I Can Hardly Wait

I only see a little way
Beyond the veil of tears
To where my Savior waits for me
Beyond these fleeting years.

But what I see is quite enough –
It makes me long to go
To where my Lord has made a home
Where joys forever flow.

The brightest things and loveliest
That grace this world today
Are but a glimpse of better things
That wait beyond the way.

And every tear and sigh for home
Provoked by loss or pain
Just helps me think of what will last
When all is turned to gain.

So though I see so small a view
Beyond the pearly gate,
I know my Christ is standing there
And I can hardly wait!

Christina Joy Hommes

They Couldn’t Sleep, But They Could Sing

Down in that jail at Philippi
As midnight came around,
Two men were lying in the dark
By chains securely bound.
Their bleeding wounds and aching bones
Were keeping them awake,
But no amount of pain and wrong
Could make their spirits break.

Those bars and chains had seen a lot,
But what they heard that night
Was faith-filled men who praised the Lord
And prayed with all their might.
Then, far below an earthquake struck
And broke the jail apart;
The praise was joined by joyful thanks –
They sang with all their heart.

The convicts stayed to hear the praise
That Paul and Silas sang;
Their hearts were touched by faith so strong
The inner prison rang.
The jailer, too, with fear and hope
Cried, “Sirs, what must I do?”
“Believe in Christ and you’ll be saved
For Jesus died for you.”

More voices joined the songs of praise
That echoed through the night
As souls were saved and angels sang
In wonder and delight.
Those faithful men had no regret
For through the whole ordeal,
They watched God work and proved His grace
Gives hope that’s strong and real.

Pain kept them up that fateful night
But couldn’t steal their song;
They couldn’t sleep, but they could sing
And God Himself came down.

Christina Joy Hommes

What Will You Choose?

Each day we face a simple choice
For darkness or for light,
For life or death, for truth or lies,
To do what’s wrong or right.

In Eden, too, the choice was made
To trust the Lord or not;
They ate the fruit, chose death and pain –
And that was what they got.

But Jesus came and took our death
To offer life once more;
Now you must choose it for yourself
For He’s the only door.

And then each day we face a choice
Of who we will believe –
God leads us right and offers life
But Satan will deceive.

So choose God’s path and trust His Word
To guide you in the light;
In time you’ll find that in the end
The Lord is always right.

Christina Joy Hommes

An Instrument of Praise

We do not praise an instrument
As if it made itself
Or think it did some wondrous thing
In coming off the shelf

But just the same we don’t ignore
It’s craftsmanship and skill
The beauty of its sound and form
That make the spirit thrill

So we are not to seek esteem
Or covet earth’s parade
But neither should we shrink from view
And hide what God has made

Whatever good another sees
In what we are and do
Is praise to God’s own artistry
As seen through me and you

Christina Joy Hommes

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. … For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. .. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1; Philippians 1:11

With Me Day and Night

The Lord is with me day and night
So nothing needs to cause me fright;
He sees in darkness as in light
So I can trust He’ll lead me right.

When storm clouds rise and tempests blow
To God my refuge, safe I’ll go;
His mighty strength they grandly show
But cannot crush me here below.

By waters still and pastures green
On God’s provision I will lean
Enjoying blessings pure and clean,
Rejoicing in the good I’ve seen.

The Lord has been so good to me
His grace and mercy set me free,
In every gift His hand I see
Who keeps me through eternity.

Christina Joy Hommes

The Time God Chose for Me

God plugged me into history
For such a time as now –
This moment is the one He chose
To use me here somehow.

The devil wants to make a wreck
Of all the Lord had planned,
But Jesus called me out by grace
To show His mighty hand.

I must not waste this hour He gave,
This life is short, I know;
Eternal things redeem the time
With heaven’s work below.

I won’t let worry steal away
The time God gives today;
I’ll trust the Lord is in control
And boldly live and pray.

I will not wait for sunny skies –
Today is all that’s mine;
With just one life to live for God,
I’ll serve Him rain or shine.

For it’s my hour – the time God set
And chose for me to live;
Lord, help me do the work You’ve planned
With grace and strength You’ll give.

Christina Joy Hommes

Help Me Be a Burning Bush

Lord, help me be a burning bush
You’ve come to set aflame,
That by Your Holy Spirit’s pow’r
I’ll magnify Your Name.

Let those who know Your Name rejoice
And come away alight –
Renewed, stirred up, encouraged, loved,
Recharged to do what’s right.

Let those who’ve wandered stop and see
How far from You they roam,
Then as the prodigal come back
To hear Your “Welcome home!”

Let those who haven’t come to Christ
Be drawn to what they see,
For as your glory fills their soul
You’ll set their spirit free.

Lord, make my life a burning bush,
A place where You can shine,
To lift the Name of Jesus high
And show Your grace divine.

Christina Joy Hommes

Creation’s Song

The crashing waves that rumble,
The rolling thunder, too,
The patter of the raindrops,
The wind that whistles through,

The murmur of the rivers,
The buzzing of the bees,
The songs of all the songbirds,
The creaking of the trees,

Creation all around us
Is lifting up its song
And constantly invites us
To stop and sing along.

Its constant praise brings glory
To God who reigns above;
Let’s join the grateful chorus
And praise His mighty love.

Christina Joy Hommes

Until the Time That God Ordains

Death cannot have a man of God
However hard it tries
Before the time that God appoints
And then His servant dies

Let Pharaoh rise or Herod fear
The babe will live and grow
Let lions come and giants rise
They’ll fall before his blow

Let famine strike or sickness spread
God keeps him safely through
Let mobs cast stones or shipwrecks come
His strength is always new

Let storms arise and councils plot
He’s safe as he can be
Until the time that God ordains
To grant him victory

Christina Joy Hommes

“Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come.” John 7:30

The Break of Day

No pain or disappointment
Will shade that happy place
Where all the Father’s children
Will see our Savior’s face

And in that glad forever
Where day is always bright
We’ll ever praise and serve Him
With honor and delight

There freed from sin’s temptation
We’ll love with heart and soul
The God whose love redeemed us
And made us well and whole

Unending joy and purpose
Will fill our happy years
With lasting satisfaction
When earth’s fog-shadow clears

Press on then, Christian pilgrim
The prize is worth the fray
In hope and love be faithful
Until the break of day

Christina Joy Hommes

Devotional Christian Poems