Monday, February 28, 2011

Fullness of His Fear

"Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart" (Psalm 86:11,12). "The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD... shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD.... The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:2-9). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable... for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Lord, teach me in Your perfect way,
Unite my heart to fear Your name,
Correct me when I go astray,
To walk in truth instead of shame.

Lord, as the waters fill the sea,
Now let the fullness of Your fear
So cover every part of me
That Your dominion will be clear.

Lord, let Your Spirit more and more
Within my heart enlarge Your place,
And as Your fear extends its shore,
So may I grow in truth and grace.

Lord, let Your Scriptures daily teach
The fear of God that makes me whole,
And ever thus extend Your reach
Of godly fear that fills my soul.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Revival Revisited

"Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?.... I will hear what God the Lord will speak.... that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:6-10).

Will You not revive us, Lord,
That we may thus rejoice in You?
Only You can well afford
To send revival that is true.

Let us hear what God will speak;
All other speech we should disdain.
All other glory that we seek
Apart from God's is surely vain.

Lord, we've heard Your gracious voice
And find Your Gospel is the same:
It is in mercy we rejoice
That meets the truth that You proclaim.

Righteousness and peace have kissed:
In Christ we see them reconciled!
He met the standard that we missed,
To cleanse the sinner once defiled.

Lord, turn our hearts again to see
The awesome wonder of Your grace!
Revive us, Lord, lest Calvary
Or Christ Himself seem common place!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Nurture of His Names

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

God has not given the spirit of fear,
But rather of power, of love, and sound mind.
How wondrously all of these virtues appear
In all of the names of our Savior we find!

Wonderful, Counselor: In Him we have found
Our soundness of mind in a world insane!
The Mighty God: Here is omnipotence found
Wherever His Spirit of power will reign.

The glorious Father is seen in the Son
With life everlasting forever above.
With mercy and truth the Prince of Peace won
Redemption imparting His Spirit of love.

O Lord, we have found in Your great reputation
Our nurture in all of Your names thus reflected.
We thank You for grace that imparted salvation,
As we, by Your Spirit, are daily perfected.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Law Sealed, Light Seen

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples. And I will wait upon the Lord.... Should not a people seek unto their God?.... To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.... By the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations: the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 8:16-20, 9:1,2).

God's testimony isn't flawed;
His law is firmly sealed.
Should not a people seek their God,
And by His grace be healed?

God pierced the darkness by the sea
When Jesus Christ was heard.
He walked the shores of Galilee
Enlightened by His Word.

The law and light we have perceived
In Jesus Christ is plain.
But what if some have not believed?
His law and light remain!

We thank You, Lord, for glorious light
Where darkness once prevailed.
Forevermore Your Word is right;
Your truth has never failed.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sanctified Sanctuary

"Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary" (Isaiah 8:13,14).

Sanctify the Lord within,
And let Him be your dread.
By His blood be cleansed from sin,
And by His hand be led.

The Lord shall be your sanctuary
Where He shall be adored.
Now come into His presence, tarry,
And daily be restored.

O Lord, You are the hiding place
And sanctuary of Your own.
How full is Your redeeming grace
That draws us boldly to Your throne!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Neglect Not

"My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26). "Neglect not the gift that is in thee.... meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:14-16).

Neglect not the gift that was given to you;
For you are a steward of what your Lord gave.
Give yourself wholly to that which is true,
For the sake of yourself and others He'll save.

Neglect not the doctrine of God's precious Word;
Meditate daily on what He has done.
Give yourself wholly to what you have heard,
Looking to Jesus, God's glorious Son.

Lord, as You commanded, we would neglect not
To give You our hearts undivided and whole.
How sweet the commandment! How precious the thought,
That we may surrender to You heart and soul!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Identifying with Isaiah

"I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne.... and above it stood the seraphims.... and one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.... Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims... from the altar.... and said... thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I, send me" (Isaiah 6:1-8).

Isaiah saw the Lord on high,
Exalted on His holy throne.
He heard the angels loudly cry
To glorify His name alone.

As every heavenly seraphim
Proclaimed on high His holiness
Isaiah, at the sight of Him,
Was greatly humbled in distress.

Woe is me! I am undone!
I am a man with lips unclean!
And so it is with everyone
Who, by their faith, the Lord has seen.

Yet graciously our Lord above
Will take away iniquity,
And will commission those with love,
Who say, Lord, here am I; send me!

Lord, send us to relationships
And every soul that we should seek,
And purge us from our unclean lips
To purify the words we speak.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Man and Mediator

"God our Savior... will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

God our Savior came to earth;
The Lord and our Creator
Became a Man by humble birth
To be our Mediator.

