Poems by Jean Hedgepath
YOUR GIFT
Stir up the gift within you,
It was given you by God.
You may think that it’s not worthy,
Even strange and a little odd.
It was given you for a purpose.
Not to hold, but to be poured through.
As it flows out to others,
Blessings will come back to you.
So stir that gift within you,
Asking God to show you how.
For He alone knows the person
Who needs your gift right now.
So use what to you was given,
Whether small or maybe large.
You’ll know when God says to use it,
If the Holy Spirit is in charge.
THE LOSER
As I’m placed upon life’s highway, two directions I can go;
To the right is life above me, to the left is death below.
Oh so crowded is life’s highway, people rushing with the flow,
To the left the mass is headed, should I follow, should I go?
I can see the signs before me, but they see them just the same.
If I take the right direction, they’ll all laugh and bring me shame.
If I go in that direction, in each face I’ll have to look.
They were sure theirs was the right way, so the other way forsook.
Indecision came upon me, though I’d seen the signs so clear,
As I got my eyes upon them, many voices I did hear.
Now confusion comes upon me, but of its presence I’m unaware,
For I’d put my eyes on people, and sense of direction stopped right there.
Once confusion set upon me, I’m its captive, now its slave.
For I heeded not the sign post, neither let my feet be brave.
Now I feel my body moving, being pushed along by the crowd,
And I have no might within me, no strength to even speak aloud.
That dark enemy of hesitation held me back there in its grip,
While I lingered, while I waited, from me choice and power did slip.
Now I’m drifting, aimless drifting, going down life’s wrong highway.
Don’t know exactly where I’m heading, living life from day to day.
I thought that I must take their road. Oh, where did I get that notion?
For truth received and not acted on, automatically sets death in motion.
As I’m placed upon life’s highway, two directions can I go.
To the right is life above, to the left is death below.
A STONE
In Zion has been placed a Stone
For us to build our life upon;
A Cornerstone for you and me,
And to some this is a mystery.
If we don’t follow the way He’s shown,
He becomes to us a stumbling stone.
When the Word He speaks we try to condense,
He becomes to us “That Rock of Offence”.
Even the builders reject the Stone still,
And so do His children when they exert their own will.
They reject His Word, and do it their way;
But as sure as they live, there will come a pay day.
“A Stone of Stumbling?” you will say.
Well, what has He spoken to you today?
The wise man builds upon that Rock,
But to close one’s ears is His Word to mock.
HEAVEN’S TROOPS
My heart cries out to God alone;
Please feel my hurt, hear my groan.
Be my Comfort, Strength, my Guide;
Help me in this swelling tide.
Oh, how safe within Your arms,
Protected from this world’s alarms.
The war is on and so the slaughter,
But rest has come ‘cause I’m your daughter.
Life’s so full of hate and rage,
And hurt and pain will be my wage.
When I step forward to take up the fight,
My guarding angel takes his flight.
If I hold my peace and just hold steady,
The troops of Heaven are armed and ready.
The battle is fought in the Heavenly sphere;
I’ll only witness the results down here.
Help me, Lord, to know that I
Must quickly to your presence fly.
I must not linger, think or wait.
It’s Satan’s gain when I hesitate.
Take Your Word, fuse it in my heart;
Then I will daily make a fresh start.
I’ll take all cares and weakness to Thee,
And patiently wait for the victory.
MY BOOK
If I could write
My book again
Where in life
Would I begin?
What would I write
It all about?
What chapters of life
Would I leave out?
Pages with trouble
I’d want to erase,
Except they cause me
To seek Jesus’ face
Joys and sorrows
I’ve had some of both
But those things in life
Help to cause growth
To write it over
There are changes I’d make
But life can’t be re-written
Make no mistake
But there is a book
We must keep up-to-date
It’s the Book of Life
And it seals our fate
PRAYER
Jesus, Keeper of my soul,
When the tempest ‘round me rolls,
Be Thou then my guide, my stay.
