Category: Poetry

As morning manna
Melted
Ere noon-sun,
So God’s Word, unsought,
Each day,
Is soon gone….

Penned: February 16, 2003
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

By Thy divine pow’r bearing sway,
Turn it for good, Lord, please I pray;
In Thine own time and Thine own way –
Which know no haste and no delay –
Thine own mind in the balance weigh:
Dwell in me; all Thy words obey.

Penned: October 29, 2011 at 8:47 a.m. and November 15, 2011 at 9:52 a.m.
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

Christ took your cares and load of sin;
Now don’t you e’er forget.
Open your heart and let him in –
Or don’t you know him yet?

Jesus loves you and wants you to know
He feels each grief and tiniest woe;
He’s waiting to share your every fret –
And don’t you know him yet?

Christ understands your every sigh
And he dries each tearful eye;
Come, meet my Lord – there’ll be no regret!
So… why don’t you know Him yet?

Penned: 1976
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

When at last we get to heaven,
And in the Earth made new,
Whatever if:

We never have to breathe the air
In order to exist;
Brush teeth, or bathe or comb our hair,
(No disease to resist!);

We never have to wash our hands,
(Although I hear we’ll toil
At building houses on pure lands,
And farming perfect soil);

We never have to perspire
Or otherwise excrete;
Or satisfy that old desire
To salivate and eat;

We never, ever dream again
Because we’ll never nap;
Or even take a stretch, or yawn
With head on Jesus’ lap?
… Just wondering! …

When from death all life is riv’n,
All hurt now bid adieu,
Do you believe:

That flowers picked will just live on
(While new buds bloom in place)
Of colours that have never been,
Or flavoured fragrances;

That parrots still will mimic talk,
And pigeons carry notes;
Or that we’ll fly, instead of walk,
Along the starry routes?

Will babes still nurse on mother’s breasts,
Or will their teeth be grown?
Will we ride steeds or other beasts
From mansions into town?

Should we the River Of Life swim,
Would fish welcome us there?
And, could we for them sing a hymn
Whilst diving, without air?

Well, … this I know:

That sin has made life such a pain –
Relief seems overdue!
But the Word is swift – He’s the Amen,
And shall sin’s curse undo!

For heaven and earth shall pass away,
So shall the sea and tears!
But all who, now, God’s law obey
Shall nevermore know fears!

Nor shall they constellations read,
With light from Christ the Sun;
For death and darkness will be dead,
Eternal day begun;

But they’ll be blessed, allowed to eat
From Eden’s tree Of Life,
And enter through the City’s gate –
Reward more-than-enough.

Now, … why so slow? Haven’t you heard?
Christ promised these to you!
Accept his grace? Live by his word?
His love will see you through!

Listen, my friends:
– By God’s grace –
Be there…. you’ll see!

Penned: 1999
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

‘Christmas’ is a time when we
Visit with friends and family,
To celebrate Christ’s lowly birth
Which brought Redemption’s Plan to earth.

At ‘Christmas’ time, kind thoughts are shared –
Even with strangers – everywhere;
Gifts are unwrapped, exposing love
That only comes from God above.

‘Christmas’ brings an atmosphere
Of love and peace and joy and cheer;
Of music with such ambience,
As causes coldest hearts to dance.

But ‘Christmas’ means much more to me
Than just the songs, gifts, lights, or tree;
It points toward a time to come
When I won’t celebrate alone…
For I’ll share with hearts redeemed by love,
The hearth of Christ … around God’s throne …
In heaven above….

Penned: November 28, 1996
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

People often say, “Out of sight, out of mind”,
And “Trust no shadow after dark”;
Well, does absence really “make the heart grow fonder”?
After all, who is to be trusted with one’s heart
Filled with deep secrets, desires and dear hopes, all
Waiting to be shared? And yet, how can one dare
To venture out on such an odyssey as LIFE, alone…
With all its turmoil, fears and cares?

Oh, I know One who has the answer to all of your questions!
He’ll walk through life beside you, to guide and keep you all the way,
Give you pure desires and make them come true, too.
You can trust HIM with your heart and life – both night and day.
He’ll never leave you alone; and even if you walk away,
You’ll never be put of HIS sight – you’re always on HIS mind.

Now, if you find this hard to believe, I will understand,
For it’s incredible, alright. I tell you, this Friend is ‘out-a-sight!
Oh, He’s out-a-sight, but ever within your reach;
Out-a-sight, but you’re always on HIS mind.
God’s love attends you every day,
His presence guides you all the way.
So we’re never “out-a-sight”, and never “out of mind”
But HIS love is “OUT-A-SIGHT”!

Penned: 1986
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

Still …
Though his love we spurn,
Turn our back on Him
And just walk away,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though we break His heart
By our cruel words
To our fellowwmen,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though His wrath we earn
When our lights grow dim
And we disobey,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though we walk sin’s path
That just ne’er affords
Us God’s peace again,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though His pleading voice
We wrest from day to
Day, and still ignore,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though grumblers we be
Whilst blest by His hand;
He pities our woes –
And loves us,
Still….

Still…
Though we seek earth’s joys
That bring us such woe
And leave us so poor,
He loves us,
Still….

Still…
He waits and pleads; he
Guides, he pities and
Condescends, because
He loves us,
Still….

Penned: 1986
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

To know Your voice when I’m in doubt,
And follow as You lead,
To have that faith that bears throughout
The storms that prove the vessel stout –
Teach me; and help me heed

Your Word which shows me how to love
Because You love me so;
And when my soul would tire of
Life’s load and seek help from above,
Teach me Your strength to know!

When bowed with grief and loss and pain,
When sorrow courts my brow;
My soul, confused beyond its ken,
Would, in Your sweet joys bask again,
Teach me Your will to know!

Oh, teach me, Lord, whate’er You will!
And may I ever learn
Your lessons here, on earth, until
My hope in Christ Your love fulfil
When, for me, You return.

Penned: July 31, 1985
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

Without the mountains there’d be no valleys,
And rainbows are ribbons wrapped around rain;
Without life’s struggles, how’d we know vict’ry,
Or truly know joy, if we knew no pain?

Without strong winds the trees would have frail roots;
And storms must beset us e’er we know calm.
Without night’s darkness, light would not seem bright;
And clouds beget sunsets – such beautiful psalms!

Without life’s trials, how can we qualify?
Temptations come our way to test our strength.
Oft’ times, the loss we see, God makes our gain.
Through faith, eternal life is ours, at length.

What a life this would be,
If, on earth, all were ease;
Then we’d never know we’re
Victims of sin’s disease!
What a life this would be,
If our trials we’d receive
As pathways to Jesus –
To health and joy and peace.

Penned: July 27, 1985
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.

(Dedicated to Ali)

Do you, at times, grow sad and lone
When nothing goes your way,
When those you love seem hard as stone
And friends seem far away?

Cheer up, my friend, for someone else
May need your friendship dear,
His hopes to raise, his fears to quell;
Your love and hopes to share.

True, you may feel it’s just not fair,
The Lord should permit you
Heartache and loss; that you must bear
Pain and jealousy, too.

But cheer up, sad though life may be,
And count your blessings o’er.
Someday, true love – your own – you’ll see;
So, cheer up. Pine no more.

Penned: March 11, 1973
Copyright (c) 2018 Dahana Baxter. All rights reserved.