Humanity became depraved;
God loved us just the same,
And so that sinners might be saved,
He bore our sin and shame.

What a Savior! What a plan
Has brought to us salvation!
There is one God, and just one Man
That offers mediation.

O Lord, You gave Yourself for all;
What more, then, could You do?
Though all humanity You call,
The souls who come are few!

So as we lift our hearts in prayer
And draw near to Your throne,
Lord, help us boldly to declare
And make the Gospel known.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Competent Compass

"He chose David.... So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart" (Psalm 78:70-72). "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7). "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5:20,21).

Isaiah prophesied aright,
And David understood,
That darkness would be put for light
And evil put for good.

The bitter would be put for sweet,
The foolish put for wise,
The good opposed for its defeat,
And truth exchanged for lies.

How backwards is this frame of mind!
How fearful its seduction!
When blind are left to lead the blind,
Their end must be destruction!

O Lord, we see Isaiah's prophecy
Fulfilled in this our day:
The truth of Your integrity
This world casts away!

Lord, guide our children in their youth,
And guard them in Your love.
O may their compass, by Your truth,
Be fixed on things above!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Sea Saw

"The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee; they were afraid: the depth also were troubled.... Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psalm 77:16-20).

How clearly God's way has been shown
Throughout this world's history,
And yet His footsteps are not known:
Well, who then parted the Red sea?

The waters surely saw Him when
The flood was lifting up the ark.
And yet, rejecting light again,
This world prefers to have it dark.

How can this world be so blind,
So foolish in their vain resistance?
In spite of all things God designed,
They question still His plain existence!

A cloud by day, a flame by night
Led Israel through the desert land,
Yet many still refused the light,
Though led by God with Moses' hand.

O Lord, Your evidence still shouts,
Though people yet refuse to hear,
Yet help us to dispels the doubts
For those who lend an honest ear.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Safely Separated

"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.... The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe" (Proverbs 18:1,2,10). "Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him" (Isaiah 3:10,11).

Thank the Lord for that desire
Within our heart demanding
A search wisdom that was higher
Than our own understanding!

It was the Lord who strove within
By His convicting power
That prompted us to turn from sin
And run into His Tower.

The righteousness of Jesus Christ
By wondrous grace became
The only safety that sufficed
Through trusting in His name!

To all who in this Tower run,
We say: It shall be well!
But those who will reject God's Son
Shall not escape from hell.

We thank You, Lord, for separation
And safety in this place
In Christ, the Tower of salvation,
Who saves us by His grace!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Lofty Looks

"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.... for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah 2:11-22). "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

The lofty looks of man today
Shall very soon be humbled,
And haughtiness shall flee away
When their defense has crumbled.

Now cease from man, for what is he
To be accounted of?
The Lord who comes with majesty
Has sheltered us in love!

Our Savior soon shall be revealed
With heaven's flaming fire
To those refusing to be healed,
Rejecting Christ's desire.

What more Jesus Christ have done?
What more could He have said?
God sent His own beloved Son
And raised Him from the dead!

Though lofty looks today increase
Against the Christ they spurn,
We know that they shall surely cease
Upon our Lord's return.

So help us, Lord, until You come,
To preach with urgency
To change the lofty looks of some
Into humility.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Cause for Comfort

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). "So shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.... For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.... Wherefore comfort yourselves" (1 Thessalonians 4:17,18, 5:9-11).

How great is our reason for comfort in Christ,
For God has declared it is so,
Who died in our place as the Lamb sacrificed
And washes us whiter than snow!

And therefore we comfort each other today,
While led by our Lord on His path,
For though we like sheep had been going astray,
We now are delivered from wrath!

We thank You, dear Lord, for the comfort You give,
Assuring our souls it is well.
Because You are living we also shall live
And with You forever shall dwell.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Silent in the Sanctuary

"All day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus, behold... it was too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I.... I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.... It is good for me to draw near to God" (Psalm 73:14-28).

I can grieve throughout the day
With murmuring and scorning.
I can waste the time away
With fretting every morning.

If I should say, I will speak thus,
And thereby I complain,
My comfort flees, I forfeit trust,
And so increase my pain.

Sensing that my way is wrong,
In silent prayer, I cease,
And wonder why I wait so long
To find in God my peace!

Be still! My Savior's voice I hear
Within this quiet place!
Oh, it is good that I draw near,
And seek alone His face.

O Lord, I've come to understand,
Here in Your sanctuary,
You never cease to hold my hand;
Your mercies never tarry!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Leaning on His Love

"I am my Beloved's, and His desire is toward me.... Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved?.... Set me as a seal upon Thine heart, as a seal upon Thine arm: for love is as strong as death... the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be utterly contemned" (Song of Solomon 7:10, 8:5-7).

