For the New Year

Emmanuel

God with us, O precious mystery!
Man of clay—Emmanuel;
thus portraying His true nature;
suffering more than tongue can tell.

God for us, the mighty sovereign!
Strength and shield when foes assail;
present help in time of trouble;
in His might, we cannot fail.

God in us—new life imparted
by His spirit—hope and joy;
love so pure and sweet communion,
peace divine without alloy.

God through us—the lost are waiting
in the darkness of sin’s night;
He can save and He can keep them;
let us point them to the Light!

fpn/1975
(repost from June 20, 2017)



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Emmanuel (Repost)

Who is this babe of Bethlehem?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who comes to save and not condemn?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who is this child of virgin birth?
The Son of God, now come to earth!
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

Who gave His life on Calvary?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who shed His blood to set us free?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who rose triumphant o’er the grave?
Whose name alone has power to save?
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

Whose feet shall stand on Olivet?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Then war and strife we shall forget.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Lord, haste the day of Thy return,
when all shall worship, none shall spurn
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

fpn/undated

This was written as a song, but the music was not put into print.



Picture: Sourced online, October 10, 2017

Mysterious Love (Repost)

Love of God - revealed in Jesus,
to a world wrapped up in night;
Born a babe in Bethlehem's stable
bringing courage, hope and light.
Love so warm - where cold hearts languish
and it seems that no one cares;
Love so strong - where human weakness
numbs with fear and no one dares.

Love so pure, offsets wild passions -
dignity to life restores;
Love enduring, never failing;
even on foes its grace outpours!
Love beyond all comprehension
such was God's salvation plan;
Justice? No! but mercy matchless;
He would die for sinful man.

Love of God - He still is waiting
to restore the severed bond;
While man curses, He is pleading
for the rebel to respond.
No one barred - the most notorious
can be saved from sin and shame;
None so good to bypass Calvary;
all must come in Jesus' name.

Wonderful - eternal Father;
Mighty God, the Prince of Peace;
Counselor, with all the answers;
born to give the soul release.
For and with us - King Immanuel;
Conquering Captain, Christ the Lord.
Lamb of God and Lion of Judah -
Be exalted and adored!

fpn 12/81



Photo credit: depositphotos.com #10774121

Emmanuel

Who is this babe of Bethlehem?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who comes to save and not condemn?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who is this child of virgin birth?
The Son of God, now come to earth!
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

Who gave His life on Calvary?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who shed His blood to set us free?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Who rose triumphant o’er the grave?
Whose name alone has power to save?
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

Whose feet shall stand on Olivet?
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Then war and strife we shall forget.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Lord, haste the day of Thy return,
when all shall worship, none shall spurn
The Christ of God, our Lord and King!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!

fpn/undated

This is written as a song, but the music has not be put into print.



Picture: Sourced online, October 10, 2017

The Compatible Marriage

Why is it that the TV shows,
with a wedding in their plot,
show us a woman after that
disgusted with her lot?
The road of romance usually leads
to where the two get tied;
it’s so much fun, until they do,
but then it’s war inside.

The only way it seems, is “out.”
“It simply could not work!”
But after that, if not before,
she’s found some other jerk.
It’s trial and error, once again—
“for better or for worse.”
What they don’t show is how much worse
for all who share the curse.

God has a plan and it is good,
which makes a marriage stick—
for fifty—sometimes sixty years,
as the wheels of fortune click.
I’m wondering friend, who writes those plays
with such a slanted view?
There are still a lot of true blue pals
who more than make it through.

fpn 1/81



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God is not a Man

Numbers 23:19

God is not a man that He should lie;

nor the Son of Man, that He should have to change His mind.

Has he ever promised what He found He could not do?

Would He ever pledge His word and fail to carry through?

God is not a man; no, God is not a man;

God is not a man that He should lie!

Psalm 121  

God is not a man that He should sleep;

nor the Son of Man that He should need to take a rest.

He that formed the eye of man, He slumbers not, nor sleeps;

o’er His children and His goods, a constant vigil keeps.

God is not a man; no, God is not a man;

God is not a man that He should sleep!

