Why Seek Ye The Living Among the Dead? He is Not Here, But Is Risen by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , ,

The sonnet depicts the resurrection of Jesus Christ, describing mourners finding an empty tomb at dawn, the stone removed, and angels proclaiming His victory over death. Their message, like thunder, announces that Christ has risen, urging saints to rejoice in His triumph.

The dawn unleashed its blaze of golden hue,
As mourners crept to greet the sealed-up stone,
Yet lo, the rock was hurled from mortal view,
The tomb stood void, its captive overlthrown.
Then angels clad in lightning’s royal flame,
With voices ringing like a victor’s call,
Cried out, “Why seek ye life where death lays claim?
He is not here—He’s risen over all!”
Their words, a thunder rolling through the skies,
Proclaimed the King who burst the grave’s dark hold,
A truth to wake the earth with glad surprise,
His might unfurled in glory’s tale retold.
O shout, ye saints, let triumph’s anthem steer,
The Lord prevails, rejoice—He is not here!

Light in the Dark: Modern Acts of Overcoming Evil with Good by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet illustrates three modern instances of overcoming evil with good. First, a community counters hateful graffiti by painting a vibrant, loving mural with children’s help, transforming malice into beauty. Second, a friend combats rumors and gossip with honest, kind words, restoring honor where lies sought to harm. Third, a nurse responds to a bombing by tending to the wounded, bringing hope amid terror’s chaos. Each act is punctuated by “overcoming evil with good,” emphasizing the triumph of grace. The poem concludes with a challenge: “Choose thou the good, transform the blight,” urging readers to actively choose goodness to change evil’s effects, highlighting daily grace as a force against darkness.

When hate graffitied walls with venom’s spite,
A town repainted love in colors grand,
With children’s hands, they turned the dark to light,
A mural bloomed where malice once had planned—
Overcoming evil with good.
When rumors spread, with gossip’s cruel intent,
A friend stood firm, their words both kind and true,
They silenced lies with honor’s soft ascent—
Overcoming evil with good.
When bombs ripped peace from city streets in two,
A nurse rushed in to mend each broken soul,
Her hands brought hope where terror’s shadow grew—
Overcoming evil with good.
So daily grace defeats the darkest fight,
Choose thou the good, transform the blight.

The Triumph of Grace: Overcoming Evil with Christ’s Boundless Good by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet explores how Jesus overcame evil with good during His passion and crucifixion. It begins with His merciful response to Judas’ betrayal, calling him “friend” despite the treachery. It then depicts His forgiveness toward those who crowned Him with thorns and crucified Him, offering prayer instead of curses as His blood redeemed the world. The poem highlights His compassion toward the repentant thief on the cross, granting him paradise amid mockery. Finally, it celebrates His resurrection as the ultimate triumph of grace, dispelling evil’s darkness with divine light and erasing sin through boundless love. The sonnet portrays Christ’s responses as acts of goodness that conquer evil at every turn.

When Judas sold his Lord for silver’s gleam,
He met no wrath, but “Friend,” a gentle call,
A voice that pierced the dark with mercy’s beam,
And turned betrayal’s sting to love for all.
When thorns were pressed, and scornful hands struck sore,
He prayed, “Forgive,” from wood of sacrifice,
His blood a balm where hatred’s rivers pour,
A gift to mend the world at such a price.
Though thieves reviled beside His dying frame,
To one repentant soul He gave a crown,
A paradise from cross’s bitter shame,
Where good arose and evil’s might went down.
So evil’s night He conquered with His day,
By grace alone, He swept our sins away.

The Eternal Alleluia: Christ’s Victory on Easter Morn: An Easter Hymn by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

This six-verse Easter hymn with a recurring refrain celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a triumphant victory over death. It begins with the imagery of the empty tomb and the dawn of grace, proclaiming Christ’s rise with a voice of triumph. The verses trace His journey from sacrifice on the cross to eternal reign, highlighting themes of divine love, redemption, and hope. Angels, heaven, and the saints join in a cosmic celebration of the risen Lord, whose victory fulfills prophecy and opens the gates of heaven. The refrain, “Alleluia, sing with might, Christ has conquered death’s dark night,” reinforces the joyous proclamation of His eternal glory, culminating in a vision of His triumph reigning forevermore.

Verse 1
O dawn of grace, the stone’s removed,
The tomb lies bare, its night reproved,
A voice of triumph splits the air,
The Lord is risen, beyond compare.

