CHRISTIAN POEMS
BY
GENE GRIFFIN
Here is a collection of poems
written by a very gifted Christian poet, Gene Griffin.
THE
OLD OX AND THE YOUNG OX
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
The old ox abided in the field,
Enjoying the richness of his Master’s yield.
In came a young ox from he know not where,
To live, to work, to breath the Master’s air.
Said the young ox to the old,
With an attitude so bold,
"I saw you many a burden bear
With great drops of sweat in your hair.
"And I thought, I’ll not bear such a load,
Before I’ll do that, I’ll hit the road."
Said the old ox, "Oh, its not so bad,
You’ll have it so good it will make you glad!
"You are off every Sunday and when it rains or snows,
In this barn the good farmer stows
All that any ox could possible eat;
Oh, it’s a deal that can’t be beat!
"And besides, there’s a slaughter house down the road,
That would be glad to relieve you of your heavy load."
The young ox said, "I think I get the message plain,
I’d rather not give myself to slaughter house pain.
But I’m not as strong as you,
The burden you bear I cannot do."
The old ox said, "Don’t be moved by what you see,
Just lean very hard on me.
I’ll bear your burdens of the day;
I’ll walk with you every step of the way."
-Gene Griffin
SADNESS ABOUT THE EYES
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:9
Behold a face, study it well,
Each one has a story to tell,
Of sorrow, pain, and sighs,
Of frowns, groans, and sadness about the eyes.
Pain has a ministry all its own,
How sweetly its seed are sown,
Afflictions, God's blessings in disguise,
Though pain may cause sadness about the eyes.
Grace sufficient, every hour,
God supplying his power.
Suffering has its own prize,
Though sadness about the eyes.
See the face nobly set,
Providence causes no regret.
Peace prevails about the face,
Sadness about the eyes mingled with God's grace.
Gene Griffin
AUTUMN
We spend our years as a tale that is told. Psalm
90:9.
I like to think of Autumn with coolness in the air,
The leaves begin to turn so beautiful and fair.
The hillsides are a picture any artist would love to paint.
Autumn gives a wonder to stir the heart of the faint.
Autumn, with its bright and gleaming sun,
Reminds us that our work on earth will soon be done.
The Autumn days of our life are approaching fast.
As a tale that is told, our days on earth will soon be past.
May my Autumn years and days
Be filled with good and Christ-honoring ways.
May my closing days on earth forever be
A testimony of Christ living in me.
GENE GRIFFIN
ALL FOR GOOD
And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
All for good!
Precious be the thought!
But Lord there are storms
Which Thy hand hath wrought!
So Lord how can it be?
How can I see
Your Hand in this
For my good?
By faith we look beyond the storms
To the rainbow in the clouds.
We look by faith at the shroud,
Beyond the dark threads Thy pattern weaved.
It is then that our heart believed
In the working of Thy loving Hand,
Working together all things by Thy plan.
All for good?
Yes! It is true!
God is working His plan in you!
The sunshine and rain
The dark threads - our gain!
One day it shall all be plain!
All things work together for good.
Gene Griffin
HEAVEN’S GIFT
For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his
poverty might be made rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Oh! The wonder, the majesty of
that glorious night!
When Heaven’s star shown so bright!
A little babe lay in a manger still,
Born in time to do His Father’s will.
Was this the One promised of old?
Was this the One the prophets foretold?
Was this the King of glory?
Is this babe the Subject of the gospel story?
Yes! God the Son in humility is born!
In human flesh, but the world met Him with scorn.
The King of kings, the Lord of lords is here;
Yet, sinful mankind didn’t hold Him dear.
Was there room for Him in the inn?
Alas! Sadly no room for Him in the hearts of men!
Why was there no room for Glory’s King?
The One about whom the angels sing.
But is there room for Him in my heart?
Oh, come Lord Jesus and never depart!
My heart’s door is open for Thee to fill;
Make me a channel of blessing to do Thy will.
Oh, Savior to whom shall we go?
The soul’s longing to fully know?
Oh, Lord thou art my satisfying desire!
Come, Heaven’s Gift, set my heart on fire!
Glorious King, thou laid aside Thy crown,
Precious Savior, Thou didst come down.
The gift of heaven has come to earth!
Come, ye people, let us celebrate His birth!
