Kevin Hartnett Poetry

Harbor of My Heart's Desire

Harbor of my heart’s desire, 

Lord in Thee I seek my rest. 

Thou my anxious thoughts retire; 

Pressing cares, Thy grace divests. 

Oh to hear Your voice so tender- 

Clear and gentle as the dove! 

Call me into quiet waters; 

Still my anchor in Thy love. 

 

Harbor of my heart’s desire, 

All my longings meet in Thee. 

Let the joys of earth conspire- 

They no satisfactions be. 

Earnest as the watchman searching, 

Restless here my soul does roam. 

Guide me by Your present blessing

Into my eternal home.

--K. Hartnett, December 2000

I don't remember what my particular circumstances were as I wrote this poem.  I tend to get more contemplative toward the end of the calendar year and I'm sure this was a contributing factor.

I actually wrote the phrase "harbor of my heart's desire" in an earlier poem (still unfinished) about the Lord's return.  I liked the phrase enough to reuse it as the seed thought for this poem.

What Am I Doing in the Kingdom?

What am I doing in the Kingdom?
What am I doing in the Kingdom?

K. Hartnett, May 2002

This little poem presents a short theology of Christian living.  We should live in amazed, humble, and grateful awareness of God's grace to us in salvation.  As it says in Ephesians 2:8,9, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."

Simultaneously we should also live motivated to advance God's kingdom in every way He inspires within us.  A healthy Christian is active in the business of good works- not to earn credit before God, that's impossible- but rather to demonstrate through all we do the reality of His glorious Gospel.  Ephesians 2 goes on to say in verse 10, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

In Titus chapter 2, Paul gives us this other great description of Christian living:

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Prince of Peace; Thou Glorious Rider

Prince of Peace,

Thou Glorious Rider,

Leading forth the justified-

Heaven's Highest; Mankind's Finest;

Son of God; Triumphant Man.

 

How we praise You, Great Redeemer!

How we bless Your sacrifice!

You have wholly done the labor,

Bridging earth and Paradise!

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou Faithful Servant,

Humbly leaving glory by;

Come to bear the wrath of sinners;

Hammered on a cross to die.

 

How we thank You Selfless Savior!

How Your crown we so defiled!

You gave up Your life and blood that

God and man be reconciled.

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou First in Love, Who

Leads to life the lost and strayed.

Ever seeking, ever calling;

Shepherd of the souls You saved.

 

How we love You, Gracious Savior!

How we need You, Love Divine!

You, our Blessed Mediator,

Prince of Peace, all praise be Thine!

 

--K. Hartnett, June 1996

 

I used a lot of capitalized words in this poem - many more than I usually do.  Somehow they just seem more appropriate to me as each of the spots seems more like a title than just a description.  Christ incarnates every perfection.  In this sense, He owns every glorious title.

The reference to "Rider" comes from biblical images such as in Deut. 33:26, Psalm 68:33, Psalm 104:3 and Revelation 19:11.

I liked the second part of verse one enough to reuse it as the chorus in Jesus Christ, Our Great Redeemer

 

For I Believe the Gospel

Chorus:

 

How can I deny it,

But oh how can it be?

The mighty Lord of heaven

Is living now in me!

 

I cannot comprehend it,

And yet I know it’s true;

For I believe the Gospel,

And everything is new!

 

Verse One:

 

What life is this inside of me

That never was before?

 

What’s welling up; compelling me

To worship and adore?

 

What Spirit moves and quickens now

To listen and obey?

 

What faithful sense directs somehow

When I don’t get my way?

 

Verse Two:

 

What interest builds inside of me

When now His Word is read?

 

What prompts me into charity

Where feelings once were dead?

 

What moves me forth to fellowship;

To share my sins and pride?

 

What conquers fear and faithlessness,

Producing peace inside?

 

 

-- K. Hartnett, January 2000

Sow Then the Precious Seeds of Hope

Think not that God rejects you,

Nor can’t protect His child.

The lying voice of evil

Would have you thus beguiled.

No, rather contemplate your lot

In light of Calvary,

And know His covenantal love

Makes joy a guarantee.

 

Fret not yourself comparing,

It only leads to sin.

Avoid the trap of dwelling

On how things might have been.

Press closer to your Father’s heart-

His nearness is your good.

Your limitations He prescribes;

Your sorrows, understood.

 

Strive not in comprehending

But in His mercy, rest.

He works a greater wisdom

Than human thoughts suggest.

The trusting soul will know a peace

The mind cannot conceive.

How great indeed His promises

For those who have believed!

 

Sow then the precious seeds of hope,

And water them with tears;

You soon will come rejoicing when

His faithfulness appears.

--K. Hartnett, April 2006

The last four lines of this poem are a paraphrase of Psalm 126:5-6.  I wrote the poem for a couple in the church who were experiencing an unusual and grueling medical trial.

Jesus Christ, Our Great Redeemer!

Christ, the Humble, we adore You, 

Son Eternal, sent to save; 

Grasping not to heaven’s glory; 

Prince of Life, placed in a grave! 