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Verse 2
The shroud of sorrow cast away,
The angels gleam in bright array,
His wounds of love, a victor’s sign,
Eternal life through grace divine.

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Verse 3
From cross to crown, the path He trod,
A sacrifice to please our God,
Now blooms the earth with joy restored,
Our Savior reigns forevermore.

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Verse 4
O exquisite light, forever shine,
Through endless ages, hope divine,
The gates of heaven open wide,
In Christ, we live, though once we died.

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Verse 5
The heavens quake, the stars rejoice,
A chorus swells with sacred voice,
The Lamb once slain now reigns supreme,
Fulfilling every prophet’s dream.

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Verse 6
Through ages long, His name shall ring,
A song of life the saints shall sing,
The cross, once cursed, now stands adored,
His triumph reigns forevermore!

Refrain
Alleluia, sing with might,
Christ has conquered death’s dark night,
Radiant hope in glory born,
Hail the King of Easter morn!

Oh Wayward Child Who Chased Delight So Frail, Laud Him Whose Praise Outshines the Earthly Veil by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , ,

A Christian pursues the fleeting praise of mortals—wreaths and applause—over God’s grace, drawn to earthly courts and the throng’s esteem. The chase costs them dear: their soul grows cold, lost in pride’s shadows, trading divine light for hollow glamour. Yet a soft, divine voice cuts through the noise, calling them to seek God’s unrivaled love and true praise. The sonnet ends with a challenge: why chase frail human delight? Turn, praise God, and dwell in His sight, where His praise outshines all.

A Christian sought the wreaths that mortals weave,
Their loud applause to gild the passing hour,
Through earthly courts the heart would gladly cleave,
And spurn the grace that blooms in heaven’s power.
The pews would ring with praise for deeds well wrought,
The throng’s esteem a balm to fleeting care,
Yet in that chase, the soul grew cold, distraught,
And lost the light for shadows debonair.
But soft, a voice beyond the din arose,
A call divine through clamor’s gilded haze,
To seek the One whose love no rival knows,
And find in Him the fount of truest praise.
Oh, wayward child, why chase their frail delight?
Turn, laud thy God, and dwell within His sight.

They Craved the Fleeting Crowns of Earthly Fame, But Christ’s Free Grace Ignites the Soul’s True Flame by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , ,

The sonnet opens with people chasing human praise—fleeting cheers and mortal crowns—while ignoring the divine seed in their hearts. Vanity’s siren song drowns out God’s quiet call, leading them to stumble in pride’s shadows, swapping eternal light for temporary stone. Yet God’s love waits, unshaken by the noise, ready to lift souls beyond earthly limits to true glory. The clincher? A bold call: ditch the crowd’s acclaim, bow to Christ, repent, and embrace His freely given grace—a gift that ignites the soul’s true flame, outshining all.

Amid the throng, they bask in fleeting cheers,
A crown of words from mortal lips bestowed,
Their hearts, entwined with vanity, for years,
Forget the seed divine that once they sowed.
The praise of all, a siren’s luring call,
Doth drown the whisper soft from heaven’s throne,
In shadows cast by pride, they stumble, fall,
And trade eternal light for fleeting stone.
Yet still the Voice above in silence waits,
A love unswayed by clamor’s hollow din,
To lift the soul beyond these earthly gates,
Where glory true, not ours, shall reign within.
Oh, fickle heart, seek not the crowd’s acclaim,
Bow to Christ, repent, His grace freely given.

A Hymnal Sonnet to the Countless Names of the Messiah and Redeemer by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , ,

The sonnet celebrates the manifold titles of Jesus Christ, portraying Him as a protector, rock, and fortress through vivid names like “Alpha and Omega,” “Everlasting Rock,” “Fortress Unassailable,” “Holy Redeemer,” “Sacrificial Lamb,” “Strong Deliverer,” “Prince of Peace,” “Appointed Messiah,” “Living Cornerstone,” “Great High Priest,” and “Light of the World.” It culminates in a majestic couplet, naming Him “Jesus Christ, the King in Majesty Arrayed,” who freely offers salvation, described as “His Free Salvation Gift, Our Ransom Paid,” emphasizing His royal grace and redemptive power.