How hopeless would our prospect be
If we depended on our love!
Salvation rests entirely
On our Lord Jesus Christ above.

The love that never could be drowned
Beneath our judgment's crashing waves,
Belongs to Christ who sought and found
And keeps each sinner that He saves.

The love of Christ cannot be quenched;
It is a most vehement flame!
Beneath those billows He was drenched,
And yet His love endured the same.

We're learning through this wilderness
To lean alone on Jesus Christ;
It is His grace, and nothing less,
From strength to strength that has sufficed.

We thank You, Lord, for love so great
We know we never could repay,
Yet we would learn to demonstrate
Our grateful love to You each day.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Leaving a Legacy

"Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not, until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come" (Psalm 71:18). "There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.... A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children" (Proverbs 13:7,22). "We give thanks to God always for... your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3).

How swiftly minutes turn to hours,
Then days, then weeks, then years!
How quickly fade the blooming flowers;
How soon the night appears!

There's still much more that I would do,
But time will surely fail.
Ambitions that I would pursue
At last I must curtail.

Yet I would leave a legacy,
A memory that is blest,
That shows to my posterity
The riches that are best.

The work of faith in Christ our Lord,
The labor in His love,
The patient hope we look toward,
Are riches stored above.

Lord, these are treasures I would leave;
I pray that You'll allow
My children's children to receive
These riches You endow.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Continual Conversation

"Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" (Psalm 70:4). "To the counselors of peace is joy.... Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:20,25). "Continue in prayer, and watch also in the same with thanksgiving... Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:2-6).

Let such as love Your salvation, O Lord,
Continue to say with thanksgiving and grace:
"Let God be magnified" in one accord,
Rejoicing and glad as they're seeking Your face.

Lord, help us always continue in prayer,
Waiting on You for the right word to say,
Comforting those who are burdened with care,
Cautioning those who are going astray.

The ear will try words as the tongue will try taste,
So always with grace let our speaking be salted;
Redeeming the time (for there's no time to waste!),
Let God in our speech be forever exalted!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Mountain of Myrrh

"The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me" (Psalm 69:9). "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get Me to the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense. Thou art fair, My love; there is no spot in thee" (Song of Solomon 4:6,7). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.... for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).

How long was the night before the glad morrow
When shadows of death fled away!
How dark was the mountain of myrrh with its sorrow!
How great was Love's zeal that day!

To Calvary's mountain of myrrh our Lord went
Where every reproach on Him fell!
His sweet-smelling fragrance to heaven was sent,
And we were delivered from hell!

Now since we are hidden with Christ in His love,
United in His resurrection,
We ought to be seeking those things now above,
And setting on Christ our affection!

For we who were clothed with transgression and shame
No longer are what we once were!
O Lord, we would daily give thanks that You came
To go to that mountain of myrrh!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Trophies of Triumph

"Thou hast ascended on high... Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation" (Psalm 68:18,19). "And you, being dead in your sins... hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:13-15).

How great are the triumphs of Jesus our Lord,
How great are His mercies to those who rebel,
Ascending on high with redemption's reward,
He gave gifts to rebels, and with them will dwell.

How gracious His benefits daily are seen,
Which flow from His triumphant work on display:
The rebels once filthy have now been washed clean,
And all of their sins have been taken away!

Lord, we are the rebels for whom You prevailed!
How long was the list of transgressions You bore,
But all of our sins on Your cross have been nailed,
And we are Your trophies of triumph in war!

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Banner of His Banquet

"That Thy way may be known on earth, Thy saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:2). "Come, eat of My bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled" (Proverbs 9:5). "He brought me to His banqueting house, and His banner over me was love" (Song 2:4). "God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Now come to the banquet! The table is spread!
Behold now the banner displaying God's love.
The tokens of mercy are seen in His bread
And wine to recall that He came from above.

The riches of glory that God would make known
Are found in His people, displaying His wealth.
The mercy revealed is: Christ in His own!
We carry the banner of His saving health!

O Lord, we give thanks for Your great invitation
To come to the banquet displaying Your banner!
How great is our joy at Your feast of salvation
Recounting Your love and its marvelous manner!

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Themes for Thanks

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:12-14).

Among the many themes for thanks
We view from heaven's height,
We thank the Lord we're in the ranks
Of all His saints in light.

We thank Him as we've contemplated
The great things God has done:
From darkness we have been translated,
To serve His precious Son.

We thank the Lord that He would save
Our souls with blood He shed,
And thereby all our sins forgave
By suffering in our stead.

