Quiet Time Poems

Fantastic Five

2012-02-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles" (Psalm 103:2-5).

Among the countless benefits
That cause our souls to thrive,
The psalmist gratefully submits
His own fantastic five.

God pardons the iniquities
Of all those who will come.
He heals every soul's disease.
He pays redemption's sum.

God gives His own a crown like kings
With tender love and truth.
He feeds the soul the best of things,
Like eagles in their youth.

Indeed, as eagles mount and soar
Expanding thus their view,
We meditate and see much more
Of blessings, Lord, from You!

But O, the depth and endless treasure
In these five, Lord, we see!
Their benefits exceed all measure:
They span eternity!

Astonishing Authority

2012-02-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

"I am the LORD your God.... Therefore shall ye observe all My statutes, and all My judgments, and do them: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:36,37). "There are many devices in a man's heart, nevertheless, the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21). "They were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as One that had authority" (Mark 1:22).

He teaches with authority:
His Word should be obeyed.
His counsel stands eternally;
His grace extends His aid.

Now Who is this admonishing
And teaching by His Word,
With doctrine so astonishing,
Unlike all others heard?

It is the Lord our God we hear,
Who saved us by His power,
Reminding us that He is near,
With grace for every hour!

It is astonishing indeed
That God would stoop in love:
He paid the ransom sinners need
By coming from above.

We see the awesome sacrifice
Our Savior came to give!
With His own life He paid the price
That we might thereby live!

O let us not approach His Law
With vision that is dim,
But come astonished and in awe
That we are hearing HIM!

With love astonishing our heart,
With light by which we see,
We thank You, Lord, that You impart
The truth that makes us free!

Friendship Forever

2012-02-18T16:20:00.001-08:00

"There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.... and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).

There is a Friend (O, what a Friend!)
Whose love is like no other,
Who loves His own until the end
Much closer than a brother.

We have a Friend through peace and strife;
He gave all that He could:
He gave Himself, His very life,
There is no friend as good.

There is a Friend with matchless love
Who knew that we were lost
And left His majesty above
To pay our ransom's cost.

There is a Friend who sacrificed
Himself to take our place:
His name is our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Author of all grace.

O Lord, there is no friend like You
In wisdom, love, or power,
That sticks so close and is so true
Until our final hour!

Until that hour comes, O Lord,
To be with You forever,
We'll find our daily joy restored
In Friendship none can sever!

Separate Sorrows

2012-02-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

"And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.... Then Judas, which had betrayed Him... brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matthew 26:75, 27:3-5). "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

There is an endless separation
Between the world's sorrow
And the repentance to salvation
With joy upon the morrow.

We see how plain the difference is
As sorrows are explored:
Our Shepherd knows each one of His,
And they shall be restored.

There is a sharp, contrasting case
In Judas and in Peter:
For Peter sought the Lord and grace,
But Judas sought for neither.

For Judas turned to vain religion,
To reconcile thus,
But heard their answer of derision:
Now "what is that to us?"

O how gracious is our Savior
That calls to hearts today
To come to Him, to seek His favor,
And find Him while we may!

We thank You, Lord, that You have shown
Repentance that is true,
That drew us to approach Your throne
And put our trust in You.

Blessing in the Blood

2012-02-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

"The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11). "He hath poured out His soul unto death" (Isaiah 53:12). "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it, for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:27,28).

The life of flesh is in the blood,
And by this principle
There is a fountain and a flood
Of life now for the soul!

It's not the blood of bulls and goats
That has the power to save.
The blood that God alone promotes
Is that which Jesus gave.

The principle of blood from Christ
Refers to LIFE, of course!
It was His LIFE He sacrificed,
Where blessing has its source!

Isaiah clearly prophesied
That Christ poured out His SOUL,
And this He offered when He died,
And thus He makes us whole.

It's not the blood of Christ we drink
In any literal way,
It is His LIFE (This is the link!)
That saves the soul today.

There is a link to death as well
When Jesus' blood was shed,
For thus He purchased us from hell,
And raised us from the dead!

O Lord, we thank You for Your life
For us You offered up,
And for Your blood shed in the strife,
Remembered in the cup.

Openly Obvious

2012-02-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

"The LORD hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:2,3). "On that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (Leviticus 16:30). "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:31,46).

The Lord has made salvation known:
His mercy is not hid.
His righteousness is clearly shown
By all He said and did.

His mercy and His truth are seen
Which brought to us salvation,
That we may from our sins be clean
And free from condemnation!

How clearly prophecies of old
Had promised us a Savior!
Christ Jesus came, as was foretold,
To grant us heaven's favor.

The animals once sacrificed
Could not themselves atone,
But they portrayed the work of Christ,
That He would do alone.

His saving work is fully done
And clearly on display,
Yet many still refuse God's Son
And from Him turn away.

Beware! Salvation may be scorned
Or carelessly ignored,
But sinners who will not be warned
Shall stand before the Lord!

The Lord shall come in majesty
And then He shall divide
His sheep from those who willfully
Refused Him by their pride.

O Lord, Your truth is obvious
And openly attested!
So may the Word You gave to us
Be boldly manifested.

Deadly Deception

2012-02-14T18:35:00.000-08:00

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.... The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going" (Proverbs 14:12,15). "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4).

There is a way which may seem right,
Yet in the ways of death it ends.
We need to prove things in the light
By what the Word of God commends.

There is a path the simple take,
Believing every word they hear.
They do not care what is at stake,
As long as it will please their ear.

It may be hope in vain religion,
It may be idols they have known.
It may be holding to tradition
Instead of trusting Christ alone.

The prudent look for evidence
In what the Word of God will say.
No other path to them makes sense,
Though others mock its narrow way.

Our Savior warned us to take heed
Of deadly and deceptive arts.
If we will let His counsel lead,
Then no one shall deceive our hearts.

O Lord, we thank You for Your Word,
For by its truth You made us free!
It is the Gospel we have heard
That saves our souls eternally!

Ransom Refused

2012-02-13T17:26:00.001-08:00

"A wise son heareth his father's instruction, but a scorner heareth not rebuke.... The ransom of a man's life are his riches, but the poor heareth not rebuke.... Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction" (Proverbs 13:1,8,18). "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37).

There is a ransom for the lost
Who hear the Lord's instruction:
Now come to Christ who paid the cost
To save us from destruction!

Now who turn would this Gift away
That came at such a price?
Alas! The proud yet go astray
And scorn His sacrifice!

How poor indeed are they who choose
To walk that scornful path
Of those who foolishly refuse
The warning of God's wrath!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
We hear our Lord lament:
They killed the prophets warning them,
And stoned them who were sent!

The scorners make the same mistake
As those when Jesus came,
Unless they hear Him and awake
To realize their shame.

O Lord our Savior, King of kings,
You left Your throne above
To bring our souls beneath Your wings
And ransom us in love!

O Lord, we thank You that You gave
This ransom that we cherish,
And those who trust in Christ You save,
And they shall never perish!

Triune Tribute

2012-02-12T20:56:00.000-08:00

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.... Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart" (Psalm 95:6-8). "Render therefore... unto God, the things that are God's.... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:21,37).

Worship calls for all our heart,
With all our soul, and all our mind.
We ought to render every part:
A triune tribute God designed!

The Lord is standing in the midst
Of every single congregation,
And knowing hardened hearts exist,
Today He offers His salvation.

The lost may fill the church's pew,
And they may sing each sacred song,
But they cannot escape God's view,
Who still exposes what is wrong.

