Sonnet: We Palms Bore Witness: Had the People Not Worshipped, Stones and Jewels Would Cry Aloud by Debbie Harris

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n this sonnet, titled “We Palms Bore Witness: Had the People Not Worshipped, Stones and Jewels Would Cry Aloud”, the palm branches narrate their experience during the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Scattered across the path, they form a green carpet beneath the feet of a humble king riding a colt, surrounded by a crowd shouting hosannas. The palms sense the fragility of human worship, recognizing that had the people not praised, the rocks would have erupted in rugged cries, and the gemstones buried deep in the earth would have shimmered with their own radiant song. From their unique vantage point, the palms testify to the unshakable truth that creation itself—stones and jewels alike—stands ready to proclaim the king’s glory if human voices falter, underscoring his triumph through love and humility.

We trembled, green, beneath the sun’s warm gaze,
Strewn soft across the path where he would tread,
A king on colt, in peace, through cheering maze,
Our fronds a carpet for his crown unshed.
We heard the shouts, hosannas split the air,
Yet felt a hush might fall, a silence dire—
If voices stilled, the rocks would then declare,
Their rugged cries would spark a holy fire.
And deeper yet, where earth hides jeweled veins,
The gemstones pulsed with light no man could claim,
Their song, a gleam through subterranean reigns,
Would rise to hail the king of humble fame.
We palms bore witness to this truth profound:
All earth will praise when human tongues are bound.

Should Men Be Still, the Rocks and Gemstones of the Depths Will Shout Hosanna by Debbie Harris

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The sonnet portrays Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, where crowds spread palms and cheer with hosannas as he rides a colt. It highlights the profound truth that if the people were silenced, the very rocks would cry out in praise, their rugged voices proclaiming his kingship. Beneath the earth, gemstones—hidden in darkness—join this celebration, humming a radiant hymn from their fiery depths. The poem weaves together the exuberance of the crowd, the readiness of creation to testify, and the eternal significance of a humble king who triumphs through love and sacrifice, culminating in a unified chorus of all creation.

The palms lay strewn upon the dusty way,
A king astride a colt in humble state,
The throng with hosannas rends the day,
Their voices rise to crown him at the gate.
Yet should their lips fall still, the stones would sing,
A chorus born of earth’s unyielding might,
The rocks would shout, their rugged anthems ring,
Proclaiming truth beneath the sun’s broad light.
And deeper still, where shadows cradle time,
The gemstones gleam with fire no eye can see,
Their facets hum a subterranean rhyme,
A hymn of praise from depths eternally.
So all creation joins the glad refrain,
A king triumphant, yet for love once slain.

A Sonnet from the Donkey Bearing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Through Jerusalem’s Gates by Debbie Harris

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The sonnet is narrated by the donkey carrying Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, fully aware that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The donkey feels honored yet humbled to bear Christ, noting the cross-shaped mark on its back as both a physical trait and a symbol of the coming crucifixion. Amid the crowd’s jubilant “Hosanna” cries and waving palms, the donkey senses the deeper significance of Jesus’ gentle presence, foreseeing His path to sacrifice. It expresses pride in its role, treading faithfully to support the divine plan.

I bear the weight of glory on my frame,
A King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, astride,
His presence humbles earth, yet lifts my name,
A colt unworthy, graced by Heaven’s pride.
Upon my back, the cross of shadow lies,
A mark of fur, a sign of what’s to be,
I feel His reign in every step that flies,
Through palms and praise, to dark Gethsemane.
The crowd exults, their voices weave a hymn,
Hosanna echoes, loud and pure and grand,
Yet I, the beast, know peace resides in Him,
Who holds all time within His gentle hand.
With every hoof, I tread His sacred way,
To bear the Christ, my burden and my day.

