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Passionately Pursuing Christ

~ Christ Centered Poetry by Debbie Harris

Passionately Pursuing Christ

Monthly Archives: July 2026

A Humble Prayer for a Wise and Understanding Heart, That We May Be Truly Rich in the Sight of the Lord by Debbie Harris

25 Saturday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational

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bible, Biblical Truth, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christian, Christian Poetry, faith, god, gospel, hope, Inpirational, jesus, jesus-christ, Poetry, Praise, Prayer, Royally Redeemed, salvation, scripture, theology, worship

A Note from the Poet

Dear Reader, these humble lines were born of a simple prayer once uttered in quiet longing: that the Lord might grant us not the fleeting treasures of this world, but a wise and understanding heart—the only riches that endure. May they stir in thee the same desire that moved Solomon of old, and may the God of all wisdom answer them in thee as He did in him.

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart… that I may discern between good and bad.

— 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV)

Lord, give us now a wise and understanding heart,

That we may know the good, and from the evil part.

For wisdom’s gentle light shall guide our every way,

And in that sacred gift true riches shall we stay.

Not gold that rusts, nor fame that fades with fleeting breath,

But discernment pure, that conquers fear and death.

A heart that seeks Thy truth, and finds in Thee its rest—

Then are we truly rich, by Heaven’s measure blest.

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From Trembling Cry to Lion’s Courage: Psalm 138:3 by Debbie Harris

24 Friday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational

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Biblical Truth, Christian Poetry, hope, Inpirational, Inspirational, Praise, Royally Redeemed, salvation, worship

A Note from the Poet

Dear Reader,

This sonnet was born from the quiet fire of Psalm 138:3—those few ancient words that still burn with living power: “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

I have tried to paint what that moment feels like when the cry rises from the deepest place, when the answer comes not as a distant echo but as strength poured straight into the marrow of the spirit. May these lines remind you that no cry is ever lost in the dark, and that the same God who answered then still forges courage in the soul today.

With gratitude and hope,

The Poet

In the dark hour when my trembling cry arose

Like thunder cracking through a storm-torn sky,

When waves of fear crashed hard against my soul

And shadows whispered threats that would not die,

Your voice came swift—a golden shaft of dawn

That pierced the clouds and silenced every gale;

The heavens opened, and Your answer shone

Like living fire along an ancient trail.

You poured into my spirit molten steel,

A fortress rising where the ruins lay;

You taught my heart to stand, to fight, to feel

The lion’s courage in the break of day.

Now bold I walk, my soul by You made strong—

A warrior forged by Love’s eternal song.

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Never Build on Shifting Sand: Let No One Be Your Cornerstone — Christ Alone Is Worthy of Your Full Faith by Debbie Harris

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Israel, Pleasing God Not Man, Royally Redeemed, salvation

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bible, Biblical Truth, Christian, Christian Poetry, christianity, faith, hope, Inpirational, Inspirational, jesus, jesus-christ, Poetry, salvation, theology, Trusting Christ And Christ Alone

Dear Reader,

In these lines I have tried to echo the sober wisdom of C.S. Lewis while lifting our eyes higher still — to the only Foundation that will never shift. Human hearts, even the best and wisest, are like sand: beautiful for a moment, yet unable to bear the weight of our eternal trust. May these words gently turn your hope away from every mortal cornerstone and fix it firmly upon Jesus Christ, the Rock who rose and who remains.

With prayer and affection,

The Poet

Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

1 Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Verses Warning Against Trusting in Humans

Jeremiah 17:5-7

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert… Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Psalm 146:3

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Isaiah 26:4

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

Additional Strengthening Verses

1 Peter 2:6 (quoting Isaiah)

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Beneath the sky’s unyielding gaze,

We seek a rock where faith may stand—

Yet turn too swift to mortal praise,

And build on shifting, golden sand.

The wisest heart, the kindest hand,

Can walk beside us for a while;

Yet every soul on earthly land

Will falter in the fiercest trial.

There are footprints, trails, and fragile art

That shimmer softly in the sun—

Sweet moments shaped with gentle heart,

That slip away when day is done.

But never lay your soul’s foundation

On any one, however true.

Come build instead on Christ the Rock,

The One who rose and lives in you.

Let human love be gift and grace,

A melody, a helping hand—

But fix your hope and fix your faith

On Jesus, firm where all else fails.

When storms arise and tempests roar,

When towers tremble, crack, and sway,

The soul secured in Christ the Lord

Will stand unmoved, come what may.