Roll the stormy clouds away.
When I reach to take Your hand,
I find it reaching down to man;
To quiet my spirit from the pain
And help my will its strength regain.
Oh, my Savior, be my guide.
Help me in Your love abide,
To spread Your Word to those around
And keep my feet on solid ground.
Poems by Patti Hedgepath Lusk
SEASONS
In the warmth of the Spring
I emerge from my sleep.
Such beauty awakens
A slumber so deep.
It all seems so lovely;
It’s easy to live.
It’s easy to smile,
To be loving and give.
But soon I will find
A hot Summer day.
The beauty of Spring
Has faded away.
Replaced by such heat
And drought in the land;
It’s easy to cry,
And I pray Summer ends.
Though long is the Summer,
Soon Fall breathes its breath;
And the beauty of color
Escapes nature’s shelf.
The warmth of the sun
With the crisp, chilly air
Makes it easy to worship;
And I know God is there.
I walk from such splendor
To winter’s dark nights.
The days seem much shorter.
I long for the light.
The cold wraps around me
With fingers of ice.
It’s easy to wonder
If it’s too great a price.
But then I’m reminded
Who’s guiding my path.
I see signs of Spring
And know Winter won’t last.
It takes all the seasons
To turn me again
To see God as God
And not as a man.
For God in His wisdom
Brings balance to me
And takes me through seasons
In patterns I need.
He teaches me trust
As I cling to his hand.
He rewards me with peace
When I walk in His plan.
So, within me He builds
To be more like Christ
As I walk through seasons
Each year of my life.
BETHEL
Dear God, I wandered from the place
Where first I met You face to face;
But I remember how I felt
When Your love caused my heart to melt.
To Bethel, Lord, I must return.
To see Your glory my soul yearns.
Just like Jacob’s vision clear,
Peace within my heart was near.
You made a covenant with me;
Revealed Your grace so awesomely.
With zeal ablaze inside my heart;
I said, “I never want to part.
“I’ve found the entrance to Your throne.”
You gently, wisely sent me on.
I left to never be the same.
My life inside and out had changed.
And still I go back many times;
I ponder Bethel in my mind:
The house of God, His glory place,
Where first I met Him face to face.
THOU ART THE LORD MY GOD
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.
Save me and I shall be saved.
For Thou art my praise,
My hope all my days.
Thou art the Lord my God.
Tempests may come and thunders may roll;
Lightning may flash in the sky.
I’ll rest ‘neath Your wings
Whatever life brings.
Thou art the Lord my God.
When pestilence comes and the earth shakes below,
I will still be unmoved through it all.
And though trials are sure,
In You I’m secure.
Thou art the Lord my God.
The enemy plots and in anger pursues;
I’ll not fear for Your vengeance is sure.
You bring justice to light
And release from my plight.
Thou art the Lord my God.
In Your secret place, Lord, I will find perfect rest.
In Your presence is fullness of joy.
I’ll not wrestle with You.
What You say, I will do.
For Thou art the Lord my God
MY SOUL’S DEFENDER
Hear a story wrapped in splendor,
Wrapped in thorns and bitter tears.
Hear a Baby’s cry so tender –
Mother’s care so sweetly near.
Songs of joy the angels render;
Joyful as they bend to peer,
As God’s grace to man engendered
Brings Good News for all to hear.
This small Child, our soul’s Defender,
Takes away our every fear;
Coming from the Holy Sender
Promised for so many years.
Men will try His work to hinder,
From the will of God to veer;
Strife against His life they’ll gender –
Hardened hearts so sorely seared.
Of man’s soul He is the Mender,
But He’s born for pain and tears.
Newborn Baby’s side so tender
Will be pierced by soldier’s spear.
There’s no chance for His contender –
Satan’s heart must sink in fear.
Christ has crushed this foul pretender;
Bringing hope and joy and cheer,
And no one His work can hinder;
His work lives through all the years.
He is my heart’s apprehender –
Born of love, released from fear.
