Kevin Hartnett Poetry

So I Will Praise Him in the Night

The plans of God bring ebb and flow –
His wisdom thus ordains it.
Prosperity to want may go,
As His good hands arrange it.
Both day and night dispense His grace;
Both work to serve His pleasure.
By day we know the glorious Face
At night we learn to treasure.

We err to think the darkness bad,
When shadows mask our knowing,
For there refreshing dew is had
That keeps the flowers growing.
The waxing and the waning moon
Both work to mark the season.
The winter dawn and dusk of June
Alike display His reason.

Should we then seek that He explain
The circle of His blessing?
Our daily rhythms here maintain
Great patterns there expressing.
For sorrows come until the Day
When Night itself will vanish,
While Wisdom works its perfect way,
And Light, will darkness, banish.

The happy soul is then content
To know that He is faithful,
And through each difficult event
Remembers to be grateful.
For God commands each circumstance
To serve those of His calling.
His loving Hand of providence
Will keep the faint from falling.

So I will praise Him in the night,
This globe of sorrows surely turns.
See there His stars of promise bright;
Behold, the light of dawn returns.

-- K.Hartnett, August 2007

This poem was inspired by the June 1st morning entry in Morning and Evening, Daily Readings by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  I've copied the entry below. You can read other entries at the following link.

“The evening and the morning were the first day.”

(Genesis 1:5)

Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day? Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my Beloved in the night. Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord’s beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight. It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation till we reach the land of which it is written, “there is no night there.” What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.

What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do? Learn first to be content with this divine order, and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good. Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours. Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief. Continue thy service under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be labour, at night exchange it for watch. Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord’s servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory. My soul, thine evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, “I will cover him all the day long.”

From Morning and Evening; Daily Readings by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Morning entry, June 1st)

And Love Ever Echoes

Oh where might the voice of God be heard, 

And truth in fullness displayed? 

Was there such a place in all the earth 

His message was so conveyed? 

 

It was there on a hill beside the lake, 

He proclaimed what would set men free; 

And love echoed out across the land 

From Jesus of Galilee. 

 

****** 

 

And where might the prayer of God be known, 

Immortal conflict portrayed? 

Was e're such a place in all the earth 

A battle for spirits raged? 

 

It was there on a hill of olive groves 

He looked death in the face for me; 

And love echoed loudly in the night 

From Christ at Gethsemane. 

   

****** 

 

Oh where might the love of God be shown, 

In all its riches displayed? 

Was there such a place in all the earth 

Divine love should be surveyed? 

 

It was there on a hill outside the gate, 

It was there, meant for all to see, 

And love ever echoes in the earth 

From Jesus at Calvary.  

 

-- K. Hartnett, March 2006 

You Go Before Us

Chorus

You go before us,

And what great comfort in the thought.

You've planned the future,

And love eternal is our lot!

Can it be You see my life through all eternity...

Waiting there for me?!

Oh gracious Father unto Thee

I pledge my love!

 

Verse One
Though my plans are filled with doubts and imperfections,

And the paths I choose do seem to go astray;

When I look again I see You there before me:

Establishing my steps along the way.

 

Verse Two
There's no mystery in Your purpose for the future.

Even now your faithful love's extending there.

You've made time to serve as keeper of Your blessings:

Another demonstration of Your care!

-- K. Hartnett, 1994
 

Come Now, Look to Me

Come now, look to Me, My precious daughter;
I know all that’s coming you can’t see.
Rest in faith for I have planned tomorrow,
And will lead you to it faithfully.

I know all the worries that you carry,
You can trust that I will answer prayer.
All the things that you call limitations,
Are to Me, broad avenues for care.

It was I who planned the generations;
I have wisdom working even now.
Ev’ry act of love done for your children
Forms a model to them I’ll endow.

Do not shrink from loving confrontation;
Discipline is truly work of grace;
Lessons from the book of gospel-living
Lay foundations time cannot erase.

See, your efforts carry far beyond you;
Seeds of virtue planted home today
Yield a harvest long into the future;
You advance My Kingdom in this way.

Raise these treasured children, loving daughter;
Time is short; make joy your memory!
Is this not the best life I could give you?
Love and purpose in your family!

--K. Hartnett, February 2005

Two years ago around this time I was asked to write a poem to encourage the homeschooling mothers in our church's Family Schools Program.  May this poem continue to help, encourage, and inspire these dedicated and hard-working women of God.

There, into Peace

There, into peace, the spirit of the work-
Man makes its way.  Not deaf to Providence-
As one who questions long, or seeks to shirk
The call of God- but rather, in defense
Of those less able in his mind to cope,
Still labors on- attentive to the end
With those he loves.  Great men thus made who hope
In prayer live ever ready as a friend,
Through loving care inquiring all to know,
Both good and bad, for there the hand of God
Is seen- and in this knowledge, how to sow
Their energies and interests ever broad.

So precious to the Lord then comes the day,
When to Himself He calls such souls away.

-- K. Hartnett, February 2007

I wrote this for one of our pastors upon learning that his father had passed away.

Even So, Come Quickly

Chorus

Even so, come quickly,
Oh my Lord do not delay!
You're my Blessed Hope,
And I long for You today.
Redeem my lowly body
And restore Thy perfect way.
How I yearn for Your returning,
And the wonder of that Day.

Verse One

The world rejects your wisdom
And has turned its back on grace;
Godless hearts surround me more and more.
I praise You for your mercy
And your love which so forbears,
But I see so much injustice
That I call to Thee who cares...

Verse Two

I see Your power around me,
And I marvel at Your ways;
The manner of your working I adore.
And yet my heart is aching;
There's a cry within my soul,
To leave behind the mortal
And to know redemption whole.

 

-- K. Hartnett, August 1996

This Picture His

What picture this, that testifies in time 
Of things so grand, sheer time cannot contain, 
And manifests a unity sublime 
Mere mortal consummations fail attain?

These earthly vows reflect the Mind of Love 
Which set eternity to be their end- 
Depicting here the joyful world above 
Where Faithfulness on flesh will n’er depend.

A picture true, yet muted tint of truth- 
The order of these partners rightly made- 
No better than the faded print of youth 
To represent maturity conveyed. 

This picture His; its virtues fully shown, 
When Christ Himself shall marry those His own.

-- Kevin Hartnett, 11/2006 

 
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31,32) 

…Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready… (Revelation 19:6,7)

I wrote this poem for Ken and Rachael (Cooper) Boer on the occasion of their wedding.  It's my first attempt in the renowned and revered English sonnet format.

He Came for Us

He came not to a temple
Nor to a palace bright;
His face felt not the sunshine,
But homeless chill of night;
No fragrant linens wrapped Him,
His bed was rude and spare.
He came among the lowly,
Their lowliness to share.

He came as Son of David,
God’s kingdom to increase;
To warring sons of Adam
He came as Prince of Peace.
The prophets had foreseen it-
This shoot from Jesse’s stem-
The promised hope of Jacob 
Would come from Bethlehem.

 
He came to free a people,
For ‘Jesus’ was His name;
To bear the sins of many,
The Lord of Love, He came.
He numbered with transgressors;
God’s judgment He withstood.
The splinters of the manger
Foretold a cross of wood.

 
He came for us, true Son of Man,
He came to pain and strife.
The Promised One, Emmanuel,
He came to bring us life!

--K. Hartnett, December 2005

I tried for a contemplative, quiet "feel" with this one.  What a wonderful truth that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us (John 3:16).

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.

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.