— Inspired by C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

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Echoes of the Brave: Lament for Every Service Member Who Gave Their Lives for Freedom by Debbie Harris

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Grief, Bereavement, Loss, Patriotic

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Inpirational, Patriotic

Dear Reader,

In quiet reverence for every service man and woman who answered the call and never returned, I offer this lament. May these words honor their sacrifice and remind us of the profound cost of freedom.

In crimson fields where silent sentinels stand,

where poppies once bowed low to blood-soaked sand,

they answered freedom’s call with steady breath

and gave their lives for freedom—facing death.

Through desert glare that blistered skin and soul,

through mountain gales that howled like wolves on patrol,

through jungle rot and urban ruins aflame,

they gave their lives for freedom in His name.

The bugle’s mournful cry splits morning air,

a silver thread through grief too vast to bear.

Mothers clutch folded stars in trembling hands,

while empty chairs await the absent bands.

Fathers trace cold medals in the night,

children whisper questions to the light.

Yet every dawn that gilds the waking world

bears witness to the banner they unfurled.

Oh fallen guardians, sleep beneath the loam,

your final heartbeat now our martial poem.

No tomb can cage the light you freely gave,

no ocean deep can drown the debt we crave.

You gave your lives for freedom—pure and bright—

so we might walk unbowed beneath its light.

In every quiet street, in every child’s laugh,

your sacrifice ignites the future’s path.

We vow to keep the flame you kindled true,

to guard the fragile gift bestowed by you.

For every man and woman, brave and gone,

who gave their lives for freedom—we march on.

Rest now, dear warriors, in eternal grace,

your names forever carved in freedom’s face.

A solemn rhyme we offer, deep and true—

in grateful memory, we honor you.

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Mamdani: America’s Mordecai Moment by Debbie Harris

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Taking A Stand Against Evil, The Absolute Evil Of Islam

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Christian Poetry, Taking A Stand Against Evil

Dear Reader,

From the poet’s pen comes this unsparing warning. In an age when evil cloaks itself in the language of justice, silence is complicity. Zohran Mamdani is no mere politician—he is a fraud, a liar, and a vessel whose source is Satan, weaponizing “genocide” lies to stoke raw Jew-hatred in the world’s greatest Jewish city. This is not policy debate; it is incitement dressed as compassion.

History demands we recognize such moments. This is America’s Mordecai moment—the hour when good men and women must stand, name the threat, and refuse the darkness. New York and the nation ignore it at their peril.

The Poet

In Gotham’s iron canyons where liberty lies slain,

Stalks Zohran Mamdani, his soul steeped in Satan’s reign.

No ignorant bigot—this fraud, this polished liar,

A terrorist’s herald, breeding Jewish fire.

His source is Satan, venom distilled and precise,

He screams “genocide” lies to sharpen the knife.

Shielding Hamas butchers, their tunnels of rape and flame,

While cursing Israel’s name in Satan’s cursed game.

Face of purest hatred in the city Jews raised high,

He revives Protocols with a progressive sigh.

“Monsters” of AIPAC, “dark money” Jew-control,

Ancient blood libel reborn from his treacherous soul.

He’d arrest the defenders, roll out the red carpet for killers,

While synagogues cower and blood stains the pillars.

Fraud in keffiyeh, liar with law as his whore,

A demonic envoy stoking hate evermore.

This, America, is Mamdani—your Mordecai moment—arise!

Unmask this Satan’s servant with unblinking eyes.

No mercy for traitors who peddle pure ethnic death,

Confront Mamdani, expel his poisonous breath.

For evil feasts boldly when the righteous stay mute,

And nations collapse at the devil’s recruit.

New York, awaken—ere your soul it devours,

The last beacon of freedom lies in your final hours.

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Will Refresh the Weary and Satisfy the Faint: A Song of Restoration from Jeremiah’s Book of Consolation” by Debbie Harris

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Pleasing God Not Man, Royally Redeemed, salvation, Thanksgiving

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bible, Christian, Christian Poetry, christianity, faith, hope, Inspirational, jesus, jesus-christ, Poetry, Praise, Royally Redeemed, salvation, Thanksgiving, theology, worship

Poet’s Note to the Reader

Dear Reader,

Jeremiah 31 falls in the heart of what scholars call the “Book of Consolation” (chapters 30–33). The year is roughly 587–586 BC. Jerusalem has been besieged, the temple is about to burn, and the people of Judah are being dragged into Babylonian exile. Families are torn apart, homes reduced to rubble, and hope has almost died.

In the middle of this national heartbreak, God does something astonishing: He speaks comfort directly to the exhausted. The weary soul (nephesh ‘ayephah) and the sorrowful soul (nephesh dagah) are not abstract ideas—they represent real mothers who lost children in the siege, farmers whose fields were trampled by armies, and exiles trudging in chains toward a foreign land. Into their despair the Lord declares that He Himself will satiate (fill to the full) and replenish (restore what was drained).

