Tag Archives: bible

Seasons Under Christ: A Sestina On Ecclesiastes 3:1 by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

“Seasons Under Christ: A Sestina on Ecclesiastes 3:1” reflects Ecclesiastes 3:1’s wisdom that every moment has its season under God’s will. Through six end-words—time, season, will, Jesus Christ, life, earth—the sestina weaves humanity’s universal cycles: birth and death, joy and sorrow. Each stanza portrays life’s rhythms, from earth’s dust to seasons’ bloom, guided by Jesus Christ, whose love and cross illuminate divine timing. The poem avoids progress, embracing balance, as storms yield to peace and shadows to hope. The envoi affirms Christ aligns all time, seasons shape every life, and earth echoes God’s timeless will, inviting all souls to trust in the sacred rhythm of existence.

In every hour, there dawns a sacred time,
A rhythm woven through the shifting season,
Each moment held within God’s boundless will.
All souls find peace in grace through Jesus Christ,
Who walks beside the fleeting spark of life,
And treads the paths that circle round the earth.

From dust to dust, the cycles of the earth
Return, as seasons answer heaven’s time.
The breath of birth ignites a mortal life,
Yet none may flee the turning of the season.
Through every age, redemption shines in Jesus Christ,
The light that bows before the Father’s will.

No heart can sway the tides of heaven’s will,
Though storms may scar the meadows of the earth.
The name of love endures through Jesus Christ,
Who carves for each a moment in its time.
In joy or grief, there blooms another season,
And every soul is bound to fleeting life.

The tears of loss, the laughter shaping life,
Are held within the balance of His will.
The spring retreats, yet yields a new season,
As seeds take root upon the patient earth.
Each dawn, each dusk, submits to holy time,
Yet all are led by mercy’s Jesus Christ.

When shadows cloak the labors of a season,
The hand of God restores the spark of life.
No path is lost to love through Jesus Christ,
Whose cross reflects the heart of heaven’s will.
The fields of toil, the stones upon the earth,
Shall heed the silent rhythm of His time.

So let us trust the measure of His time,
And greet the peace that crowns each mortal season.
From shore to shore, the bounty of the earth
Shall sing the hope that kindles every life.
In all we are, there rests a sacred will,
Fulfilled in love through Savior, Jesus Christ.

O Jesus Christ, align our every time,
As season turns to season shaping life,
So earth may echo heaven’s timeless will.

The Shepherd’s Rest: A Villanelle on Psalm 23 by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“The Shepherd’s Rest: A Villanelle on Psalm 23” draws from Psalm 23:1-2, celebrating God as the shepherd who guides all souls to peace. The villanelle’s repeating refrains evoke a universal journey through life’s trials—want, fear, and shadows—where God’s presence ensures no lack. Green pastures and still waters symbolize divine rest, freely offered to humanity across ages. Despite weariness or danger, His rod, staff, and mercy lead to refuge, affirming that every heart can find solace in His unchanging promise. The poem underscores trust and comfort, inviting all to abide in the shepherd’s care, reflecting the shared longing for divine guidance.

The Lord, my shepherd, bids my soul to rest,
Through weary lands where want may cast its shade,
In pastures green, His peace shall be my guest.

No lack I know, though trials may infest,
His rod and staff uphold the path He made—
The Lord, my shepherd, bids my soul to rest.

By waters still, my fears are all repressed,
His gentle hand has every debt repaid—
In pastures green, His peace shall be my guest.

When shadows fall, His mercy is expressed,
No heart need wander, lost or sore afraid—
The Lord, my shepherd, bids my soul to rest.

All souls may find the refuge He professed,
In every age, His promise shall not fade—
In pastures green, His peace shall be my guest.

O humankind, by grace forever blessed,
Walk where His love has living waters laid—
The Lord, my shepherd, bids my soul to rest,
In pastures green, His peace shall be my guest.

Peace Amid the Storm: Reflections on John 16:33 by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Peace Amid the Storm: Reflections on John 16:33″ is a lyrical poem inspired by John 16:33 (KJV), where Jesus says, “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.” It portrays humanity’s universal struggles—strife, pain, and sorrow—as a stormy world that threatens to overwhelm the heart. Yet, Christ’s voice offers peace, promising victory over tribulation (John 16:33). The poem highlights resilience through His triumph, calming fear and granting love that steadies all souls. It echoes related scriptures, like Philippians 4:7 (“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”), by emphasizing divine peace guarding humanity through trials, urging collective hope in Christ’s overcoming power.

In waves of strife where mortal hearts do sink,
The world’s sharp thorns entwine with bitter pain;
Yet speaks a voice beyond the tempest’s brink:
In Me, find peace, though trials still remain.

No storm too fierce, no sorrow’s weight too vast,
For He who triumphed bids us hold to cheer;
His victory stands when all our hopes are cast,
And calms the soul with love that casts out fear.

O humankind, through grief and toil abide,
His peace shall guard where Christ has overcome.

