The Kingdom is Coming

The Kingdom is coming--

The Kingdom of God

What paths will you follow?

What roads will you trod?

The nightfall is coming--

Then we may not work.
The daylight is waning--

And evilness lurks.

So what work will be yours?

What things will you do?

You can work for Jesus,

And He will lead you.

The Kingdom is coming--

See!  Zion draws near.

When your work is for Him,

You need never fear.

10.15.17

I see in the distance
A city of gold
I look behind me 
To the people of old.

I look at my own self,
A heart full of sin
I feel my God calling,
"Oh, child, come -- enter in."

O this calling of love-
Now what can it mean?
My Christ died long ago
My cold heart to redeem.

10.15.17

If He Had not Loved Me

If He had not loved me

Would I still be here today?

If my Jesus had not suffered

Would I walk the narrow way?

If He had not sought me,

If He had not called me here,

Would I know the faith I've nourished,

Or would faith give way to fear?

If the Lord had not forgiven,

Would I, willful, selfish, sin?

Would I know the Cross of Calv'ry?

Would I try to enter in?

Yes, my God has loved me!

Yes, my Jesus died for me!

Yes, He called me to His table,

Yes, and here I am set free!

10.01.17

A Crown of Life

I came upon this day of days,

To hear the judgement trial;

And, smiling, joyfully I watched

Thy final, weary mile.

I called his name instead of Thine

When Pilate asked my notion,

And there I on my mount of pride

Set God's own plan in motion.

I watched them as they nailed Thy hands

Upon the deadly tree;

And, Jesus, here I laughed at Thee

As Thou died for me.

And while I laughed at Thy pain,

I should have seen Thee pleading;

For my soul still Thou begged of me,

E'en as Thee stood there bleeding.

And when at times I found me lost,

I found my heart was broken;

"Oh, God, Thou could not lovest me--"

I ignored love's deepest tokens.

And finally when Thou took me home,

And here I found my rest;

Thee took my hand in Thine own

And, shamed, I was blessed.

You led me to the Throne of God:

"Here, child, take thy place."

And as He placed on me the crown,

My own tears marked my face.

09.24.17

Unnamed Poem . . . Again

O Lord, here I with tarnished soul
Bow lowly in Thy sight.
My Master, far from Thee I’ve drawn;
I come back to the light.

O Lord, here I with tear-stained face
Hand Thee my garments, red,
And Father, I would come, partake
Of Thine, the Living Bread.

And God, Thy child hath done much sin
And would shrink from Thy grace;
But Thou would pull her to Thy breast,
And kiss her blesse’d face.

My God, Thou would from her sore heart,
Tear all the sin and strife.
And Master, grant her Thine own peace
And gift celestial life.

7.30.17

Unnamed Poem -- The Trial

I stumbled down a darksome path;

The clouds loomed dark o'er head.

"O, Master, must I suffer so?"

I, crying, angered, said.

I fell and hurt my weathered pride;

My heart began to crack.

"What can I learn from this?" I asked,

"What, Father, do I lack?"

"I am alone!" again I cried;

I struggled in the dust.

"My child, come, and learn of Me;

Learn faith and hope and trust."

I looked up and beheld the Cross;

My Master nailed upon.

"My child, I suffered here for thee,

And together we'll go on."

I turned then and beheld my Home;

Celestial Glory there!

And as I turned back to my road--

"Yes, Father"-- this my prayer.

June 18th, 2017

Come

"Come, child, to My presence,

Let My Spirit make you whole.

O, child, in My presence

I offer drink unto your soul.

Come, child, up My mountain,

Let Me teach you of My ways.

O, child, let Me show you

Now of My never-ending grace.

Come, child, down My pathway,

So narrow and straight of old.

My child, hear My calling

And let your seeds of faith take hold.

Come, child, to My table!

It is spread with bread and wine.

This for your soul I offer --

O, come, dear child, and be Mine."

Given to me at a church reunion, at which the theme was, "Jesus Saith, Come Learn of Me."  

June 12th, 2017

Unnamed Poem -- Light

O, Christ, I stand in darkness,

And afraid am I, my Lord . . . 

Yet taking faith, believing,

I turn unto Thy Word.

O, Father, in the shadows

Lurk many things unseen,

Yet light purges all in darkness

And makes the dirty clean.

O, Lord, I feel the powers

Of darkness round me now,

But I believe You'll help me;

Defeat You'll not allow!

Christ is the Light in darkness!

In His Name the shadows flee;

Master, wilt Thou lend Thy Light

To servants such as me?

