We had a ladies’ conference at our church with the theme, Crossing the Jordan. I was asked to write a poem for a bookmark. The first poem God gave me was too large for a bookmark, so I did another, so this is a twofer!

Crossing the Jordan

The word came down, “Go, worship God.”
So they left Egypt’s lands.
They didn’t trust in their God’s strength;
They wandered in the sands.
He gave them water, manna too,
But still they had such doubt.
Would He provide for all their needs?
What was this trip about?
The journey wasn’t just to get
His people free from bonds
But also to free them from fear
Beneath the palm tree fronds.
They sinned at Sinai, angered God,
He showed them how to fear
His righteous anger and bow down
To Him; He made it clear:
No idols could they worship,
He alone would be their God.
Another god or idol was
A useless, wicked fraud.
But if they’d come to Him alone
And keep His laws each day
And only to the Sovereign Lord
Would they bow down and pray,
He’d usher them into a land
So filled with wealth and peace
That life would hold abundant joy;
His blessings would not cease.
But they (like we) forgot their Lord
And did as they thought right.
Too often to this day we still
Forget to see His light.
We can today, have all these gifts:
He will abundance give,
If we will put Him center and
For Him alone will live.
So stop your foolish wandering.
Fear God and pray each day.
And enter in the Promised Land.
Our God will lead the way.

©2014 Denise McKenney

And here’s the bookmark. It isn’t a rhyming poem, just 3 sentences where the first letter of each word spells out Crossing The Jordan.

Crossing The Jordan

Christ’s
Righteousness
Overcomes
Sin’s
Slavery
Inviting
New
Grace.

Trust
Him
Eternally.

Jesus,
Our
Rock,
Dependable
Always
Near.

© 2014 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney