
PrayersSometimes before we call,
He gives the answer.
Sometimes, upon our pillows,
We must plead.
Prince Of PeaceI know You’ll break the eastern sky
And light the darkest night.
I know Your dead will rise up first.
Your shout will call them into flight.
RaptureLord of Glory, sound the call!
Send the Prince of Peace!
We’ve watched the eastern sky so long,
We’re ready for that feast!
Sentence PrayersI read it in Isaiah ~
That my name is in His hand;
Engraved there and indelible,
Always with Him in that land.
Show Me JesusShow me Jesus and my worship
Will come flowing, true and free.
Let me see His loving image.
I will gladly bend my knee!
So BlestSo blest! So blest! With scarlet sunset in the skies -
Birds that sing on wing so high,
The fragrance of the flowers, sweet;
And precious people that we meet.
Song Of HopeOn the shoreline of Eternity,
There, by the Crystal Sea;
Hope waits, arrayed in brilliance,
Always beckoning to me.
Sunday SchoolLittle ones and Sunday School
Seem to go together.
I’m so glad for those who come,
Heedless of the weather
Thank YouI’d like to send a ‘Thank You’, Lord,
For all the friends You send;
The ones that keep on reading every
Word You give to lend.
The EndSo we come, now, to the end
And the double line is drawn;
Finality, with only precious
Clay to look upon ..
The PeacemakerI really don’t need to apologize.
I meant my friend no harm.
He just misunderstood me.
There’s no need for alarm.
There Are ThoseThere are those ...
Who have encouraged me
Through the pages of a book,
And others, with compassionate eyes,
Portrayed in just a look.
TrustSimply trusting in His Word,
Whether in the flood or fire,
More and more (have you not heard?
Will stoke up Heavenly desire.
Two Planks Of WoodIt’s just a couple planks of wood,
Some nails, and thorns; a sign.
It could never build much of anything.
But, it built a bridge Divine.
Voice Of The BloodWhy this blood upon the ground?
What has happened here?
Why the flurry, lanterns, torches;
Men who run away in fear?
Waiting In The HallEveryone’s talking to someone, dear Lord.
But, I will just talk to You.
Even Your presence is soothing and calm.
It’s such a nice thing to do.
What Kind Of GodWhat kind of God is it who catches your tears,
Paints the sky every evening; reminding?
What kind of God would number your hairs
And formulate silver linings?
When I Came HomeWhen I came home, He did not say,
"Oh, child, you’ve hurt Me so!
I searched through every brier patch,
I hunted high and low ..
Who Taught ThemWho taught these demons to scream and divert?
Who taught them their ways, ever cunning?
The Master I serve has no use for them.
The power of His Blood sets them running!
Wild SeasThe waters of the Lord are deep
And, when the gales begin,
I snuggle deeper, deeper,
Until I’m lost in Him.
Why I writeI write for broken people,
To show them Someone cares,
I don’t count itI don’t count it time that’s wasted
When I teach the pat-a-cake,
Nor the time we point the stars out
'Til they know the paths they take.
I’d rather beI’d rather be the one who gets along,
Who steps in time and doesn’t miss a song.
I’d rather live with mercy, love, and grace;
And always bring a smile to some sad face.
In patience He waitsWhat an awesome thought
That we can speak to God!
Whether high or low, wherever
We may go; the mighty king ...
Very special hoursThe stars shone down so softly as
You slept upon my breast;
The hay, within the manger, made
A clean, sweet smelling, nest.
ImagineImagine the battle going on all around
And we have found an indention in the ground.

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