When we meet in that land over yonder,
('Tis a beautiful thought we now ponder,)
No heartache or sin
Will be allowed in
And from Jesus we'll nevermore wander.
"Well done, enter in" to the city fair,
The land that is free from trouble and care;
Where no sad goodbyes
Bring tears to the eyes,
And no sickness will be found anywhere.
Nothing there will defile, nothing will stain,
Nothing will cause the redeemed any pain;
All our labors o'er,
When we reach that shore,
We gave up this world the life-crown to gain.
There we'll be with the saints of all ages,
Where the tempest of sin no more races;
The land of sweet rest
Awaiting the blest:
Those who have been made free from sins wages.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
09-30-2000
..........Hallelujah Square..........
Who will we see up there
In Hallelujah square?
Who, but the Savior's own?
Who have here owned His name,
And have endured the shame,
Those whom the Lord has known.
Won't it be a glad day,
With this flesh put away
No sorrow, pain, or sin;
Just peace, love, joy and praise,
Where there's no end of days,
Lord, let that time begin!
There no harsh words we'll hear,
Only words kind and dear,
No anger anywhere.
Smiles on every face,
What a wonderful place!
How we long to be there!
With Jesus our dear friend
Fellowship will not end
Just beyond heaven's gate;
You must hear and believe,
Obey what you receive,
Act now: ere it's too late.
None ever loved you so
Nor yet can here below,
Why do you put Him off?
For when comes that sad day
He'll send so far away
All those who laugh and scoff.
So be sure to prepare
For Hallelujah square
Who knows when He shall call?
One thing we know is true,
Someday He'll call for you,
The time comes for us all.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
..........WHERE HAVE ALL THE
FAITHFUL GONE?..........
Where have all the faithful gone?
Why do they not stand
For the things that please the Lord
In this sinful land?
Why do we these sins ignore
As though they were right?
Don't we know His People must
Walk here in the light?
We do not seem now to care
About what He said,
So disposed we go along
Not by His Word led!
Stop and think of where we were
Many years ago;
When righteousness was our aim
And then you will know:
Pride goes before destruction,
All such surely fall;
To Jesus Christ we'll answer,
Answer one and all!
Once again let's take our stand,
Let His Word be known;
Lest we come to sorrow when
We reap what we've sown!
Teach your children now to pray,
Point their faith to God;
Help them walk the narrow path
That our Lord did trod.
Teach them honesty and love,
Teach them to be strong;
Tell them to always "do right" -
And avoid the wrong.
Oppositions to that Way
Hide at ev'ry turn;
But the faithful shall endure!
For the truth they yearn.
Though it is not popular
Still His Word we preach;
It is the only message
That will lost souls reach.
Go against the flow, my friend,
And to Him be true.
He it was who paid the price:
He died to save you!
Yield not when they criticize,
Turn not from the Way;
No one else can save your soul
Come the Judgment Day.
Faithful, take your stand for Him,
Do what He says do;
He will not forget you if
To Him you are true.
H. L. Gradowith
10-12-2000
..........We'll Meet..........
When I have passed to the land of sweet rest,
Forever to live with the good and blest,
Leaving behind ev'ry heartache and fear,
Friends, at my leaving, please don't shed a tear.
Be happy in knowing that I've gone home,
To dwell with my Lord and nevermore roam;
I'll know no more sickness, no sad good-byes:
No more will I struggle with tear-filled eyes.
All of the answers I've sought in this life
I'll find when I reach that land free from strife;
And I'll have no need for the books men write:
I'll get my answers from Jesus, the Light.
Why mourn when they place my flesh in the ground?
Where I am going no tears will be found!
Just keep on doing what Jesus says do:
We'll meet up in heaven if you are true.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
10-18-2000
..........A Friend Who Is True..........
Oh, the tears here you shed,
Oh, the fears here you dread,
All because to the world you give heed;
Jesus offers the cure
For the good and the pure:
He will give you all things that you need.
When your heart fills with doubt,
And you wander about,
Not knowing what is in store for you;
He will stand by your side,
You will not be denied:
You will find Him a Friend Who is true!
