O Sovereign Lord

O Sovereign Lord, O Potentate of Heav'n,
O Mighty Liege from whom all life and light
Do spring and meet in blessing giv'n:

The nations rage and foam and writhe with night
To seek to thwart Your rule and overturn
Your Glory with the cunning kiss of blight.

Bend near, O Gracious Lord, for they yet burn
Within their hearts to lust and desecrate
Your laws, Your courts—Your people they do spurn.

But You are near: Your Grace to demonstrate,
Your power shown in weak and lacking souls—
The Paraclete, our Holy Advocate!

So come, O Lord, and strengthen us in whole,
Fill us with Pow'r so us You then control.

- D. Benning

'Twas Grace

'Twas Grace that kept me safe all days,
   And Grace that blocked my paths with thorns;
Grace sought me with a steadied gaze;
   Grace spoke to me my heart to warn.

In pride I tried to climb the heights,
   To reach for honor, fame and pow'r;
But Grace in mercy blocked my flights,
   And undercut my Babel Tow'r.

Then Grace in mercy dealt its blow,
   Its cunning cut that heralded cure:
With plans in ruins and joys now woe,
   I finally saw a hope so sure.

'Tis Grace that leads me down from heights,
   A barren crag and lifeless place;
For blessings come midst radiant lights
   That on the humble shines His Face.

For Grace has taught my heart to love,
   Since nothing good in me I know;
All blessings come from Him Above
   And flow to those who bend most low.

- D. Benning

 

Ode to a Grand Piano

Thou still unrivaled form of loveliness,
       Thou studied child of rhythm, time, and tune,
Pious monk or learnèd sage can but express
       Their bid at earthly beauty but rough-hewn.
What joy there is that lingers round thy form!
       Of sight and sound—the pleasure joined at both—
               The chords and chorus wed in fervencies.
       What joy, what ardor, and what `passioned growth
Enlivens hearts then raptures weave and warm
               Upon the striking of thy pleasant keys.

- D. Benning

Beauty on the Cusp of Night

There is a quiet calmness that spread o'er my heart 

      when I see the twilight spread orange and purple 

               under dimming light of day fast waning. 

The colors' intensity focused on a spot, 

      a hill, a peak, a sharp delineation,

                         where earth meets sky, 

     while objects closer form a silhouette, 

               a shadow of what they were by day. 

 And my heart paused to reflect on all that day had brought. 

Now night descends and beckons me to rest, 

     to gather strength for Day which comes then soon again.

Beauty on the cusp of night!

- D. Benning

Picture by Billy Hallowell

Fret Not O'er Evil

Fret not o'er evil, nor envy wrong;
for like the mown grass soon they'll be gone.
Trust in the Lord and do good always;
dwell in His pastures safe for all days.

Delight in your God, dwell in His Word;
He'll give delights then more than you heard.
Commit your way to this sov'reign God;
trust Him completely—in Him be awed!

   He will make your righteousness shine,
   shine like the dawn with increasing brightness,
   your cause like the noon day sun,
   your justice and your righteousness.

Be still before Him, wait patiently;
fret not when others prosper so free.
Be still before Him, wait for His time;
refrain from anger, be meek and kind.

   He will make your righteousness shine,
   shine like the dawn with increasing brightness,
   your cause like the noon day sun,
   your justice and your righteousness.

Fret not o'er evil, nor envy wrong;
for like the mown grass soon they'll be gone.
Trust in the Lord and do good always;
dwell in His pastures safe for all days.

- D. Benning


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