A Couple Songs (not “Couple Songs” as in love songs, but “a couple”, as in, two of them.)
“Greenfields”
How tedious and hasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see.
Sweet prospect, sweet birds, and sweet
flow’rs
have all lost their sweetness to me.
The mid-summer Sun shines but dim,
the fields try in vain to look gay.
But when I am happy in Him,
December’s as pleasant as May.
His name yields the richest perfume,
and sweeter than music his voice.
His presence disperses my gloom,
and makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were he always this nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear.
No mortal so happy as I,
my Summer would last all the year.
Content with beholding his face
my all to his pleasure reside.
No changes of season or place
would make any change in my mind.
While blessed with a sense of his love
a palace a toy would appear.
And prisons would palaces prove
if Jesus would dwell with me there.
Dear Lord, if indeed I am thine,
if thou art my Sun and my Song,
say why do I languish and pine,
and why are my winters so long?
Oh, drive these dark clouds from my
sky,
thy soul cheering presence restore!
Or take me unto thee on high,
where Winter and Clouds are no more.
Abide In Me [slightly changed from “with” in the original. See John 15.]
Abide in me, fast falls the even tide.
The darkness deepens. Lord, in me
abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts
flee,
help of the helpless, oh…abide in me.
Swift to it’s close ebbs out life’s
little day.
Earth’s joys grow dim, it’s glories
pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
Oh thou who changest not…abide in me.
I fear no foe with thee at hand to
bless.
Ills have no weight and tears no
bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where grave thy
victory?
I triumph still if thou abide in me.
Hold thou thy Cross before my closing
eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to
the skies.
Heav’ns morning breaks, and Earth’s
vain shadows flee.
In life, in death, oh Lord…..Abide
in me.
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
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Thanks Jarod. I love songs and poems. I really liked reading these. Especially the first one since I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.
~ Krissy
Great post, Jarod… I like the changes to Abide With Me. I’ve loved that songs for several years but reading this version it takes on a new, deeper, better meaning for me, I guess because of where I’m at now in my relationship with the Lord.
I’ve never heard the first song and reading it’s raised goosebumps on my arms. Who wrote it and when? “And prisons would palaces prove if Jesus would dwell with me there.” AMEN!
It’s from a CD that I have by Bobby Horton. It’s called “Songs of Faith from the Civil War: Vol. 2”. So it was written long enough ago to be sung during the War Between the States. I don’t know who wrote it. Perhaps I’ll make it so it will play on the site.
I love that CD….. I don’t know if it’s still on my computer or not. Thanks J