A Sonnet Commemorating the Triumphal Yet Humble Procession of the Messiah Through Jerusalem’s Gates on the Sacred Day of Palms by Debbie Harris

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The sonnet celebrates Palm Sunday, depicting Jesus’ triumphal yet humble entry into Jerusalem. It portrays the joyful scene of crowds waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna,” welcoming their King on a colt. The poem highlights the contrast between this moment of praise and the looming sacrifice of the cross, emphasizing Christ’s empathy and divine love. It concludes with a call to kneel in reverence, honoring Him as Savior and Lord.

Upon this morn of palms, the air is sweet,
With voices raised in joy, Hosanna rings,
Through streets of stone where royal footsteps meet,
A humble King on colt, the earth now sings.
The branches wave, a verdant canopy,
To cloak the One who bears our sins’ deep weight,
His gentle gaze, a boundless empathy,
Foretells the cross, the thorns, the sealed fate.
O fleeting triumph, garlands green and gold,
A prelude soft to shadows yet unseen,
In every cheer, a prophecy retold,
Of love divine through suffering serene.
So let us kneel, with palms and hearts outpoured,
To hail the Christ, our Savior and our Lord.

Sonnet: Do Not Let the Sun Go Down Upon Your Wrath Unresolved by Debbie Harris

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The poem, “Do Not Let the Sun Go Down Upon Your Wrath Unresolved,” urges readers to manage anger before nightfall, inspired by Ephesians 4:26. It begins with wrath flaring under the day’s light, tempting the heart to cling to bitterness, but calls for its release through a still spirit as Scripture advises. It warns against letting anger persist into dusk, acknowledging God’s love and wrath as He oversees all, with His justice surpassing human anger. The sonnet encourages forgiveness, repentance, and prayer before sunset, relying on Christ’s mercy to soften hardened hearts. It concludes by advocating that wrath fade with the day, finding peace in Christ before night settles.

The spark of wrath ignites beneath the sun,
A flame that tempts the heart to harbor ill,
Yet Scripture bids us pause ere day is done,
To quench its heat within a spirit still.

Let not the dusk entomb a bitter sting,
Nor shadows cloak what Christ would bid release,
For God, in love and wrath, sees everything—
His justice reigns, our anger must decrease.

Before the light retreats beyond the skies,
Forgive, repent, and lay the grudge aside,
In prayer, surrender what the soul denies,
His mercy flows where hardened hearts abide.

So heed the call, let wrath with daylight fade,
In Christ, find peace before the night is made.

Sonnet: The God of Love and Wrath by Debbie Harris

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The poem, “The God of Love and Wrath,” portrays God’s dual nature as both loving and wrathful. It highlights His boundless mercy, seen in sending Christ to save the lost, alongside His daily anger toward the wicked, as sin stirs His righteous fury. While His justice burns against those who reject Him, His love offers grace and a call to repentance. The sonnet concludes by affirming that God’s love and wrath coexist, defining Him as a King who both redeems and judges without end.

A God of love, His mercy flows unbound,
Yet wrath ignites where wickedness takes root,
Each day His gaze surveys the sin-strewn ground,
His righteous anger burns, a fierce pursuit.

For love He sent His Son to bear the cost,
A grace to call the lost from dark’s embrace,
But those who scorn His law, in pride embossed,
Shall meet the fury written on His face.

His heart delights in justice, pure and whole,
No sin escapes the fire of His disdain,
Yet tender is His call to every soul,
To turn from evil, cleansed by holy rain.

Both love and wrath in Him forever blend,
A King who saves, whose judgment knows no end.

Sonnet: Christ-Centered Discipline Over Wrath by Debbie Harris

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The poem, “Christ-Centered Discipline Over Wrath,” examines the challenge of managing emotions through a Christ-centered perspective. It begins with the heart overtaken by rage, risking a drift from Christ’s path, yet His peace offers control. It emphasizes standing for righteousness and acting justly, while restraining wrath and leaving judgment to God, who declares, “Vengeance is Mine.” Through discipline, grace, and prayer, Christ’s love overcomes wrath, leading the spirit to rest. Throughout, it urges a steadfast stand for truth and righteousness, resting in Jesus Christ’s just reign.

he heart ignites, a storm of rage unfurls,
Emotions surge, a flood to sweep astray,
Yet Christ commands a peace that gently swirls,
For wrath unchecked obscures His holy way.

