Kevin Hartnett Poetry

Are You Looking for the Savior?

VERSE 1
Old Simeon would wake each day
To think about the Lord.
He knew that God had promised that
Their land would be restored.
The Spirit also made a wondrous guarantee:
That he would surely live until
The promised Christ he’d see.

CHORUS
Are you looking for the Savior?
Do you know Him – the Promised One?
All of hist’ry points to Jesus
He is God’s redeeming Son

VERSE 2
Sweet Anna worshipped God as well
Within the temple there.
She sought to know His heart and mind
By fasting and through prayer.
And when she saw the child
Began to sing His praise,
For God provided Jesus to
Redeem the nation’s ways.

VERSE 3
Let every heart now look to God
To see what He has done:
His promise of a Savior was
Fulfilled by His own Son.
The name of Jesus Christ
Be joy to every ear!
The sinless Son laid down His life
So sinners can draw near.

ALTERNATE VERSE 3 (FOR ADVENT)
Do you then think of God like this
Or long to know His will?
Do you commit to fast and pray
His purpose to fulfill?
O let us sing His praise
And speak of what He’s done -
To save a world enslaved in sin
God gave His precious Son!

I collaborated with Ken Boer to write this children's song back in 2007.  Basically, I wrote the lyrics and he wrote the music (though in good collaborations, like this one, the composer and lyricist both "tweak" one another's ideas). You can listen to it here on Ken's website.

New Verses for O Holy Night

Verse One: Placide Cappeau, trans. John S. Dwight)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Verse Two (Kevin Hartnett)

Humbly He lay, Creator come as creature,
Born on the floor of a hay-scattered stall.
True Son of God, yet bearing human feature,
He entered earth to reverse Adam’s fall.
In towering grace, He laid aside His glory,
And in our place, was sacrificed for sin.
Fall on your knees! O hear the gospel story!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Verse Three (Kevin Hartnett)

Come then to Him Who lies within the manger,
With joyful shepherds, proclaim Him as Lord.
Let not the Promised Son remain a stranger;
In reverent worship, make Christ your Adored.
Eternal life is theirs who will receive Him;
With grace and peace, their lives He will adorn.
Fall on your knees! Receive the Gift of heaven!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

I wrote new lyrics for verses two and three a few years ago. I did my best to keep the "feel" of the original (English translation) but move the song to one that emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas: the coming of Christ to Earth to redeem mankind.  This song has a rather remarkable history.  You can read about it here.  The music was written by a Jewish man who set the lyrics of an infrequent church attender. 

Can we agree that it's time to redeem this wonderful melody to advance the gospel?!

One Look at Him

Imagine all the wonders that abound

In ev'ry distant swirling galaxy,

That daily now in telescopes are found

As far as swelling apertures can see!

　

O think upon the splendid vistas there,

Where colored triple stars o'er planets rise,

While shining moons and rings their splendors share

With asters strewn 'cross bright galactic skies!

　

Will heaven then surpassing wonders show-

When God creates the universe anew-

And there, as promised, on His works bestow

A beauty He will never need renew?

　

Yes, this shall happen, yet my soul must say:

One look at Him will sweep them all away.

 

This is a poem from my devotional book: The Heavens: Intimate Moments with Your Majestic God . It is in the English sonnet format. I wrote most of it sitting in the Motor Vehicle Administration waiting for my number to come up!! Will we need cars in heaven? I trust not. :)