When alone you must stand,
He will hold to your hand,
Bringing hope, comfort, consolation;
When the dark clouds descend,
And you meet your life's end:
Forever you'll enjoy salvation!
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
10-23-2000
..........My Wasted Years..........
What shall become of my wasted years?
For them how shall I pay?
Though I should shed a river of tears
I can't wash them away.
What was I thinking when I wandered?
What did I hope to win?
Oh, that back then this thought I'd pondered:
There is no joy in sin.
Many distractions for my time vied,
Many temptations came;
On my own strength I often relied,
Each time I came to shame.
Yet, still, I did not the lesson learn,
I had to have my way;
For the forbidden things my heart yearned:
Now the price I must pay.
How shall I answer for my misdeeds?
How can I justify
All of those years of sowing bad seeds
When it comes time to die?
Answer I shall, but what shall I say?
And, will He understand?
No, for my sins I'll be forced to pay.
Things haven't gone as planned.
I never meant my whole life to waste,
I thought I'd come around;
But the facts of life I never faced:
And now to pay I'm bound.
Listen my friend to what I now say:
Life is too quickly gone;
Though now you're young, you'll soon pass away,
So do what must be done.
Yesterday's gone, forever lost,
Tomorrow you shall die.
So take time today to count the cost,
Lest life should pass you by.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
10-25-2000
It doesn't matter what keeps us from the Lord, the price to be paid is
the
same for all. Too often I've heard tales similar to the one related
in
the verses above, and I pray that these lines will help someone, anyone,
to take advantage of His Grace while still it is offered. Tim
..........How He Could Love Me..........
Often I wonder how He could love me,
I am not worthy of His precious blood.
Still in His mercy He beckons to me:
Come sinner be washed in the crimson flood.
He sees my weakness and He knows my sin,
Nothing is missed by His all-seeing eye;
Despised and rejected by sinful men:
Still, Jesus loves us though we know not why.
Ev'ry temptation He faced and o'ercame,
Shielded from nothing this world sent His way;
Faithfully for us enduring the shame:
Jesus' love bids us come without delay.
No greater love hath any man here known,
No greater price for us could e'er be paid;
Won't you let Jesus now make you His own?
Then you can face death and not be afraid!
Though others offer you freedom and rest,
Preaching their sermons of some 'other way' --
Yield not to temptation if you'd be blest:
Only He can save you come Judgment Day.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
10-26-2000
..........Truth..........
I'd like to sing a joyous song
So bright and filled with glee;
I'd like to sing it -- right or wrong,
To make their sorrows flee.
I'd like to sing of love without
A hint of sorrows' sting;
I'd like to sing without a doubt
Of all the peace life brings.
I'd like to sing to those who work
And give their very best;
Who do their part -- and never shirk:
"Some day you'll come to rest."
I'd like to sing to those whose plate
Sits empty on the shelf;
That food will come e'er it's too late:
"You soon shall feed yourself."
I'd like to sing to those who find
Themselves in danger here,
Who know no rest, no peace of mind:
"Your rescue lingers near."
I'd like to sing to that poor child
Whose parents do not know,
Who by the wicked is defiled:
"Yes all that shines is gold."
I'd like to sing to those who cry,
To those who feel the pain,
With bloodied lip and blackened eye:
"You'll soon be free again."
I'd like to sing this joyous song
With all my soul and might:
That punishment comes to all wrong,
And justice to the right.
But in real life it isn't so,
Sometimes the best do fail;
They give their all as on they go,
But still in sorrow wail.
Despite the fact that others thrive
On work they did not do,
For some too late help will arrive,
Like others, they'll die, too.
The strong will hide in shades of night,
When they should help the weak;
They fear to stand and show their might,
For them the future's bleak.
Some have no time to act in love,
To help a hurting child;
Their eyes they fix, but not above!
They miss the meek and mild.
Sometimes the ones who in this life
Know only hurt and pain,
Dismay and grief, trouble and strife,
Will not be free again.
"Good things will come to those who wait"
Is but an old wives' tale;
For some it seems to be life's fate
In everything to fail.
And so to sing to those in grief
Of carefree days in store
Will to their hurt bring no relief:
But only sorrows more.
The thing to do is not to sing
Of good things yet to be;
Solutions to their problems bring:
That's something they can see.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
03-29-1997
..........The Fall..........
