Oh, Precious Mystery (Repost)

Oh, precious mystery, that my Creator,
who fills the universe—earth, sea and sky—
came to be born within a lowly stable,
on manger bed in swaddling clothes did lie.

Oh, precious mystery, what matchless glory
and boundless wealth Christ Jesus left behind;
though He was rich beyond all comprehension,
bore pain and poverty with lowly mind.

Oh, precious mystery, with life eternal,
He tasted death on earth for you and me;
though He was buried, yet He rose triumphant
and lives today to set sin's captives free.

Refrain:
Oh, precious mystery, the High and Holy
who fills the universe—earth, sea and sky—
The great "I AM," who spoke the worlds to being,
for me He came, to suffer and to die.

fpn/1963
This poem is set to music as song #13 in "Sing and Give Thanks"
Contact Joyce for a copy.



Artwork: "Adoration of the Child" by Gerard van Honthorst, 1620, from Wikimedia Commons

Our Matchless Lord (Repost)

Royalty, born in a stable
with no regal robes to wear.
Wrapped in bands, oft used as grave clothes.
He would die, our sins to bear.

Paradox beyond explaining
that the highest of the high
chose to live in flesh among us,
learning what it is to cry.

Strategy of God, victorious,
subtle enemies to foil;
ruthless tyrants thus evading,
identified with men of toil.

Sinless spirit - human body -
with no taint of sin or guile,
demonstrating that one human
did live justly all the while.

Prophecies of old fulfilling,
so precisely - not a few
giving details of his coming -
life, death, resurrection, too.

Mystery - that his great power
so transforms a sinful soul,
changing lives from loss to profit,
untamed drives to self-control.

Destiny? There's no more guessing.
Heaven and earth shall both be new.
Christ came down to live among us.
We shall rise when life is through.

fpn 12/82




Photo by Ryan Graybill on Unsplash

He Came for All (Repost)

Some seem convinced that Christ is just
for women and the kids
and so they don’t expose themselves
to the good that Jesus bids.

“Peace on earth—good will to men,”
that takes in everyone;
but now as then some miss the joy
of knowing Christ the Son.

The merriment at Christmas is
so hollow at the core.
For some it spells much tragedy—
to rich as well as poor.

Could they but know the peace of mind
and comfort to the soul
available to those who trust,
and let Him have control.

Oh, “taste and see—the Lord is good;”
just face reality!
He offers resurrection life,
from chains of sin be free.

So many then received Him not
and nothing much has changed,
but those who do—oh, what a thrill!
Their lives are rearranged.

A babe, two thousand years ago;
today, the King of Kings.
In His domain, there’s peace and joy
not found in earthly things.

fpn/December 1984

(Alternate Title: The Supreme Good)

He Came for All

Some seem convinced that Christ is just
for women and the kids
and so they don’t expose themselves
to the good that Jesus bids.

“Peace on earth—good will to men,”
that takes in everyone;
but now as then some miss the joy
of knowing Christ the Son.

The merriment at Christmas is
so hollow at the core.
For some it spells much tragedy—
to rich as well as poor.

Could they but know the peace of mind
and comfort to the soul
available to those who trust,
and let Him have control.

Oh, “taste and see—the Lord is good;”
just face reality!
He offers resurrection life,
from chains of sin be free.

So many then received Him not
and nothing much has changed,
but those who do—oh, what a thrill!
Their lives are rearranged.

A babe, two thousand years ago;
today, the King of Kings.
In His domain, there’s peace and joy
not found in earthly things.

fpn/December 1984

(Alternate Title: The Supreme Good)

So Great Salvation

Inscribed to 
Dr. G. Christian Weiss, 
Voice of Foreign Missions, 
Back to the Bible Broadcast

Hebrews 2:3


How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation?
Oh, the love that brought to earth
the sinless Son of God.
Facing scorn and ridicule
in this, His own creation.
Crushed beneath our sin and shame,
He shed His precious blood.

How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation?
Wondrous message of the cross
relayed at such a price.
Many are the witnesses
who’ve given in every nation
toil and tears, yes, life itself—
a willing sacrifice!

How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation?
Men are lost in sin’s dark night
and death is drawing nigh.
Yearning hearts, where e’er they turn
are faced with sore frustration.
Shall we—dare we, who are saved
pass by and let them die?

How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation?
Wondrous heights of glory
to which now we may aspire!
Christ’s ambassadors we are
who share our Lord’s compassion.
Spirit of the living God,
oh, set our hearts on fire!

