Tag Archives: Christ Centered Devotionals

If Scripture Ruled Our Every Thought and Deed by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

Posted by in Christian Poetry

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The poem, a Shakespearean sonnet, imagines a transformative scenario where all Christians’ thoughts and actions are governed solely by Scripture. Structured in 14 lines with three quatrains and a couplet, following an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, it begins by envisioning minds illuminated by biblical truth, free of wayward impulses, fostering harmony and dispelling conflict. It suggests that speech and behavior would mirror Christ’s love and grace, eliminating pride and anger, with love prevailing universally among believers. The Church, united and radiant, would become a compelling witness, potentially drawing the world to embrace Scripture’s life-giving power. The closing couplet acknowledges human frailty, yet affirms that such alignment with God’s Word would liberate the spirit, hinting at both the ideal’s power and its challenge.

If every Christian’s mind with Scripture glowed,
No errant whim to cloud the soul’s pure sight,
A tide of truth through hearts would freely flow,
And banish discord’s dark and bitter night.

Our words would echo Christ’s own gentle call,
Our deeds align with Heaven’s boundless grace,
No pride nor wrath could rise to make us fall,
For love would reign in every thought’s embrace.

The Church would stand, a beacon strong and sure,
Its unity a flame to pierce the gloom,
The world, once lost, might seek the Word so pure,
And find in us the life that conquers doom.

Yet frail we are, though bound by faith’s decree,
Still God’s own thoughts would set our spirits free.

When We Are Weak, Then Strong We Rise by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

Posted by in Christian Poetry

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The poem, a Shakespearean sonnet, explores the paradox of human weakness as the conduit for divine strength, drawing on the biblical imagery of Jesus as the Vine and believers as the branches (John 15:5). Structured in 14 lines—three quatrains and a couplet—with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, it begins by depicting our frailty, likening us to fragile branches dependent on the Savior’s life-giving power. It contrasts our natural decline with the flourishing that comes from abiding in Him. As human strength fails, God’s might flows through us, turning weakness into a channel for His unstoppable force. This reliance bears fruit and lifts us above despair, proving that vulnerability is where His power shines. The sonnet culminates in a triumphant couplet: though inherently weak, we rise victorious through Christ’s strength, claiming His victory as our own.

As branches frail, we cling unto the Vine,
Our Savior’s strength the root of all our days,
Apart from Him, we wither and decline,
Yet joined, we bloom through His eternal rays.

When human force deserts our trembling frame,
His lifeblood flows where mortal vigor cease,
Through every storm, we call upon His name,
And find in need His power’s sweet release.

No fruit we bear without His tender care,
Our weakness proves His might forever true,
The Vine upholds, exalts us past despair,
In Him, our fragile hearts are forged anew.

So, ever frail, we rise in Him alone,
His strength our crown, our victory His own.

Anathema Pronounced Upon the Wayward Sanctuary Forsaking Scriptures by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 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, Praise, Prayer, Royally Redeemed

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A house of stone once raised to praise His name,
Now stands accursed, a hollow, empty shell,
Its altars cold, its doctrines turned to shame,
Anathema, God’s voice doth sternly tell.
The scriptures lie, unopened, gathering dust,
Christ’s teachings scorned for fables wrought by men,
The flock misled, their faith betrayed to rust,
A sanctuary lost to prideful sin.
No light of grace illumes its darkened pews,
No truth resounds where once the Word held sway,
The cross defiled by those who would refuse,
To bow before the King in humble way.
Yet still God calls, though walls reject His plea,
“Return, or fall—forsaken thus by Me.”

How Can We Not Soar on Eagles’ Wings with Our Lord and King? by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

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

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This six-line poem begins with a rhetorical question, marveling at how one cannot help but rise on magnificent wings with Jesus Christ as King nearby. It then portrays His love as a force that soars through life’s challenges, offering limitless grace as a beacon. The poem concludes with a direct challenge to the soul to actively rise in faith, promising an eternal expanse of divine skies. It’s a compact, uplifting celebration of spiritual elevation through Christ’s presence and power.