What holds you back from Christ the Lord?
Why must you turn away?
In love He calls you through His word,
Prepare, while still 'tis day.
There'll come a time when it's too late
To be made free from sin;
So start the race, and do not wait,
The journey to begin.
Just hear, believe, repent, confess,
Be buried with the Lord;
The Savior waits your soul to bless,
He says so in the word!
He gave His life that we might live,
To bring us to the light,
To heal our wounds, our sins forgive,
And save us by His might.
It's up to us to make the choice
Between the right and wrong;
If we choose 'right', we shall rejoice:
"Singing redemption's song".
But should we choose in sin to dwell,
Spurning His gracious call,
The life beyond we'll "spend" in hell:
Sad victims of the fall.
The choice is ours to live or die,
So check the facts at length;
On other folks do not rely
For they have not the strength,
To take us through the judgment day
And grant us entrance there,
To that fair land without decay:
Come - in God's glory share!
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
May 1997
..........Borrowed Time..........
Tomorrow -- what a lovely thought,
A time to do what's left undone;
The little things that really ought
To have already been begun.
A time to be refreshed and eased,
A respite from the daily grind;
When none will be sick or diseased,
And all will have sweet peace of mind.
A time when fighting will not be,
And none will feel ill will or grief;
Then none will have an enemy
And from life's woes we'll find relief.
There'll be no pesky small details,
And nothing then will interfere;
No stormy nights, no windy gales,
No children cowering in fear.
Tomorrow -- yes, that blissful day,
Against it men wager their peace;
"I'll do it tomorrow," men say,
"Tomorrow my troubles will cease."
Today: yesterdays' tomorrow,
Yesterday was tomorrow, too;
Yet today we know but sorrow,
And help we seek to see us through.
If 'til tomorrow we put off
The things we could have done today,
If at duty we laugh and scoff:
Will our duties then go away?
The things we have to do - let's do,
And place no hope in "tomorrow";
For soon enough life will be through,
The unprepared come to sorrow.
I will not spend what is not mine,
For soon comes the time to repay;
Now is not the time to recline:
Rest comes after the Judgment Day.
I'll find great peace in thinking of
The grace God has bestowed on me,
I'll live to prove to Him my love
Then Heaven someday I will see.
Until that day I'll do what's right,
Walking in the path of the Lord;
Each day I will dwell in the light:
Directed by His precious Word.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
11-14-2000
..........Savior And Judge..........
Here alone in the darkness I sit,
Thinking of what could have been;
Praying to God above for mercy:
Oh, to start over again.
Many chances I have been given,
That I'll not try to deny;
But each chance I received I wasted:
Now 'tis time for me to die.
What hope have I in the world to come?
I'll not see that Holy Land;
Though I could have had Jesus with me:
Alone in Judgment I'll stand.
Entrance to me will not be granted,
Banished forever I'll be;
To Jesus I came not in this life:
He'll thus not be there for me.
Says one: "Is not Jesus the Savior?
How could He turn me away?"
Indeed, friend, Jesus is the Savior,
But He only saves today.
In Judgment our lives He'll examine,
Comparing them to His will;
That's why, each day, it's so important
Our lives with His works to fill.
Yesterday's gone, it will not return;
Tomorrow I will not see.
I face now the last chance for mercy:
I've time now to be made free.
But my heart is cold, it will not bend,
I fear I've waited too long;
All those years I intended to change:
But now I see I was wrong.
Don't wait, friend, until Judgment morning,
To set things right with the Lord;
There's no hope in procrastination,
Come now and obey His word.
"I thought" "I intended" "I wanted" --
All come to the same sad end;
If you would be prepared to meet Him:
Take time now your ways to mend.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
11-16-2000
..........Peace..........
We wander and struggle all our lives through,
Oh - for a moment of peace!
We need someone to tell us what to do:
Lead us to the land of ease.
The highway of sin we often will choose,
We think it will bring us peace;
But O so much on this highway we lose:
On it we will find no ease.
We think we know best the issues of life,
We think we understand peace,
But still we're tossed to and fro in the strife:
And our poor hearts find no ease.