The Alpha and Omega, First and Last,
Our Faithful Shepherd Guiding Lost and Worn,
The Everlasting Rock That Holds Us Fast,
A Fortress Unassailable, Reborn.

The Holy Redeemer Cleansing Every Stain,
Our Sacrificial Lamb of Calvary’s Hill,
The Strong Deliverer Breaking Every Chain,
The Prince of Peace Whose Voice the Storm Stills.

Appointed Messiah, Lord of Heaven’s Throne,
The Living Cornerstone of God’s Design,
Our Great High Priest Who Claims Us as His Own,
The Light of the World in Glory Divine.

Jesus Christ, the King in Majesty Arrayed,
His Free Salvation Gift, Our Ransom Paid.

Five Sonnets of the Paschal Mystery: Reflections on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , ,

  1. “The Cross and the Dawn: A Meditation on the Sorrowful Crucifixion and Triumphant Resurrection of Christ”
    This sonnet portrays the crucifixion’s grim brutality—Christ’s suffering on the cross with nails and splinters—followed by the triumphant dawn of His resurrection. It contrasts death’s darkness with the light of redemption, emphasizing His victory with the refrain “From death’s dark veil, He rose to reign.”
  2. “The Empty Tomb: Mary Magdalene’s Discovery of the Risen Lord in the Quiet of Easter Morning”
    Focused on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the empty tomb, this poem captures the awe and hope of Easter morning. It describes the rolled-away stone, folded linen, and the realization of Christ’s resurrection, highlighting the power that broke death’s hold and birthed new life.
  3. “Crown of Thorns, Crown of Glory: The Journey from Christ’s Humiliation to His Eternal Exaltation”
    This sonnet traces Christ’s journey from the mocking crown of thorns during His passion to His glorified reign after resurrection. It moves through His crucifixion, burial, and triumphant rise, celebrating His transformation from shame to eternal kingship.
  4. “The Lamb’s Redemption: The Sacrificial Love of Jesus Fulfilled in His Victory Over Death”
    Centered on Christ as the sacrificial Lamb, this poem links His death on the cross to the Passover, portraying His blood as atonement for sin. It culminates in His resurrection, where the risen Shepherd leads His flock, fulfilling redemption’s promise.
  5. “Gethsemane to Galilee: Tracing Christ’s Path from the Garden of Agony to the Shores of Resurrection”
    This sonnet follows Christ from His anguished prayer in Gethsemane, through His crucifixion and burial, to His post-resurrection appearance by Galilee’s shores. It weaves human suffering with divine triumph, ending in the joy of His living presence among His disciples.

Together, these sonnets weave a narrative of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, reflecting the Paschal Mystery’s depth and glory.

1. The Cross and the Dawn

The hill stood stark, a shadowed frame,
Where love took on a mortal name.
The wood groaned low beneath His weight,
Splinters bore the sins of hate.
Nails bit deep, the sky turned grim,
Yet heaven sang a silent hymn—
From death’s dark veil, He rose to reign.

The crimson flowed, the earth did quake,
A thief’s last breath, a spear’s cruel rake.
Night draped the world in mourning’s hue,
While angels waited, still and true.
Then dawn awoke with golden fire,
A stone displaced, a soul’s desire—
From death’s dark veil, He rose to reign.

No tomb could hold the Light of men,
No shroud could bind what lives again.
The cross, once cruel, now stands redeemed,
A bridge where grace and glory streamed.
Through endless days, we’ll sing His worth,
The Dawn who conquered death’s rebirth—
From death’s dark veil, He rose to reign.


2. The Empty Tomb

The air was cool, the dawn was near,
A mourner came with trembling fear.
The stone, so vast, now rolled aside,
A hollow cave where hope had died.
She paused—her breath caught in the dew,
The scent of myrrh still lingered through.

No body lay where once He slept,
The linen folded, softly kept.
A whisper stirred the silence vast,
“The Lord is risen—free at last.”
Her heart, once stone, began to race,
She saw His life in empty space.

What power broke the seal of night?
What hand restored the morning’s light?
The tomb, a shell, now sings His praise,
A testament through endless days.
Death’s grip was loosed, its victory torn,
For Christ, the King, that day was born.


3. Crown of Thorns, Crown of Glory

They wove a crown with twisted vine,
A cruel jest for the Divine.
Thorns pierced deep, His brow did bleed,
A king they mocked in bitter need.
The weight of scorn, He bore alone,
A suffering Lamb upon His throne.

