Six Bright Stars

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8 

DRAW NEAR

I stand in awe beneath the stars,
Out where the air is clear,
Watching the journeys of
Jupiter and Mars.
I feel his presence here;
He invites me to draw near.

Amid the clamor of a city street
Far from the quiet countryside,
Watching the traffic and
The many hurried feet;
In my heart I still can hear
His invitation to draw near.

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

DEFECTOR

I’ve come from a land where the sun never shines,
Where a tyrant called Satan is king.
The people are cowed by his merciless hand,
He rules with a scorpion’s sting.
But I read from a book smuggled in from outside,
And I found there The Plan of escape.
I believed in God’s Son and he came, took my hand,
And we marched unopposed through the gate!

I’m a defector from the kingdom of Satan.
I ran away from his darkness and fear.
I immigrated to the kingdom of God’s dear Son,
And I found asylum here.
My allegiance is no longer with the devil;
Against him I’ve joined the attack.
I’m a defector from the kingdom of Satan,
And I will never, never go back!

Satan’s servants are bound with invisible chains,
The links forged of fear and distress.
They work long and hard; then receive their reward:
The wages he pays them is death!
Now I have crossed over to the other side,
Left behind the dominion of dread.
The wages of sin I am no longer paid;
I receive life eternal instead!

He promises pleasure
But delivers despair.
He’s called Deceiver,
The Father of Lies.
I’m sorry I served him,
But never again.
My loyalty now is with Christ!

I’m a defector from the kingdom of Satan.
I ran away from his darkness and fear.
I immigrated to the kingdom of God’s dear Son,
And I found asylum here.
My allegiance is no longer with the devil;
Against him I’ve joined the attack.
I’m a defector from the kingdom of Satan,
And I will never, never go back!

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

HIS COMING *
An Advent Meditation
 
This song I sing; this story tell
Of the Child, Immanuel.
The coming of our Lord Jesus
When God came to live with us.
I can never sing enough
Of his birth in Bethlehem.
I, too, would join the shepherds there
And kneel and worship him.

His coming—
A great mystery.
How I marvel when I see
The One whose voice angels obey
Lying on a bed of hay.

The prophets saw Messiah come.
Saw him born of virgin’s womb,
And then they saw him like a lamb
Taking on himself our sins.
I can never praise enough
One who gave his life for me
Before a cross on Golgotha’s hill
I fall down on my knees.

His coming—
A great mystery.
How I marvel when I see
The One who made the mountains stand
Clutching at His mother’s hand.

Among the stars his own hands made,
Shone one that made others fade.
A light that guided wise men far;
Hope was shining in that star.
I can never gaze enough
At the star of Bethlehem—
A beacon fire that leads us to
The Savior of all men.

His coming—
A great mystery.
How I marvel when I see
The One who spoke, and there was light
Come to earth one holy night.

___________________

* This song is available for listening. I have slightly altered the lyrics since the recording was made

Original version © 1991 revised edition ©2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
(Stay on the Road)

Stay on the road,
Christian,
Stay on the road.
Don’t turn aside
For the glittering gold.
Other roads beckon,
But they’ll lead you astray.
Straight is the true road
And narrow the Way.

Stay on the road,
Brother,
Keep your heart pure.
Don’t be deceived
By the Devil’s detour.
Keep marching on, soldier
Keep marching on.
Fight the good fight ‘till
The battle is won.

Walk in the light,
Children,
Walk in the light.
Follow the Master,
Keep Jesus in sight.
Follow the path
Saints victorious have trod.
Stay on the high road,
Be true to your God.

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

This song was inspired by Psalm 113:3
 
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED

 
From the first light of morning
To the glow of setting sun,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
From the heights of distant mountains
To the end of rivers’ run,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Forevermore.

From the plain village houses
To great palaces of gold,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
In the songs of little children
And the prayers of saints grown old,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever,
Forevermore.

From the time of a new birth
Till the end of earthly days,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
And the Lord takes great delight in
One who trusts him and obeys,
For the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever,
Forevermore.
 

Originally © 1990; modified ©2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

 
FAULTLESS LAMB

I Peter 1:18–20
 

Not with things that pass away
Like silver or gold
Were you redeemed from the empty way of life.
But by the precious blood of Christ,
A lamb without fault.
He was chosen before the world began.

Not with silver, not with gold.
A higher price was paid to redeem your soul.
It was a treasure greater than
Anything conceived by man;
It is the blood that flowed
From the faultless Lamb.

When shepherds keeping watch were told
A child is born. They could not know
That they would leave their sheep to kneel before a Lamb.
That the baby on the straw
Would someday die to save us all.
That was the meaning of his birth in Bethlehem.

Not with silver, not with gold.
A higher price was paid to redeem your soul.
It’s nothing we do on our own;
Only one thing can atone:
It is the blood that flowed
From the faultless Lamb.