Psalm 50:10  

God is not a man that He should steal;

nor the Son of Man that He should crave forbidden things.

On a thousand hills, the sheep and cattle are His own;

all the wealth of every mine, is His and His alone.

God is not a man; no, God is not a man;

God is not a man that He should steal!

Hebrews 13:8   

God is not a man that He should die;

nor the Son of Man that He should one day lie in state.

Yesterday, today, forever—Jesus is the same;

He can save and satisfy, oh, glory to His name.

God is not a man; no, God is not a man;

God is not a man that He should die!

fpn/Summer 1977

This was written as a song. For a copy of the four part music, contact Joyce

Photo credit: Joyce Rempel, Mt. Shasta, Washington state

Love Defined

Of all the things we talk about
one subject heads the list.
In tones profound, we speak this word
or often as we jest.
Let’s take a bit of time just now
attempting to define
just what LOVE means to you and me—
the natural and sublime.

The highest form of love revealed
by faith alone we share:
a cross upon a lonely hill—
our Savior dying there.
Our judgment past, our debt is gone,
our sins are all forgiven;
we now are fully justified
and know we’re bound for heaven.

And next, that love mysterious
where two become as one,
while sharing joys and trials till
the race of life is run.
And finally, a love that’s wide
which shares, then too, receives,
and seeks to be a friend in need—
in comradeship believes.

Our God is love; love is of God;
to dwell in God means love.
All purposes in life are vain
until God’s love we prove;
then ALL of earth’s relationships
will come to mean much more.
Our hearts can take the whole world in
through Christ, whom we adore.

fpn/undated

This is the second poem with this title, the first was much longer, published as poem #28 in Contemporary Psalms. As is the prerogative of all poets, Frank edited the first version significantly, resulting in this more concise version. If you wish to read the longer first version, you may do so by clicking here. 

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Thrilled with the Goodness of God

Depth of mercy, oh where shall I start,
the dimensions of grace to impart?
Oh how blessed the peace,
and how sweet the release,
since Jesus came into my heart.

Where, oh where, shall my praises begin,
for the One who has saved me from sin?
Tongues of angels and men,
or the most graphic pen,
could not tell what I feel deep within!

Access into this grace, yes, ’tis true;
what I ask in His name, He will do.
If His will is my choice,
I shall hear His sweet voice,
speaking peace and assurance anew.

And the glorious prospect before:
I shall see Him, the one I adore;
with that jubilant throng,
join in praises and song,
where we’ll tell of His grace evermore!

I am thrilled with the goodness of God,
Yes, I’m thrilled with the goodness of God;
from sin’s slavery and loss
was redeemed at the cross,
where the innocent Lamb shed His blood.

Oh, the blessings of life that are mine
and eternity’s hope so sublime!
Overwhelmed by His love,
I have life from above.
I am thrilled with the goodness of God.

fpn/undated


Published as poem #53 in Contemporary Psalms
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The Infinite God

Alternate Title: "They That Wait Upon the Lord"
Isaiah 40: 26-31

Have you never heard, my brother,
has it not occurred to you
that our God is everlasting,
and He sees His projects through?
He’s the God of understanding, 
He controls the stars above.
Never say, “My way is hidden;”
God looks on in tender love!

He gives strength unto the fainting
and His power to the weak;
mortal man has limitations;
even young men sometimes break.
But our Lord, the great Creator
of this spinning earthen ball
never tires, does not grow weary.
The Sustainer of it all!

Chorus:
They that wait upon the Lord—
shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they that wait upon the Lord—
shall renew their strength again.
They shall run and not grow weary—
they shall walk and never faint;
they that wait upon the Lord—
shall renew their strength again!

fpn/undated
This is written as a song, but the music has not yet been located.



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More to Follow

If this world is all there’s to it
and there’s nothing more to come,
then I say, “It just ain’t worth it.”
Most folks don’t have that much fun!

Oh, a few may seem to prosper
and they seldom lose a day;
things go well and they make money,
but there’s lots more work than play!