O Lord, we come transparently,
As You examine every thought.
Remove from us hypocrisy,
That we may worship as we ought!

Ridiculous Reasoning

2012-02-11T20:28:00.000-08:00

"Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?.... The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity" (Psalm 94:8-11). "The integrity of the upright shall guide them" (Proverbs 11:3). "And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?.... And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell" (Matthew 21:25-27).

How vain are the reasoning powers of man,
When guided by foolish and foregone conclusion!
In spite of our Maker's magnificent plan,
The brutish deny Him to their own confusion.

For how can a reasoning person conclude
The eye and the ear are just products of chance?
The more that creation around us is viewed,
We see God's omniscience wherever we glance!

Integrity guides us if we will be led
Where evidence leads us to see what is plain.
The Lord has fulfilled what the prophets have said;
Denying the Gospel is willfully vain!

O Lord, our integrity guides us to You,
For You are the Cause of creation's effect,
And You are the Author of all that is true
With evidence only a fool would reject!

Mightier than the Multitude

2012-02-10T13:13:00.001-08:00

"The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice... the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters" (Psalm 93:3,4). "Two blind men... cried out saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more.... So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him" (Matthew 20:30-34).

The multitude may lift their voice,
Like floods that lift their crashing waves,
But we will nonetheless rejoice:
Our Lord is mightier who saves!

The multitude may now demand
That Gospel preaching now must cease,
But we have heard our Lord's command,
And we must never hold our peace!

Two blind men heard that Jesus came,
And they began to cry aloud;
They cried the more in Jesus' name,
In opposition to the crowd.

The multitude, like waves that roared,
Could never drown the humble prayer
Of those who called upon the Lord
And cast upon Him all their care.

O Lord, we find with great delight,
As did the blind men on that day,
The floods cannot negate Your might
Or silence those who humbly pray!

Discerning the Deep

2012-02-09T17:13:00.001-08:00

"Lest ye die... put difference between holy and unholy" (Leviticus 10:9,10). "O LORD, how great are Thy works! And Thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this" (Psalm 92:5,6). "Forsake the foolish and go in the way of understanding.... The knowledge of the Holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:5,10). "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16).

There is a consequence for sin
That ought to be discerned:
How deep the trouble we are in,
For death is what we've earned!

Religion will not compensate
For what our sin has done.
There is no way to clean the slate,
Except through God the Son!

How deep the thought! How great the price
Our Lord was moved to pay
By dying as our Sacrifice
To wash our sins away!

The Law will never compromise
The knowledge of the Holy,
But Christ, through death, now satisfies
And justifies us fully!

Is there a good thing that we can do
To save our soul from loss?
Discern the truth! If that were true,
There's no need for the cross!

When we discern our sin so deep
And see the Law's demand,
We see ourselves as hopeless sheep,
And then we understand.

It's then we flee to Christ our Savior,
And truly seek His face.
We do not trust in "good" behavior,
But in His saving grace!

We thank You, Lord, for love made known
(Its depths we cannot tell!)
That prompted You to leave Your throne
To ransom us from hell!

Ways of His Wings

2012-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the shadow of the Almighty.... He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust" (Psalm 91:1,4). "Now therefore, hearken unto Me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways.... For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD" (Proverbs 8:32,35). "For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11).

How great are the lessons creation provides,
Since God, for this purpose, has ordered all things.
We see in the place where the fledgling abides
God's care is portrayed in the ways of His wings.

Behold now the wings of an eagle in flight,
Displaying the strength that will rise up again.
Consider the wings that will shelter from fright
The chickens thus gathered by their mother hen.

The Guide Book of Scripture so clearly unveils
These types which provide us such portraits of Christ.
Their beauty is wondrous, yet each of them pales
In view of our Savior for us sacrificed!

O Lord, we're beholding a wonderful Savior
Portrayed in the sheltering wings of a bird.
We see in these portraits Your mercy and favor;
We rest in the shadow of Your faithful Word.

Tale of Time

2012-02-07T15:39:00.001-08:00

"We spend our years as a tale that is told.... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.... And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: establish Thou the work of our hands upon us" (Psalm 90:9,12,17).

We spend our years as pages turned
And like a tale that is told.
Each day has lessons to be learned,
Applicable to young and old.

"A tale told." What will it say
With every page of life completed?
We write a portion every day,
And not one word can be deleted!

We cannot edit what is past,
But we can act upon this theme:
We'll live to hear "Well done" at last
While yet there's time we may redeem!

Lord, teach us every day to treasure
The moments of our life we hold,
To be, by living for Your pleasure,
A tale of Your beauty told!

Sound of Salvation

2012-02-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16).

The sound of salvation announces God's grace:
His justice and judgment have been satisfied!
His mercy and truth shining forth from His face
Were in their full splendor when Christ Jesus died!

The sound of salvation is found in the song
Of hearts who will walk in the light of the LORD:
His light that exposes our sin that is wrong,
Unveils salvation His grace will afford!

O Lord, You have spoken, and gladly we've heard:
In You we are sheltered from just condemnation!
In You, by YOUR righteousness, we are assured!
How great is our joy in the sound of salvation!

Blunder of Blindness

2012-02-05T21:14:00.001-08:00

"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.... Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:8,14).

How dreadful it is to be willfully blind!
How great is the danger when this is the case!
How dull is the hearing, how darkened the mind,
Of all who refuse to respond to God's grace!

Deceiving themselves by their foolish volition,
The blind lead the blind till they fall in the pit,
And such is the path that will lead to perdition,
For this is the way of the blind hypocrite.

O Lord, we give thanks for the sight that You gave
That taught us to flee from Your imminent wrath,
And showed us that You (and You only) could save
And lead us aright in Your merciful path!

Reviewing the Roll

2012-02-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

"And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest Himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee" (Psalm 87:5-7).

Reviewing the roll call of paupers and kings
With heaven's renown and with those little known,
Assembled in Zion the great chorus sings
With all of those born from above at the throne.

The Lord God shall count and not one shall be lost
Of all the redeemed in the Lamb's book of life.
In view of the infinite price that it cost,
He'll jealously guard those He won in the strife.

O Lord, we rejoice that the names have been written
Of all who find refuge in You for their soul.
Our springs are in You, Lord, the Rock that was smitten!
Our joy is in You, when reviewing the roll!

United or Useless

2012-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

"Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:11). "He also the received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22).

How uselessly our hearts have been
Divided when distractions came.
Revive our hearts, O Lord, again;
Unite ours heart to fear Your name.

In parables, O Lord, You spoke
Of cares, like thorns, which soon invited
Distractions in the heart which choke
Our fruitfulness when not united.

O Lord, we thank You that You give
A single focus to pursue:
Because You live we also live!
Unite our hearts to live for You!

Hearing Heaven

2012-02-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

"I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people.... Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psalm 85:8,10). "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom... if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:1-6).

Let us hear what God will speak;
Let us now incline our ear.
Hidden treasures, let us seek;
Let us come with ears to hear.

Let us hear Him with desire;
God is searching every heart!
Let us stir His holy fire;
Fan the flame He will impart!

Let us hear how God has met
The deepest need of every soul.
We too frequently forget
The price He paid to make us whole!

Let us hear and ponder this:
How truth and mercy met in Christ,
How righteousness and peace could kiss,
Because our Lord was sacrificed!

God is speaking! Have we heard
The depths of love He would convey?
Do we thus approach His Word
Prepared to hear Him and obey?

O Lord, the treasures You would show
Exceed the bounds of time and space!
Yet, hearing heaven, we would grow
To better know You and Your grace!