Gene Griffin
THE
SECRET WILL OF GOD
.... that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom. 12:2
You may be in a quiet place
Where no one really knows you,
Humbly seeking the Master’s face,
Doing from the heart what pleases Him.
No one may really see what you do,
But the Lord sees your heart’s intent;
Knows what is seen by a few,
The secret will of God in the secret place.
It may be a ministry of intercessory prayer;
It may be a nameless gift to one in need;
It may be one of many ways to care.
It is done secretly for Him.
You may never be known
Here in this life below.
But Heaven’s love is shown
By the secret will of God in that quiet place.
Gene Griffin
STORMS
...the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are
the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3.
Lightening, thunder, and howling wind,
Just like the storms the LORD doth send,
Dispelling the blue skies of our day,
Disturbing each step of our way.
Caught in the midst of the storm’s fierce rage,
Angrily its might refuses to assuage.
The rain, the wind, thunder and lightening flashing,
The tempest in its fury giving quite a lashing.
Upon the storm the Master doth ride,
In power and wisdom - its able Guide.
The clouds are the dust of His feet;
His path is perfect and complete.
So in our lives the Master has a plan,
Bearing us through each storm in the palm of His hand.
In Sovereign majesty, He controls it all,
The mighty tempest obeying His call.
So when caught in storms of doubt and fear,
Learn to count the tempest as a friend so dear.
In it the LORD of storms is breaking us -
Into a fit vessel the Master is making us.
~
Gene Griffin
~
THE BROKEN HEART
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm
51:17
A broken and contrite spirit
The LORD doth desire;
No better sacrifice tan this
To set my heart afire.
Softly the Spirit whispers the need
Of our souls to our heart;
All-knowing, sees
With the love that shall never depart.
When the vessel is broken
The Light will shine through;
Sometimes our greatest need is pain,
A truth understood by few.
Only when the heart is broken
And the tears begin to flow,
Can the glory of the Lord
Be seen and His likeness show.
So weary, burdened pilgrim,
The broken heart don’t despise,
Knowing there’s rest at the Cross
And a glorious heavenly prize.
~ Gene Griffin ~
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND
My times are in Thy hand. Psalm 31:15
My times are in Thy hand,
Such grace to sustain my way,
Trusting all to what Thou in wisdom planned.
Our Lord knows our need day by day.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such guidance to direct my way,
Depending not on what I understand,
But on Him Who keeps me lest I stray.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such goodness to bless my way,
Providing from Thy storehouse at Thy command
Thy sweetness in glorious display.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such glory to delight my way,
Displaying the riches of that Heavenly Land,
That shall be mine when I am there to stay.
~ GENE GRIFFIN ~
NOAH'S HAMMER
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:8.
The wickedness of man was great in the land,
Refusing to see the goodness from God's Hand.
Only Noah found grace in His sight,
For he loved God with all his might.
God decided to destroy man that He had made,
But through mercy to all He bade
Them to come, to repent, to return,
Lest they incur His wrath and thereby burn.
God would send a flood to destroy all flesh on earth.
Man persisted in sin, enjoying it with glee and mirth.
Noah began to build an ark at God's command,
Obeying in worship the Creator's every demand.
For 120 years Noah preached,
Though his family was all he reached.
Noah's hammer declared, "Repent, Return!
Lest you incur God's judgment and thereby burn."
~ Gene Griffin ~
SPARROWS NEVER KNOW A DEPRESSION
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them
shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Matthew 10:29.
The man of God went about his way,
And heard two men talking about the evils of the day.
Jobs were scarce, and times were hard;
About the difficulties of the hour they were giving regard.
The preacher’s heart began to fear:
As he thought, there may have been a tear.
To the church, he began to drive
To prepare a radio message when he would arrive.
As he drove up the church road,
Carrying a heavy and troublesome load,
He saw some sparrows feeding with glee;
The Heavenly Father providing abundant and free.
As he saw the sparrows and thought,
He considered the bounty God had wrought,
And he concluded with great expression,
"Sparrows never know a depression."
He forgot about the discouraging talk,
With a spring in his step he began to walk
To his study with great jubilation,
And he remembered, sparrows never know a depression.
~ Gene Griffin ~
MY JESUS LOVES ME
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends. John 15:13.
That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19.
