POEMS
THE OLD LAMP
A lamp once hung in an ancient town
At the corner of the street
Where the wind was keen, and the way was dark,
And the rain would often beat;
And all night long, its light would shine
To guide the traveler’s feet.
The lamp was rough and plain and old,
And the storm had beaten it sore;
‘Twas not a thing one would care to show,
Whate’er it had been before,
But no one thought what the lantern was,
‘Twas the light that, within, it bore.
The lamp is a text for young and old,
Who seek in a world of pride
To shine for their lord and to show him forth,
And never their light to hide;
You are the lantern,
But Christ is the light inside.
Author Unknown
IT COULDN’T BE DONE
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: ”Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled that thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start into sing as you tackle that thing
That “couldn’t be done,” and you’ll do it.
Edgar A. Guest
SPEAK OUT FOR JESUS
You talk about your business,
Your bonds and stocks and gold;
And in all worldly matters
You are so brave and bold.
But why are you so silent
About salvations plan?
Why don’t you speak for Jesus,
And speak out like a man?
You talk about the weather,
And the crops of corn and wheat;
You speak of friends and neighbors
That pass along the street;
You call yourself a Christian,
And like the Gospel planThen why not speak for Jesus
And speak out like a man?
Are you ashamed of Jesus
And the story of the cross,
That you lower his pure banner
And let it suffer loss?
Have you forgotten his suffering?
Did he die for you in vain?
If not, then live and speak for Jesus,
And speak out like a man.
I’d like to tell the story sweet
Of Jesus. Wouldn’t you?
To help some other folks to meet
Their savior. Wouldn’t you?I’d like to travel all the way
To where I’d hear my Jesus say;
“You’ve helped my work along today.”
I’d like that. Wouldn’t you?
Author Unknown
TAKE TIME TO PRAY
I got up early in the morning
And rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled around me
And heavier came each task.
I whined “Why doesn’t God help me?”
He said, “You didn’t ask.”
I groaned and shouted and grumbled,
I tired every key in the lock.
I cried, “why doesn’t He open?”
He said, “Son, you didn’t knock.”
So, I got up this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
I had to take time to pray.
Author Unknown