Nesting Necessities

2012-02-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

"Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God" (Psalm 84:3). "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33). "Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.... Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:25-29).

How sweet the view is in the Psalm
Portraying birds who build their nest.
The sparrow finds a place that's calm;
The swallow for her young finds rest.

The altars of our God and King,
Where Jesus Christ is typified,
Portray the shelter of His wing,
That covers those for whom He died.

There is a nest to lay our youth
In Christ where they may safely dwell:
They hear the Gospel of His truth,
They trust in Him, and all is well!

These things are hid from prideful eyes
But God will show them to the meek.
God hears the humble one who cries,
And saves the lowly who will seek.

O Lord, we've heard Your gentle call,
We've seen the portrait of the bird,
"Come unto to Me," You've said to all,
Though many cast away Your Word.

Yet as You call, Lord, we attest
To everyone who yet will hear:
There is a Refuge in Your nest;
Beneath Your wing there is no fear!

Sword of Separation

2012-01-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:34-36). "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:11-13).

Is peace on earth, good will to men?
Why then is there confrontation
With families who are severed when
The Gospel causes separation?

Is peace on earth? Be careful here
To see the meaning God intends!
The Lord has made it very clear:
It's peace with GOD that never ends!

The Gospel surely brings division
Between those who receive the Lord
And those, who by their own decision,
Refuse His love and choose His sword.

It's not so hard to understand;
It's like a building that's on fire:
The Lord extends His wounded hand
To save us, IF we so desire.

But people still are left to choose.
The gate is wide, the path is broad
Enough for all who still refuse
The ONLY WAY that leads to God.

Receiving Christ is still the Way
That rescues us from holy wrath!
He bids us come without delay:
There is no other saving path.

And thus we see the sword divides
The members in each family:
For each and every one decides
Their own eternal destiny!

O Lord, we thank You for the cross
That satisfied Your righteousness,
That saved our souls from endless loss,
And took our curse, that You might bless.

Lord, consecrate us to proclaim
The separation by Your grace
For all who call upon Your name
And find in You their Hiding Place.

Things we Think

2012-01-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth.... They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course" (Psalm 82:5). "Every Word of God is pure.... If thou hast though evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth" (Proverbs 30:5,32). "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4).

Our God is judging in the midst
Of every earthly congregation.
He knows that evil thoughts resist
And turn away from His salvation.

The things we think and say and do
Are clear before the Lord our God.
He knows our claims that are untrue,
And all our righteousness is flawed.

The moral compass of God's Word
By many has been cast away,
Replaced by thoughts that are absurd
Of those who mock the truth today.

O Lord, within Your Word we find
Our haven and our hiding place
To purge and consecrate our mind
With thoughts You give of truth and grace!

Awful Alternative

2012-01-29T08:56:00.001-08:00

"I am the LORD thy God... open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people would not hearken to My voice.... So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels" (Psalm 81:10-12). "He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).

How awful the alternative
For those who yet refuse to trust
The Lord who died that we might live
And be set free from sinful lust!

How richly God has satisfied
All those who put their trust in Him:
He fills our cup so full inside,
It daily overflows the brim!

How tragic is the consequence
Of hearts that will not heed reproof,
Refusing God as their Defense,
With hardened necks, they stand aloof.

O Lord, we thank You for the choice
Which grants to us Your remedy:
We've heard Your liberating voice!
We know the truth that makes us free!

Beauty of Be-zá-le-el

2012-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

"And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses" (Exodus 38:22). "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock" (Matthew 7:24,25).

There is a simple, prudent beauty
In all Be-zá-le-el had made:
The Lord's commandment was his duty;
And confidently, he obeyed.

Be-zá-le-el means "In God's shade";
How rightly named this servant is,
In view of his foundation laid
To make the glory God's, not his.

Be-zá-le-el displayed his skill
With all the wisdom God imparted,
And joyfully performed God's will
With all who likewise were wise hearted.

The tabernacle had its place;
Be-zá-le-el redeemed the time,
Yet in this period of grace,
There is a building more sublime.

We know our Savior shall not fail
To keep His promise that He'll build
His Church at last which shall prevail
When all the hosts of hell are stilled.

O Lord, we are Your temple now,
Yet we would, as Be-zá-le-el,
With all the wisdom You endow,
Be diligent to serve You well.

Today and Tomorrow

2012-01-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.... My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me" (Proverbs 27:1,11). "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:33,34).

While living today, we may plan for tomorrow.
The grace of our Lord is sufficient each day
To trust and obey Him in joy or in sorrow,
Providing us wisdom to walk in His way.

The things of tomorrow are clear in God's eyes,
Who surely foresees how a matter will end.
One day at a time we are called to be wise;
Our wisdom is found as on Him we depend.

Boast not of tomorrow, but boast in the One
Who holds every soul that He saves by His grace.
We rest in His promise, that when all is done,
His perfect provision through life we shall trace.

O Lord, we would live everyday with this goal:
To live in a manner that gladdens Your heart
With all of our heart, and with all of our soul,
And all of our strength by the grace You impart.

Where is Wisdom?

2012-01-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

"Then wrought... every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.... every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it" (Exodus 36:1,2). "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds... to feed Jacob his people, and Israel His inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands" (Psalm 78:70-72).

Now where is wisdom to be found
To do the work of God's command?
Wherever willing hearts abound,
The Lord shall make them understand.

The wisdom given by the Lord
That every one could do their part
For sanctuary work was poured
By God into each willing heart.

The wisdom David had was gained
When guarding sheep with staff and rod.
Integrity and skill explained
Why he was chosen king by God.

O Lord, how very much we need
The wisdom You alone can give!
We look to You that You may lead
And teach us how to wisely live.

God in Galilee

2012-01-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying... by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:14-17).

O Galilee, how sad your vision,
Enclosed in darkness where you sat,
With death's dark shadow as your prison,
Who could rescue you from that?

O Galilee, awake and see!
The Light has dawned upon your shore
That makes the darkness turn and flee
And opens every prison door!

O Galilee, your God has come:
Isaiah promised that He would!
The light of Christ is shining from
Your shoreline where our Savior stood!

O Galilee, you've heard His call,
Since heaven's kingdom is at hand:
Repent! He says, to one and all;
Let all the earth now understand!

O Galilee, make no mistake:
The Scriptures clearly prophesied
That Christ would suffer for our sake
And for our sins be crucified.

O Galilee, remember too
Our Savior said that He would rise,
And He would come again to you,
As lightning flashes in the skies.

O Christ, the Man of Galilee,
Our God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
We'll thank You for eternity
That for us You were sacrificed!

Ready at Rising

2012-01-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

"And the LORD said unto Moses.... Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning... and present thyself there to Me in the top of the mount.... Observe thou that which I command thee this day" (Exodus 34:1-11). "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him.... and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:13-17).

Be ready early in the morning
To hear what God will say,
Give heed to every word of warning
And each command this day.

Present yourself to Him alone,
And as your heart is stirred,
Anticipate that He'll make known
The insights of His Word.

As Moses listened to the Lord
To know how he should lead,
The Word of God shall still afford
The counsel that we need.

As John the Baptist saw the dove
Descend upon the Savior,
The Spirit sent from God above
Still shows to us His favor.

O Lord, how much we need to hear
The Word You daily give!
We thank You that You draw us near
To teach us how to live.

Holy Hunger

2012-01-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

"And Moses said unto the Lord... show me Thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight.... And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.... And he said, I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory. And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee" (Exodus 33:12-19). "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26). "Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.... And when they were come to the house, they saw the young Child... and fell down, and worshiped Him" (Matthew 2:1,2,11).