The poem that follows draws its imagery from this exact moment in history—the desert heat of exile, the cracked reed of a broken people, the sudden river of divine mercy, and the promised return to a land that will bloom again. May these lines become cool water for any soul, ancient or modern, that arrives here feeling faint.

With hope,

The Poet

In exile’s dust where weary pilgrims groan,

Their feet like lead, their spirits cracked and dry,

The Lord descends in mercy’s silver tone,

A living stream beneath the burning sky.

He sees the soul that faints beneath the blaze,

A drooping reed scorched by the desert’s breath,

A hollow reed that holds no note of praise,

Yet whispers still its plea for life from death.

“I will refresh the weary,” rings His word,

Like dawn’s first light on frost-encrusted boughs;

“I will replenish every soul that’s blurred,”

And turn their ashes into blooming vows.

He pours cool rivers through the fevered vein,

Sweet manna dew on lips long parched with grief;

He lifts the fallen, clothes the bare in rain,

And weaves new strength through every trembling leaf.

The faint shall drink from fountains never spent,

Their cups o’erflow with wine of endless joy;

The weary soar on eagle wings unbent,

Above the valleys where old sorrows die.

No more the hollow night, the thorn-crowned day,

No more the chains that bind the hopeful heart;

He plants green gardens where the wastelands lay,

And bids the desert burst with heaven’s art.

O burdened traveler on the flint-sharp road,

Lift high your eyes—the Healer draweth nigh!

In His embrace your heavy yoke is stowed,

And rest descends like stars from mercy’s sky.

Thus speaks the Faithful, sovereign, strong, and true:

The weary find their rest, the faint arise,

Refreshed, replenished, made forever new—

Beneath the shelter of His healing skies.

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The True Vine on Samaria’s Hills: A Christ-Centered Reflection on God’s Promise to Israel in Jeremiah 31:5 by Debbie Harris

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Pleasing God Not Man, Royally Redeemed, salvation, Triumphant

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Dear Reader,

This poem flows from a deep love for the precious Jewish people—the apple of God’s eye and the beloved children of His covenant. Jeremiah 31:5 is the Lord’s tender promise to Israel: after exile and heartbreak, they will once again plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria and joyfully enjoy the fruit as their own. It is a picture of homecoming, dignity, security, and the faithful restoration of Jacob’s descendants.

The verses linger on the imagery of scarred hills turning green, weary hands planting with renewed hope, clusters swelling with life, and the sweet, ordinary-yet-sacred joy of tasting the harvest of their own labor. At the center stands Jesus, the True Vine, in whom these ancient promises find their richest fulfillment. The poem seeks to honor God’s everlasting love for Israel while rejoicing that every vine, every grape, and every feast ultimately points to the Redeemer who makes all things new.

May these words stir your heart to marvel at the faithfulness of God to His people and the beauty of His redemption plan.

With reverence and affection for Israel,

The Poet

On Samaria’s hills, once scarred by flame,

The Lord restores what sorrow overcame.

His people plant the vines with hopeful hands,

And feast upon the fruit of promised lands.

No more for strangers shall the harvest go;

The planters taste the sweetness they bestow.

Yet deeper still, beyond the earthly yield,

The True Vine rises — Christ, our Living Field.

His branches stretch like arms upon the Tree,

Where blood and mercy flowed for you and me.

The sap of grace through every tendril runs,

Awakening the dead to greet the sun.

Clusters swell like jewels in heaven’s light,

Heavy with the wine of pure delight.

Not common fruit, but covenantal store —

The blood of Calvary forevermore.

He walks the rows at dawn’s first golden ray,

The Bridegroom calling, “Abide in Me today.”

The lame now leap, the blind behold His face,

The remnant sings of everlasting grace.

From Ephraim’s heights the watchmen cry aloud,

“The King is come! Behold the Son of God!”

Exiles return, no longer lost or lone,

Grafted as one in Jesus on the throne.

O hills of joy, your terraces now shine

With leaves that whisper of the Cross divine.

Each grape a promise, ripened in His love,

A foretaste of the feast prepared above.

In Christ the Vine, our roots are deeply set;

In Him we bear the fruit we ne’er forget.

No sword divides, no exile steals away —

We feast on Him who is our endless Day.

Here ordinary meals become a feast

Of resurrection joy for greatest and least.

Planted, protected, satisfied in Him —

The True Vine fulfills Jeremiah’s hymn.

