Poets & Saints

Scripture Revelation 21:5–6 (NRSVUE) And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." Refrain God is making all things new —...

Scripture 2 Peter 1:4 (NRSVUE) Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. Refrain I am a participant in the divine nature. Quote Athanasius "God was consistent in working through one man to reveal himself everywhere,...

Scripture John 8:58 (NRSVUE) Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." Refrain Before I knew God, God knew me. Quote Richard Rohr, from The Universal Christ "Christ is the light that allows people to see things in their fullness. The precise and intended effect of such a light is to see Christ everywhere else. In fact, that is my only definition of a true Christian. A...

Scripture Hebrews 12:2 (NRSVUE) Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Refrain I am accepted, just as I am. Quote Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations "Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much....

Scripture Romans 6:4 (NRSVUE) Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that,  just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,  so we too might walk in newness of life. Refrain I carry resurrection into this day. Quote Wendell Berry, from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front "Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. Practice res...

Scripture John 20:19–21 (NRSVUE) When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,  and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear,  Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again,...

Scripture Luke 24:30–31 (NRSVUE) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. Refrain Open my eyes to what is already here. Quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning, from Aurora Leigh "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who see...

Scripture Luke 24:13–16 (NRSVUE) Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Refrain Even in disappointment, You are near. Quote Frederic...

Scripture Luke 24:1–6 (NRSVUE) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.  While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the gr...

Scripture Philippians 3:13–14 (NRSVUE) Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Refrain I press on toward what is ahead. Quote Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking "The grace of God means something li...

Scripture Philippians 3:10–11 (NRSVUE) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Refrain In my suffering, Christ is with me. Quote Nicholas Wolterstorff, from Lament for a Son "God is not only the God of the sufferers but the God who suffers. The one who suffer...

Scripture Philippians 3:10 (NRSVUE) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Refrain I surrender in order to know You. Quote Brennan Manning, from Abba's Child "Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is ill...

Scripture Philippians 3:8–9 (NRSVUE) I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ. Refrain In losing, I find wh...

Scripture Philippians 3:7–8 (NRSVUE) Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Refrain I release what I once held as gain. Quote Thomas...

Scripture Psalm 84:11–12 (NRSVUE) For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. Refrain God withholds no good thing from me. Quote George Herbert, from The Pulley "When God at first made man, having a glass of blessings standing by, let us, said he, pour on...

Scripture Psalm 84:10 (NRSVUE) For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. Refrain One day in your presence is enough. Quote C.S. Lewis, from The Weight of Glory "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with d...

Scripture Psalm 84:5–7 (NRSVUE) Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. Refrain Strength rises in me as I walk. Quote Eugene Peterson, from A Long Obedience in the Same Di...

Scripture Psalm 84:3 (NRSVUE) Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Refrain I have found a place to belong. Quote Henri Nouwen, from The Return of the Prodigal Son "Home is the center of my being where I can hear the voice that says: 'You are my beloved, on you my favor rests.'" Hosted on...

Scripture Psalm 84:1–2 (NRSVUE) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Refrain My soul longs for the living God. Quote Augustine of Hippo, from Confessions "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Scripture John 15:9–10 (NRSVUE) As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Refrain I remain in love. Quote Brennan Manning, from The Ragamuffin Gospel "Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have i...

Scripture John 15:16 (NRSVUE) You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. Refrain I did not choose first — I was chosen. Quote Henri Nouwen, from Life of the Beloved "Long before any human being saw us, we are seen by God's loving eyes. Long before anyone heard us cry or lau...

Scripture John 15:7–8 (NRSVUE) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. Refrain Fruit grows when I remain. Quote Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."...

Scripture John 15:5 (NRSVUE) I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Refrain I am rooted in the vine. Quote John of the Cross, from The Ascent of Mount Carmel "The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union." Hosted on Acast. See a...

Scripture John 15:4 (NRSVUE) Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Refrain I choose to abide. Quote Thomas R. Kelly, from A Testament of Devotion "For God Himself works in our souls, in the deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His won...

Scripture Galatians 5:22–25 (NRSVUE) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Refrain I walk in step with the Spirit. Quote Tho...