A holy hunger ought to grow
To seek our Savior's face,
To see His glory, and to know
His goodness and His grace.

We see this hunger on display
When Moses walked the earth,
And wise men came from far away
To worship Christ at birth.

They didn't wait for others first
To show their interest then;
They had a hunger and a thirst
Uncommon among men.

We dare not wait to seek the Lord
Till others come around,
As hearts by God are now explored,
And apathy is found!

This very moment God invites
Our hearts to now surrender,
And then we find that He delights
To be our hearts' Defender!

O Lord, I've heard Your invitation
To give my heart to You;
I would not halt with hesitation,
Despite what others do!

Siding with the Savior

2012-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

"Who is on the Lord's side?" (Exodus 32:26). "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on and are punished.... That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee" (Proverbs 22:3,19). "And thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.... and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us" (Matthew 1:21,22).

Who is on the Savior's side?
We each make our decision.
Who will in the Savior hide?
There is a clear division.

The prudent one will choose the path
Of safety found in Christ,
And thereby flees from holy wrath
That must be exercised.

The fool will choose another way;
It matters not which one,
For every other path will stray
Away from God the Son.

There is no other Hiding Place
From sin and condemnation
Except in the amazing grace
Of Christ in His salvation.

How marvelous indeed it is
That He who made the stars
Would stoop to save and call us His,
And His salvation ours!

Our God with us, Emmanuel,
Extends to us His favor
In Jesus Christ, who saves from hell
Those trusting Him as Savior.

O Lord, we thank You for the choice
That You in mercy gave:
To side with You as we rejoice
That You forever save!

And Afterward

2012-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

"I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, AND AFTERWARD receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:23,24). "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.... and they shall see His face.... He which testifieth of these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:3,4,20).

The Lord is with us everyday;
He holds us by our hand,
And afterward we'll fly away
To heaven's glory land.

This life shall pass, and afterward
The glory shall unfold
That far exceeds what we have heard:
The half has not been told!

And afterward we'll see His face:
What glory it shall be!
The Lamb who saved us by His grace
Shall reign eternally!

We hear Your promise, Lord, and know
That You will come again.
How quickly time shall come and go,
And You'll return: Amen!

And afterward we shall explore
The wonders of Your love.
What glory, Lord, You have in store
Eternally above!

Down and Done

2012-01-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

"He shall COME DOWN like rain upon the mown grass: as the showers that water the earth" (Psalm 72:6). "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be is people.... And He that sat upon the throne said.... It is DONE. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Revelation 21:2-6).

The Lord came down to us as rain
Upon this thirsty earth;
He bore our sorrows and our pain,
That we might have new birth.

His work on earth was thus begun,
That He might dwell with men.
When He declares that "It is done!"
He shall come down again.

Though many do not comprehend
The truth they're mocking still,
His promises shall have an end
Which He shall soon fulfill.

Until the day when Christ comes back,
We hear His invitation
To come and drink (there is no lack!)
The waters of salvation.

O Lord, we see that coming day,
That bright eternal dawn,
When You shall wipe all tears away,
And sorrows shall be gone.

Until that day, Lord, help us first
Show others what is true,
So every soul that is athirst
May thus be drawn to You.

Look at the Lake

2012-01-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

"An ungodly witness scorneth judgment.... Judgments are prepared for scorners" (Proverbs 19:28,29). "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.... and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12,15).

We hear the loud and haughty scorn
Of those who vainly talk,
Who will not hear God's Spirit warn
Of judgment that they mock.

There is a warning yet declared
They've willfully ignored
Of judgments nonetheless prepared
When they shall meet the Lord.

We see in Revelation's Book
That dreadful, fiery lake:
We ought to take a longer look
To see what is at stake!

We also find in Revelation
The Book of Life as well
With names of all who have salvation,
By grace redeemed from hell.

And shall we not be moved to speak
To souls who yet may hear
And be persuaded now to seek
The Lord while He is near?

O Lord, because of what You've shown
Of judgment yet in view,
We would more urgently make known
The saving grace in You!

Since we have fled from wrath to come
To You, our Hiding Place,
Lord, use us for persuading some
Who yet will seek Your face!

Robes of Righteousness

2012-01-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

"Let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" (Psalm 70:4). "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10). "My soul shall be joyful in my God, for... He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness... as a bride adorneth herself" (Isaiah 61:10). "Let us be glad and rejoice... for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:7,8).

Now let all those who love salvation
Say, "Let God be magnified!"
The bride has made her preparation,
And righteousness is satisfied.

This righteousness is not her own;
The bride adorns the spotless dress
That Christ will give, for He alone
Can clothe us in His righteousness.

There is no other confidence,
No other way we may prepare.
The Lamb of God is our Defense.
It is His righteousness we wear.

Let God be magnified with praise
As in His name we safely hide.
His righteousness He now displays
Has spotlessly adorned His bride!

O Lord, we celebrate Your love
Which prompted You to pay the price
For robes of righteousness above
Procured by Your own Sacrifice.

Reproaches Remembered

2012-01-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

"The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me.... Thou hast known my reproach.... Reproach hath broken My heart, and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave Me also gall for My meat, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:9,19-21).

How deeply Jesus Christ our Lord
Was filled with holy zeal
And with reproaches on Him poured
Of those He came to heal.

How surely then reproaches broke
The Father's heart then too,
As from the cross our Savior spoke
Of grief His Father knew.

How heavy was the burden then
Of our iniquity
Which fell upon our Savior when
He died at Calvary.

O Lord, we scarcely realize
Your depths of heaviness;
We're like those found with sleepy eyes
When You were in distress!

As in Gethsemane You came
To those who soundly slept,
O Lord, You find us just the same
With vigilance not kept.

Yet when we see the wrath You bore
And our reproaches taken,
O Lord, we learn to love You more
And sleep from us is shaken!

We thank You, Lord, for what You did
For sheep that went astray:
Our sins' reproaches have been hid;
You washed them all away!

Publishing Prophecy

2012-01-16T23:57:00.001-08:00

"The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it" (Psalm 68:11).

The Word of God has been received
From God's own gracious hand
And spread by those who have believed,
As God gave the command.

How rich our blessing is today
In this great company,
As we are chosen to convey
God's Word of prophecy!

How precious is the Word of God!
How urgent is the need
To spread its prophecies abroad
Wherever God will lead.

Lord, thank You for Your precious Word;
With evidence so sweet
In prophecies which we have heard
Now published as complete!

-----------------------------------------------
Note: Here are some examples of the Statistical Value of Prophecy which utterly eliminates "chance" fulfillment.