One stands for right, with courage firm and true,
To do what’s just, a duty pure and plain,
The wrathful heart leaves judgment to God’s view—
“Vengeance is Mine,” the Lord alone shall reign.

Through discipline, His grace restrains the tide,
A cross to bear, emotions brought to heel,
In prayer, the spirit learns to rest, abide,
His love restores what pride would seek to seal.

Deny wrath’s hold, for truth and right contend,
Let Jesus reign, His justice shall descend.

Sonnet: Convicted, Broken, and Reborn in Christ’s Grace by Debbie Harris

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The poem, “Convicted, Broken, and Reborn in Christ’s Grace,” explores a spiritual journey from despair to redemption. It starts with a soul ensnared and shattered by sin or circumstance, lost and blind until mercy intervenes. Some are trapped by their own choices, others by unseen burdens, but the Holy Spirit’s conviction exposes their guilt and pride. The call to deny oneself and take up the cross emerges, leading to a shared crucifixion with Christ that ushers in new life. Through conviction and brokenness, the soul is mended and born again into a personal relationship with Christ, fully redeemed by His grace.

Busted to broken, caught in life’s harsh snare,
A soul adrift, by shame or fracture torn,
One stumbles blind, the heart laid cold and bare,
Till mercy heals what sin had overworn.

Some forge their chains, by choice or folly bound,
Others crack beneath a weight unknown,
The Spirit’s conviction stirs the soul around,
Revealing guilt where pride had once been grown.

“Let him deny himself,” the call resounds,
A cross to bear, the flesh to cast aside,
Crucified with Christ, new life abounds—
Born anew, where living waters bide.

Convicted, broken, mended by His call,
Reborn in Christ’s grace, He redeems it all.

The Gain of Godliness Over the Perilous Pursuit of Prosperity’s Fleeting Riches by Debbie Harris

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The poem contrasts the perilous pursuit of wealth by prosperity preachers, where the love of money becomes a root of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), with the true gain of godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). Their greed traps souls in ruin, while a heart satisfied with simple provision finds wealth in Christ. The rich are urged to trust God, not uncertain riches, and be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6:17-19), securing eternal life.

They chase the wind with eager hands,
Prosperity’s priests, with fervent pleas,
“More is yours, just seek the gold,”
But roots of greed pierce hearts with ease.

Their treasure heaps, their souls grow thin,
A trap concealed in glittering piles,
Contentment fades, the fight consumes,
While ruin waits in wealth’s false smiles.

“Great gain is ours,” the Spirit sings,
In godliness, not gleaming hoard,
A heart at rest, with food and cloth,
Finds riches true in Christ the Lord.

The rich, He calls to lift their gaze,
Not trust in coins that swift decay,
But pour out good, a living stream,
To grasp the life that lasts always.

The Path of Truth Through Christ Alone Guiding the Born-Again Soul Beyond the Crooked Roads of Prosperity’s Falsehoods by Debbie Harris

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The poem contrasts the deceptive, winding roads of prosperity teachings, luring followers with wealth only to leave them lost, with Christ as the true way, truth, and life (John 14:6). Their greedy paths crumble, while Jesus’ straight road, free of cost, leads through love to the born-again soul (John 3:3), arriving at an eternal, boundless home.

They pave their roads with shining lures,
Prosperity’s guides, with honeyed tones,
“This way to riches, step right up,”
But their trails twist, all jagged stones.

Their signs point wide, their tolls run high,
A maze of greed where shadows fall,
Feet stumble, lost in hollow turns,
No end but dust beyond the call.

“I am the way,” Christ firmly stands,
“The truth, the life, through Me alone,”
No bribe to pass, no wealth to hoard,
A straight road carved by love’s own throne.

Their lanes erode, their maps decay,
While Jesus’ path cuts through the strife,
One walk with Him, the soul arrives,
A home eternal, boundless life.