How can we not rise, on wings so grand,
With Jesus Christ, our King, at hand?
Through storms and skies, His love takes flight,
A boundless grace, our guiding light,
Take flight, O soul, in faith ascend,
His boundless skies shall never end.

From Ancient Signs to Modern Peaks: The Eternal Reach of Belief by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 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

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The sonnet challenges the notion that miracles are confined to history, asserting that God’s power remains active today for those with faith. It recalls past wonders—like parted seas and healed lives—as evidence of divine might that persists unchanged. The poem emphasizes that believers can still command mountains to move, as Jesus taught, and see the impossible yield to steadfast trust. It celebrates the continuity of God’s miracles, urging the faithful to embrace this living power and witness its effects in the present.

Why banish wonders to the days of old,
When God, unchanging, holds His power still?
For those who trust, His marvels yet unfold,
Through faith, we bend the mountains to His will.
The past recounts the seas that split in twain,
The blind made whole, the dead restored to breath,
Yet now, as then, His might does not wane,
For belief unlocks the chains of death.
“Be gone!” we cry to peaks that block our way,
And stone must yield to words of steadfast heart,
The Lord, who spoke the stars to light the day,
Still bids the impossible depart.
So let us claim the miracles anew,
For God’s great works shine forth to faithful view.

Meditations on the Transience of Riches and the Eternity of Grace by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

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

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The sonnet urges the wealthy to reject arrogance and reliance on their uncertain riches, which can vanish like the wind. Instead, it encourages them to place their hope in God, who generously provides all things for true enjoyment. It contrasts the fleeting nature of material wealth with the enduring treasure of faith, calling the rich to humility and trust in divine grace as the source of lasting fulfillment.

The rich who tread this fleeting world below,
With coffers full, are bid to shun their pride,
For gold, though bright, doth shift like winds that blow,
And in its gleam, no lasting hope abide.
Let not their hearts exalt in hoarded store,
Nor cling to wealth, that fickle friend of chance,
But turn their gaze to Him who giveth more,
Whose boundless grace doth earthly gifts enhance.
For God, in love, provides our every need,
A fount of joy that never runs to dust,
And bids us sow with kind and humble deed,
To find in Him a treasure we can trust.
So let the rich, with meekness as their crown,
Hold fast to faith, where truest wealth is found.

Beneath the Gilded Frame of Wealth and Pride by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

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

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This sonnet, “Beneath the Gilded Frame of Wealth and Pride,” reflects on the arrival of a wealthy man in a community, adorned with dazzling riches and commanding attention. It questions whether one should be swayed by his material splendor or look deeper to his true character. While wealth may shine brightly, it is fleeting, and pride, not money, often blocks spiritual fulfillment. The sonnet urges judgment based not on transient treasures but on acts of grace, concluding that a person’s worth lies beyond what they possess—humble deeds endure where pride and boldness fade.

If in your midst a rich man should appear,
With gold and silks to dazzle every eye,
His voice commanding all who linger near,
His wealth a tower reaching to the sky—
Would you, in awe, his every word obey,
Or see the heart beneath the gilded frame?
For riches gleam, yet often fade away,
While humble souls may bear a truer name.
The camel threads no needle’s narrow gate,
Yet pride, not coin, may bar the heav’nly door—
So judge him not by treasure’s fleeting weight,
But by the grace his actions may restore.
A man is more than what his hands can hold,
For humble deeds outlast the proud and bold.