Prediction/Fulfillment/Probability Rating:

1. The birth of Christ in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah (Micah 5:2, Genesis 49:10/Matthew 2:1): 1 chance in 2,400

2. Christ would be preceded by a messenger turning the hearts of multitudes (Isaiah 40:3/Malachi 4:5,6/Matthew 3:1,2): 1 chance in 20

3. Christ would enter Jerusalem on a colt with the reception of multitudes rejoicing (Zechariah 9:9/Luke 19:35-37): 1 chance in 50

4. Christ would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9/Matthew 26:47,48): 1 chance in 10

5. The hands and feet of Christ would be pierced (Psalm 22:16/Luke 23:33): 1 chance in 100

6. Christ would be wounded, bruised, and scourged by his enemies (Isaiah 53:5/Matthew 27:26): 1 chance in 10

7. Christ would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12/Matthew 26:15). 1 chance in 50

8. Christ would be spit upon and abused by his tormentors (Isaiah 50:6/Matthew 26:67). 1 chance in 10

9. The betrayal money would be thrown in the temple and then given to buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:13/Matthew 27:5-7). 1 chance in 200

10. Christ would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7/Matthew 27:12-14): 1 chance in 100

11. Christ would be crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12/Matthew 27:38). 1 chance in 100

12. People would gamble for the garments of Christ (Psalm 22:18/John 19:23,24). 1 chance in 100

13. The side of Christ would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10/John 19:34). 1 chance in 100

14. None of the bones of Christ would be broken (Psalm 34:20/John 19:33). 1 chance in 20

15. The body of Christ would not decay (Psalm 16:10/Acts 2:31). 1 chance in 10,000

16. Christ would be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:10/Matthew 27:57-60). 1 chance in 100

17. The actual time of Christ's advent and execution (69 x 7 years = 483 years after the rebuilding of Jerusalem) (Daniel 9:26,27/Matthew 2:2, John 12:23). 1 chance in 1,000

----------------------------------
Note that the above prophecies involve the element of the prerogative and reaction of others toward the Savior, eliminating the notion of "staging" a deliberate fulfillment by Christ.

The calculated probability producing the odds against the prophets "guessing right" are as follows:

2,400 x 20 x 50 x 10 x 100 x 10 x 50 10 x 200 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 20 x 10,000 x 100 x 1,000 = 1 in 4.8 X 10 to the 32nd power (i.e., 1 chance in 480 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion). That number is equal to enough tiny grains of sand to fill the entire Milky Way (100,000 light years of distance from rim to rim).

In view of the fact that there are MORE than 300 prophecies concerning the first coming of Christ fulfilled with 100% accuracy, the above prophecies are only limited to 17 because the numbers of statistical probability (i.e., impossibility) become so astronomical so as to be rendered incomprehensible. Further, there are thousands of prophecies referring to people, times, events, and places (apart from specific prophecies about Christ) that were fulfilled with perfect accuracy. The prophetic Scriptures have NEVER been wrong.

--------------------------------

Shining for Showing

2012-01-15T19:17:00.000-08:00

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:1,2).

May God be merciful to us
And shine on us His face,
That we may by His blessing thus
Declare His saving grace.

May God allow us to make known
The Gospel to each nation,
That we may show, through Christ alone,
The way of His salvation.

May God bestow, in this late hour,
The boldness of His Spirit
To preach the Gospel with His power
To all who yet will hear it.

May God entrust to us the wealth
Of yet another day
To manifest the saving health
Of Christ, the only Way.

O Lord, receive this earnest prayer
For blessing from above,
That we may urgently declare
Your saving truth and love!

Come and Consider

2012-01-14T22:26:00.000-08:00

"Come and see the works of God.... Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul" (Psalm 66:5,16).

Come and see what God has done
To manifest His love:
For us He gave His precious Son;
He sent Him from above.

He brought salvation down to us
We never could achieve;
He lived, He died, He rose, and thus
He saved all who believe!

Come and hear and I will tell
What Christ did for my soul!
He died to rescue me hell;
He lives to make me whole.

Lord, send us now to tell the story
Of Jesus Christ who saves
And makes us fit for heaven's glory
Instead of hopeless graves!

Separation Solved

2012-01-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

"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, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple" (Psalm 65:2-4).

O Lord, we know the You will hear
The prayers of all who come to You,
Who seek You with a heart sincere
And with repentance that is true.

But how does our sincerity
Remove our guilt and condemnation,
Since You have said iniquity
Has brought this gulf of separation?

Though our solutions all have failed,
There is a ransom we have found!
Though our transgressions have prevailed,
Your grace, O Lord, will more abound!

We thank You, Lord, that You would pay
To cleanse our souls eternally!
You purged transgressions all away
And cast them in the deepest sea!

Lord, draw us now around Your throne
With praise that waits for You above,
Then send us forth to make You known
And preach the Gospel with Your love.

Mistaken for a Moment

2012-01-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

"The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment" (Proverbs 12:19).

Our time is but a moment's dash
Between eternities.
How quickly does a lifetime flash
As just a passing breeze.

But truth is not confined by time;
It crosses endless borders.
Its moral absolutes sublime
Are always as God orders.

How transient is the lying tongue,
Like dreams when we awaken!
Eternity regards them young;
A moment thus mistaken.

For souls in hell are not deceived:
They know their error now!
The souls in heaven that believed
In grateful worship bow!

How damaging are lying dreams
Though they are quickly gone,
Which "bait and switch" with subtle schemes
That vanish with the dawn!

Before our "moment" here has passed,
Lord, help us reach for Christ
The souls which may be free at last
From lies which have enticed.

O Lord, we thank You for Word
That makes the sinner free:
It is Your Gospel we have heard
Which saves eternally!

Water for Watering

2012-01-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.... my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips" (Psalm 63:1,5). "He that watereth shall be watered also himself.... The righteous shall flourish as a branch.... The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:25-30).

Where is the water in land that is dry
For quenching the thirst of our soul
And watering others as well to supply
The thirst of their hearts to the full?

The Lord is the Fountain to satisfy thirst
As no other wellspring can do!
We go to our bountiful Savior to first
Be filled then to fill others too!

We live in a world where no water is,
Regarding the thirst of the heart.
Unless we have come to the Lord and are His,
There's no water here to impart.

Praise God for the waters that freely abound:
Our cup still runs over the brim!
In Jesus our Savior this Fountain is found
For all who are trusting in Him.

We thank You, O Lord, that You opened our eyes
To drink of the water You give.
We call to the thirsty, as You make us wise,
To drink that they also may live!

Expectations Expounded

2012-01-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

"My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God" (Psalm 62:5-7). "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish" (Proverbs 10:28).

In God is our rock and salvation;
There's no other refuge we find
That offers this sure expectation
Imparting His peace to our mind.

Though people may boast of tomorrow
And talk about plans that they cherish,
There's no other prospect but sorrow
For those without Christ who will perish.

How vain is the hope of the lost,
Who march on the path of destruction
Without ever counting the cost
For following Satan's seduction.

How blind are the hearts so deceived
Whose logic is darkly suspended:
For surely the lie they've believed
Will mock them (as Satan intended).

How different our hope in God is!
How rightly our hearts may be bold:
For all of the prophets are His
Who promises kept were foretold!

Our great expectation is found
By trusting alone in the Lord.
The logic for faith we expound
Is built on His Scriptures explored.

For faith in the things yet unseen
Is proven by God's evidence.
Should not logic here intervene?
Does not trusting God just make sense?

O Lord, we rejoice in Your Word
That fixes our hope upon You,
For thereby our hearts are assured
That our expectation is true!

Eagle Exhibition

2012-01-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

"Ye have seen... how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine" (Exodus 19:4,5). "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.... I will trust in the covert of Thy wings" (Psalm 61:3,4).

How aptly the wings of the eagles portray
The marvelous care of our Savior.
The earth is the Lord's: He will teach us His way
By even the eagles' behavior.

He carried His people upon eagles' wings
And covered their souls for protection.
How rich is the earth as we ponder these things
Which speak of our Savior's perfection!

We study the eagles with great expectation
Of lessons their traits will afford
To teach us the wonderful truths of salvation
And beauties of our precious Lord.

Thus carried and covered with wings from above,
Portrayed in the eagles here shown,
We rest in the care of astonishing love
That Christ has for each of His own!