All around me, Light is shining

From the virtue of His Face;

And in the Light I travel,

Amazed by Love's great Grace.

May 7th, 2017

Unnamed Poem...Again

I just wrote this.  I haven't written anything in awhile . . . . but I think that one crappy poem is better than no poem.  :)

I see above the crashing wave

The helping hand of One;

And as I war to take control,

My fight is gently won.

I stand amidst the helpless throes

Of evil waging war;

And as I fight to win the prize,

I know Who's gone before.

I see beyond the darkest night

A strong, enduring Light;

And no matter what the cost,

He shall win my fight.

6.6.2017

The Shadow of the Cross

What pain to bear!

What joy is lost!

But e'en is heard the quietest prayer,

In the shadow of the cross.

When light grows dim,

When all seems lost,

I'll hide from all the world's sin,

In the shadow of the cross.

What joy is mine!

What hurt is lost!

For You my soul to refine,

In the shadow of the cross.

When life is o'er,

When You call,

I'll come to You and rest evermore

In the shadow of the cross.

4.1.15

A Green Moss-Covered Grave

A green moss-covered grave,

Sacred of the sacred,

A reminder of the brave.

A weather-beaten tombstone

Reminding everyone

Of those who have gone before us

Of whom the battle have won.

They walked across the prairies,

They sailed the savage seas.

Their true home was made in Glory

As the wind echoed through the trees.

They toiled for the hung'ring masses,

As the wars were fought;

And cried at the horrid destruction

That the wars had brought.

As we drive across the prairies,

As we sail across those seas,

As we fight the good fight before us

Shall we never forget that

Green moss-covered grave;

Sacred of the sacred,

A reminder of the brave.

May 26th, 2014

This is by no means my finest poem.  It was written in a cemetery in Lone Jack, Missouri, on Memorial Day 2014.  I was thirteen years old and I had never been so proud of anything I had written!  :)  I wrote this and then posted it on Facebook and the responses were overwhelming.  It was that post and those responses that encouraged me to keep writing... and here I am today, three years later, still writing.  :D

My Heart Cries Out in Sorrow . . .

My heart cries out in sorrow,

For one has left her place,

And she has sought Your Presence

And met You -- face-to-face.

My heart cries out for joy, Lord,

As I know peace calms her soul;

You've brought her to Your glory;

You've changed and made her whole.

I look forward unto Zion;

O, God, the Light that shines!

It reminds me of her nature;

Your Call her life outlined.

O, Father, love her for us;

Tell her we miss her so!

And as we look to Zion,

We see Thy life-light flow.

Dedicated to Leona Godfrey, beloved sister, mother, and friend.  We will miss you so much, yet we look forward to seeing you again in Zion!! <3  

Love, your "adopted" great-niece... Hannah :)

5.30.17

I Stand Before Thee...

I stand before Thee, My Master;

I am stained with grime and dust.

The iron of my fortress

Has long been wrought with rust.



I am the blind man, O Father,

Who walketh the street for bread;

I am the lame and the crippled

Whom cruel life has left for dead.



I am the poor and the ragged;

I am the one who bears shame.

I am the beggar for substance;

I will call upon Thy Name.



Thou art the richest of all, God;

Thee wears jewels atop Thy brow!

Thy floor is paved with sapphires;

Thy robes are as white as the snow.



Yet still Thou looks on and loves me!

And all that Thou hast is mine!

To what do I owe this great triumph?

Yes!  It is love divine!


April 2017

What love..

Here I stand before Thy throne,

Unworthy as I am,

Yet here I stand before Thee,

My God – the given Lamb.

What mercy hast Thou granted,

That I should come to Thee?

What, Master, what has Thou done

That Thou hast loved me?

Father, I with tarnished soul

Am standing in Thy sight!

And Thou wouldst, if I’d go, take

Me to Celestial bright.

And here I bow in sorrow;

O, Father, what a wretch!

Thou hast offered to guide me;

The lost sheep Thou wouldst fetch.

What love have I encountered?

What mercy find I here?

Master, when I’m in Thy care,

I never need to fear.

April 2^nd, 2017

If Only

If only I had the faith to walk on water!   

If I had the faith to stand on rolling seas!

While all around me tempests tall are raging,

And winds are rolling billows all around me. 

If only I had the faith to touch Thy garment! 

If only I could grasp the trailing hem! 

What blessings would occur if I should follow?  

For those who believe, the signs shall follow them.

If only I had the faith to offer fishes!  

