<CENTER> <B><meta name="keywords" content="christian poetry, roger smalling, missions, missionary poetry"> <meta name="description" content="Christian poetry my missionary Roger Smalling. "> POETRY BY ROGER SMALLING<BR> </B> <P> <BR> <CENTER> <B>BAPTIZE ME<BR> </B><BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> Spirit of the living God,<BR> Fill my mouth today<BR> And make my tongue a healing sword,<BR> A saving fire, I pray. <P> Let the gazes from my eyes<BR> Be like a drawing beam<BR> That pulls the anxious, seeking soul<BR> To Him who can redeem. <P> Let the pleading deep within<BR> Move out into my hands<BR> And signal to a sinful soul<BR> Of He who breaks the bands. <P> Through my mouth and eyes and hands<BR> Let suffering mankind see.<BR> Oh, mighty Spirit of our God,<BR> Come and baptize me. <CENTER> <B>BIRDS<BR> <BR> </B><BR> <BR> </CENTER> What a striking, charming, clever thought<BR> To give beauty to birds which know it not,<BR> So that the mind of man can see<BR> The ways of Divine activity! <P> Why does a peacock behave so proud,<BR> Spreading his quills like a shimmering cloud?<BR> Does he know the meaning of vanity?<BR> Or is he showing God's marvelous artisty? <P> The sparrow travels from morning to night,<BR> Finding its food in frantic flight.<BR> A symbol for all of mankind to see<BR> Our Heavenly Father's fidelity. <P> The gorgeous bird of paradise...<BR> His flowing tail a strange device<BR> For luring his reluctant mate<BR> And God's handiwork to demonstrate. <P> For whom is the robin's melody meant?<BR> Or is it a meaningless message sent?<BR> Are melodies something that birds understand,<BR> Or were they meant for the ears of man? <P> What a striking, charming, clever thought<BR> To give beauty to birds which know it not,<BR> So that the mind of man can see<BR> The ways of Divine activity! <BR> <CENTER> <B>THE GREATEST OF GLORIES<BR> <BR> </B><BR> <BR> </CENTER> The greatest of the glories, what shall it be<BR> Through endless ages of eternity?<BR> To gaze upon a distant star<BR> And wonders of creation from afar? <P> The greatest of glories, what shall it be<BR> Through endless ages of eternity?<BR> The awesome power of a raging storm<BR> Or the wisdom shown in a snowflake's form? <P> The greatest of the glories, what shall it be<BR> Through endless ages of eternity?<BR> Perhaps the mem'ry of Calvary's cross<BR> Or of the day my chains of sin fell off? <P> The greatest of the glories, what shall it be<BR> Through endless ages of eternity?<BR> The greatest of them all to me will seem<BR> Just to walk along with Him. <BR> <CENTER> <U>Haikus</U><BR> Roger Smalling<BR> <BR> Glistening ice-knives<BR> on wintry-clad willow boughs,<BR> tinkling fresh and cool<BR> <BR> <BR> Crystalline Jesus<BR> on rich man's marble mantel.<BR> Is He happy there?<BR> <BR> <BR> Autumn amber grass<BR> waves greeting to passersby.<BR> Lonely highway flows.<BR> <BR> <BR> A droning preacher<BR> on a warm summer sunday.<BR> My purgatory.<BR> <BR> </CENTER> <BR> <CENTER> HIM<BR> </CENTER> <BR> By Roger Smalling <P> One day I'll see that Holy face,<BR> Full of glory, power, and grace.<BR> I'll gaze upon that thorn-crowned head<BR> Which ages past by thistles bled. <P> I'll peer into those flaming eyes<BR> Which once had worn a thin disguise.<BR> A thin disguise of flesh and blood<BR> To hide the mighty power of God. <P> On that day I'll fall before Him,<BR> Honor giving, to adore Him;<BR> Fall before Him as one dead,<BR> Then lifted up by hands that bled. <P> For on His thigh and on His vesture,<BR> Name all heaven follows after,<BR> Striking fear in Satan's hordes,<BR> "The King of Kings and Lord of Lords." <CENTER> <B>HOW I FAILED TO WRITE THIS POEM</B><BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> <BR> I thought to write a poem<BR> On the holiness of God<BR> And rise above the lofty heights<BR> Where angel feet have trod. <P> I sat down at the table<BR> With a prayer upon my lip,<BR> But noticed disappointedly<BR> A broken pencil tip. <P> So I took another,<BR> But it was broken too.