Fear (Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson)

FEAR

My friend went on ahead

And left me here

To walk my last, long mile

Alone; and Fear

Stepped to his vacant place

And said that he

Would walk with me, and my

Companion be.

And so he dogged my steps

In this dark vale

Where death's wings shadow me.

My face grew pale,

My spirit quailed. I called

One precious Name

In my distress, and lo,

That loved One came!

He closely holds my hand,

This tender Friend,

Nor will He let me go

Until the end.

And as He walks with me,

Daily more dear,

I find that trust and love

Have cast out Fear.

Martha Snell Nicholson

(From A Daily Visit To Ivory Palaces)

Romans 5:1-5  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:17-19  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

Today - Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

Today

Help me to place in Thy hands today
The thing that my heart most fears—
Tomorrow’s anguish and bitter pain,
Tomorrow’s sorrows and tears;

The long, long years, and the loneliness,
The silence, the vacant chair . . .
The grief of today is enough, dear Lord,
But tomorrow’s I cannot bear!

Ease Thou my burden and lighten my load
Till only today is left.
Soft comes His voice in the hush of my soul,
“O broken heart, and bereft,

“My grace is sufficient for thee today,
Pillow upon My breast
Thy weary head, in My circling arms
Today thou shalt find rest.

“Today I can meet thine every need,
Today My love can fill
The echoing chambers of thine heart.
Then rest thee, and be still.”

Be still and trust . . . tomorrow’s tears
May all be wiped away
By God Himself . . . O grieving heart,
Thy Lord may come today!

~Martha Snell Nicholson~

Eternity - Freeverse Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

This is one of two poems that offer a comforting look back (to the day a loved one went home to Heaven) and forward to spending eternity with the Lord ourselves. The first one is: Since Yesterday.

Eternity

I stood with God on the edge of the world, and my hand was in His hand. I looked down the road of the past, as it stretched away in the dim distance, till it was shrouded in the mists of time. And I knew it had no beginning, and a little chill wind of fear blew about my head.

God asked, "Are you afraid?"

And I said, "Yes, because I cannot understand how there can be no beginning."

So God said, "Let us turn and face the other way."

And I looked into glory, and my heart rejoiced with joy unspeakable. And then my mind went ahead, a billion, billion years, and I knew there would be no end, and again that little chill wind of fear began to blow.

And God asked me again, "Are you afraid?"

And I answered, "A little, because I cannot understand how there can be no end."

So God asked me tenderly, "Are you afraid now, today, with your hand in mine?"

And I looked up at Him and smiled and replied, "O my Father, NO!"

And God said, "Every day in eternity will be today."

~Martha Snell Nicholson~

Since Yesterday by Martha Snell Nicholson (Poem)

Perhaps this week could be set aside to post poems about Heaven or our pilgrimage there. This poem is one that had an impact on me last year, and was a tremendous source of comfort. A friend, who was influential in my starting to preach at the Gospel Mission over 2 1/2 years ago, went home to be with the Lord at the beginning of 2005 - then later, my Mom also went home to be with the Lord. This poem is a testimony of where they are now:

Since Yesterday

Along the golden streets
A stranger walks tonight
With wonder in his heart --
Faith blossomed into sight.

He walks and stops and stares,
And walks and stares again
At vistas of loveliness
Beyond the dreams of men.

He who was feeble, weak,
And shackled to a bed
Now climbs eternal hills
With light and easy tread.

He has escaped at last
The cruel clutch of pain;
His lips shall never taste
Her bitter cup again.

Oh never call him dead,
This bouyant one and free,
Whose daily portion is
Delight and ecstacy!

He bows in speechless joy
Before the feet of Him
Whom, seeing not, he loved
While yet his sight was dim.

Along the golden streets
No stranger walks today,
But one who, long homesick,
Is home at last, to stay!

~Martha Snell Nicholson~

Please also read this poem by the same author: Eternity

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.