Welcome to the final Top 5 list for 2015. This one includes the most visited and liked poems on GraceSyllables this year.
Thank you for visiting, reading, and commenting this year and may you have a grace-filled 2016.
Top Five Poems of 2014
Below are the top five poems I’ve posted in 2014 (both viewed & liked).
Thank you for visiting, reading, and commenting on GraceSyllables this year. I hope you’ve enjoyed the poetry, songs/hymns, and photos. May you be encouraged in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Habakkuk’s Song
LORD, here I stand in awe of You,
I’ve heard the report of Your fame,
In Your wrath remember mercy,
And revive the fear of Your name.
Your splendor reigns in the heavens,
Creation is full of Your praise,
Your brightness outshines ev’ry sun,
And Your flames dance like solar rays.
LORD, grant me a right perspective,
May I trust in Your sovereign plans,
The righteous live by faith in You,
And salvation is in Your hands.
Your judgment will come like a plague,
When You rise the nations shiver,
Mountains will break and then scatter,
And the earth will shake and quiver.
Though the fig tree never blossoms,
Though there is no fruit on the vine,
Even when the flocks have perished,
And there is no food I can find…
Yet, I will rejoice in You, LORD,
You are my hope through Your justice,
I will sing of Your salvation,
And rejoice in Your righteousness!
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The Lord’s Prayer Paraphrased
John Wesley (1703 -1791) wrote the poem below paraphrasing the Lord’s Prayer.
Father of all, whose powerful voice
Call’d forth this universal frame,
Whose mercies over all rejoice,
Through endless ages still the same;
Thou by Thy word upholdest all,
Thy bounteous love to all is show’d,
Thou hear’st Thy every creature’s call,
And fillest every mouth with good.
In heaven Thou reign’st, enthroned in light,
Nature’s expanse beneath Thee spread;
Earth, air, and sea before Thy sight,
And hell’s deep gloom, are open laid.
Wisdom, and might, and love are Thine;
Prostrate before Thy face we fall,
Confess thine attributes Divine,
And hail the Sovereign Lord of all.
Thee, Sovereign Lord, let all confess,
That moves in earth, or air, or sky,
Revere Thy power, Thy goodness bless,
Tremble before Thy piercing eye.
All ye who owe to Him your birth,
In praise your every hour employ;
Jehovah reigns! Be glad, O earth,
And shout ye morning stars for joy.
Son of Thy Sire’s eternal love,
Take to Thyself Thy mighty power;
Let all earth’s sons Thy mercy prove,
Let all Thy bleeding grace adore.
The triumphs of Thy love display;
In every heart reign Thou alone,
Till all Thy foes confess Thy sway,
And glory ends what grace begun.
Spirit of grace, and health, and power,
Fountain of light and love below,
Abroad Thine healing influence shower,
O’er all the nations let it flow.
Inflame our hearts with perfect love,
In us the work of faith fulfil:
So not heaven’s hosts shall swifter move
Than we on earth to do Thy will.
Father, ’tis Thine each day to yield
Thy children’s wants a fresh supply;
Thou cloth’st the lilies of the field,
And hearest the young ravens cry:
On Thee we cast our care; we live
Through Thee, who know’st our every need:
O feed us with Thy grace, and give
Our souls this day the living Bread.
Eternal, spotless Lamb of God,
Before the world’s foundation slain,
Sprinkle us ever with Thy blood;
O cleanse, and keep us ever clean.
To every soul (all praise to Thee)
Our bowels of compassion move,
And all mankind by this may see
God is in us, for God is love.
Giver and Lord of life, whose power
And guardian care for all are free,
To Thee in fierce temptation’s hour
From sin and Satan let us flee.
Thine, Lord, we are, and ours Thou art;
In us be all Thy goodness show’d;
Renew, enlarge, and fill our heart
With peace, and joy, and heaven, and God.
Blessing and honor, praise and love,
Co-equal, co-eternal Three,
In earth below and heaven above,
By all Thy works, be paid to Thee.
Thrice Holy, Thine the kingdom is,
The power omnipotent is Thine;
And when created nature dies
Thy never-ceasing glories shine.
Behind the lines
The Poetical Works of John and Charles (1707 – 1788 ), ed. G. Osborn, 13 vols., London, 1868–72 are available online for free. Volume II contains “The Lord’s Prayer Paraphrased” (see the bottom of page 335) and here’s the link: “The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley: Reprinted from the Originals”.
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Joy & Peace in Believing
When troubles come can we still rejoice and sing?
William Cowper (1731–1800) answers the question below. Christian, be encouraged and take heart!
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on His wings;
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God’s salvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E’en let the unknown tomorrow
Bring with it what it may!
It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.
Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
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Infinite & Incomprehensible
His age can never be given,
His past has an infinite start,
His universe cannot hold Him,
His Spirit exceeds every part,
His brightness is beyond knowing,
His splendor surpasses the stars,
His praise is sung by the heavens,
His choir is His glorious art,
His earth speaks to His perfection,
His works are a sign with His mark,
His moon directs tides and oceans,
His sun sends forth rays in the dark,
His mercy dares explanation,
His grace overwhelms sinner’s hearts,
His cross kills logical reason,
The Incomprehensible God.
Behind the lines
His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise (Habakkuk 3:3b ESV).