If only I could give Thee all my bread! 

You would bless me ten thousand times over; 

O, God, You have made living things out of dead. 

But Master, I believe that You are still with me

And I will look to You – I’m not afraid. 

The Shepherd of the flock is now here with me, 

And we know His power will never be stayed.

-- H.P. Edwards

March 2017

May My Life

May my life be as a rose,

To always seek Thy face,

As through the thorns it grows,

It blossoms in its place.

May my life be as a rose,

Each memory a vine.

The flowers they compose

In bright Celestial shine.

May my life be as a rose,

The petals be my friends.

They stand by through the throes

Of life lived to the end.

May my life be as a rose,

To shine in Thy light, fair,

As through life's highs and lows

I know that Thou art there.

May my life be as a rose,

That when I reach the end,

And petals start to close,

Thy Spirit Thou wilt send.

-- H.P. Edwards

March 2017

Zion's Song

This is a song I wrote for my cousin, who is staffing at a youth camp this summer and needed a song about Zion.  Unfortunately I can't post the melody, but I CAN post the lyrics!  Yay!

I stand before a mountain --

I've journeyed far this way.

And I see the city of Zion --

How long I've yearned for this day!

The treasure of Christ stands before me;

He paid for it with His own blood.

And suddenly His love surrounds me,

Washing over me like a flood.

The journey was long and lonely;

I paid with my life to come.

But I've found reward a-plenty;

His face is as bright as the sun.

The water was deep and fright'ning,

And hot was the purging flame.

But none of that matters at all now;

My Jesus reigns still the same.

At last I reach the entrance,

My life's dream before mine eyes.

But unlike the dream of the sleeper,

This one is realized.

-- H. P. Edwards

March 2017

What Love Need I?

What right have I to pray to Thee,

Eternal God, my righteous King?

That Thou would deign to list to me

As songs of sorrow yet I sing!

And still the carnal flesh I hear;

O, Master, dearest, stay Thou near!

The callings of the world I fear;

O, Father, make my pathway clear!

O, to the dreams of mine I cling,

And not to Thee, my dearest King;

That sacrifice is far too much

To trust with God of men and such.

Yes, to the world's love I hold,

And ask for Thee to save my soul!

What right have I, my God and King,

Unto Thee my fears to bring?

When sacrifice I hold from Thee,

I feel Thou beckon unto me.

"Come unto Me, My child, this day!"

And on the altar myself I lay.

Sometimes I quiver at the cost,

And fear my life to God is lost.

And, shaking, hear I -- what is this?

"What love need I if I have His?"

-- Hannah P. Edwards

February 14th, 2017

I See

I see above the lonely hill

A dying form of One --

The One Who died to save my soul

Is for my evil hung.

"O, Master, why?" I call to Thee;

"Why shouldst Thou die for me?"

The One Who died to pay my debt

Is deaf unto my plea.

What sacrifice! what shame is mine!

That Christ is in my place!

The One Who loves me more than self

Bears anguish in His face.

I see above the rows of ones

The plates of bread and wine.

Dear One Who died to save our souls --

I come and offer mine.

-- Hannah P. Edwards

February 5th, 2017

Comfort

I was sitting in the car one evening, crying, stressed, and in despair, when these words came to me...

I love thee still, My child,

For thou art still Mine own.

Do not despair, O dear one,

For soon thou shalt be Home.

Your weary days of toil

Will soon be over, Love,

And rest unto the morning

You'll find from Me above.

Your cause is not unheeded,

But think that Zion shall be!

Your work is always needed,

And is precious unto Me.

So do not fear, My child,

And find in Me thy strength.

Come and rest 'till morning,

And then go out, at length.

-- Hannah P. Edwards

January 31st, 2017

Unnanmed Poem XXI

Here I come in quiet stillness...

And, O Father, grant me grace…

For too long have I wandered;

I have slowed in life’s long race.

 

I have sinned in Satan’s darkness.

Now I step into the right!

Help me to break my fetters;

I hold nothing from the Light.

 

As I think on all I’ve suffered,

And the things I’ve said and done…

I take the Love You offer,

And come unto Your Son.

 

Here I’ve come in quiet stillness…

Here I’ve asked forgiveness, Lord…

Here I stand and I surrender…

Here I all my life afford.

01.18.17

Unnamed Poem -- the Ballad

"Come, sit by me, weary Traveler,

And tell me the life you've led.

Tell me the reason you wander,"

The Man at the table said.

The Traveler stood by the wayside,

And, lifting the burden he wore,

He seemed to stop and consider...

