The Loving Shepherd

The love is patient and is kind—
It lifts me up most tenderly;
It never want shall let me find—
That Christ my Shepherd bears for me.

He boasts my dullness not against,
He heatedly me bears no ill,
But leads my soul and keeps it fenc’d
In pastures green by waters still.

Restoring me, he never lords
It o’er, nor putteth me to shame,
But leads me in what path accords
With righteousness, for his great name.

Because in vales of death and woe
Thou emptied’st self to bring me near,
When thence with thee thou bidd’st me go,
There is no evil I will fear.

I love thy rod, for ne’er ’tis brought
Against me sharply as thy foe;
I love thy staff, that’s never thought
Mine endless strayings’ sums to know.

Thou lovest not iniquity
But cleansest me from ev’ry fault;
The flesh, the world, the Enemy
Shall find no pow’r this grace to halt.

Thy truth rejoiceth me within:
‘Tis wine that cheers to overflow,
‘Tis oil that makes my face to shine,
‘Tis bread, my heart in strength to grow.

(Ps 104:15)

You bear, believe, hope, and endure
Through all my weak or sinful ways;
Thy goodness and thy mercy, sure,
Shall me pursue for all my days.

Thy love shall never fail nor fall!
O Shepherd, in thine arms thy sheep
With kindness bear unto thy hall
In steadfast love to ever keep.

—12/13/25. On 1 Corinthians 13 and Psalm 23. To “O Waly Waly.”

Timorousness

Jesus, neath thy splintered cross
May I reckon lesser loss?
Ev’ry dream, and hope, and dare—
Ev’ry trial, fear, and care—
Anything that comes from me
Is surpassed by knowing thee.

(Phil 3:7-8)

Jesus, on thy nails again
May I come and hang my sin?
As thou bring’st thy light to bear,
More and more the dark I fear.
Purge all filth and stain from me;
Let me cleanness find in thee.

(Rom 7:21-25; 1 John 1:9)

Jesus, in thine empty tomb
Might there be for me now room?
Wrap me, weak and full of fear,
In thy grace; inter me there;
And in power raise thou me
Unto confidence in thee.

(Col 2:12; 2 Cor 13:4)

Jesus, at thy feet above
May I lay all other love?
Winnow all my chaff from me;
What is good, secure in thee,
That it may direct my gaze
To its perfect Source in praise.

(Isa 28:27-29; Jam 1:16-17)

Jesus, ere thy rainbowed throne
May I cast whatever crown
Thou think’st fit to set on me
For the good begun by thee
And which thou still workest, too,
Till thou lift me, whole, to you?

(Rev 4:9-11; Phil 1:6)

—12/9/25

Peace

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm xlvi. 11.

Behold the desolations of the Lord,
How war is ended by his mighty Word:
He breaks the bows and shatters all the spears;
With burning eye the chariots he sears,
And mid the wrack and ruin on his hill
And all the smoking wreckage on its climb,
His whisper soughs above the flames: “Be still,
And know that I am God, and I will be
Revered among all nations; I will be
Exalted in the earth for all of time.”
The Lord of hosts with us has sworn to dwell;
The God of Jacob is our citadel.

—12/2/25. On Psalm 46:8-11.

Insomnia II

If wander my vision away from the cross,
I am lost.
If ever my gaze tear away from the Son,
I am done.
If Jesus should exit the frame of my view,
I am through.

He listens and answers his little one’s prayers,
For he cares.
Bestowing each blessing the lovingest would,
He is good.
Whatever I need to remain at his side,
He’ll provide.

For ev’ry temptation that flies in my face,
He has grace.
If discipline’s needed to teach me to live,
He will give.
In every trial he calls me to share,
He is there.

To the wisdom that orders my life here and now
I will bow.
To the glory that waits where my Savior has gone
I press on.
To the throne of the Father and Spirit and Son
I will run.

—11/30/25

Meditations: November 2025

Thank you that your grace in me balances
The debt I owe to mercy.

The apostle prayed for strength
To comprehend the love of God:
Kindness so rich it must be borne.
If we receive suffering from the Lord,
Shall we not also endure blessing?

(Eph 3:18; Job 2:10; Jer 33:9; 2 Cor 4:17)