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