Poems of Faith and Love
Mrs. Belden Legge
PUBLISHED BY:
Inknbeans Press
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Poems of Faith and Love
The Poetry of
Dorothy Legge
Copyright © 2011 by Dorothy Legge
And Inknbeans Press
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This book is dedicated to my children:
Larry, Dan, Judy, Kathy and John
And my grandchildren:
Christy, Deana, and Ericka
Part I – Poems of Praise
Let Wisdom Flow
For all our years of living there have been some lessons learned.
Advice was always given everywhere we turned.
But God’s Word is still the best place that for guidance we can go.
Read it, Learn it, Speak it, Live it!
Let Wisdom flow!
If young folks seek our counsel thinking age has made us wise,
Know true wisdom is a spirit. Flesh can’t teach it though it tries.
We can only really help them if God’s Word in them we sow.
Let Wisdom Flow!
A righteous man speaks wisdom; his tongue speaks judgment too.
He studies well the Word of God, for every word is true.
When life poses its hard questions, the answer we will know.
Read it, Learn it, Speak it, Live it!
Let Wisdom flow!
Oh, the little tongue is mighty! Life and death are in its power.
When the world about is dying Christians must speak life in this hour.
Fear God! Keep his commandments. The Bible tells us so.
Read it! Learn it! Speak it! Live it!
Let Wisdom flow!
God’s Comfort
If I had never known a trial,
And had never shed a tear;
If I had never had a loss
And never known a fear;
If I had never felt alone
Or suffered any pain;
If there had always been the sun
And never any rain
My spirit would not understand
The things you’re going through
And I would have no way at all
To help and comfort you.
Yet in my trials, tears and loss
Fear, loneliness and pain
I’ve sought the Lord and found Him there
Time and time again.
His gentle hands have borne me up
I’ve leaned upon his breast
Until the storms have passed me by
He’s helped me stand the test.
And so, my friend, I say to you
I understand today
And recommend the Lord to you.
He always makes a way.
Leave It in the Hands of God
When you’ve tried to live for Jesus and tried to do your best,
Then some great trial comes along, and puts you to the test,
Just step out on God’s promise, and how greatly you’ll be blest
When you leave it in the Hands of God and let Him do the rest.
God wants us not to worry over things we can’t control.
Perfect faith in Him alone can help us keep our soul.
He is near to those who trust Him, and He hears them when they call.
Cast your every burden on Him, for He wants to share them all!
Are you troubled o’er a loved one whom you know has gone astray?
Then live Christ-like before them and help point them to the way.
Daily plead their cause with Jesus, and when you’ve done your best,
Just leave them in the Hands of God and let Him do the rest.
Yes, take your cares to Jesus and in faith just leave them there.
He is one who’ll not forsake you; He truly answers prayer.
In the sharing of our trials His Love’s made manifest.
Just leave it in the Hands of God and let Him do the rest.
Judging
Christ was teaching in the temple
When they brought the woman in.
“She was taken in adultery.
Shall we stone her for her sin?”
Knowing this had been commanded
As a part of Moses’ law
They had really tried to trap him,
But their purpose Jesus saw.
Then he stooped and with his finger
Did some writing on the ground.
Once again they asked him,
All those Pharisees gathered ‘round.
Rising up he turned and faced them
And to answer did begin,
“Let the one who casts the first stone
Be the one who has no sin.”
Then the crowd no longer threatened
But in guilt they turned away.
Jesus looked upon the woman.
This is what she heard him say:
“Woman, where are thine accusers?
(Seems they’d chosen to ignore!)
Neither do I condemn thee,
Therefore go and sin no more.”
We are not to judge our brother
Who has fallen by the way
Jesus came not to condemn us
Does the Word of God not say?
But because the Father loved us
Then His only Son He gave
And it was not to condemn us
But repentant souls to save!
If I judge but only my life
I will have enough to do.
May God grant me love and wisdom
That I never shall judge you.
Let him that thinketh he standeth
Take heed unless he fall.
This is the admonition
That our God has given all.