O Lord, we give thanks for the lessons we learn,
As earth, like a book on Your shelf,
With all of creation, wherever we turn,
Will teach us the things of Yourself!

We ponder, O Savior, above all we see,
Your cross with its fullest expression.
There never has been, and there never could be,
A portrait exhausting its lesson.

Bold Banner

2012-01-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

"Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAH-NISSI (Heb. THE LORD OUR BANNER)" (Exodus 17:15). "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth" (Psalm 60:4).

JEHOVAH-NISSI was assigned
The altar's name that Moses raised:
THE LORD OUR BANNER (so defined),
Recalled the place where God was praised.

How bold our banner is today
Declaring triumph over strife
Through Jesus Christ the only Way,
The only Truth, and only Life!

Our banner that is now unfurled
Displays the cross of Jesus Christ,
Proclaiming now to all the world
That He for us was sacrificed.

Our banner shows His victory
For sinners that He came to save,
It proves the truth that makes us free,
And robs all boasting from the grave.

Lord, help us to exalt Your name,
And raise the banner that You give,
To show the reason that You came,
And that we live, because You live.

Rod upon the Rock

2012-01-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

"And the people thirsted for water.... And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people?.... And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink" (Exodus 17:3-6).

The people in the desert cried
And turned to Moses to complain.
Their thirst had not been satisfied.
The land was dry; there was no rain.

Then Moses therefore cried to God
And rightly asked, "What shall I do?"
The Lord then said to take his rod,
And bring the elders with him too.

"Behold," the Lord said, "I will stand
Before thee there upon the rock."
Then "smite the rock," was His command,
To bring forth water for His flock.

There is a portrait here we find
That clearly shows us Jesus Christ
Because our Lord was so inclined
To pour His life out, sacrificed.

God's judgment rod upon Him fell,
Because He took the sinner's place.
That He might rescue us from hell
And satisfy us with His grace.

O Lord, we stand in grateful awe
That You would bless us, who were cursed,
By satisfying thus Your law,
And satisfying too, our thirst!

Manna every Morning

2012-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

"Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day..... and in the morning, then shall ye see the glory of the LORD.... and the children of Israel did eat manna forty years until they came to a land inhabited: they did eat manna until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan" (Exodus 16:4-35). "My son, keep thy Father's commandment.... When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee" (Proverbs 6:20-22).

We see the glory of the LORD,
His counsel, comfort, warning,
And with correction we're restored
With manna every morning.

While walking through this wilderness,
God's manna comes as rain,
Which is the Word of God to bless
The souls He will sustain.

God knows how much we need His Word,
A certain rate each day,
To meditate on what we've heard,
To trust Him, and obey.

For by His Word we shall be led
To guide us when we walk,
To keep us when we go to bed,
And when we rise, to talk.

O Lord, we thank You for Your love
That meets us when we rise
With daily manna from above
The Word of God supplies!

Wonderful Warrior

2012-01-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously.... The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation.... The LORD is a Man of war: the LORD is His name" (Exodus 15:1-3). "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:9,12).

Our wonderful Warrior, battle-scarred Lord,
Has valiantly fought to obtain our salvation!
How great was His mercy that sought the reward
Of making His people His own habitation!

The gates of our prison our Savior has stormed!
He broke all the bars of our dark, dismal cell!
How great was the battle! How well He performed,
Redeeming our souls from the fires of hell!

How rightly our Savior, our great Man of war,
Inspires our worship and fills us with song,
As we, with increasing amazement, explore,
The love that compelled Him to suffer so long!

O Lord, our Redeemer, how worthy You are
To reign in the hearts that You fought to set free!
We'll wonder with worship at each battle scar
Displayed in Your glorified body we see!

See the Salvation

2012-01-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

"Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today" (Exodus 14:13). "Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13). "Let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet.... Turn not to the right hand nor to the left" (Proverbs 4:25-27). "And after this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard... which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must be hereafter" (Revelation 4:1).

There is a time for standing still
That we may see salvation's sight
To find the center of God's will
And turn not to the left or right.

There was a path that God had planned
Which brought His people through the sea.
Obedience then to His command
Secured salvation's victory.

There was a voice in Revelation
That came from heaven's open door
Which called John to an elevation
To see salvation yet in store.

These illustrations show our need
To see things from our Savior's view,
That we may walk where He will lead
And do the things He says to do.

Lord, keep our eyes on You today
As we behold salvation's path,
To trust You only all the way,
Since You delivered us from wrath.

Heaven's Harness

2012-01-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

"The children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.... And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night" (Exodus 13:18-21). "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6).

The children of Israel went of the land
Wherein they were captive for so many years,
Delivered at last by God's mighty hand
From all their oppression, affliction, and tears.

A cloud through the day and a fire by night
Were visible tokens by which the Lord led.
And now, as we're walking by faith, not by sight,
We follow our Savior, who rose from the dead.

Thus harnessed by heaven's direction and grace,
God leads His own children by night and by day.
At whatever time, situation, or place,
Their triumph is found as they trust and obey.

O Lord, we are harnessed by love that constrains,
And led now to trust You, as on You we lean.
Acknowledging daily Your hand that sustains,
Our faith is assured of the things not yet seen.

Remember, Repent, Return

2012-01-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:4,5).

There is a reason to recall
That happy day we came to Christ
When we were rescued from our fall
Because our Lord was sacrificed.

What Love from heaven thus was sent!
How great His mercy then we learned!
When we remember, and repent,
We find our first love has returned.

O Lord, we thank You for Your love
That stirred our hearts to love You too!
The grace that sent You from above
Still fuels our first love, Lord, for You.

Keys of our King

2012-01-01T23:29:00.000-08:00

"Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death" (Revelation 1:17,18).

We start the new, uncharted year
With joy and confidence ahead,
As Jesus bids us not to fear,
For He now lives, though He was dead!

Behold, He lives forevermore,
And He alone now holds the keys
That opens every prison door
Of hell and death from which He frees.

O Lord, You are the first and last;
From everlasting You have been.
And when the proper time has passed,
We know that You will come again.

Lord, with this year still in its dawn,
We'd consecrate ourselves anew,
Redeeming time before it's gone
By living faithfully for You.

O Lord, our King, the keys You hold
Have now unlocked our prison cell.
We thank You for Your grace untold
Which rescued us from death and hell!

Yearend Yearning

2011-12-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen" (Jude 20-25).

How gracious God has daily been
Throughout this passing year!
He answered prayers, time and again,
And made His counsel clear.

How precious was the truth He taught!
How needful His correction!
How great His comfort which we sought!
How perfect His direction!

And as the current year expires
To usher in the new,
We bring to God our hearts' desires
We prayerfully pursue:

Lord, build in us a faith that's strong,
More ready to obey,
And by Your Spirit led along,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Lord, keep us always in Your love,
Expressing Your compassion
That brought salvation from above,
In humble, human fashion.

Lord, keep us yearning for the lost
To show them Your salvation,
While yet the gulf may still be crossed,
Escaping condemnation.

Now unto You eternally
And through these fleeting days,
Be glory, power, majesty,
And joyful, loving praise!

Washed Whiter

2011-12-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

"Pharaoh... said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.... And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants" (Exodus 9:27,34). "Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me know wisdom.... Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.... Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalm 51:6,7,10). "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12). "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4).

How great is the darkness deceiving our hearts!
How deeply our motives are buried within!
But God will send light to our most inward parts,
That we may be truthfully cleansed from our sin.