<BR> I therefore took a fountain pen<BR> And tried to write anew. <P> Then just at the moment <BR> That I began to think,<BR> I noticed that the fountain pen<BR> Had just run out of ink. <P> Thereupon I heard a voice,<BR> "A noble thought, my son.<BR> But I ought to tell you<BR> 'Tis a work already done." <P> Surprised I dropped my pen and asked,<BR> "Whatever could that mean?<BR> Could it be that there's more truth<BR> That yet I have not seen?" <P> Then I knew the answer<BR> And it ended all my strife;<BR> It's a work already written <BR> In the life of Jesus Christ. <P> None can e'er improve on that,<BR> What more can mortals say?<BR> I saw the pen upon the floor,<BR> I looked, and let it lay. <CENTER> <B>HOW<BR> <BR> </B><BR> <BR> </CENTER> How can a King be so lowly and meek<BR> And a Morning Star in the depths of hell?<BR> How can a Judge utter words so sweet,<BR> And a Holy One do a sinner so well? <P> How can a symbol of beauty be<BR> In the trough of a stable born?<BR> And how can a Babe bend a wise man's knee<BR> And make him give praise to the Lord? <P> How could a God whose word is the Law<BR> Become the servant of men?<BR> And how could a man in whom is no flaw<BR> Of sinners become a friend? <P> How can The Way take the place of the Lost<BR> And the Truth pay the price of my lies?<BR> And how can The Life by His death on the Cross<BR> Render the foolish wise? <P> Magnificent truths I don't understand,<BR> But convinced forever they're true,<BR> for they're ever so old and ever so grand<BR> And yet they're forever new. <P> How can a truth its own opposite be?<BR> Only the Savior can tell.<BR> And I'm sure He'll explain in Eternity,<BR> So I'll trust Him and love Him until. <CENTER> <B>The Mighty Word Of God</B><BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> A sword that cuts me to the heart<BR> And pierces joints and marrow,<BR> But giving everlasting life<BR> And never bringing sorrow. <P> A living bread on which to feed<BR> And suited to my taste;<BR> It's more than I can ever need<BR> And yet there's none to waste. <P> It's water I can deeply drink<BR> And never thirst again.<BR> Yet still I always come for more;<BR> A spring that cannot end. <P> I love this mighty Word of God, <BR> My sword and bread and water,<BR> My source of life and food and drink<BR> Today and ever after. <CENTER> <B>Ode To Holiness</B><BR> </CENTER> <P> Tell me, Holiness,<BR> Elusive goal, <BR> Why flee you at my approach?<BR> Then seem to recede to infinity, <BR> Until I feel my reproach? <P> Tell me, Holiness, <BR> This paradox,<BR> Why those the farthest from you,<BR> Seem to feel no lack of your presence,<BR> While those the nearest do? <P> Tell me, Holiness, <BR> This mystery,<BR> How you let the unwittingly wise,<BR> Know in their souls instinctively,<BR> That you are the highest prize? <P> Oh at last, when I have you in my grasp,<BR> By whatever means God employs,<BR> You to my thirsting bosom I'll clasp,<BR> And drink unspeakable joys. <CENTER> <B>ODE TO THE SPIRIT</B><BR> <BR> </CENTER> <P> Spirit of the living God,<BR> How I lift my heart to Thee.<BR> How I love thy Name to laud,<BR> And riches of Thy grace to see. <P> Calming Spirit, peaceful Dove;<BR> Guiding by a silent sigh;<BR> Spreading wide the Father's love,<BR> With tender care and watchful eye. <P> What grace it is His only aim,<BR> Never to exalt Himself.<BR> Never seeking His own fame,<BR> But Jesus' Name above all else. <P> How I love thy Name to laud,<BR> And riches of Thy grace to see.<BR> Spirit of the living God,<BR> How I lift my heart to Thee. <CENTER> THE SECRET PLACE<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> At times when I come to pray, O Lord,<BR> I find I have little to say.