Sonnet: Based on Isaiah 40:31Title: “Wings of Hope: A Meditation on Isaiah’s Promise by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet “Wings of Hope: A Meditation on Isaiah’s Promise” draws from Isaiah 40:31, celebrating God’s promise to renew strength for those who wait on Him. It portrays humanity’s universal struggles—weariness, burdens, and trials—that weigh down the heart and soul. Through faith, the speaker finds divine upliftment, soaring like eagles, running without fatigue, and walking without fainting, as God’s power banishes fear and guides toward hope. The poem emphasizes resilience and trust, culminating in a call to all souls to embrace God’s grace, which restores strength and ensures enduring hope, reflecting the universal longing for divine support.

When burdens press the heart with heavy load,
And weary steps grow faint beneath the sun,
A whisper calls from heaven’s bright abode:
Wait on the Lord, and strength shall be begun.

Though trials bind the soul in chains of care,
His promise lifts the spirit to the skies;
Like eagles, hearts on wings of faith shall fare,
And soar where mortal weakness never flies.

No race too long, no path too rough to roam,
For those who trust His everlasting might;
Through valleys deep, His hand shall lead them home,
And banish fear beneath His boundless light.

O wait, ye souls, and find His grace anew,
Your strength restored, your hope forever true.

Heaven’s Stay for Earth’s Striving Days: A Poetic Journey Through Psalm 121:2 by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When sickness grips my frame with fever’s chain,
And shadows veil the hope within my sight,
I seek the strength to rise above my pain—
My help cometh from the Lord, my light.

When loss doth rend my heart with bitter grief,
And empty days stretch far as eyes can see,
I find in faith a solace, though so brief—
My help cometh from the Lord, to me.

When foes arise to mock my striving day,
Their words like arrows pierce my weary soul,
Yet still I stand, upheld by heaven’s stay—
My help cometh from the Lord, my lord.

Through every trial, His hand shall e’er sustain,
The Maker’s love my refuge shall remain.

When sickness grips my frame with fever’s chain,
And shadows veil the hope within my sight,
I seek the strength to rise above my pain—
My help cometh from the Lord, my light.

When loss doth rend my heart with bitter grief,
And empty days stretch far as eyes can see,
I find in faith a solace, though so brief—
My help cometh from the Lord, to me.

When foes arise to mock my striving day,
Their words like arrows pierce my weary soul,
Yet still I stand, upheld by heaven’s stay—
My help cometh from the Lord, my lord.

Through every trial, His hand shall e’er sustain,
The Maker’s love my refuge shall remain.

My Help Comes From the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth: A Meditation on Psalm 121:2 by Debbie Harris

12 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet reflects on the divine help and protection described in Psalm 121:2, portraying God as the Creator of heaven and earth who offers unwavering support. It expresses trust in God’s power to sustain the speaker through challenges, with imagery of nature—mountains, stars, and oceans—emphasizing His sovereignty. The poem highlights themes of faith, hope, and resilience, affirming that no fear or foe can overcome the speaker because of God’s eternal care and strength.

From whence doth come mine aid in darkest hour?
The Lord, who wrought the heavens and the earth,
Hath set my soul beneath His boundless pow’r,
And granted me a hope of sacred birth.
No storm can shake the ground where He doth stand,
Nor stars above elude His tender care;
The mountains bow before His mighty hand,
And oceans sing His glory ev’rywhere.
When shadows fall and foes my heart assail,
His watchful eye doth guard me through the night.
No fear shall triumph, nor my courage fail,
For He sustains me with eternal light.
O Maker, Thou my refuge e’er shalt be,
My help, my strength, my endless victory.

The Ungodly Practice of Poisoning the Well of Trust with Slanderous Deceit by Debbie Harris

11 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet The Ungodly Practice of Poisoning the Well of Trust with Slanderous Deceit condemns the sinful act of slandering a person’s reputation through lies, likening it to poisoning a communal well of trust. It portrays deceitful words as a destructive force that obscures truth, fosters doubt, and replaces love with scorn. Drawing on Christ’s example, who endured false accusations with grace, the poem urges readers to reject slander, protect the innocent, and uphold truth. It calls for a servant-hearted commitment to speak honestly, ensuring no one’s good name is tainted by malice.

To poison wells of trust with whispered lies,
And taint a soul’s good name with venom’d breath,
Is sin that clouds the heart where honor dies,
And sows a field where only malice wreathes.
A tongue unchecked, with subtle slander’s art,
Can dim the light of truth in others’ eyes.
It builds a cage of doubt to trap the heart,
Where once was love, now scorn and fear arise.

O Christ, whose name was marred by false disdain,
You bore the weight of lies with silent grace.
Your servant love calls us to cleanse the stain,
And guard the pure from slander’s foul embrace.
Beware the tongue that taints the innocent’s fame—
Speak truth, and let no well bear poison’s shame.

The Tragedy Of Betrayed Confidence by Debbie Harris

11 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet “The Tragedy of Betrayed Confidence” portrays the profound pain of trust violated when a shared confidence is exposed. It depicts the sacred act of opening one’s heart as a tender gift, shattered by betrayal’s deceit, which spreads shame and isolates the betrayed. Contrasting this, Christ’s servant heart exemplifies perfect guardianship of trust, urging all to protect the vulnerable space where hearts are bared. The poem concludes by calling everyone to honor the trust placed in them, preventing the retreat of wounded hearts and upholding the sanctity of human connection.