My Jesus loves me, Oh, Blessed thought!
By His precious blood my soul is bought!
He who loved me so much to die in my place,
Loves me now through His abundant grace.
He who loves me, loves me still-
Though I’m weak, frail and ill.
He loves me when days are hard and long,
And He loves me when I’m discouraged and lost my song.
My Jesus loves me when I’ve a glad song,
And He loves me when I’ve done very wrong.
He loves me when the storms of life try,
Holding me, caressing me when I’m afraid and begin to cry.
My Lord loves me with a love eternal,
Never leaving nor forsaking me with mercy supernal.
Nothing shall separate us from such love, whatever may be.
Oh, such a Fountain of love my Savior is He!
~ Gene Griffin ~
Psalm 34:10
The young lions in hunger may be,
But those who in reverence seek Thee,
Shall not any good thing from the LORD need,
As on His constant faithfulness we feed.
Thoughts on Psalm 34:10 poem
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that
seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:10.
Psalm 121:3-5
The LORD neither slumbers nor sleeps,
His eye constantly watches you and me.
The LORD’s own He lovingly keeps,
His shade, His presence shall be with thee.
Thoughts on Psalm 121:3-5 Poem
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth
thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. Psalm
121:3-5
~ Gene Griffin ~
South Carolina, USA
THE VALLEY
Yea, though I walk through the valley...
Psalm 23:4
Lord, I asked for mountains,
But You gave me the valley;
I asked for blessed fountains,
But You gave me seasons dry.
Lord, I asked for the level plain,
But You gave me the low place.
I asked for freedom from pain,
But You gave me grace to bear.
Lord, I asked for the cool breeze,
But the sweltering heat You gave.
In the valley You brought me to my knees
That I might beheld the Lily there.
Lord, I asked to understand,
But You taught me to trust:
That all that comes through Your Hand
Is the best for me.
Lord, help me to rest in all Your ways
Being confident that all is well.
As we receive grace all our days,
Even in the valley the Lily is there.
~ Gene Griffin ~
WAIT
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isa. 40:31
A pressing need, a burdened heart,
A longing in my soul that won’t depart-
My trouble burns as a brand upon my spiritual man,
But our all-knowing God has a plan.
I want, I pray, I beg- I plead,
My heart burdened with a Goliath need;
Our Lord knows- we surmise,
And our petitions He will not despise.
But God doesn’t answer right away,
Though with much expectation we pray.
"Wait" - our Master seems to say-
To a heart grieved day by day.
The wait is not in vain-
Giving hope amidst all our pain.
The Lord shall turn our loss into gain,
Though God’s ways we cannot explain.
~ Gene Griffin ~
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning. Psalm 30:5.
Dark the storm doth rage around me,
Long the night with fear assail thee,
But the Lord of light is there
To brighten our night of care.
All through the night I wonder and cry,
And ask myself and God the reason why
Such a storm of darkness came my way,
And when the darkness shall turn to day.
It is not for me to know the reasons,
Nor to discern God’s times and seasons.
For in each season of life God has a plan;
It is for me to leave all in His hand.
The Lord of light is good and kind,
In Him grace and strength you will find,
To meet the darkness all through the night,
And find mercy new every morning dawning bright.
~ Gene Griffin ~
THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
May we always focus on the good
And count our blessings as we should.
May all our complaints depart
And thank God with a grateful heart.
Our troubles may be the same,
But we can still praise His good name!
Our load may be hard to bear,
But thank God, the Loadbearer is there.
We will forget to complain
And not mention life’s pain,
If our days are filled with praise,
And we thank God in all our ways.
Don’t think that things are so bad,
And don’t live with a heart so sad.
Countless blessings are ours each day.
Let us thank God when we kneel and pray.
~ Gene Griffin ~
HEAVEN’S GIFT
For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew
1:21
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his
poverty might be made rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Oh! The wonder, the majesty of
that glorious night!
When Heaven’s star shown so bright!
A little babe lay in a manger still,
Born in time to do His Father’s will.
Was this the One promised of old?
Was this the One the prophets foretold?
Was this the King of glory?
Is this babe the Subject of the gospel story?
Yes! God the Son in humility is born!
In human flesh, but the world met Him with scorn.
The King of kings, the Lord of lords is here;
Yet, sinful mankind didn’t hold Him dear.