Confessions like Pharaoh's may seem to be true:
He said the right words, and he sounded sincere.
How soon was his hardness of heart then in view:
When trouble had ceased, his rebellion was clear!

The Scripture sheds light on our own generation:
Though not washed from sin, they are pure in their eyes.
How great is their danger, so blind to salvation,
Esteeming themselves to be guiltless and wise!

Lord, wash us that we may be whiter than snow;
Expose the intentions we foolishly hide.
Create in us clean hearts with wisdom to know
That truth makes us free as You cleanse us inside.

Self-Sufficient Savior

2011-12-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

"I am God, even Thy God.... If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.... Offer unto God thanksgiving: and pay thy vows unto the most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" (Psalm 50:7-15).

There's nothing we can give to God,
As if He had a need,
Though other people may applaud
An altruistic deed.

We have a self-sufficient Savior
Who is our sovereign King.
We shouldn't think that it's a favor
To give Him anything.

There's never hunger, neither thirst,
With God upon His throne.
But if there was, He'd have it first
From that which is His own.

And yet the Lord makes this request:
To offer Him thanksgiving,
To call on Him through every test
With consecrated living.

O Lord, we hear in Your command
To offer things we should
The truth that helps us understand:
These things are for OUR good!

Your grace is our sufficiency,
And we would not forget
Our greatest need at Calvary
By Jesus Christ was met!

Record of Redemption

2011-12-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

"They that trust in their wealth.... none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: for the redemption of their soul is precious.... But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for He shall receive me" (Psalm 49:6-15). "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and He that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:11,12).

The record is clear with respect to redemption:
We don't have the means for redeeming our brother
Or paying our ransom; there is no exemption:
Redemption is precious and comes from Another!

How fearful it is when we first realize
We're void of the power to rescue our soul!
Praise God for His prompting that we may wise
By trusting the Lord who redeems us in full!

Praise God for the riches in Christ that He gave,
Above all the wealth that this earth could afford,
With power to ransom our soul from the grave
When we have received Him as Savior and Lord.

O Lord, we give thanks that the battle is won
By Christ our Redeemer, victorious in strife!
And this is the record: when we have Your Son,
We have Your eternal redemption and life!

p.s. Today marks 38 years since that fearful and wonderful night in Yokosuka, Japan, on the USS Midway. "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved! How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!"

Real Reason

2011-12-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

"God is love.... We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:8,19).

Knowing the reason we really love God
Does not offer language that flatters,
For hearts that are sinful are hopelessly flawed;
That He first loved us is what matters!

Yes, this is the reason for love to our Lord:
That He loved us first in our sin,
And only His great love could ever afford
A cause for our love to begin.

O Lord, we are debtors to infinite Love,
That saved us by grace You impart!
How can we but set our affections above
And love You with all of our heart?

Sensible Singing

2011-12-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding" (Psalm 47:6,7). "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).

Sing praises to God! Sing praises with sense!
Consider the judgment from which you were saved!
Sing praises to Christ who became our Defense,
When we were so hopelessly lost and depraved.

Sing praises to God! Behold now what love
Our Father in heaven has freely bestowed,
That we have been called as His children above,
Since Christ paid the debt for our sin that we owed.

O Lord, we give thanks for our reasons to sing:
Receive from our hearts our sincere adoration!
With more understanding we'd praise You, our King,
And gratefully worship, O Lord of salvation!

Searching for the Savior

2011-12-25T22:28:00.000-08:00

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.... As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:2,25). "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:1,2).

The glory of God will conceal a thing:
That we may called out to search for His treasure
To show us the honor afforded a king:
The riches of grace in the Lord's fullest measure.

As cold waters offered to satisfy thirst
To souls that are longing for God's perfect peace,
The Lord draws our souls out to come to Him first
To find satisfaction that never will cease.

O Lord, we have found out, as wise men of old,
The mercies discovered in Jesus our Savior.
The half of His glories have never been told!
We're searching His Gift of unsearchable favor.

Behold the Babe

2011-12-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

"The daughter of Pharaoh... saw the ark... and when she had opened it, she saw the child: and behold, the babe wept" (Exodus 2:5,6). "The Word was God.... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1,14). "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life" (1 John 1:1).

A baby born in Egypt's land
Was weeping in the water,
Whom God protected with His hand
By Pharaoh's tender daughter.

He grew to be God's chosen man
That no one had expected
Would carry out His saving plan,
Though first he was rejected.

We see the patterns here of Christ
And of redemption's story.
God's precious Son was sacrificed,
And we beheld his glory.

Behold, the Babe of Bethlehem!
The Word made flesh appears,
Rejected by Jerusalem
For whom He shed His tears!

O Lord, as we behold Your Son,
His joy, His tears, and strife,
We thank You, Lord, for what He's done
To grant eternal life!

Gracious Growth

2011-12-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

"My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26). "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

How great is the privilege that God now imparts
To grow in the knowledge and grace of our Savior!
He gives us more grace as we give Him our hearts,
And by that proportion increases His favor.

How great is our loss when we will not release
The throne of our hearts to our heavenly Father,
For thus by our pride we shall forfeit His peace,
Our hearts shall be cold, and our duties a bother.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your great invitation
To give You our hearts and attend to Your ways.
How rich are the blessings observed in salvation
As grace then empowers what knowledge conveys!

Guided for Good

2011-12-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

"I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord.... But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 49:18, 50:20). "O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me" (Psalm 43:3). "That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known unto thee this day, even to thee" (Proverbs 22:19). "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9).

Our God knows the reason why trials are sent,
Though often His purpose is misunderstood.
Whatever may be in another's intent,
Our God is still guiding His plan for our good.

As children who need to be guided in youth,
So we are dependent on God's higher ways
To send out His light and His marvelous truth,
That we may be guided to live for His praise.

The Lord surely knows how to rescue our souls
And how to deliver in time of temptation.
Throughout every trial He wisely controls
And teaches us thereby to trust His salvation.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your mercies so great
We see in the guidance You daily impart.
Through trials You've taught us upon You to wait,
And trust You completely with all of our heart.

Refreshing our Remembrance

2011-12-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

"They continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me.... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" (Psalm 42:3-5). "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things.... We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.... We also have a more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:12-19).

We ought to often think about
The reasons we believe,
That we may thus dispel the doubt
Forgetfulness can weave.

On every side we hear the chants:
"Where is your God?" they say.
Be careful in this circumstance
To not be led astray!

We shouldn't be found negligent
By failing to recall
The facts which are so evident
Displayed before us all!

Among this evidence we see
The witnesses we know
Who clearly saw Christ's majesty,
Both friend as well as foe!

The EMPTY tomb, we call to mind,
Attended by the guard,
Is hard to miss unless you're blind,
And even then it's hard!

We shouldn't pass by prophecy,
God's "more sure" Word of grace
Wherein was written history
Before events took place!

Then why now, O my downcast soul,
Should you be now depressed?
Remember God is in control,
As witnesses attest!

Lord, thank You for Your holy Word
In which we hear Your voice
That renders every doubt absurd,
And calls us to rejoice!

Confident in His Care

2011-12-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

"By this I know that Thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before Thy face forever" (Psalm 41:11,12). "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24). "Casting all your care on Him, for He careth for you. Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:7,8).

By this I know I have God's favor
For time and for eternity:
He took my place and did not waver
To stand against my enemy.

By this I know my Savior's love:
He now upholds me by His grace,
And I shall dwell with Him above,
And there I'll see Him face to face.

By this I know and understand
That God determines what is best:
He holds me firmly in His hand,
He cares for me, and I am blest.