Some have plans when they retire
but by unexpected quirk,
things go wrong with one or the other 
and their plans so seldom work.

Friend of mine, there’s more to follow
if you want it—oh, please do!
Rich rewards and life eternal,  
God is offering me and you!

fpn/undated



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Our Mysterious Sun

Let’s not take our sun for granted;
total source of power and light.
Without sun, this world, deep frozen
were a mud-ball, lost in night.

With all due regard for science,
and the fruits of cultured minds,
we see master strides in healthcare
we share comforts of all kinds.

But when man can reach the planets
and predict the rain and tide,
yet deny God as their Master,
he’s in error far and wide.

Just how much can mere man tell us
’bout that great and fiery ball?
Who’s the Stoker of the furnace?
Who restrains the flames so tall?

Tell me, how such fire got started,
on some prehistoric day.
Without atmospheric filters,
life on earth would melt away.

Oh, how arrogant and stupid
is this creature we call man
who insists there’s no Creator
“Things just happen as they can!”

I respect that great big fireball;
every morning, there it is!
Can’t explain what keeps it up there, 
it’s my Heavenly Father’s “biz”!

fpn 3/83



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Thank You, Lord, for Loving Me

Thank you, Lord, for loving me—
watching o’er me constantly;
for the many things you give
as from day to day I live.

In this world of much abuse,
sin is rampant; Satan’s loose;
but you give me victory!
Oh, thank you, Lord, for loving me!

fpn/undated



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Genuine Proof

Our talk of sweet communion
with the eternal God,
sometimes is more like boasting,
so pious and so proud.

There’s one way, God’s word tells us
to prove that it is so,
and that’s if we’re communing
with Christian folks we know.

“If you don’t love your brother,”
says the apostle John,
“Your claim that you love Jesus,
is simply ‘putting on’.”

Of course, God knows the difference;
to sin, men can be blind,
and we’re afraid to wake them,
they might call us unkind!

The holy institution,
which Jesus left on earth,
gives test for true believers 
who know the Bible’s worth.

It’s “love for one another,”
which fellowship’s about;
if church seems unimportant,
your state remains in doubt.

If you don’t love your brother
whom you can plainly see,
how can you claim to love God—
the unseen Trinity?

fpn 7/81



Picture: Pinterest, retrieved July 30, 2017

God’s Orders

I choose to take God’s orders,
and do so cheerfully;
for Satan might have claimed me,
but Christ has set me free.

How could I be presumptuous
and cater to my whim,
when Jesus died to save me?
I owe my life to Him.

I choose to take God’s orders,
which lead to long-range good,
though sometimes I may question
and not see how they could.

My temporary losses—
quite often, they are not;
but in disguise, a blessing.
Why hoard the things that rot?

I choose to take God’s orders;
what gain they prove to be,
not only for the present,
but for eternity.

Resigned to be made gracious
so I may then invest,
for God, in lives of others
and move with holy zest.

I choose to take God’s orders—
or better said, His call.
How precious is our friendship.
Yes, He deserves my all!

fpn / December 1982



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Hero Worship

We all have had our heroes—
those souls whom we adored
to a point, perhaps of worship,
beyond that of our Lord.

Such reverence for a mortal
is sad and should not be;
but we’re inclined to worship
some man or thing we see.

And we accept man’s worship,
if so, we’ll need to prove
that we have saving power
in his behalf to move.

Of course, his estimation
with time usually breaks down
and then, humiliated,
our true worth will be known.

It’s fitting that we honor
and that with due respect
all those with gifts or talents
whom praise will not distract.

But God alone is worth
of worship—man is not.
Our ego moves with blindness
—proves us a foolish lot.

And since our hearts are sinful
with life so short a while,
let God be God, while we keep
as men, a low profile!

fpn/December 1982



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God or Mammon?

“Ye cannot serve God and mammon,”
’tis a simply stated truth.
Few there are who know its import
should be learned in days of youth.

Oft ’tis said, “Almighty dollar,”
friend of mine, let’s get it straight:
only God is the Almighty;
nothing else as such can rate.

