With All My Heart: Love Songs to God

By Timothy Paul Neller

There are many types of love songs: songs of those who want to be in love, other songs of those who are in love, while still others that are about those who have fallen out of love or lost their love and have a broken heart. But the greatest of all love songs are those to God: those that rejoice constantly in his presence and his unconditional acceptance of us as we are. The sonnets in this book are devotionals to God and his intimate relationship with us throughout our lives. They are love songs that sing of his undying love for us. They are songs that are sung with all our heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098012175

Book preview

Table of Contents

Foreword

Tired

Sonnet I

Sonnet II

Sonnet III

Sonnet IV

Tense

Sonnet V

Sonnet VI

Sonnet VII

Worried

Sonnet VIII

Sonnet IX

Sonnet X

Discouraged

Sonnet XI

Sonnet XII

Frustrated

Sonnet XIII

Sonnet XIV

Sonnet XV

Depressed

Sonnet XVI

Psalm XVII

Sonnet XVIII

Jealous

Sonnet XIX

Sonnet XX

Bereaved

Sonnet XXI

Sonnet XXII

Sonnet XXIII

Lonely

Sonnet XXIV

Sonnet XXV

Sonnet XXVI

Tempted

Sonnet XXVII

Sonnet XXVIII

Sonnet XXIX

Sonnet XXX

Sonnet XXXI

Sonnet XXXII

Guilty

Sonnet XXXIII

Sonnet XXXIV

Sonnet XXXV

Sonnet XXXVI

Sonnet XXXVII

Sonnet XXXVIII

Agitated

Sonnet XXXIX

Sonnet XL

Sonnet XLI

Sonnet XLII

Sonnet XLIII

Fearful

Sonnet XLIV

Sonnet XLV

Sonnet XLVI

Sonnet XLVII

Sonnet XLVIII

Insecure

Sonnet XLIX

Sonnet L

Sonnet LI

Sonnet LII

Sonnet LIII

Insulted

Sonnet LIV

Sonnet LV

Sonnet LVI

Impatient

Sonnet LVII

Angry with Someone

Sonnet LVIII

Sonnet LVIX

Sonnet LX

Sonnet LXI

Sonnet LXII

Sonnet LXIII

Sonnet LXIV

Sonnet LXV

Friends

Sonnet LXVI

Sonnet LXVII

Sonnet LXVIII

Sonnet LXIX

Sonnet LXX

In Need of Protection

Sonnet LXXI

Sonnet LXXII

Sonnet LXXIII

Sonnet LXXIV

Sonnet LXXV

Sonnet LXXVI

Sonnet LXXVII

Health

Sonnet LXXVIII

Sonnet LXXIX

Sonnet LXXX

Sonnet LXXXI

Sonnet LXXXII

Sonnet LXXXIII

Pain

Sonnet LXXXIV

Sonnet LXXXV

Sonnet LXXXVI

Sonnet LXXXVII

Fear of Death

Sonnet LXXXVIII

Sonnet LXXXIX

Sonnet XC

Sonnet XCI

Sonnet XCII

Sonnet XCIII

Sonnet XCIV

Direction

Sonnet XCV

Sonnet XCVI

Sonnet XCVII

Sonnet XCVIII

Sonnet XCIX

Facing a Crisis

Sonnet C

Sonnet CI

Sonnet CII

Sonnet CIII

Love of God

Sonnet CIV

Sonnet CV

Sonnet CVI

Sonnet CVII

Sonnet CVIII

Sonnet CIX

Doubting God

Sonnet CX

Sonnet CXI

Sonnet CXII

Prayer

Sonnet CXIII

Sonnet CXIV

Sonnet CXV

Sonnet CXVI

Sonnet CXVII

Sonnet CXVIII

Sonnet CXIX

Blessings

Sonnet CXX

Sonnet CXXI

Sonnet CXXII

cover.jpg

With All My Heart

Love Songs to God

Timothy Paul Neller

ISBN 978-1-0980-1216-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-1218-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-0980-1217-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2019 by Timothy Paul Neller

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Theme Scripture

Foreword

In 1611, the King James version of the Bible was first published. It was also during this time that the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare were widely read. It is because of the unique manner in which men thought and expressed themselves during that period of history that I have adopted the English sonnet, also commonly referred to as the Shakespearean sonnet, as the prototype for the verses I have written in this volume. The unique blend of rhythm, from the iambic pentameter and the pattern of rhyme, lends itself to the richness and spirituality that was present during that period of history. The themes and verses I have chosen as prompts for meditation are themselves timeless and applicable to all people throughout the world and for all ages. It is with special reverence that I wrote the words to these poems and in honor and adoration they are dedicated to my loving wife, Caroline, who is my inspiration and the light of my life.

Tired

Sonnet I

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5–6).

How oft did I go out into the world,

With heart so bold and meekness thrown aside?

Enraptured by sweet silver and pure gold,

The tempter’s snare whose lies I did abide.

Filled full with pride, I strived with ancient chains

That bound my legs and pulled me down below.

Unsure of faith and pummeled by dark rains

That drowned my dreams while thriving weeds did grow.

But then my tears did clear the darkened sky

Of angry clouds that hid the light of day.

Bright beams of love shined through to lift me high

And sing with angels as I humbly prayed.

For God, my refuge, is my sword and guide.

Through him the way is sure and hope resides.

Sonnet II

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint? (Isaiah 40:31).

When all is lost and life is without hope.

When eyes are blind and cannot see the light.

When in despair I can no longer cope

With endless trials and battles which I fight.

Like hurricanes that dash me to the ground,

Leaving behind a pile of shattered dreams.

No trace of friends or fortune can be found,

Vanished like dust in phantom desert streams.

But then when I sink in such dark despair

Beyond the grave of loneliness and pain,

I find the open arms of Him who cares

To lift me up and bring me home again.

With love so grand, all sorrows fly away

And darkest night becomes the brightest day.

Sonnet III

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28–30).

When in the night your rest is unfulfilled,

So tortured are you by the schemes of fright.

While through the livelong day they chase you still,

Roaming in shadows hiding from the light.

Your aching heart does sigh between each beat,

Unable to respond to hallowed calls.

Deafened by grief, you move with heavy feet

To plod in darkness through an endless hall.

Break free from chains that bind you to the earth

To fly with freedom in the skies above,

To trust in God who gifts you with new birth,

To