poem | Craig T. Owens

April 2026
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Poetry Saturday—What Is Prayer?

February 8, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Unuttered or expressed;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,

When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech

That infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,

The Christian’s native air;

His watchword at the gates of death—

He enters heaven with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,

Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice

And cry, ‘Behold, he prays!’

The saints in prayer appear as one,

In word, in deed, and mind;

While with the Father and the Son,

Sweet fellowship they find.

No prayer is made by man alone

The Holy Spirit pleads;

And Jesus, on th’ eternal throne

For sinners intercedes.

O Thou! by Whom we come to God,

The Life, the Truth, the Way;

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:

Lord, teach us how to pray. —James Montgomery

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: angels, Christian, fellowship, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, intercession, James Montgomery, Jesus Christ, Mediator, poem, poetry, prayer, saints. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Give To The Winds Thy Fears

February 1, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

Give to the winds thy fears,

hope and be undismayed;

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;

God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves and clouds and storms,

He gently clears the way;

wait thou His time, so shall this night

soon end in joyous day.

Still heavy is thy heart,

still sink thy spirits down?

Cast off the weight, let fear depart,

and ev’ry care be gone.

What though thou rulest not,

yet heav’n, and earth, and hell

proclaim, God sitteth on the throne,

and ruleth all things well.

Leave to His sov’reign sway

to choose and to command.

so shalt thou wond’ring own His way,

how wise, how strong His hand!

Far, far above thy thought

His counsel shall appear,

when fully He the work hath wrought,

that caused thy needless fear.

Thou seest our weakness, Lord,

our hearts are known to Thee;

O lift Thou up the sinking heart,

confirm the feeble knee.

Let us in life, in death,

Thy steadfast truth declare,

and publish with our latest breath

Thy love and guardian care. —Paul Gerhardt (translated by John Wesley)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: eternal life, fear, God's love, God's Sovereignty, God's wisdom, John Wesley, joy, Paul Gerhardt, poem, poetry, prayer, trust. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Majesty Divine

January 25, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

Full of glory, full of wonders,

Majesty Divine!

‘Mid Thine everlasting thunders

How Thy lightnings shine!

Shoreless Ocean! who shall sound Thee?

Thine own eternity is round Thee,

Majesty Divine!

Timeless, spaceless, single, lonely,

Yet sublimely Three,

Thou art grandly, always, only

God in Unity!

Lone in grandeur, lone in glory,

Who shall tell Thy wondrous story,

Awful Trinity?

Speechlessly, without beginning,

Sun that never rose!

Vast, adorable, and winning,

Day that hath no close!

Bliss from Thine own glory tasting,

Everliving, everlasting,

Life that never grows!

Thine own Self forever filling

With self-kindled flame,

In Thyself Thou art distilling

Unctions without name!

Without worshipping of creatures,

Without veiling of Thy features,

God always the same!

In Thy praise of Self untiring

Thy perfections shine;

Self-sufficient, self-admiring,—

Such life must be Thine;—

Glorifying Self, yet blameless

With a sanctity all shameless

It is so Divine!

‘Mid Thine uncreated morning,

Like a trembling star

I behold creation’s dawning

Glimmering from far;

Nothing giving, nothing taking,

Nothing changing, nothing breaking,

Waiting at time’s bar!

One with life and love diurnal

See myself in Thee,

All embalmed in love eternal,

Floating in Thy sea:

‘Mid Thine uncreated whiteness

I behold Thy glory’s brightness

Feed itself on me.

Splendors upon splendors beaming

Change and intertwine!

Glories over glories streaming

All translucent shine!