Money is a useful servant
when controlled with limits known;
but becomes a vicious tyrant
when exalted to the throne.

Love of money—we behold it,
of all evil, ’tis the root;
in the ranks of honest laborers—
not just robbers with their loot.

It’s not hard to worship money
and the things which it will buy.
Once we formulate a pattern,
that’s the way we’ll live and die.

Money cannot buy fulfillment,
money cannot purchase peace,
money cannot grant us pardon,
or secure our soul’s release.

Money cannot grant extension
of our days and precious breath.
Love of money well may damn us
to an insane mind and death.

“If the Son therefore, shall free you,
ye shall then be free indeed.”
Christ alone must be our Master,
He alone can meet our need.

fpn/undated



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Isaiah’s Vision

He was a holy man of God,
but cried in deep dismay,
“I am a man of unclean lips,”
while bowed in prayer that day.

“The year that King Uzziah died,”
who ruled the land quite well;
but there were trends, the prophet knew,
his nation’s doom would spell.

Isaiah sadly viewed the scene,
(so troubled was his mind!)
an ox could find his master’s crib,
but Israel was blind.

They did not see nor understand,
nor did they seem to care
that sin was rampant, truth was lost,
and crime ruled everywhere.

Isaiah’s plea, “of unclean lips,”
applied to them most sure;
but did he mean his own as well,
were they not clean and pure?

No, when he saw God’s glory in
the scene revealed to him,
he could not lift his head, but cried,
“Undone!” and felt his sin.

An angel took a glowing coal,
and touched the prophet’s tongue,
commissioning to preach God’s Word,
to both the old and young.

The query came, “Who’ll go for us
and whom now shall I send?”
Isaiah said, “Send me, I pray,
Your cause I shall defend.”

We’re quick to see our neighbor’s sin,
and we should be concerned;
for sin is vicious and it blinds—
the wisest have been burned.

But faced by God’s true holiness,
we have no good to claim;
we’re justified alone by grace,
through faith in Jesus’ name.

The Bible bids us condescend 
to men of low estate.
We’ll love the sinner, but his sin
most surely we will hate.

We cannot win the sinner when 
we hold ourselves aloof;
sincere compassion for the lost 
will give our calling proof.

Let’s be reminded, “All have sinned,”
our sins we all must face;
but Christ has died for everyone;
all may be saved by grace.

So friend, let’s open up our hearts,
let God reveal our sin;
then with a contrite heart, we’ll go 
and sinners we will win.

fpn/1975




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Our Rest in God

"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure..." Psalm 16:9

Oh, love of God mysterious,
sustaining in our loss,
our spirits and our souls so wrenched 
when we recall the cross.

When hopes are dashed and comforts flee
we rush into the arms
of Love omniscient, strong and pure
for refuge from alarms.

We need not understand it all
just now, but we are sure
one day we will, and until then
God’s grace will yet endure.

Now we may share the tears of those
who paths of grief have trod;
since we have hope beyond the grave,
we find our rest in God!

fpn / December 1980

Emmanuel

God with us, O precious mystery!
Man of clay—Emmanuel;
thus portraying His true nature;
suffering more than tongue can tell.

God for us, the mighty sovereign!
Strength and shield when foes assail;
present help in time of trouble;
in His might, we cannot fail.

God in us—new life imparted
by His spirit—hope and joy;
love so pure and sweet communion,
peace divine without alloy.

God through us—the lost are waiting
in the darkness of sin’s night;
He can save and He can keep them;
let us point them to the Light!

fpn/1975



Picture: depositphotos.com #22520023, standard license

If My Tongue Were a Pen

If my tongue were a pen—
the pen of a ready writer—
I would write of the love
that came from above,
of the love of my Lord
growing sweeter and brighter;
I would write of the love of God.
I would write of my sin
to my sorrow and shame;
I would write of His grace,
praise His wonderful name!
If my tongue were a pen—
the pen of a ready writer—
I would write of the love of God!

Words by Wanda Eck
Music and arrangement by Frank P. Nickel, 1965
Published as song #18 in "Sing and Give Thanks"
To obtain a copy, contact Joyce.



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