O Lord, in view of what we see
In Christ who thus redeems,
We know for all eternity
We'll thank You for these themes.

Monday, February 07, 2011

Privilege of Prayer

"O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away. Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee" (Psalm 65:2-4). "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7).

Why should God give heed to prayer
From sinners in this place?
Who are we that we would dare
To draw near to His face?

Praise the Lord, for He has purged
Our sins through Jesus Christ,
For grace and truth were in Him merged
When He was sacrificed!

We're called to pray, and not to fret,
By prayer and supplication,
And with thanksgiving not forget
The cost of our salvation.

O Lord, what mercies here abound!
What privileges we find
As at Your Throne of Grace we're found
With perfect peace of mind!

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Pressing toward the Prize

"Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.... He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap" (Ecclesiastes 6:9, 11:4). "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14).

The one observing wind that blows
And watching clouds for rain,
Procrastinating, never sows
And spends his days in vain.

Be done with every vain distraction!
Be done with wandering eyes!
This is a time for focused action,
And reaching for the prize!

There's one thing I am called to do;
On this I will embark.
There is a prize I would pursue,
And press toward its mark.

It is the call of God in Christ
That I will press toward;
Forgetting things that once enticed,
I'll seek and serve my Lord.

I'll press toward the mark that's higher
Than vanity's vexation,
And fix my heart and my desire
On Christ and His salvation.

The Lord will come (O blessed hope!),
But now He's calling me
To sow and reap (not merely cope!),
And live victoriously!

Until the day You call me home,
O Lord, I would pursue
The calling that will neither roam
Nor turn from loving You.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Unveiling His Upholding

"My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me" (Psalm 63:8). "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work... in the grave whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12,13).

Our soul is following the Lord,
And yet we understand,
By grace alone we are restored,
Upheld by God's own hand.

We work while it is called Today,
For soon will come the night.
The grace of God is on display
Beneath our seeming might.

We're working out our own salvation,
As God now works within;
He saved us with this inclination,
And ransomed us from sin.

O Lord, we see Your love unveiled,
And marvel at its treasure!
Your love for us has never failed
To hold us by Your pleasure.

Friday, February 04, 2011

Expectation of His Exaltation

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him... Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity" (Psalm 62:5-8). "Christ Jesus... became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow" (Philippians 2:5-11).

There is joyful expectation
God's children look toward:
It is the glorious exaltation
Of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Behold, how dim this world becomes:
Its pageant and parade
With all its bands and beating drums
In all their glory fade.

We view this age eternally,
And all its glory fails;
It measures less than vanity
When weighed on heaven's scales.

It's not a pessimistic thing
To see this earth so dim,
It's just that when we view our King,
It can't compare to Him!

Christ left the splendor of His throne
To bear our sin and shame,
And now the joy of all His own
Is to exalt His name!

O Lord, we know that every knee
Before You soon shall bow,
And yet in light of what we see,
We gladly do so now!

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Climbing in Christ

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2). "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform until the day of Jesus Christ.... For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:6,21).

From the end of the earth, O Lord, will I cry,
For this is the longing You placed in my heart:
I climb to the Rock that is higher than I,
Assured You will finish the work that You start.

I'm lifted to Christ, for He is my Rock;
In life He is all, and in death He is gain.
I'm led by His Spirit each day in my walk,
To reach higher ground and to live on that plane.

I'm climbing in Christ still higher and higher,
And fixing my confidence only in Him.
O Lord, You alone satisfy my desire,
As You fill my cup overflowing the brim!

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Wrongly Wrestling

"Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man" (Psalm 60:11). "Neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he..... Take hold of this... withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all" (Ecclesiastes 6:10, 7:18). "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.... for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-12).

How wrongly we wrestle with powers much greater
Than that which we have on our own,
Since God, our almighty, omniscient Creator
Would make His omnipotence known!

So let us be strong in the Lord and His might,
That we may be able to stand,
Confronting the rulers of darkness with light
And never withdrawing our hand.

O Lord, give us help in this battle arrayed
With power against us that roars,
For then, only then, shall we not be dismayed,
When help is not man's, but is Yours.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Tapestry of Time

"He hath made every thing beautiful in His time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15,16).

What a sight it soon shall be
To look back on our time
When God completes His tapestry,
His workmanship sublime.

Since we are His workmanship,
We ought to understand
His will for which He shall equip
And guide us with His hand.

Let us walk, therefore, as wise,
Understanding we are His,
Redeeming time with open eyes,
Seeing what the Lord's will is.

Lord, we thank you that you make
Our time a work of beauty.
Give us wisdom for Your sake
With love for every duty.