Blessings, praises, adorations

Greet Thee from the trembling nations

Majesty Divine! —Frederick Faber

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: eternity, Frederick William Faber, God's glory, Godhead, poem, poetry, Three-In-One, Trinity, worship. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—For Me

January 18, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

For me He left His home on high;

For me to earth He came to die;

For me He in a manger lay;

For me to Egypt fled away;

For me He dwelt with fisherman;

For me He slept in cave and glen;

For me abuse He meekly bore;

For me a crown of thorns He wore;

For me He braved Gethsemane;

For me He hung upon a tree;

For me His final feast was made;

For me by Judas was betrayed;

For me by Peter was denied;

For me by Pilate crucified;

For me His precious blood was shed;

For me He slept among the dead;

For me He rose with might at last;

For me above the skies He passed;

For me He came at God’s command;

For me He sits at His right hand. —Anonymous

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, poem, poetry, prophesy, resurrection, salvation. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Clinging To Thee

January 11, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

O Holy Savior, Friend unseen,

Since on Thine arm Thou bidst me lean,

Help me throughout life’s varying scene

By faith to cling to Thee.

Blest with this fellowship divine,

Take what Thou wilt, I’ll ne’er repine;

E’en as the branches to the vine,

My soul would cling to Thee.

Far from her home, fatigued, oppressed,

Here she has found her place of rest;

An exile still, yet not unblessed,

While she can cling to Thee.

Without a murmur I dismiss

My former dreams of earthly bliss;

My joy, my consolation this,

Each hour to cling to Thee.

What though the world unfaithful prove,

And earthly friends and joys remove;

With sure and certain hope of love,

Still would I cling to Thee.

Oft when I seem to tread alone

Some barren waste, with thorns o’ergrown,

Thy voice of love, in gentle tone,

Whispers “Still cling to Me.”

Though faith and hope may oft be tried,

I ask not, need not aught beside;

How safe, how calm, how satisfied,

The soul that clings to Thee!

They fear not satan, nor the grave—

They feel Thee near and strong to save;

Nor dread to cross e’en Jordan’s wave,

Because they cling to Thee.

Blessed is my lot, whate’er may befall;

What can disturb me, who appall,

While as my Strength, my Rock, my All,

Savior, I cling to Thee? —Charlotte Elliott

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Charlotte Elliott, faith, fellowship, God's blessing, God's love, God's presence, hope, Jesus Christ, poem, poetry, Savior, trials, worship. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Out Of Touch With Your Lord

January 4, 2020 — Craig T. Owens

Only a smile, yes, only a smile,

That a woman o’er burdened with grief

Expected from you; ‘twould have given relief

For her heart ache sore the while;

But weary and cheerless she went away,

Because as it happened, that very day

You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.

Only a word, yes, only a word,

That the Spirit’s small voice whispered, “Speak”;

But the worker passed onward, unblessed and weak,

Whom you were meant to have stirred

To courage, devotion and love anew,

Because when the message came to you,

You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.

Only a note, yes, only a note,

From a friend in a distant land;

The Spirit said, “Write,” but then you had planned

Some different work, and you thought

It mattered little, you did not know

‘Twould have saved a soul from sin and woe;

You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.

Only a song, yes, only a song,

That the Spirit said, “Sing tonight—

Thy voice is thy Master’s by purchased right“;

But you thought, “Mid this motley throng

I care not to sing of the City of Gold,”

And the heart that your words might have reached grew cold;

You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.

Only a day, yes, only a day!

But, oh, can you guess, my friend,

Where the influence reaches, and where it will end

Of the hours that you frittered away?

The Master’s command is, “Abide in Me,”

And fruitless and vain will your service be,

If “out of touch“ with your Lord. —Jean H. Watson

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: abiding, Jean Watson, Jesus Christ, poem, poetry, serve others. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Like A River Glorious

December 28, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Like a river, glorious

Is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious

In its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth

Fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth

Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest;

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow

Of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow,

Never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry,

Not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry

Touch the spirit there.

Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest;

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial

Falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial

By the sun of love;

We may trust Him fully

All for us to do—

They who trust Him wholly

Find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest;

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest. —Frances Ridley Havergal

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Frances Ridley Havergal, hymn, Jesus Christ, joy, peace, poem, poetry, Romans. Leave a Comment »

Everywhere, Everywhere Christmas Tonight

December 24, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!

Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,

Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine;

Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and white,

Christmas where corn-fields lie sunny and bright;

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight.

Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,

Christmas where old men are patient and gray,

Christmas where peace, like a dove in its flight,

Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight;

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight.

For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all,

No place too great and no cottage too small;

The Angels who welcome Him sing from the height,

“In the city of David, a King in His might.”

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight.

Then let every heart keep its Christmas within

Christ’s pity for sorrow, Christ’s hatred for sin.

Christ’s care for the weakest, Christ’s courage for right,

Christ’s dread of the darkness, Christ’s love of the light.

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight.

So the stars of the midnight which compass us round

Shall see a strange glory, and hear a sweet sound,

And cry, “Look! the earth is aflame with delight,

O sons of the morning, rejoice at the sight.”

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight. —Phillips Brooks

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: angels, Bethlehem, children, Christmas, First Advent, Jesus Christ, Phillips Brooks, poem, poetry. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Angel Hymn

December 21, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Glory to You who have shown us the light.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to all people.

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord, King, heavenly God, Father, Almighty; Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world. —Angel Hymn / Doxology (~300 AD)

Glory to God in the highest

and peace to His people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

Almighty God and Father,

we worship You, we give You thanks,

we praise You for Your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

You take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

You are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For You alone are the Holy One,

You alone are the Lord,

You alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen. —updated in the Book of Common Prayer (~1975)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Advent, angels, doxology, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, hymn, Jesus Christ, mercy, poem, poetry, praise, Trinity, worship. 1 Comment »

Is There Room In Your Heart For Jesus?

December 16, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

I think all of you can finish this poem: ’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Haddon Sundblom’s painting for Coca-Cola

This poem was written in 1837 by Clement Moore. Most people assume the title of the poem is the first line of the poem, but Moore’s original title is actually “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” And we all know what St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) looks like, right? Actually, this well-known painting of Santa Claus is the creation of Haddon Sundblom for Coca-Cola in 1930, but it’s not too far off from the original St. Nicholas.

Nicholas of Myra

Nicholas of Myra was a Christian bishop who lived in the 3rd century AD. It was discovered by some of his peers that he would anonymously throw bags of money through the open windows of the poor people in his town. Some of the coins landed in these poor families’ shoes and socks as they were drying by the fireplace. The myth grew that without your stockings hung by the fireplace you wouldn’t receive any gifts. After Nicholas died in 342 AD he was declared a saint, so his popular practice of blessing the poor spread and took on a life of its own.

I’m struck by a contrast from the line in Moore’s poem that “the stockings were all hung by the chimney with care.” This tells us how well people prepare for the “arrival” of St. Nicholas each Christmas, but let’s contrast that with how ill-prepared—if they even know they need to prepare!—people are for the absolutely certain fact of the arrival of King Jesus!

Just as the vast majority of Israelites weren’t prepared for the Messiah’s first Advent in Bethlehem in the 1st century, how many people are still unprepared for His second Advent which could occur at any moment?

Think about the contrasts between the legend of St. Nicholas (i.e. Santa Claus) and the certainty of Jesus Christ:

St. Nicholas was a poor monk who has now become richer than imaginable. Jesus is the King of kings who left all His riches and kingly rights to become poor.
St. Nicholas was a servant who has now been elevated to royalty status. Jesus is Absolute Royalty who became a servant.
St. Nicholas lives in a castle at the North Pole; there wasn’t even a room for Jesus at His birth, or even later in His adult life.
St. Nicholas is a fable that people venerate; Jesus is the Truth that people mock.
St. Nicholas left a legend with nothing of lasting value; Jesus is Absolute Reality and He is coming again (see Hebrews 2:14; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 2:7; Matthew 8:20; Acts 2:22-23).

There was no room in any inn, although Joseph knocked and knocked. Jesus is still knocking today, except today it’s on the door of your heart (Revelation 3:20). Will you let Him in? Or will you continue to allow your heart and mind to be dominated by myths and legends?