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In the World but Not of It: The Friction of Faithful Obedience and the Harbor of Christ’s Peace by Debbie Harris

21 Tuesday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Pleasing God Not Man, Royally Redeemed, salvation, Spiritual Warfare, Thanksgiving

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bible, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christian, Christian Poetry, faith, hope, Inpirational, Inspirational, jesus, jesus-christ, Poetry, Praise, Royally Redeemed, salvation, theology, worship

Dear Reader,

This poem was born in the tension every sincere follower of Christ eventually feels — the sense of moving against the current of the age. The world flows one direction; the cross pulls us another. There is real friction, real cost, and sometimes real loneliness in that obedience.

Yet in the very place of conflict, Jesus offers something the world cannot give: a deep, abiding peace that does not depend on circumstances. I wanted to paint this reality with living images — the glittering crowd, the backward pilgrim, the sparks of resistance, and the quiet flame of Christ burning within.

My prayer is that these lines will strengthen your heart to keep walking the narrow way with courage and hope. The road may be hard, but it is never walked alone. The Savior who calls you also carries you, and the peace He gives is stronger than every storm.

May you hear His voice afresh:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Grace and strength to you on the backward path,

The Poet

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

John 17:16

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 2:15-17

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Through velvet night the multitude advances,

A glittering flood of silk and shattered glances,

Chasing lanterns hung on mist and lies—

Broad road of self where every pleasure dies.

Yet one lone pilgrim presses contraflow,

Face lit by a cross that only saints may know.

Each step a wound, each breath a battle cry,

While heaven’s whisper thunders, “Follow, I.”

Society’s wide river, swift and loud,

Sweeps gilded barges toward the waiting shroud.

The pilgrim wades against the current’s flood,

A living scandal to the world’s false god.

The friction sparks—flames lick the pilgrim’s frame;

Derision howls like wolves that scent the slain.

Yet in the furnace of their scorn refined,

A still, small voice breathes peace the world can’t find.

For Christ, the Rock that cleaves the raging sea,

Has planted deep an anchor, firm and free.

No gale can loose the peace His wounds secured—

A crystal river where the Lamb is Lord.

Though friendships fracture like a brittle reed

And crowns of comfort tumble as they bleed,

The pilgrim lifts their eyes where thorn-crowned glory shines,

And tastes the joy no earthly chain confines.

O soul, arise and join this backward race—

The narrow path where Jesus sets the pace.

In conflict’s forge His image you shall bear,

And wear the peace that calms the tempests there.

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May We Look Upon All Sin as Our Enemy: A Call to Holy Vigilance by Debbie Harris

20 Monday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Royally Redeemed, salvation, Spiritual Warfare

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Christian, Christian Poetry, Inspirational, May We See Sin As Evil, Poetry, Praise, Repentance, scripture, Spiritual Warfare, Taking A Biblical Stand Against Evil, worship

A Note from the Poet

Dear Reader,

In a world that so often softens, excuses, or even celebrates what Scripture calls sin, this poem is a quiet call to holy clarity. May we never make peace with what seeks to destroy us. Sin is not a harmless flaw or a cultural quirk—it is the ancient enemy of the soul. Yet we do not fight alone. Greater is He who has already overcome it.

My prayer is that these lines stir in you a deeper vigilance, a fiercer love for holiness, and an abiding hope in the Victor who sets us free.

With grace and urgency,

The Poet

Genesis 4:7 — If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Psalm 119:11 — Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

James 1:14-15 — But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Peter 5:8 — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Ephesians 6:11-12 — Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Corinthians 15:57 — But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In twilight chambers of the restless soul,

May we look upon all sin as our enemy—

A silken thief that glides without a sound,

To steal the light no treasury can hold.

It wears the mask of pleasure, soft and bright,

Whispers “One taste only,” then devours the night.

It flatters pride with crowns of fool’s gold spun,

Then topples every throne when judgment comes.

Awake, O heart! Take up the watch and sword,

For sin is no companion, but a horde

That marches under banners falsely fair,

To bind the will in chains none else can wear.

Call it by its true name—traitor, blight,

Ancient serpent, father of the lie—

Meet it at the threshold, never yield,

With prayer’s keen blade and truth’s unyielding shield.

Within the fortress of the contrite breast,

Where holy fire burns and will finds rest,

We cast its shadows out, reject its claim,

And walk unscorched through refining flame.

For One has conquered it who broke its reign,

Rose from the grave and washed away its stain.

Lift up your eyes, let every battle cry

Ring clear: “All sin’s my foe—and in His name, I fly!”

Stand fast, beloved pilgrim, through the storm;

The victory is sealed, the crown transformed.

