Please click on these links to read my poems that have their own pages:

This Is My Song and I Sing

To Bolivia with Love

The Story Did Not Start with a Stable and a Star 

A Mother's Seeds

"Seven Blessings for One Marriage" and "Do Cry"

Over Utah In January (with photographs)

Corpus Christi (Advent Poem 2007) 

 

Rhapsody in M

by Virginia Knowles (Advent 2006)

 

 

The Paradox

by Virginia Knowles

Come, see where He lays,

Good Shepherd and Little Lamb

King of Kings and Servant of All

Prophet and Prophecy Fulfilled

Physician and Wounded One

High Priest and Atoning Sacrifice

Counselor and Rejected One

Builder and Foundation Stone

Righteous Judge and Condemned Prisoner

Ancient of Days and Newly-born Babe

God and Man

Jesus is a paradox, a seeming contradiction in terms.  Who is he?  What is his nature?  And why did he come?  If you have ever wondered how to understand or explain the mystery of Jesus, I invite you to look up the following passages, which correspond line by line to the facets expressed in the poem, The Paradox. 

• John 10: 11 / John 1:29
• Revelation 19:16 /  Mark 10:43-45, Philippians 2:7
• Luke 7:16 / Matthew 1:22, Luke 4:16-21 (Isaiah 61:1-3)
• Matthew 15:29-31 / Isaiah 53:4-6
• Hebrews 7:23-28 / Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:19-22
• Isaiah 9:6 / Isaiah 53:3, John 10:22-33
• Hebrews 3:3, Matthew 16:18 /  1 Peter 2:4-9
• John 8:1-11, Acts 10:42-43, Acts 17:30-31 / Mark 14:60-65
• Daniel 7:13-14 / Luke 2:8-20
• John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:19-20 / 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 1:1-4 

 

 

Shepherd’s Tale

by Virginia Knowles

 

A prayer I make to stay awake,

To watch the sheep safe in my keep,

When I should see, in front of me,

An angel bright in darkest night.

“Be not afraid!” the angel bade.

“Good news of joy! A baby boy

Is born today, on bed of hay.

The Savior mild, the Lord’s a child!”

Now in the sky the angels fly,

And gladly sing of newborn King.

“Give God high praise, hosannas raise,

And peace on earth through Jesus’ birth!”

All shepherds know that they should go,

To follow them to Bethlehem.

Where baby rests is not the best,

A scratchy stall holds Lord of All.

But God above sends Gift of Love.

Forgiving sin, he lives within.

Now spread the word, till all have heard

Amazing story, to God be glory!

 

Psalm to Sweet Jesus

by Virginia Knowles

 

Sweet Jesus, you bring to me all that is good:

Comfort and hope when I am discouraged,

Peace and reconciliation when I am in conflict,

Strength and enthusiasm when I am weary,

Wisdom and guidance when I am confused,

Courage and confidence when I am afraid,

Forgiveness and mercy when I have done wrong.

You bore the fatal punishment that I deserved,

Yet rose up again in power,

Promising that if I would turn from my awful sin,

And believe in your awesome grace,

I could become your own precious child,

And enter into your everlasting Gloryland.

Such a rich salvation that I could never earn!

As a simple gift of gratitude,

With help from your Word and your Spirit,

I will trust and obey your loving commands,

I will worship you with my prayers and songs,

I will serve others joyfully,

I will share your Good News,

So that each one who hears and believes

May receive the matchless treasure

Found only in you.

 

 

Alabaster Jar

by Virginia Knowles from Matthew 26:6-13

 

Alabaster jar, costly sweet perfume

Devotion broke it open

Fragrance filled the room.

Poured over Jesus’ head

Anointing for the grace

Some saw only money lost

Jesus blessed the love she gave.

Broken and poured out, broken and poured out

But there’s no waste of life, just fragrant sacrifice

And it’s all because of love.

Can you see his love? Messiah on the cross

Body broken, blood poured out

For our sin’s redemption cost

Can you see his power? Victory over death

Hell could not contain him

Nor quench his living breath

Broken and poured out, broken and poured out

But there’s no waste of life, just fragrant sacrifice

And it’s all because of love.

Lord, break me for your glory, pour me for your name.

Let me share his sufferings and power just the same.

Crucified with Christ is what I want to be,

For when I’ve died to my old life, I’ll rise up to be free.

Broken and poured out, broken and poured out

But there’s no waste of life, just fragrant sacrifice

And it’s all because of love.

 

A Woman of Beauty

by Virginia Knowles

 

A beautiful woman is quiet in spirit,

gentle in all that she does.

Adorning the inward part,

she trusts the Lord with all her heart,

She is a woman of beauty!

She is a woman of beauty!

She does not need ornaments of fancy gold,

and it's not in how she fixes her hair.

As long as she's clothed in strength and dignity,

it doesn't matter what else she wears.

A beautiful woman is quiet in spirit,

gentle in all that she does.

Adorning the inward part,

she trusts the Lord with all her heart,

She is a woman of beauty!

She is a woman of beauty!

 

Who Is There Like Unto Thee?

by Virginia Knowles

 

Who is there like unto Thee, O Lord,

To Thy name give glory!

Full of compassion, righteousness and truth,

Full of strength and power, and clothed in majesty!

And yet on the cross, you were willing to bleed,

And you met us there, in our time of need.

And now at your throne room, we may boldly enter in,

To receive grace and mercy again and again!

 

Creator on the Cross

by Virginia Quarrier, 1984

 

Oh the love of the Holy God

For man whose life was lost

No greater love there is than this

My Creator on the cross.

He made me, yet he died for me

He paid the greatest cost,

The blood of Jesus Christ the Son,

My Creator on the cross.

Grace abounding and mercy free

Set fire to my frost

My blackest sin washed white by him

My Creator on the cross.

 

How Will They Know?

by Virginia Quarrier, 1980

When I was young, I went to Sunday school.

I learned “Do Unto Others”, that Golden Rule

I learned that Jesus loved children and fed the sheep,

But I never did give him my soul to keep.

How will they know unless we tell them?

How will they know unless we show them from his word?

I don’t like to think of where I would be right now,

If I had never, never heard.

Heaven was just like Santa Claus,

You’ve got to be good to get your reward,

You have to do right or you won’t get in.

No one told me that God forgives sin.

I guess I knew that Jesus died,

The pictures on the wall showed him crucified

But no one told me what he died for

I really wish they had told me more.

Easter was just a new spring dress,

Dolling up in our Sunday best,

Bunnies and chickies, and “Watch how you behave!”

No one told me Jesus rose from the grave.

No one told me that he was coming again

To take his loved ones back with him.

I thought when he left he was gone for good,

I only wish I had understood.

No one told me to ask him in

To enter my heart and take out the sin

To take my life as Savior and Lord

And that he was knocking on my heart’s door.

Somebody finally told me all the things I’m telling you.

Somebody finally told me all the Gospel truth.

I finally told Jesus I wanted him as my Lord,

When somebody finally cared enough to show me from his Word.

How will they know unless we tell them?

How will they know unless we show them from his word?

I don’t like to think of where I would be right now,

If I had never, never heard.