Was there room for Him in the inn?
Alas! Sadly no room for Him in the hearts of men!
Why was there no room for Glory’s King?
The One about whom the angels sing.
But is there room for Him in my heart?
Oh, come Lord Jesus and never depart!
My heart’s door is open for Thee to fill;
Make me a channel of blessing to do Thy will.
Oh, Savior to whom shall we go?
The soul’s longing to fully know?
Oh, Lord thou art my satisfying desire!
Come, Heaven’s Gift, set my heart on fire!
Glorious King, thou laid aside Thy crown,
Precious Savior, Thou didst come down.
The gift of heaven has come to earth!
Come, ye people, let us celebrate His birth!
~ Gene Griffin ~
BE STILL
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:1-3
Amidst the toil and rush of our
day,
Do we ever stop to pray?
Is it all toil and hurry,
And is our time filled with worry?
We neglect the principal need
When on our knees we forget to plead!
Our needs go beyond the daily grind-
What’s the use if peace we never find?
We need the quiet place
Where we may avail ourselves of God’s amazing grace.
Amidst the toil and rush-be still and know-
That in adversity we may grow.
Trouble is our servant to cause us gain-
Not just instruments to cause us pain.
God, the Controller and Sovereign Ruler of all
Numbers the hair on our heads and notes the sparrow’s fall.
Let us not forget the quiet place-
Where we avail ourselves of His grace.
In His presence we must come apart
To be still and know with a quiet heart.
So amidst your daily toil, in the secret place of your being,
Don’t be content with doing and seeing,
Commune with Him in quiet repose-
Confidently resting in Him who sees and knows.
~ Gene Griffin ~
ONCE
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with
benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19
Once I felt the weight of sin;
Now the burden has gone away.
Once it was all darkness and gloom;
Now my road is as bright as the noon day.
Once it was the blessing;
Now it is the Blesser Himself.
Once it was the gift;
Now it is the Giver Himself.
Once it was the joy;
Now it is joy's Reason.
Once it was the trial;
Now it is grace to face each season.
Once it was the raging storm;
Now it is the storm's Calm.
Once it was the sickness;
Now it is the Healing Balm.
Once I was with trouble overwhelmed;
Now the yoke is easy and light.
Once life wasn't worth living;
Now I want to live it with all my might.
~ Gene Griffin ~
WHERE A TIRED SOUL CAN...
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isa. 40:31.
I need a place of quiet
Where a tired soul can rest;
A place of serene repose,
A place of leaning upon His breast.
I need a place of strength
Where a tired soul can wrest
In conflict with the enemy,
In victory over the quest.
I need a place of comfort
Where a tired soul can nest,
Finding relief in the way
And peace in my chest.
I need a place of joy
Where a tired soul can be dressed
In the garments of His beauty
And find pleasures unexpressed.
~ Gene Griffin ~
TWO REDBIRDS
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7.
Said the Daddy Redbird to his mate,
"One thing I’ve noticed, God is never late.
He is good to provide us food each day,
For which we do not have to toil or pay.
"We have food God gives us from the wild
With a kind heart so tender and mild.
But God gives us food from another’s hand:
A feeder here, and one there, just as he planned."
Said the Mamma Redbird to here beautiful mate,
"I agree that God is never, ever late.
For I saw the man with 8 pounds of seed today,
For which he worked hard in toil to pay.
"Yes, God takes good care of us each day;
Whether skies be bright or grey.
God cares for us with an unfailing love,
From His Sovereign Throne above."
One said to the other excitedly,
"I’m as happy as can be.
Here they come with a bag of seed,
God supplying our daily need."
~ Gene Griffin ~
09/01/2006
AUTUMN
We spend our years as a tale that is told.
Psalm 90:9.
I like to think of Autumn with coolness in the air,
The leaves begin to turn so beautiful and fair.
The hillsides are a picture any artist would love to paint.
Autumn gives a wonder to stir the heart of the faint.
Autumn, with its bright and gleaming sun,
Reminds us that our work on earth will soon be done.
The Autumn days of our life are approaching fast.
As a tale that is told, our days on earth will soon be past.
May my Autumn years and days
Be filled with good and Christ-honoring ways.
May my closing days on earth forever be
A testimony of Christ living in me.