Then chose to open the door.

He joined the Man at the table,

And started to tell of his woes.

"My life has been one of sorrow,

Marked by the sins of my foes."

The Traveler stopped in his story,

And looked to the Man's smiling face.

"I've also caused many a sorrow;

I claim many a sin and disgrace."

Just then came a Daughter of Mourning,

And stopped by the table, fair.

"Ah, Daughter!" the Man called in greeting,

"In preparing I've taken great care!"

"I see," replied the Daughter,

"But there's no way you'd want me here.

I've sat at many a table,

And been sent from all, I fear."

"O, but Daughter!  This one is different!"

The Man at the table declared.

The Daughter thought he was crazy

As he stooped to pull out a chair.

"Now this is our weary Traveler,"

The Man at the table said.

"And this is our Daughter of Mourning,"

He claimed as she dropped her head.

Down came a Child of Sorrow,

And stopped by the table there.

"O, come and feast, my dear Child!

For you are noble and fair!"

The Child stood and remembered

All the times he had cried in the night.

And, turning, he paused to consider...

Was this the way to the light?

"Come, and sit at my table,"

The Man whispered softly and kind.

"Choose to eat of my rations,

And peace and refuge you'll find."

The Child then took his respite,

And the Man called to each of the souls,

"Choose ye this day to eat with me,

And find yourselves made whole.

"O, Daughter!  See how I love you!

For even for you have I died!

And Traveler, know just how happy

It makes me to sit by your side.

"And Child, please do remember!

For even your tears I've cried.

See, even in your darkest hour,

I never once left your side."

The Daughter became one of Morning,

And the Traveler's strength was renewed;

As for the Child of Sorrow,

His demons were forever subdued.

At last the Man stood above them

And dropped the cape which he wore.

His face was gloriously brightened,

And a crown on his head he bore.

"How could you have made such an offer,

That we should dine with a King?

But no mind; all of the ages,

We'll always thy praises sing!"

This came from the Daughter of Morning,

Who started a holy song,

And then the three of the rescued

Joined in with the angel throng.

October 2016

Dedicated to the Traveler who inspired this one, and the Daughter of Morning who has meant so much to me.  And also, to one weary soul who, walking along a lonely gravel path one foggy morning, inspired the very first lines of this rhyme.

A Chronic Illness Poem :)

     Chances are, someone you know fights a chronic illness.  Many diseases are chronic, like autoimmune diseases (think Hashimoto's, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's, and rheumatoid arthritis).  Chronic illness includes diseases of the endocrine system (think adrenal fatigue or PCOS) or many other diseases, like heart disease, lupus, and kidney disease.
     Chronic diseases are generally harder to fight because they literally.  never.  end.  When you go to bed sick one day, you will wake up sick the next morning.  And often, it's for the rest of your life.
    My point isn't to be depressing, haha.  My point is, those people are STRONG.  They are strong because they have to be; it's not a choice.
    And recently I've been and will be undergoing a few medical tests...I have polycystic ovarian syndrome.  This evening I was very sad, and I decided to wallow in my grief and look up chronic illness quotes on Pinterest.  That's when I was inspired to write the poem you find below.  :)

If I tell you that I'm hurting,

If you hear I'm not okay,

Please do not get angry;

I did not choose to live this way.

If you find I'm hesitating

To join you for the day,

Know I'm just a little tired;

In the end, I'll be okay.

I will fight with all that's in me

For the right and will to live,

So that I can share with others;

I have light and hope to give.

Please do not feel sorry;

This is only just a test.

God must find in ev'ry being

Our strength and faithfulness.

And if you find before you

A test you can't abide,

Ask the Lord for strength --

He is always by your side.

January 11th, 2017

This is dedicated to everyone who knows the chronic illness struggle.  You are inspiring!  Even when you don't feel like it, you are STRONG!  Don't forget that...and keep fighting!

At the Master's Feet

I come in quiet and I rest,

My ev'ry need now full-addressed.

I rest in peace abiding sweet

And lay it down at the Master's feet.

The tempests toss around me wild --

"O, Father, come, and save Thy child!"

With strengthened hand my soul to greet,

He bids me rest at the Master's feet.

I now bring my soul, scarred with sin,

"O, Father, make me clean again!"

And then my guilt its strong match meets

And clean I stand at the Master's feet.

I trod the mountains, high and low;

He gives me grace for ev'ry foe.

For ev'ry wound He helps defeat,

Whene'er I rest at the Master's feet.

10.29.16