Poetry About Jesus and Salvation 

fPoetry by Martha Snell Nicholson - Volume 2

Short Devotionals by Martha Snell Nicholson

Martha Snell Nicholson was a bedridden invalid who suffered from four incurable diseases. She struggled with pain for over 35 years. After being an invalid for many years, her loving husband, who she depended on, died suddenly. Through all her pain and suffering came some of the finest Christian poetry ever written. May you be blessed by reading her spiritually rich and heartfelt poetry which exalt Jesus, her Saviour.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2)

ONLY IN THEE

When terror's dark wing brushes me,

And only shapes of fear I see

There is no other help for me

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee.

When I am fouled with sin's black stain

What can wash me white again?

There is no cleansing flood for me

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee.

My feeble strength could never bear

This pain and weariness and care

But there is rest and peace for me --

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee.

Earthly pleasures fade and dim

Beside the loveliness of Him.

There is no lasting joy for me

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee.

Where could my restless soul abide

Save in His riven, bleeding side?

There is no other home for me,

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee.

This is my prayer, and this my plea:

Open my eyes that I may see

There is no other life for me

Only in Thee, Lord, only in Thee!

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10)

TRUST

I trust Him for my daily bread

The keeping of my precious dead,

The wiping out of all my sin,

My going out, my coming in.

I trust Him for the grace to bear

This pain and weariness and care,

I trust Him with this laboring breath,

And with my ancient fear of death.

Within the anguish of my mind

His purpose and His love I find,

Nor will He fail to give me strength

Which meets the need of each day's length.

In the day and in the night,

In the darkness and the light,

I trust the guidance of His hand

Through ways I cannot understand,

Until at last, earth's shadow's gone,

I shall awake, some glorious dawn,

And in the brightness of His face

Begin to understand His grace

"And one said to the man clothed in linen which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (Daniel 12:6)

HOW LONG, LORD JESUS, HOW LONG?

How long, Lord Jesus, how long?

We are so weary of failure and sin,

Temptation without and weakness within,

Weary of sorrow, bereavement and pain.

Hourly we pray for Thy coming again.

How long, Lord Jesus, how long?

How long, Lord Jesus, how long?

The battle is raging, and we are hard pressed.

The long day is ending, the sun in the west.

We fought for Thy cause in the heat of the day,

But now in the lengthening shadows we pray,

"How long, Lord Jesus, how long?"

God's clock ticking on as His scroll is unrolled!

Earth's sands running out as her story is told!

Multiplied signs that a blind man may see.

O blessed assurance, we know it will be

Not long, Lord Jesus, not long!

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zechariah 13:6)

THERE IS SOMETHING IN HEAVEN THAT MAN PUT THERE

There is something in heaven that man put there!

Can the hand of man mar a place so fair,

That is filled with the depth and the breadth and the height

Of His marvelous love? Where there is no night,

But the choirs of the angels forever rejoice

In the glory of God? At the sound of His voice

The music of circling spheres is stilled

And all the wide reaches of heaven are filled

With wondering worship and praise -- And yet,

Help us, Lord, that we never forget,

There is something in heaven that man put there -

(Our shame, but forever His glory who bare

Our offenses) -- behold at the mercy seat

The scars in His hands and His side and His feet!

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son . . . For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry" (Luke 15:21-24)

PRODIGAL

Take back Thy wandering child, take back

These feet which went astray,

Though once I vowed that I would walk

Within Thy paths alway.

Take back my hands and wash them clean,

For thy are stained with sin;

Take back this erring heart, and make

Me Thine without, within.

Take back Thy child. Dry were the husks,

And filthy were the swine.

Why did I leave Thy table, Lord,

And that rich fare of Thine?

Take back this child? Most Holy God,

How dare I hope that Thou

Wouldst ever love again the poor

Stained thing which I am now?

"Take thee My spotless robe to wear,

For thee the shoes, the ring,

For thee the festal board is set,

The merrymakers sing.

"Thou couldst not drift beyond My love,

No matter how defiled.

Rejoice! My son is home again,

And I have back My child!"

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)

HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL

"His name shall be wonderful." This Babe for whom

Even in village inn, there was no room?

The lowing of cattle was His lullaby,

Though caroling angels were thronging the sky.

"His name shall be wonderful." This little Lad,

Living so simply, and so plainly clad?

"His name shall be wonderful." This Carpenter,

Known from His childhood by each villager?

"His name shall be wonderful." Spat upon, shamed,

Tortured and crucified, how is He named.

Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God,

He who one dark day Golgotha's road trod?

His name shall be wonderful -- Jesus, God's Son!

His Word has promised and it shall be done.

Not meek and lowly, despised among men;

This same Lord Jesus is coming again

With clouds and greaat glory, to reign here below,

And all men shall praise Him and alll knees shall bow.

From ocean to ocean His name shall be heard --

Wonderful name of our wonderful Lord!

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; It is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boost" (Ephesians 2:8-8)

THE GIFT

I minted some coins from my good works,

And I sought to buy

The rarest treasures of heaven

Or earth or sky.

To God my bright pennies were nothing,

There was nothing that they could buy,

But He made me a gift of salvation.

The dear Lord bought it, not I!

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Short Devotionals by Martha Snell Nicholson