~ GENE GRIFFIN ~
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND
My times are in Thy hand. Psalm 31:15
My times are in Thy hand,
Such grace to sustain my way,
Trusting all to what Thou in wisdom planned.
Our Lord knows our need day by day.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such guidance to direct my way,
Depending not on what I understand,
But on Him Who keeps me lest I stray.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such goodness to bless my way,
Providing from Thy storehouse at Thy command
Thy sweetness in glorious display.
My times are in Thy hand,
Such glory to delight my way,
Displaying the riches of that Heavenly Land,
That shall be mine when I am there to stay.
~ GENE GRIFFIN ~
MY JESUS LOVES ME
Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13.
That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able
to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19.
My Jesus loves me, Oh, Blessed
thought!
By His precious blood my soul is bought!
He who loved me so much to die in my place,
Loves me now through His abundant grace.
He who loves me, loves me still-
Though I’m weak, frail and ill.
He loves me when days are hard and long,
And He loves me when I’m discouraged and lost my song.
My Jesus loves me when I’ve a glad song,
And He loves me when I’ve done very wrong.
He loves me when the storms of life try,
Holding me, caressing me when I’m afraid and begin to cry.
My Lord loves me with a love eternal,
Never leaving nor forsaking me with mercy supernal.
Nothing shall separate us from such love, whatever may be.
Oh, such a Fountain of love my Savior is He!
~ GENE GRIFFIN ~
WINTER’S END
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou has
made summer and winter. Psalm 74:17
The seasons of life come and go.
Each one is full of lessons to show
That we have a God of seasons,
And leave to Him to know the reasons.
Spring with so much to learn,
So much to grow and much to discern,
Of life’s lessons and what God has in mind,
To see His hand of love and heart so kind.
Summer with so much to do -
God’s school teaching us by the storms we go through.
Fall with its maturing touch,
God tempering the hardness so it is not too much.
Winter with its head of grey -
Steps getting slower day by day.
God walking slowly beside His child,
So the way may seem easy and mild.
Soon the season will come to winter’s end,
When the God of seasons shall send
His mighty angels to take us to His loving arms
Where we shall rest free from all life’s harms.
~ Gene Griffin ~
12/25/05
LEFTOVERS
Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with
benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19
I went to the refrigerator;
It was almost bare.
Almost - but not quite!
Leftovers were in there!
Got them out, warmed them up;
My, they tasted mighty good!
Leaned back in my chair, satisfied;
Then to my feet, I stood.
Looked at my plate
And began to think;
Picked up my water glass
And took another drink.
Then I looked toward Heaven
And began to pray -
My heart so filled with thanks,
I didn't know what to say.
Leftovers have a message
We all can understand;
They say, "More than enough
Has come from God's Hand.
~ Gene Griffin ~
HE SITS BY THE FIRE
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.
Malachi 3:3)
The fiery furnace, The Master Refiner,
The intense heat with a purpose in mind;
He puts the silver in the crucible
With a heart so loving and kind.
The Refiner has a plan in His heart,
He longs to see the work of His hands.
With a gleam in His eye, He sees the end:
The fiery furnace obeying His just demands.
But the end is not yet.
Our God, the Master Refiner, heats the furnace hotter still.
He sitting by the fire, looks on,
Providentially seeing the working of His will.
Sitting by the fire He sees the molten silver,
His heart not satisfied- He sees the dross, that's all-
Hotter, still hotter, the furnace grows,
Each flame obeying the Master's call.
What is it that the Master longs to see?
What is it that He longs in the fire to find?
In wisdom, power, and love he determines
Exactly what He has purposed in His mind.
Moment by moment His heart searches
For His own image to be seen in the fire;
When the dross is removed and only purity remains,
It is then, and then only, He sees the fulfillment of His perfect desire.
In the silver the Refiner will see
A reflection of Himself beautifully displayed;
He patiently sits by the fire,
His purpose, His will obeyed.
So, my friend, the fiery trial will come.
In the furnace, will be found you and me.
The Refiner will sit by the fire
Until in the silver His own face He'll see.
Our Lord Jesus sits by the fire to control it,
To comfort, to strengthen, to encourage His child.
He loves us with an everlasting love,
With a heart that's pure and undefiled.
~
Gene Griffin ~