The nails were driven, shadows fell,
A cry rang out—redemption’s knell.
Beneath the cross, the faithful wept,
While in the tomb, His form was kept.
Three days of silence, cold and still,
Obeyed the Father’s sovereign will.

Now see the crown that shines afar,
No thorns remain, no earthly scar.
A diadem of radiant gold,
The risen King, foretold of old.
From shame to splendor, death to life,
He reigns above all pain and strife—
The Crown of Glory, evermore.


4. The Lamb’s Redemption

A Lamb was led through ancient dust,
To bear the weight of human lust.
His blood was spilled, a scarlet sign,
Fulfilling law with love divine.
The Passover, once shadows cast,
In Him became the feast at last.

Upon the hill, the altar stood,
A cross of rough and rugged wood.
No blemish marked His gentle frame,
Yet for our guilt, He took the blame.
The earth received that sacred flood,
Atonement sealed in holy blood.

But lo, the Lamb no longer lies,
He lives, He reigns beyond the skies!
The fleece of death could not contain,
The Shepherd risen to sustain.
Through gates of pearl, His flock He leads,
The Lamb redeemed our every need.


5. Gethsemane to Galilee

In olive groves, the night was deep,
He knelt where mortal fears would creep.
The cup was bitter, shadows long,
Yet still He sang redemption’s song.
His sweat like blood upon the ground,
A Savior’s love in silence found.

The cross arose, the dawn was lost,
His life the ransom, paid the cost.
Within the tomb, the stillness grew,
As heaven watched what hell would do.
But stone gave way, the grave was rent,
A triumph death could not prevent.

By Galilee, the waves were still,
He stood alive on yonder hill.
The fishers saw, their hearts aflame,
The risen Lord who called their name.
From garden’s grief to shore’s embrace,
Christ reigns in everlasting grace.

Easter’s Tapestry: Threads of Victory Woven Through Time by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , ,

The sonnet depicts Easter as the pinnacle of a divine tapestry, where a golden thread of mercy links humanity’s fall in Eden to the triumph at Calvary. Through time’s loom, marked by thorns, blood, and prophetic promises, God’s plan unfolds, culminating in Christ’s resurrection. The cross becomes a pivotal stitch, unraveling death’s power, while the rolled-away stone reveals a blooming garden, symbolizing restored life. The poem concludes by inviting reflection on this radiant tapestry, where Christ’s love illuminates every thread, binding history in eternal victory

From Eden’s fall to Calvary’s steep climb,
A thread of gold binds broken years in one,
Through shadowed ages, mercy’s hand sublime,
Weaves triumph where the curse had once begun.
The loom of time, with thorns and blood entwined,
Holds fast the promise whispered long ago,
Each prophet’s cry, each sacrifice designed,
In Easter’s dawn finds victory’s bright glow.
The cross, a stitch in heaven’s vast array,
Unravels death with resurrection’s might,
A garden blooms where stone was rolled away,
And sin’s dark warp yields to eternal light.
So gaze upon this tapestry divine,
Where Christ’s great love through every thread doth shine.

The Stone Rolled Back: A Hymn to the Unconquered Light by Debbie Harris

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet portrays the stone sealing Christ’s tomb as death’s barrier, which surrenders to the power of Jesus Christ, the world’s true Light. As it rolls away, His resurrection dispels darkness with a holy gleam, transforming the tomb into a gateway of life. The earth quakes as Jesus, the radiant Lord, rises, overcoming death to illuminate humanity with His free gift of salvation. This gift is offered to all who repent, believe, and receive Him as personal Lord and Savior, with His resurrected hands extending eternal hope. The poem ends with a call to sing joyfully of this triumph, heralding Him as the Living Light who redeems the repentant.

The stone, a sentinel of death’s cold reign,
Yields to the pulse of Christ, the world’s true Light,
A seal unbroken by the earth’s disdain,
Rolls back to free our Savior’s boundless might.
No shadowed crypt could chain the King of grace,
His rising rends the gloom with holy gleam,
The tomb’s grim mouth, once set in stern embrace,
Now gapes to show the Life no dark can deem.
The earth awoke, its trembled heart set free,
As Jesus shines, the Light no night withstands,
A radiant Lord, through death’s decree breaks He,
To lift the lost with resurrected hands.
So sing we now, with voices bold and bright,
The stone is gone—behold our Living Light!