When will we learn that we know not the way
That leads to heavenly peace?
Our troubles will not from us go away
'Til we turn to Him for ease.
So let us now learn this lesson, my friend,
And turn to Jesus for peace;
'Twill be too late if we wait 'til life's end,
For us there will be no ease.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
11-24-2000
..........Rust..........
What was in the manger?
What caused the stir that day?
Just who was the stranger?
Please tell me now, I say.
Was He the One foretold
By Holy men of God,
Cast in the Heav'nly mold,
The straightened paths to trod?
Is healing in His wings?
Does He bring sweetest peace?
For Him my spirit sings!
He brings us sweet release!
Without Him I am lost,
Undone, alone, and sore;
But -- He paid all the cost
And stands now on the shore:
He beckons to us men
Who're yet to bid adieu,
The good life to begin:
To have all things made new!
Christ was in the manger,
The King of kings was He;
Christ the blessed stranger
Now longs to set you free!
Believe, repent, confess,
Be buried with the Lord;
He promised that He'd bless
Those who live by the Word!
'Tis but for you to come
In humble, loving trust:
Dwell now in His Kingdom
Ere your gold turn to rust.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
..........I Still See Them..........
I still see them -- in a way they are here,
In a special way they are always near.
A thought, a smell, a sound,
The memories abound:
How precious are the thoughts of those so dear!
It's funny how quickly time passes by,
How those who seemed timeless all come to die.
Grandma and Pop are gone,
Their time on earth now done:
Oh! it broke our hearts to tell them good-bye.
All the little children who used to play
Are grown up now and have moved far away.
Such things we've now outgrown,
If only we'd have known:
How we would miss all those good times someday.
How I would love to live those years once more!
But things cannot be as they were before.
Why must time move along?
Oh, it all seems so wrong...
I'll not see them in this world anymore.
But as I sit here I visit those years,
And I'll admit that sometimes they bring tears:
Tears of joy, tears of grief,
But I seek no relief;
For, through those tears my belov'd youth appears.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
December 8, 2000
..........If I Had Known..........
If I had known, back then,
The awful end of sin
I think I would have turned,
My wicked ways have spurned,
In favor of his love,
Who calls from Heav'n above.
I wish I could have seen
What all the wrinkles mean
I see upon the head
Of those now sick in bed,
Who lived their lives to play,
Who heard the devil say:
"Your life is yours, my friend,
To live until the end,
Now is your only chance,
To laugh and play and dance!
Don't listen to the Lord,
Let others hear His word,
Live life while still you can,
For soon you'll be a man,
And have no more the chance,
To laugh and play and dance."
The price they pay for sin
Is paid each day again.
The devil takes his due
And now he waits for you.
If nothing else you learn
For right let your heart yearn
And turn away your ear
The devil not to hear.
Let God direct your course,
Lest you come to remorse.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
April 29, 1997
NOTE: As sometimes happens, things have been a bit slow in the writing
department of late. It seems I can start many poems but finish only
few.
Things (perhaps) will pick up again soon, but until then I hope you enjoy
this one from a few years ago. Thanks for your patience. H.
L. Gradowith
..........A Faithful Friend..........
For our sakes Jesus was born,
To this world He came alone;
Bringing the Heavenly morn
Lighting the way to God?s Home.
God His own Son has given,
On Him we fully rely
To take us home to Heaven
When time comes for us to die.
He governs in righteousness,
None can accuse Him of sin;
All men alike He will bless
He?s no respecter of men.
The Prince of Peace, Mighty God,
Wonderful, Counsellor, King;
Who through this world once did trod
Come, friend, now His praises sing!
On Him we fully depend,
From Him we?ll turn not aside;
He?ll see us through to the end
We?ll not be by Him denied.
When comes the great Judgment day
My troubles then shall all cease;
Then shall this world shall pass away
But from it I?ll be released!
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
01-16-01
NOTE: Prepared originally for insertion in notes on Psalm 72:5. TS
..........Anew..........
Here I stand facing death's cold shore,
I shall roam the hillsides no more:
Frightened and alone,
I'm lost and undone;
I've no one to open the door.
In life I had too much to do,
And now my years below are through;
Says Jesus, "Depart..."