Lest the Martyrs Fade from Memory (Hebrews 11, Revelation 6:9-11) by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 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

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The sonnet “Lest the Martyrs Fade from Memory (Hebrews 11, Revelation 6:9-11)” is a Shakespearean poem (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme, iambic pentameter) that honors the enduring legacy of faith’s martyrs, past and present, while lamenting the risk of their being forgotten, inspired by Hebrews 11 (the “hall of faith”) and Revelation 6:9-11 (martyrs under the altar). The first quatrain recalls the blood of ancient martyrs and those slain today, their voices forming a timeless chorus of courage. The second quatrain contrasts historical persecutions—flames and lions—with modern trials of steel and scorn, affirming that both shine under heaven’s watch, their spirits upheld eternally. The third quatrain notes the world’s forgetfulness, yet celebrates the martyrs’ ongoing sacrifice as a defiant, radiant band across time. The final couplet urges remembrance of their undying call to stand, proclaiming their victorious shine in heaven’s eternal land. Written without first-person references, the sonnet blends reflection with triumph, uniting past and present martyrs in a call to honor their steadfast faith.

The blood of old lies deep within the ground,
Yet still today brave souls for faith are slain,
Their voices past and present yet resound,
A chorus bold through time’s unbroken chain.
The ancients faced the flame, the lion’s jaw,
While now the steel and scorn cut just as deep,
Both eras shine where heaven’s gaze foresaw,
Their spirits rise where sacred vigils keep.
The world forgets, its haste obscures their stand,
From martyrs old to those this hour confess,
Their sacrifice ascends, a timeless band,
Defies the dark with light that none repress.
Let ages hear their undying call to stand,
Faith’s martyrs shine in heaven’s eternal land!

For I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, and That He Shall Stand at the Latter Day Upon the Earth I by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 2025

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

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The sonnet, titled “For I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, and That He Shall Stand at the Latter Day Upon the Earth,” is a triumphant celebration of Christ’s eternal and victorious reign, inspired by Job 19:25: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (KJV). Written in Shakespearean form with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and iambic pentameter, it exalts the Savior’s unshakable sovereignty. The first quatrain establishes His enduring throne and invincible might. The second quatrain highlights His triumphant stand on the latter day, where creation bows and His glory shines undimmed. The third quatrain extends His rule beyond time, affirming that “His reign will be o’er heaven and earth sublime,” uniting both realms under His dominion. The final couplet calls all creation to proclaim His victory, presenting Christ as the sovereign King over all. Though the verse uses first person, the sonnet shifts to third person to universally proclaim His reign, fulfilling the victorious tone rooted in Job’s declaration.

The Savior lives, His throne stands ever sure,
A King whose might no shadow dares defy,
His voice awakens all with strength so pure,
His reign shall tower where the heavens lie.
Upon the latter day He claims His place,
The mountains kneel, the winds His praise proclaim,
No force can dim the splendor of His face,
Eternal light attends His holy name.
The stars exalt His rule beyond all time,
The earth rejoices in His boundless sway,
His reign will be o’er heaven and earth sublime,
And holds dominion in unending day.
Let all creation sound His triumph’s call,
Christ reigns victorious, sovereign over all!

The Single Shines, Though Judged, with Holy Heart So Bright, Serving God in Pure Delight by Debbie Harris

23 Sunday Mar 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

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The sonnet “The Single Shines, Though Judged, with Heart So Bright, Serving God in Pure Delight” explores the experience of single individuals in a church often centered on families. It portrays married couples and their children filling the pews with harmonious praise, while singles, though present, face subtle misjudgments—assumptions they lack fulfillment or reject love. Yet, drawing from 1 Corinthians 7:32-34, where Paul writes, “The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord… the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit,” the poem celebrates singleness as a joyful, unbound state. Free from earthly ties, singles shine with a radiant, delighted heart, boldly serving God and praising Him with unshackled devotion, despite the church’s focus on family life.

In hallowed halls where kith and kin unite,
The wedded throng with children raise their song,
Their prayers ascend in harmony so bright,
Yet single souls amid them still belong.
The flock may muse, with murmurs soft and sly,
That lone hearts miss the joys of love’s embrace,
Their merry choice, by error’s tale passed by,
Seen dim or dull through folly’s fleeting gaze.
But Paul proclaimed the unbound heart’s delight,
No earthly tie to dim its radiant flame,
In freedom bold, to God’s own will so light,
They soar unyoked, His glory to acclaim.
Though churches cheer the brood with warm accord,
The single shines, a joy to praise the Lord.