Albert S Reitz – birth, Jan. 20, 1879

1. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     This is my heart-cry, day unto day.
     I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
 
  Refrain
     Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
     constant abiding, this is my plea;
     Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
     Power with men and power with Thee.
 
  2. Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
     Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,
     Men lost and dying, souls in despair,
     O give me power, power in prayer!
   
  3. My weakened will, Lord, thou canst renew;
     My sinful nature Thou canst subdue.
     Fill me just now with power anew,
     Power to pray and power to do!
   
  4. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     Thou art my pattern day unto day.
     Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Albert Simpson Reitz was born this date (1/20/1879) in Lyons, Kansas.  
He wrote 100 hymns in addition to pastoring several Baptist churches.  
He died 11/1/1966.

Read Full Post »

Sense God

I see God in a pansy so small,

In an oak, a mountain wall.

I see Him in the moon’s light ball,

In a canyon’s hall, a leaf’s bright fall.

I see Him over all.           Do You?  

 

I smell God in the month of May,

In new mown hay, on a rainy day.

I smell Him in a salty bay,

In October’s gay, in the dew’s lay.

I smell Him in many a way.        Do You?  

 

I hear God in the wind’s toot,

In an owl’s hoot, in rain’s dilute.

I hear Him in the music of a flute,

In the drop of fruit, the bird’s salute.

I hear Him in rife pursuit. Do You?  

 

I feel God in a baby’s skin,

In the grass thin, a grain bin.

I feel Him in a fish’s fin,

In a honey locust “pin”, feathers of a wren.

I feel Him “then.”            Do You?  

 

I taste God in an apple so sweet,

In well done meat, a nutty treat.

I taste Him in the product of wheat,

In salt’s feat, when spices meet.

I taste Him replete.          Do You?   – eab, ’66 JAN.

Written while working at Lincoln School in Cincy.

Read Full Post »

Amy Carmichael – birth, Dec. 16, 1867

If my attitude be one of fear not faith about one who has disappointed me; if I say “Just what I expected,” if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

                – Amy Carmichael, If (Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1966), 25.  

 

If I cast up a confessed, repented & forsaken sin against another and allow my remembrance of that sin to color my thinking and feed my suspicions, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

                – Amy Carmichael, If (Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1966), 27.

 

If I do not give a friend “the benefit of the doubt” but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

                – Amy Carmichael, If (Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1966), 43.

Amy Carmichael was born this day in Millisle, Ireland.  She spent many years of her life in another country beginning with an “I,” India.  Amy arrived in India in 1895 and never left there.  She died in 1951   

Read Full Post »

Measureless

The space between Eternity is spread,

And measured into units that are known.

In inches, feet, and yards the length is shown;

And pounds and tons are used to weigh up lead.

Minutes of time the baker knows for bread;

Degrees show how increased the heat is grown.

Full buckets hold the product of what is sown,

So all are gauged, from start till dead.

 

However, in that Land of endless light,

Where lambs and lions both are to be tame,

And where there comes no darkness of the night;

Dimensions as these are not the same.

To waste the gift of heaven’s perfect sight,

And clutter up the realm of boundless fame.   -eab, 12/66

 

Written in Cincinnati,Ohio

 

 

Read Full Post »

Lesser Light

O beautiful, beautiful lesser light;

Made by God the rule the night,

I see thee on thy continuous flight,

Showing the clouds, as a furrow plowed.

 

Now vapor has hid the wondrous glow,

The obliqueness of the cloud to show,

But slowly conquer o’er the foe,

And light comes down, from thy crown.

  

So ride thou on through the night sky;                            

May men, like me, always “where and why,”

Thy greatness, as you effortlessly fly.

Thou shining orb, our thoughts absorb.

 

Mysterious, Inspiring, Mobile Sphere.

Solitary, Polished, Sentinel of the Exosphere.   -eab, 4/1966

 

 

 

Written on the 4th floor at God’s Bible School,Cincinnati,Ohio 

Read Full Post »

Tenses

Now is our pleasure, in parts divided;

Three ways delighted,

Triplet in nature.

Present, past, future, in thoughts united,

Separately sighted,

In realm of measure.

But in the Land of Bliss, where time is no more,

Pleasure is endless, no after, before.

An eternal kiss, on that wondrous shore.  -eab,  12/1966

 

 

Written in Cincinnati,Ohio              

Read Full Post »

Autumn

Black tree, tall, beyond,

Leaves small, bright, blond,

Days short, hazy light,

Nights long, moon bright,

Past the summer brief,

Now autumn, quiet relief.   -eab, 11/66

 

Written while in college, Cincinnati,Ohio

Other Fall Poems

 

 

Read Full Post »

Blind

To see a sunset,

And be atheist yet,

‘Tis hard.

That bard,* God knew,

Though stone blind.

May you seek like mind.  -eab, 11/1966

Written while a college student, Cincinnati,Ohio* Milton

Read Full Post »