To my poor, sad heart,
Oh! That I could start life anew.
I'd find time His Word to obey,
I would live for Him ev'ry day:
Oh! How I would sing
The praise of my King...
But I've waited too late to pray.
How quickly the years pass you by,
And now the time has come to die;
Are you ready, friend?
Fast cometh the end!
Hear, obey and on Him rely.
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
01-18-01
..........When I Have A Problem
When I have a problem, don't know what to do,
When I need someone to help me make it through:
I kneel in my closet and ask Him to lead,
And He gives the strength that I so badly need.
That's the best place to start; I think so, don't you?
Then I get my Bible, God's blest Holy Word,
Given through the Spirit by Jesus, the Lord;
All things that pertain unto life are revealed,
And in it not one thing that I need is concealed!
I wield it in faith, that mighty Spirit's Sword.
Precept upon precept and line upon line
Remind that my life is not really mine:
In Him I live and move and have my being,
And, Oh! The great comfort I find in seeing
That come Judgment Morning all things will be fine.
Sometimes to the faithful of God I may turn,
Knowing that they will understand how I yearn...
I ask for the counsel of those who have trod
The road I now walk in the service of God,
Great comfort I find in seeing their concern.
I'm thankful to God for the wonderful plan
That comforts and guides and directs poor, lost man!
Thank God for the One who paid in full the price,
Whose power and strength will forever suffice!
Thank God that even when I cannot -- He can.
02-09-01
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
NOTE: Thanks for your patience. I was beginning to wonder if
I ever
again would write any poems, but sometimes things just happen that way.
I
really appreciate each of you on the list; you are a great encouragement
to me. May God Bless You as You Study and Obey His Word. Tim
..........I Still Believe..........
I've known many disappointments
And, yes, I've known shame.
I've suffered many sad defeats
Fighting for His Name.
But here's the message I'm bringing,
And here's the glad song I'm singing:
I still believe, I still believe!
I've been to the cemetery
With friends I held dear,
And how my poor heart still misses
Enjoying them here.
But I know I'll see them some day
In a better land -- far away.
I still believe, I still believe!
I'm not the richest man in town,
But I still get by;
Sometimes life gets the upper hand
And I wonder, "Why???"
But it won't stop me believing
In that mansion I'm receiving...
I still believe, I still believe!
I've seen many poor, broken hearts,
Mine's been broken, too.
And I've seen many people fall,
Some made it -- but few.
But when comes time for me to die
I'll live with Him up there, on high!
I still believe, I still believe!
I've seen many folks mistreated,
Innocent and pure,
And it troubled me: I wondered,
Just what was the cure...
But now I know, come Judgment Day
God will drive the wicked away.
I still believe, I still believe!
Some day, I know, death will visit,
This body will fail;
With the passing of many years
This flesh becomes frail;
In Heaven I'll be young and free!
Be young for all eternity!
I still believe, I still believe!
..........H. L. Gradowith..........
02-09-01
..........Safe Home, At Last..........
The burdens of life may press me sore,
And make me wish for elsewhere to be;
But someday, friend, they'll press me no more:
For in Jesus I will be set free.
Someday I'll land on that blissful shore,
Take my rest 'neath an evergreen tree:
My cares all past,
Safe home, at last!
When Jesus comes to deliver me.
My faith may be tried beneath the load,
As I journey t'word eternity;
My feet may grow weary on the road --
But with His help I'll make it, you'll see.
I'll take my strength from the seed He sowed:
With His help I'll win the victory!
My cares all past,
Safe home, at last!
When from the clouds Jesus rescues me.
I've many friends whose battle is done,
From this world they're already set free;
And I've many more who've just begun
The long pathway to eternity;
Those who, in faith, turned to God's dear Son
I know the Lord's smiling face will see:
Their cares all past,
Safe home, at last!
When Jesus comes to set us all free.
I know I'll see the faithful up there,
In that land of the pure and the free;
I know I'll have no burdens to bear
When I behold the pure crystal sea.
I'm glad I know of His love and care
And I long for the Savior to see:
My cares all past,
Safe home, at last!
In Jesus there is sweet victory!
...........H. L. Gradowith..........
02-12-01