Well might brilliant angels marvel; 

Devils too, not comprehend: 

Christ, Transcendent Praise of Heaven, 

Sacrificed for sinful men! 

 

Christ, the Faithful, we extol You, 

Steward of the Father’s plan; 

Second Adam, come as Savior, 

Ardent Son and Sinless Man. 

What temptations You contested; 

Awful punishments withstood!   

You accomplished Heaven’s purpose: 

To the evil, bringing good. 

 

Christ, the Victor, we exalt You; 

Lord above all other names! 

Satan’s rule on earth is broken; 

Death compelled to drop its claims! 

Everything the Law demanded 

You completed perfectly; 

By Your blood, received in heaven, 

We are found forever free! 

 

Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer, 

Thank You for Your sacrifice! 

You have wholly done the labor, 

Bridging earth and paradise!

 

--K. Hartnett, October 2003

I believe this poem could make a good hymn or song.  I welcome the collaboration of those who have musical gifts to set this, or one of my other texts to song.  Ones that I believe are particularly suitable for singing are in the category called "Song Potential."  Humble, faithful, and victorious- we truly have a great Savior!

 

O Higher Let My Praises Reach!

O higher let my praises reach; 

Make loud His great acclaim! 

Extol Him rightly King of Grace, 

And Lord o'er every name. 

Toward Him, my soul, let praise mature; 

Let no thought stand aloof; 

Excel thee as a worshipper 

In spirit and in truth! 

 

O higher let my praises reach! 

Let not this flesh impede 

A passion for the Gospel preached  

Among those who believe. 

Oh magnify the Lord my soul, 

And lead the joyful throng! 

His grace together sweet extol; 

His works receive with song! 

 

O higher let my praises reach, 

What cause could greater be? 

The fierce regard of holiness 

Directs no wrath toward me! 

A righteousness that's not my own, 

My refuge makes secure. 

He ever lives before the throne, 

My access to assure. 

 

O higher let my praises reach; 

Think only of the cross! 

With outstretched arms He beckons each, 

Redeeming helpless lost. 

What greater love could there be shown, 

A shepherd for his sheep? 

He bore God's crushing curse alone, 

His wayward ones to keep. 

 

O higher let my praises reach; 

Shall not my voice extend 

Into the throne room of the King, 

Where choruses ascend, 

Acclaiming Him the great "I Am", 

While awesome creatures call, 

"Most worthy, worthy is the Lamb, 

Who fills the all in all!" 

 

Chorus

 

Yes higher let my worship spring! 

Soar into courts above; 

Where choirs forever rightly sing 

Of Your (His) amazing love! 

 

-- Kevin Hartnett, August 2000

This poem began as a self-imposed challenge to write something in this particular rhyming scheme.  I find that I need challenges like that to help me grow as a writer.  I've read the whole poem, as well as just stanzas 1,3 and 5 in various worship contexts.  Joshua Harris quoted a portion of this poem in the dedication section of his book Boy Meets Girl

Dazzling Phosphor in the Night

Photo by K. Hartnett

Dazzling phosphor in the night,

Silent orator, so bright,

How I marvel at your story-

And the Hand behind your glory.

K. Hartnett, August 1997

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

The Star Sirius - Our Beautiful Celestial Neighbor
Sirius. Premier gem of our sparkling and frosty winter skies. This brilliant star’s name itself means “the Sparkling or Scorching One” although it is also commonly called “the Dog Star” because of its location in the constellation of Canis Major, the Big Dog. Sirius is the brightest star visible from earth (excepting the Sun). This is due in part to its “nearby” location. Sirius is a mere 8.7 light years distant from the solar system . This is the distance a light beam would travel in 8.7 years at the speed of 186,000 miles per second- about 50 trillion miles! In contrast, the light from another prominent winter star, Betelgeuse in Orion, travels 520 light years (3,120 trillion miles) to reach us.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

I borrowed the word "phosphor" from the Greeks, after curiosity led  me to consult the original language of the New Testament for what is rendered  variously in English translations as “stars in the universe,” or “lights  in the world” (Philippians 2:15). The Greek phrase itself is “phosphors in the cosmos,” and I thought, “Wow,  I’ve got to use that somewhere!” The  rest of the poem is really just a retelling of Psalm 19. How loudly the silent stars speak to those who have ears to hear!

Where Beauty Gleams with Grace

Where Beauty gleams with Grace

There is no further need for faith employed.

Fulfilled within that Face

The finest mortal hope is e’r enjoyed.

And love, desire of earthly hearts,

Has only there the means to be,

The timeless giving birth

To all He covenants eternally.

 

-- K. Hartnett, December 1999

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,  the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

 

For in hope we have been saved,  but hope that is seen is not hope;  for why does one also hope for what he sees?  (Romans 8:24)

   

But now abide faith, hope, and love, these three;  but the greatest of these is love.  (1 Corinthians 13:13)

 

...in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)

 

In eternity, faith and hope pass away.  But it's only there that we can experience the fullness of God's eternal love - timelessly new.