All Articles For Apples of Gold

Time, as the swinging pendulum, Brings the new millennium. Man fears what is to transpire, Hearing the predictions dire. Some are worried, many fret Over things unseen as yet. People prepare in rapid paces, For preservation of the races. While others plan to celebrate This much anticipated date, With merriment and revelry They’ll celebrate the century. Millennium markers are on the rise As Y2K is commercialized.

Mrs. Looyenga is a member of South Holland Protestant Reformed Church. She wrote this poem for the 75th anniversary and read it at the Pre-Convention Singspiration. When energy burst forth from God’s creating mind, His Spirit, by the power of His spoken Word, gave form, And there was light. What creature saw it when it shined, Illuminating, radiating warm Upon the universe of matter waiting there? When firmament was for the heavens placed, And waters gathered from the land still bare, Hills skipped and vales rejoiced as waters raced. A universal chorus started thus— “Not unto us, O Lord, not...

Communing with God in the morning When the day is beginning to dawn; Seeking His help and His guidance Enabling me to go on. Communing with God in the noontime In the toil and heat of the day; Claiming the words of His promise, “Lo, I am with you alway.” Communing with God in the evening When the time has come to rest; Trusting in His loving kindness— Knowing He sends what is best. Communing with God at midnight When the world around me is still; Praying that He will protect me Knowing He always will.

“Living waters,” gushing, flowing Ever from the Fountain free; Came from Him, the Source, the Giver, Down in this poor world to be. Matchless gift from matchless Saviour, When back to the Father’s throne He had gone—His love so perfect To His own thus fully shown. “Living waters,” full, exhaustless, Welling forth a Saviour’s love, Once in this dark world of sorrow All the Father’s heart to prove. Hear, oh hear the wondrous story Of His anguish, groans, and tears, Of those awful hours on Calvary, Where His head the thorn-crown wears. “Living waters,” Holy Spirit, Telling still the anguish...

Suzanne Looyenga is the wife of Dr. David Looyenga, mother of six children, and a poet. With her family, she is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. The poem is based on Luke 10:2. The blaze of noontime sun has passed And golden fields, sun-blest, lie waiting— Waiting for the harvesting— Their bronze and amber undulating As the quickening autumn breezes blow. Soon comes the snow. Already do the shadows tell The hasty circuit of the sun And the time is ever creeping forward To the day man’s work is done: When winter blasts with...

The church and the World walked far apart On the changing shore of time; The World was singing a giddy song, And the Church a hymn sublime. “Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World, “And then walk with me this way.” But the good Church hid her snowy hand And solemnly answered— “Nay, I will not give you my hand at all And I will not walk with you: Your way is the way of eternal death And your words are all untrue.” “Nay, walk with me a little space,” Said the World with a kindly air, “The...

(At the occasion of the farewell program for Rev. Carl Haak by Lynden Protestant Reformed congregation, Lynden, WA, on October 21, 1994.) When Christ Himself was yet upon this earthly scene, Pray ye, said He, the Lord of Harvest, when you see fields unto that harvest white. That He the Lord send laborers there to reap His Wheat and from the midst of chaff to separate and claim His own with might. So do the saints in congregations in this age beseech, and so did we, Almost a decade now, ago … though we are startled by time’s swift and...

Blessed Thought (John 1:12) A child of God am I! God’s love to me is sure! No storms of life can harm me; With Him I am secure. A child of God am I! And thus I’m set apart; I now forsake the things of earth, For Christ lives in my heart. A child of God am I! For I have been set free; Bought with the Savior’s precious blood One day at Calvary. A child of God am I! And so I sing His praise! My heart is filled with songs of joy; I’ll serve Him all my days....

True Thanks I thank Thee, Lord, for blessings Which Thou hast given me; For health and strength, for freedom To freely worship Thee. For food and drink abundant For body and for soul; I thank Thee for a Savior Who cleansed and made me whole. I thank Thee, Lord, for fellowship, For hours spent in prayer; For grace sufficient to the need, Whatever need was there. I thank Thee, Lord, for loved ones, A home and church so dear; And for Thy loving presence Each day throughout the year. I thank Thee, Lord, for all things: For blessings which I...

Reckoning (Romans 8:18) Counted — All counted — hairs, Sparrows’ falls, and tears, Stars, stumbling sheep; He knows their number, Does not slumber, Does not sleep. And we, Who, nightly counting, Tally losses slowly mounting, Numbering trials, griefs, and pains, Fail to reckon, Fail to see our Keeper beckon As He sums the heavenly gains. — Suzanne Terpstra Looyenga