Ultimate Forgiveness
God, I asked to learn forgiveness
For the hurts that words can bring.
You have taught me that forgiveness
And it seemed no little thing.
Yet there is a deeper measure
Man can scarcely comprehend.
For the taking of a loved one’s life
The pain that has no end.
When Christ suffered death by others
With such agony untold
He prayed You would forgive them
And your punishment withhold.
For this His loving heart proclaimed
“They know not what they do.”
Love like this and such forgiveness
Christ’s followers must have too.
We can’t do it by ourselves, God,
But with Christ who lives within
There can even be forgiveness
For such a heinous sin.
Satan surely has them blinded
Who another’s life would take
By Christ’s love we can forgive them
For He the way will make.
The old law was “tooth for tooth”
Requiring “blood for blood,”
But Christ’s law is the law of Grace
We’ve scarcely understood.
Total forgiveness of love divine –
God’s sons must give it, too.
To be forgiven we must forgive.
It’s required of me and you.
Boldness and Love
You’ve called me, Lord, to work for you
Oh, keep me humble; keep me true.
Then send anointing from above
And give me boldness dipped in love.
Yes, give me boldness dipped in love
A lion brave – a peaceful dove.
So fearless, strong, courageous, daring
Gentle, kind and full of caring.
For boldness I must have to preach
Your Word to those you’d have me reach
Yet love must surely cover all
Or else my ministry will fall.
I Must Be Like Him
I must be like Him, sweet in my spirit,
Showing compassion to those all about me.
Helping the weary with loads they are bearing,
Lighting the darkness to show them the way.
Ever I’ll serve him, lean on him daily,
Living the life that He will live through me,
Giving the thirsty water eternal,
Giving the hungry the true Bread of Life.
Someday I’ll see Him, in all His glory,
Worship and praise Him with Saints of all ages,
Hear their great stories of what He did for them,
Join them with my praise and bask in His love.
A Better Way!
Life can be a lonely journey
Full of heartaches, cares and woes
If the pleasure that we find here
Seldom comes and swiftly goes.
And no matter what we gather
Of the riches of this life
It can soon be lost forever
In the struggle and the strife.
Is there nothing we can cling to
When the going gets so rough?
Is the best defense we have here
Just to show that we are tough?
Must we stand alone, an island
In the midst of this dark sea?
No, I’ve found a way that’s better.
Let Christ be your victory!
When he fills your heart with loving
And your skies with sun so bright
You’ll find the way made better
By the power of his might.
No storm can steal the peace within,
No foe your joy can take.
There’ll be many wondrous changes
That His love for you will make!
For when Christ is your companion
You’ll reach out to others too,
And the fellowship you feel with them
Will bring a different view.
For love can smooth the roughest way
Alone you need not stand.
Brothers, you can journey then
Held steadfast by God’s hand.
Time
Time is so easily squandered.
Its value we’re so unaware,
Til sand runs out in the hourglass
With not enough left for a prayer
If we could turn the glass over
And measure again our life’s span
We’d treasure the moments so greatly
We’d budget our time and we’d plan.
Each goal would be reached more quickly
With time for the next one, you see.
Some time to enjoy life’s beauties,
And time to dream dreams and be free.
Then time we’d use to help others,
And time we would give to our friends.
We’d find time for reading and praying
And time, too, for making amends.
We’d know time needed for resting
And daily we’d use that amount
And greedily use time left over
For doing all those things that count.
But God knows things we have need of
Since time seems to be one of them,
He has planned eternity for us.
If we choose, we’ll spend it with Him!
In My Weakness I Am Made Strong
When the sun’s shining brightly and things going right
And there’s rest from the battles I often must fight
Sometimes I’m not careful to give God the praise
But trust in my own strength. Then come trying days.
In my weakness and helplessness I turn to Him
When the load grows so heavy, my way grows so dim.
I pray for an answer, it doesn’t take long.
I find in my weakness that I am made strong!
I have no temptation that He did not know
And now He is with me wherever I go.
Through Him there is victory, He gives me a song.
It is through my weakness that I am made strong.
Lord, take my pride from me, proud people must fall,
Lord, make me humble, answer my call.
When I know I’m nothing, it’s then You exalt
Your love lifts me up and it covers each fault.
Fear and Doubt – Hope and Faith
Fear says: “I’m too little; the task is too large.”
Hope says: “I’ll try it.”
Faith says: “I’m in charge!”
Doubt says: “It won’t work. I know it will fail.”
Hope says: “It’s worth trying.”
Faith says: “I’ll prevail!”
Cast out your fear and cast out your doubt.
Let hope and faith show you what God’s all about.
Ask For God’s Blessing
When there is a work that you feel called to do
And you know beyond doubt that the calling is true,
If means aren’t sufficient, don’t worry or fret.
Maybe you haven’t asked God to bless yet.
More than five thousand were hungry one day.
His disciples told Jesus “Send them away!”
But the crowd had followed Him, His words to hear,
The task of feeding them Christ did not fear.
Five loaves, two fishes was all the food found,
But Christ bade the multitude sit on the ground.
Then looking to heaven He blessed and it grew,
It fed them leaving twelve baskets too.
And so faith will cause your small means to grow
Every need will be met and soon you will know
When God gives a task, if we’ll only try
And pray for His blessing, our needs he’ll supply.
Courage
Courage is ours as we walk in the spirit.
God uses us then his people to bless.
With eyes on the Savior, His wisdom will lead us
No fearing of failure as onward we press.
A charge we are given and we must obey Him,
An outlet of blessing to others to be.
Each part of the body dependent on others,
And all parts working together, you see.
Go forth in His spirit, the cost never dreading.
Benefits great, too wondrous to miss.
These truly come to those who obey Him,
Who follow only – the leadership His.
From no adversary shall we flee in terror
Love conquers all when we live in His word.
Daily we win over what ‘ere opposes
As daily we trust and rely on the Lord.
Questions
Asleep in the stern of the boat Christ lay
Weary from preaching to many that day.
A storm that arose tossed their ship all about
And fear caused his disciples to shout,
“Master, carest Thou not if we’re lost?”
He arose and spoke to the waves that tossed,
“Peace, be still!” Still they became.
Even today He will do the same.
As your ship is rocked in life’s stormy sea,
And you ask Him, “Carest thou not for me?”
He’ll prove His love and bring you peace.
The winds and the angry waves will cease.
“Why fearest thou?” He asked them then.
“Why fearest thou?” He asks again.
And one last question, answered right
Will bring great peace in the darkest night.
“Who do YOU say that I am?” He’ll ask.
If “Son of God,” then no great task
To still the wind or angry sea.
My Father makes them subject to me.
Believe on Me and I will prove
The mighty power of God’s great love.
God’s Hedge
In the hedge of God’s protection
We are safe from Satan’s harm.
And although he tries to enter
It should not cause us alarm,
For our God is so much greater
Than the enemy without,
And His love is so much stronger
Than old Satan’s fear and doubt.
But if luring things attract us
From outside the hedge’s wall
And we leave provided shelter
We can then expect a fall.
For we forfeit God’s protection
As an opening we make
And the serpent easily biteth
Him that through the hedge doth break.
But there yet can be salvation
And protection though we stray.
Those who in the gap are standing
Help protect us when they pray.
For God hears and surely answers
Those who stay within the walls
And extends the hedge around us then
In answer to their calls.
Speak, Holy Spirit
Oh, Holy Spirit, sent by God,
Speak to us today.
Reveal to us our hidden sin
Thy Truth may we obey.
Teacher, comforter and friend,
Strengthen us this hour.
Christ’s witnesses we long to be
Endue us with Thy power.
Firm in God we’re sure to stand
Tho darts by Satan hurled
Greater He who dwells within
Than he who is of the world.
Earnest of our inheritance
Gladly we receive
Thy breath of fire we would not quench
Nor yet the Spirit grieve
God’s Unseen Guidance
We can’t always see God’s guidance
In the pattern of our lives,
But His great plan is working for His own.
And when little seems accomplished
No matter how one strives
Remember, He’s not left us all alone.