Not with silver; not with gold.
A higher price was paid to redeem your soul.
Not with any earthly thing,
But a costly offering.
Forever we shall sing
Of the blood that flowed
From the faultless Lamb.
 

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

This song I wrote years ago for the woman who became my wife. Incidentally, we just celebrated our 33rd year of marriage. I sang this song to her during the ceremony (aww) and we used the melody as the bridal march.

AND HIS PEACE (Song for Marilyn)

 
Chariot of fire,
Drawn by the morning,
Passing through the gateways
of  crimson,
And my soul knows the smile
of my Father,
And His peace
Settling down like the sunset.
 
Empress of the night,
Glimmering in the snow,
Cold and pure the glow
in my window,
And my soul knows the warmth
of His caring,
And His peace
Shining in like the moonlight.
 
Like tears of joy in Spring,
Your coming is welcome.
I will share with you
of my treasures,
For my soul knows the joy
of your presence,
And His peace
Coming down like the rainfall.
 
 
[originally composed in 1978]
© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

This is a song from the viewpoint of a woman who hears about Jesus ministering in nearby towns and desires to meet him. This woman I have patterned after Mary Magdalene, who I used to think had been a prostitute before becoming a follower of Jesus, but lately I’ve learned that there’s no real reason to think this of her. Still, I’m sure there was at least one woman whose “story” I relate below.

YOU BROUGHT YOUR PEACE  (into my heart)

 
My steps were slow and heavy;
The road was bleak and dreary.
Inside, it seemed my heart was made of stone.
I knew I had to see you;
Knew I needed to be near you.
I was tired, afraid, and achingly alone.
When I set out on my journey,
There were some tried to deter me.
They said there’s no returning
If down that road you start.
But their words did not dissuade me.
Instead they more determined made me,
For somehow, Jesus, I knew
You could bring peace to my heart.
 
Jesus, you have brought your peace
into my heart.
You have drawn the faded curtains
wide apart.
And all the room was filled with sunlight,
Where before were shadows dark.
Jesus, you have brought your peace
into my heart.
 
I remember asking for you;
Some men told me where I’d find you,
Till at last I stood before you face to face.
I knelt before you humbly;
The truth had dawned so suddenly:
I could not hide my past nor my disgrace.
So many things I was ashamed of.
So many times I tried to find love,
I dared not raise my eyes
But stared down at the floor.
Then you lifted me so gently;
Your words did not condemn me.
In your eyes I saw a vast love;
In your arms, an open door.
 
Jesus, you have brought your peace
into my heart.
You have drawn the faded curtains
wide apart.
And all the room was filled with sunlight,
Where before were shadows dark.
Jesus, you have brought your peace
into my heart.

 
© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

STILL GOD SENDS THE RAIN

 
The earth was cracked and dry,
Beneath a cloudless sky.
The hearts of the people were as hard as the barren ground.
Then the prophet Elijah prayed.
Soon a cloud was on its way;
Then the thunder rolled and the rains came pouring down.
 
Still, still God sends the rain
Though his people take His name in vain;
Though they try to live their lives apart from him,
Ensnared in sin.
Still, refreshing showers fall
On the ones who heed him not at all.
Though they seldom pause to give thanks in his Name,
He sends the rain.
 
We’re a people vain and proud.
How we talk on long and loud
Of what we’ve accomplished with our own two hands.
Some credit working hard;
Others thank their lucky stars,
But is there any room for God in all their plans?
 
Still, still God sends the rain
To a world of bitterness and pain,
And the multitudes, like sheep, that go astray.
Go their own way.
Still, refreshing showers fall
On the ones who disregard his call .
Though so many will not hear, He’s still the same:
He sends the rain.
 

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper

FAITHFUL FOREVER

Psalm 146:6 NIV

Faithful forever,
our God does not change.
He sends down his mercies
like warm, summer rains.
He comforts the fatherless;
shelters those with no home.
Through all the ages
he makes his love known.

Faithful forever,
Forever the same.
Justice and mercy
And truth his domain.
Creator, Redeemer
and Holy his name,
Holy, Holy his name.

Faithful forever,
each promise is kept.
His Word was fulfilled
while a little town slept,
and shepherds were summoned
to worship a child,
sent forth from heaven,
a lamb, undefiled.

Faithful forever,
Forever the same.
Justice and mercy
And truth his domain.
Creator, Redeemer
and Holy his name,
Holy, Holy,his name.

Faithful the shepherd
who seeks one sheep lost;
will search till he finds it
though great is the cost.
So Bethlehem’s baby
was the Lamb sacrificed.
Faithful the shepherd
who lays down his life
for his friends.

No longer his servants,
he calls us his friends.
Faithful forever,
his love never ends.

© 2011 by Dennis Dale Kemper