Donna Arthur Downs

Seeking his presence

The glory of this house

exceeds the former. For in temples

of loving, obedient, ordinary people,

Jesus appears and dwells

as we seek His presence.

Your face, Lord, will we seek,

for no worldly treasure

is worth more than

the presence of God

living among us, within us.

Never has a silent God existed;

Your Spirit has continually moved

across waters, over mountains,

into humble, seeking hearts

who want nothing more

than to know You.

Fill this house

with significance, magnificence,

and the splendor of You, Lord.

For what good is it

if we gain the whole world

but lose our very souls.

Appear to us. Dwell among us,

guiding us and drawing us close,

as we— loving, obedient, ordinary people—

seek Your presence

in these temples

of Your Holy Spirit.

Better is one day in Your court

than a thousand elsewhere.

Come, Lord Jesus;

bring us into Your court.

Even if we are but doorkeepers

what joyful, honored, spirit-filled

doorkeepers we will be

as Your glory shines among us.

Oh, ephesus

Oh, Ephesus, how you toiled—

working hard, persevering,

showing no tolerance for the wicked.

How mightily you endured hardship

without growing weary.

Yet your light dimmed amidst the heavens

as the angels declared the loss of your first love.

May we learn from you and dare to claim

an utmost and supreme desire

to know and love God above all else,

with entirety of heart, mind and strength,

knowing no greater love exists

than to lay down a life for a friend.

Yes, the Cross was God’s final answer

to the question of how much He loves us.

May we cry from the mountaintops

how wide and long and high and deep is His love for us

though never will we grasp nor comprehend its reach.

May we know with all our being

what it means to love Him, and to be His beloved.

Neither life, nor death, nor demons, nor angels, nor time,

nor powers, nor height, nor depth

can separate us from our Holy Father’s love.

As our toiling bears fruit

and we endure hardship with perseverance,

may we never be charged with having lost our first love—

for in all things we are conquerors

through Him who first loved us

with eternal love that surpasses

all understanding.

Donna Arthur Downs is an emerging author and poet. She seeks to tell stories and influence others to do the same. She believes writing about real life illuminates emotions often forgotten or hidden in the recesses of our minds. Her first children's book, Always and Forever, was released July 2024.