<BR> There's something that can't be voiced in a word,<BR> A feeling that speech won't portray. <P> It's that secret something between us, Lord,<BR> That only we can share;<BR> As though we had a universe<BR> And only we were there. <P> A universe within the soul<BR> Where only we can be.<BR> And the fountain of peace has its start<BR> In that spot of eternity. <P> A place unbound by time and space<BR> Where it's really needless to pray;<BR> For we have a secret hiding place<BR> Where loved ones need nothing to say. <CENTER> <B>THE SILENT WATCHER</B><BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> Out on the lawn on a wintry day<BR> Five little sparrows hopped at play.<BR> A piece of bread had been spied from the air,<BR> And they swooped upon their "fortunate" fare. <P> No one to thank,<BR> No one to show,<BR> Just a lucky find, you know. <P> A silent watcher from a curtain-blind<BR> Got exquisite pleasure from their fortunate find.<BR> And in a while he'll throw out some more<BR> And delight in their gladness, as often before. <P> No one to thank, <BR> No one to show,<BR> Just a lucky find, you know. <P> Such is caring, <BR> Such is love,<BR> Like our Heavenly Father above. <CENTER> <B>WHO</B><BR> <BR> <BR> </CENTER> <BR> Who shall be crowned the King of Kings?<BR> To whom shall honor flow?<BR> Who shall be called the Lord of Lords?<BR> But He who is Servant of all? <P> Before Whose feet shall kingdoms bow<BR> And deserts quench their thirst?<BR> But He who declared "I am meek and low"<BR> And "let the children come first"? <P> To whom gave God the Rod of Iron<BR> The heathen lands to smite?<BR> The One who for them saw Hades' fire,<BR> And labored in prayer in the night. <P> To whom shall the name of Shepherd be given<BR> But He who became a Lamb?<BR> And who shall hold the keys of Heaven,<BR> But One called "The Son of Man"? <CENTER> <B>Trinity</B><BR> <BR> </CENTER> <BR> Father! Oh, Security!<BR> Calming restful soothing sound<BR> That says in such serenity, <BR> In His bosom peace is found. <P> Father! Sacrificial love,<BR> Infinite and measureless,<BR> Moving Him His Son to give;<BR> Firm but full of tenderness. <P> Father! Majesty and power.<BR> The whole creation testifies,<BR> The mighty God from hour to hour<BR> Controls, directs and beautifies. <P> Father! Oh, Security! <P> Jesus! Holiness of God,<BR> In form of human flesh prtrayed,<BR> From whose mouth eternal words<BR> Of precious truth and grace displayed. <P> Jesus! Ever-living Lord,<BR> counselor and Prince of Peace,<BR> In Him is wisdom-treasure stored;<BR> His sole concern is other's needs. <P> Jesus! Every knee shall bow,<BR> To God shall every tongue confess,<BR> He alone is Lord of lords,<BR> From Him, salvation's endlessness. <P> Jesus! Holiness of God! <P> Spirit! Oh, the Breath of God,<BR> Singing solace to the soul,<BR> Whispering through the living Word,<BR> And setting searching hearts aglow. <P> Spirit! Oh, the gentle voice,<BR> Wooing to the holy way.<BR> Making clear the better choice<BR> With willingness to Christ obey. <P> Spirit! Leading sons of God<BR> To higher heights of heavenly praise;<BR> By bursts of supernatural love<BR> His grace and healing power displays. <P> Spirit! Oh, the breath of God! Eternal Bonds <P> (To Dianne, By Roger Smalling)<BR> <BR> Distance cannot dim eternal bonds,<BR> For time and space eternal bonds transcend.<BR> And timeless feelings clearly flow beyond,<BR> For naught on earth does love like ours depend. <P> And when the grey of age our locks adorn,<BR> And pain of years our feeble bodies bear,<BR> Our love shall always be as youthful sworn,<BR> And each behold the other ever fair. <P> <BR> TIME PASSED <P> I spied old man time<BR> passing by the agéd oak<BR> near the manse. <P> He paused,<BR> snatched a dying autumn leaf,<BR> turned it this way and that...<BR> pensive. <P> Released, the amber leaf<BR> tumbled in the cool breeze,<BR> 'till lost with a thousand others<BR> in the anonymity<BR> of spent purpose. <P> I peered to see<BR> what time would do next...<BR> but he was gone. <P> <BR> <B> </b> </center> </BODY> </HTML>