Refrain:
"Ye shall be my witnesses,
I give to you the power!
Preach the gospel, that the lost
your hope of life may share.
Go ye into all the world,
redeeming every hour.
I am with you evermore;
let others know you care!"

fpn / 1967

Published as poem #31 "How Shall We Escape" in Contemporary Psalms
and as Song #31 in "Sing and Give Thanks"
To obtain a copy of the music, contact Joyce



Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #75696461, Standard License

Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
Text by Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf
Translated by Frank P. Nickel, 1992

Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
my confidence and glorious dress,
my password through the pearly gate
and to the joys that there await.
The innocent, all holy Lamb
impaled upon the cross of shame,
the Christ, my Lord, who saved my soul,
Him I confess; He made me whole!

Agreed that Jesus’ blood by far
excels all earthly goods there are;
in heaven settled, so it stands,
and satisfies the low’s demands.
With firm determination now,
while in this evil world below,
I shall confess the precious Blood
which purchased all of us for good.

O blessed Christ, the undefiled,
yet born on earth, a human child
to pay redemption’s price for me
and all on earth, may be set free.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son
eternally of the Three-In-One,
the glorious King, let mercy flow
on all who choose to humbly bow!




Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #146445611, Standard License

My Cross

Matthew 16:24

If you choose to follow me
there’s a cross for you to bear;
take it up, the Saviour said,
then heaven with me you’ll share.
Our salvation we can’t earn –
we are saved by wondrous grace –
but a cross we’re called to bear;
it prepares us for that place.

We may sing about His cross –
the old rugged cross of shame;
we may praise the Christ who died
and speak well of his dear name;
but if we refuse the cross
He designed for you and me
we’ve no right to claim His cross
and the blood that sets us free.

Are you taking up your cross
without murmur and complaint?
Are you counting all things loss
to become a worthy saint?
Oh, to catch the vision, friend,
of the glory we can gain
when we die to self and sin
and let Christ the Saviour reign.

Yes, my friend, there is a cross
each of us is called to bear
and the choice is ours to make;
it requires faith and prayer.
Let us love that rugged cross
on which Jesus died in shame,
but not shun to bear our own,
giving glory to His name.

fpn 6/81



Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #44276245, Standard License

Oh, Precious Mystery

Oh, precious mystery, that my Creator,
who fills the universe—earth, sea and sky—
came to be born within a lowly stable,
on manger bed in swaddling clothes did lie.

Oh, precious mystery, what matchless glory
and boundless wealth Christ Jesus left behind;
though He was rich beyond all comprehension,
bore pain and poverty with lowly mind.

Oh, precious mystery, with life eternal,
He tasted death on earth for you and me;
though He was buried, yet He rose triumphant
and lives today to set sin's captives free.

Refrain:
Oh, precious mystery, the High and Holy
who fills the universe—earth, sea and sky—
The great "I AM," who spoke the worlds to being,
for me He came, to suffer and to die.

fpn/1963
This poem is set to music as song #13 in "Sing and Give Thanks"
Contact Joyce for a copy.



Photo: Deposit Photos 19584681, Standard License

The Case of Locked Horns

You've heard of two dogs as they tangled one day;
while the third took the bone and with ease ran away.
The lesson is simple, but quickly we state,
to the dogs that were fighting, the loss was not great.
For dog fights are common and seldom 'tis said,
that they fight to the finish, leaving one or both dead.

A more tragic lesson from nature is born
in the wilds of the mountain, 'tis the deer with locked horn.
While the cause of the conflict may justified be,
still, subduing the other, himself he can't free.
Human hands might have helped had they chanced to be near,
to rescue from death at least one of the deer.

Both deer may regret that they started to fight,
but together, they die with antlers locked tight.
As with deer, so with man, in his passionate stress,
"Horns" are locked, often times, and there seems no regress.
Both fear and distrust may smolder and burn,
as souls in despair for deliverance yearn.

Disentangling horns calls for strength and for skill,
yet for all there is hope: look to Calvary's hill
where Jesus was slain in His effort to save
the souls of rebellious men from the grave.
He has wounds that were caused by the weight of our sin
and the full price was paid that our souls He might win.

fpn/undated



Published as poem #26 in Contemporary Psalms
Photo credit: Depositphotos 12781940, Standard license

Our Matchless Lord

Royalty, born in a stable
with no regal robes to wear.
Wrapped in bands, oft used as grave clothes.
He would die, our sins to bear.

Paradox beyond explaining
that the highest of the high
chose to live in flesh among us,
learning what it is to cry.

Strategy of God, victorious,
subtle enemies to foil;
ruthless tyrants thus evading,
identified with men of toil.

Sinless spirit - human body -
with no taint of sin or guile,
demonstrating that one human
did live justly all the while.

Prophecies of old fulfilling,
so precisely - not a few
giving details of his coming -
life, death, resurrection, too.

Mystery - that his great power
so transforms a sinful soul,
changing lives from loss to profit,
untamed drives to self-control.

Destiny? There's no more guessing.
Heaven and earth shall both be new.
Christ came down to live among us.
We shall rise when life is through.

fpn 12/82