May we look upon all sin as our enemy—

And run at last in freedom’s boundless sea.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Searcher of every hidden chamber of the heart and faithful Keeper of our souls,

Open our eyes to see all sin for what it truly is—our relentless enemy, the silken thief, the ancient serpent, the destroyer of joy and peace.

Grant us holy clarity where the world offers excuses.

Awaken us from spiritual slumber.

Arm us with the sword of Your Word and the shield of faith.

Fill us afresh with the power of Your Holy Spirit,

that we may resist every temptation, reject every lie,

and stand firm when the battle rages.

Lead us daily to the cross where sin was defeated,

and to the empty tomb where victory was sealed.

May our lives become living proof of Your redeeming grace—

free, courageous, and wholly surrendered to You.

Let every battle cry rise as worship,

and every step forward become a testimony of Your triumph.

We ask this in the mighty, matchless name of Jesus Christ,

our Victor, our Redeemer, and our eternal King.

Amen.

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No Cheap Grace: The Blade of Law, the Balm of the Lamb, and Grace Both Fierce and Kind by Debbie Harris

19 Sunday Jul 2026

Posted by Debbie Harris in Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Pleasing God Not Man, Royally Redeemed, salvation

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bible, Biblical Truth, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christian Poetry, christianity, faith, god, Inpirational, Inspirational, jesus, Royally Redeemed, theology

Dear Reader,

From the heart of a poet who still believes the old truths have never lost their fire, I offer you this plea. In an age of soft words and comfortable sermons, where grace is too often cheapened into mere sentiment, my soul burns to speak plainly. The gospel is not a lullaby for the untroubled conscience, nor a gentle mist upon hardened ground. It is thunder and lightning, wound and healing, death and resurrection all at once.I write not to condemn the preacher, but to stir him — and every soul who listens — to proclaim the whole counsel of God. Let the Law do its piercing work. Let Sinai roar. Let the sinner see the abyss yawning beneath his feet. Only then can the Cross rise in all its terrible beauty, and grace shine forth as the fierce, costly, life-giving wonder it truly is.

May these lines find you unsettled, then comforted; convicted, then set free. May you never again settle for half the gospel when the full glory of Christ is offered.

With urgent affection and trembling hope,

The Poet

The Law Reveals Sin and Convicts the Heart


Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Galatians 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Humanity is Dead in Sin and Under Wrath


Ephesians 2:1-3
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world… and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Preaching Must Include Judgment and Repentance


Acts 20:26-27
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Luke 13:3 (Jesus)
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 24:25 (Paul before Felix)
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled…

The Law Precedes Grace


Galatians 3:22-24
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe… the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

True Grace is Costly and Seen at the Cross
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly…Romans 5:20-21
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

The Full Gospel – Both Wound and Balm


2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God… But we preach Christ crucified…

If grace alone is preached with silken tongue,
Like dew upon the unplowed, hardened sod,
How shall the dead in trespasses be wrung
From slumber, knowing not the wrath of God?

No mirror of the Law reveals the stain,
No terror shakes the fortress of the will;
The heart, unconvicted, hugs its chain,
And calls sweet poison what it craves to fill.

Yet Sinai’s thunder must precede the Dove—
The blade must pierce before the balm is poured.
Hell’s yawning gulf must open from above
To make the narrow path a soul’s reward.

For grace is not cheap alms for rebel hands,
Nor license veiled in sentimental lies;
It flames most radiant where a sinner stands
Beneath the cross, with opened, weeping eyes.

Preach sin in all its leprous, crimson hue,
Preach judgment’s fire that never shall abate;
Then lift the Lamb whose blood makes all things new—
And watch the broken rise, regenerate.

A precious soul is never truly won
By half the gospel softly spoken, mild.
It takes the whole: the wound, the spear, the Son—
Both holy terror and the mercy wild.

Thus preach the fullness, preacher, undiminished:
The bad news first, then glory unconfined.
So shall the ransomed sing, their chains relinquished,
And grace be grace indeed—both fierce and kind.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,


Thou who art holy and just, yet rich in mercy, grant us grace to speak Thy whole truth without softening. Awaken the dead in trespasses with the thunder of Thy law. Pierce every unconvicted heart with the blade of conviction, that no soul may hug its chains or call sweet poison what it craves. Then, O Lamb of God, lift high Thy cross before their weeping eyes. Let Thy precious blood cleanse the leprous stain and make grace shine forth—fierce and kind, costly and free. Raise up preachers who will not shun to declare all the counsel of God. Turn half-gospels into dust, and let the full gospel thunder and sing until the ransomed rise regenerate, their chains relinquished, and Thy name glorified.

In the name of the Son whose wound brings healing and whose mercy is wild, we pray.
Amen.

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