A whispered truth, in tender trust bestowed,
Enfolds the heart where sacred thoughts dwell.
Yet when that bond, by careless lips, is mowed,
It casts the soul where bitter sorrows swell.
No blade cuts deeper than the friend’s deceit,
Who trades a confidence for fleeting gain.
The wound of words, once private, now replete,
Spreads shame abroad and leaves a lasting stain.

O Christ, who bore our griefs in silent grace,
Your servant heart kept every trust secure.
You call us still to shield the fragile space
Where souls unveil the heart’s most sacred core.
When confidence is broken, hearts retreat—
Lead all to honor hearts that trust complete.

The Tragedy Of Misused Power by Debbie Harris

11 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christian Poetry, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Royally Redeemed

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The sonnet “The Tragedy of Misused Power” explores the harm caused when people misuse their influence for selfish ends, betraying trust and hurting others. It highlights how power, meant for good, can sow pain when misdirected, yet contrasts this with Christ’s example of servant leadership. Through His selfless love and sacrifice, He shows the ideal of using power to uplift others. The sonnet concludes by challenging all to embrace this model, leading with a servant’s heart to avoid the tragedy of misused power.

When mortal hands seize power’s fleeting sway,
They bend its force to self, and trust betray.
No tyrant’s throne, yet still the heart’s own greed
Can wound the souls that cry in silent need.
A whispered choice, a strength to harm or mend,
May break the weak or bid the lonely mend.
What might have bloomed to bless, when turned astray,
Sows bitter tears where love should light the way.

Yet Christ, the servant, shows the truer call—
His power knelt to lift the low, not fall.
No pride He sought, but gave Himself to bear
The cross of care for all who linger there.
O fleeting might, misused, we drift apart—
Rise, all, to lead with Christ’s own servant heart.

Triad of Praise: Sonnets Celebrating Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords by Debbie Harris

11 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Bible Centered Poetry, Christ Centered Devotionals, Christ-centered poetry, Christian Poetry, Exalting Jesus Christ, Holy Bible, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Royally Redeemed

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

This series of three sonnets—Shakespearean, Petrarchan, and Spenserian—celebrates the Christian calling to live in devotion to Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Each poem reflects the joyful purpose of Christians to honor Jesus through praise, worship, and faithful living, inspired by His boundless grace and eternal reign. United as a “Triad of Praise,” the sonnets weave distinct poetic forms to express one truth: that Jesus’ name, sacrifice, and lordship ignite hearts to sing His glory forever. From triumphant proclamation to reflective adoration and enduring anthem, these verses invite readers to join the ceaseless celebration of the Savior who guides and redeems.

The Triumph of Christ (Shakespearean)

This Shakespearean sonnet proclaims that Christians live to celebrate Jesus, whose grace and resurrection inspire unending praise.

O Jesus Christ, whose name doth hearts inspire,
Thy boundless grace restores the soul’s lost way.
No storm can quench thy everlasting fire,
Nor night obscure the brilliance of thy day.
From manger low to cross of bitter pain,
Thy love did bear the weight of mortal sin.
Yet death could not thy holy might restrain,
For thou didst rise, eternal life to win.
Thy mercy flows where human hopes may fade,
In every tear, thy comfort softly lies.
Thy Word, a lamp, through darkness doth invade,
To guide the weary unto paradise.
So let us sing, with voices lifted high,
Thy name alone shall reign till earth and sky.

The Heart of Praise (Petrarchan)

This Petrarchan sonnet reflects on Christians’ calling to celebrate Jesus, finding joy in His mercy and eternal promise.

The Christian soul doth ever seek to raise,
Sweet Jesus’ name in songs of fervent love.
No earthly woe can still the heart’s true praise,
That soars to Him who reigns in light above.
His cross, His grace, our spirits’ constant guide,
Doth bid us live to glorify His throne.
In every deed, His truth shall e’er abide,
For Christ’s own heart hath claimed us as His own.
Yet deeper still, His mercy calls us near,
To celebrate with faith that never wanes.
Through trials sore, His love casts out all fear,
And binds our lives to worship’s sacred chains.
So Christians sing, their purpose ever clear,
To laud their Lord through all their earthly years.

The Life of Worship (Spenserian)

This Spenserian sonnet weaves a vision of Christians living to celebrate Jesus, their devotion flowing through time.


All Christians live to celebrate their King,
Whose holy name doth spark the soul’s delight.
With joyful hearts, His praises they do sing,
And walk by faith within His radiant light.
No darkness quells the fire of their sight,
For Jesus’ love doth ever lead them on.
Through every age, they lift His name in might,
Proclaiming grace from dawn to setting sun.
His cross’s truth shall never be undone,
It calls the faithful to a life of song.
In word and deed, their worship is begun,
To honor Him whose mercy makes them strong.
So let their lives forever testify,
That Christ alone is praised till earth and sky.