By this I know God's saving power:
The devil lurks on every side
And as a lion would devour,
If not for Christ, in whom we hide.

By this I know, O Lord, You care:
You heard my humble supplication,
You answered me in my despair,
And clothed me in Your great salvation!

Believe the Book

2011-12-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

"Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the BOOK it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is written within my heart" (Psalm 40:6-8). "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.... The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.... Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:20,21,27).

How firmly we may now believe
God's Book with confidence
With counsel therein we receive
Confirmed with evidence!

The greatest evidence of all,
Which God has placed therein,
Is Christ responding to the call
To take away our sin.

The search is vain upon all shelves,
No matter where we look,
For prophecies that prove themselves,
Except in God's great Book!

In prophecies He would fulfill,
We hear our Savior's voice
Declare that He would do God's will,
And in that will rejoice.

The sacrifices offered then
Were shadows of the Christ,
But these could never ransom men,
Though often sacrificed.

How rightly then we're told to cease
To hear the false instruction
By which the soul rejects God's peace
Through Satan's cruel seduction.

Your Book, O Lord, is truly light
On which our souls depend.
We know Your counsels there are right,
Both now and in the end.

Reasoning with Reality

2011-12-18T23:57:00.000-08:00

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

The death and life of souls are in
The power of the tongue:
For by the word of God we win
The souls of old and young.

We reason with reality:
The truth is on our side!
It is the truth that makes us free,
As Christ has testified.

The Scriptures that we now behold
Are filled with evidence:
Consider prophecies foretold,
Fulfilled in their defense.

Consider too, the empty tomb,
In which our Lord had lain.
The evidence now leaves no room
For doubt now rendered vain.

O Lord, we thank You for Your Word,
Equipping us with reason
That validates the truth we've heard
In every place and season.

Priesthood Privileges

2011-12-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Unto you, therefore, which believe, He is precious.... Ye are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:5-9).

The Lord ordains us each a priest
When we have put our trust in Christ.
There is no sacrificial beast
Nor blood on altars sacrificed.

We are a holy priesthood now
To offer praise and adoration.
Before our precious Lord we bow
To thank Him for so great salvation.

We are a royal priesthood too
Ordained to show our Savior's praise,
Declaring what we know is true:
The Gospel light His Word displays.

Our privileges are great indeed,
And so our duties are as well,
To shine the light that others need
To show them their escape from hell.

O Lord, You've granted us this place
As priests, who once were lost in sin.
So may we minister Your grace
That saves the souls that You would win.

Delightful Desire

2011-12-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

"Delight thyself also in the LORD, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). "Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:3-8).

How great is the privilege to place our delight
In Jesus our Savior, beholding His grace.
We see Him by faith now, yet one day by sight,
When we shall behold then our Lord face to face.

How good is our Savior, beyond contemplation,
Who laid down His life as our judgment required.
In view of His love which provided salvation,
Our Lord far exceeds all our heart has desired!

O Lord, we rejoice as we ponder Your love
With joy inexpressibly full of Your glory,
And thus as we set our affections above,
Our cup overflows as we tell Your love story!

Bearing our Blame

2011-12-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

"And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me.... I will be a SURETY for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me BEAR THE BLAME forever" (Genesis 43:8,9). "He that is SURETY for a stranger shall smart for it.... Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (Proverbs 11:15, 15:11). "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

How clearly did Judah's commitment portray
The Lord as our Surety, bearing our blame!
Our Lord knew the price for our souls He would pay,
And knowing all this, He courageously came!

When hell and destruction, that horrible sight,
Were looming before Him as our destination,
With matchless compassion He left heaven's height
And came to our rescue to purchase salvation.

Lord, how can we thank You for what You have done?
You looked down, beholding our hearts from above,
And saw no one righteous; no, not even one,
Yet still You were moved to redeem us with love!

We praise You, Lord Jesus, as we contemplate
Our burden of sins on the cross that You bore.
Astonishing mercy! Compassion so great!
The more we remember, the more we adore!

Solace of our Souls

2011-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

"All these things are against me.... then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave" (Genesis 42:36,38). "Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation.... and my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in His salvation" (Psalm 35:3,9). "The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy" (Proverbs 14:10). "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).

In seasons when bitterness comes to our hearts
And all of our prospects seem dim,
The solace that Jesus our Lord then imparts
Is found as we draw near to Him.

We find not our solace in strangers who come,
Or even the closest of friends.
In Christ we discover where true peace is from:
On Him all our welfare depends.

We dare not find solace in temporal things
Which flee just as fast as they came,
For riches, we know, fly away as with wings,
And temporal joys are the same.

Our comfort is found in the words of our Lord,
Though in a small voice He may whisper:
"I am your Salvation." Ah! This will afford
A sweetness though all else is bitter!

O Lord, we rejoice in so great a salvation
That robs even death of its fear!
We're finding our solace in Your exhortation
To come as Your love draws us near.

Every Knee shall Eventually Kneel

2011-12-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

"And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand... and they cried before him, BOW THE KNEE: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and with thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:42-44). "Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.... unto Me every knee SHALL BOW" (Isaiah 45:22,23). "At the name of Jesus every knee SHOULD BOW" (Philippians 2:10).

We see in this dramatic story
Of Joseph's rising up in power
A portrait of our Savior's glory
In His prophetic coming hour.

We know that every knee shall bow,
As God has sworn by His decree.
Yet even those who will not now,
When Christ returns, shall bow the knee!

We bow our heart and knee to Christ,
Exalted to the highest place,
Who for our souls was sacrificed
To justify us by His grace!

O Lord, we see Your beauty here,
And gladly bow the knee to You!
And as Your day is drawing near,
We pray that many more will too!

Resting in the Right

2011-12-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

"Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Genesis 40:8). "The Word of the LORD is right, and all His works are done in truth.... The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:4,11). "The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.... The way of the fool is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:5,15).

We rest in the knowledge that God's Word is right,
And all of His works have been truthfully done.
In darkness around us His Word is our light,
And none of His prophecies failed; not one!

How great is the peace and our confidence then,
Since God has revealed the thoughts of His heart!
Though fools will profess themselves wise among men,
The counsel of God is what sets us apart.

The counsel of Joseph was right in the prison
Who said what would happen when three days had passed.
It mattered not then who would scorn with derision,
The Word of the Lord was still standing at last.

The promise of Jesus to rise in the three days
Was met by the guards at His sepulcher's door.
But all of their efforts just added more praise
When Christ rose the third day, as stated before!

We thank You today, Lord, for what You have said,
To give us a light in this day of confusion.
We trust in our Savior, now raised from the dead;
We rest in the Word He will bring to conclusion.

Shameless Shouting

2011-12-11T22:02:00.000-08:00

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.... Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice... and shout for joy!" (Psalm 32:1,11). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.... Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth" (James 1:17,18).

Be glad, rejoice, and shout for joy!
Let shallow thinking be reproved!
Let all within us now employ
Our songs of praise for sins removed!

Give thanks for every perfect gift
Which comes down from our Lord above
Through Christ who bore our sins to lift
Our souls from danger by His love.

No love like His was ever heard
Or ever seen upon the earth,
But we behold it in His Word
By which He gives us second birth.

We shouldn't think it too extreme
To shout for joy with heartfelt praise,
Since God was moved to thus redeem
And save us whom He yet will raise!

When we recall, Lord, what You've done
And yet will do without a doubt,
We find our thrill has just begun!
How can we help but sing and shout?

Times to Trust

2011-12-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

"But I trusted in Thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:14,15). "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper.... Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight" (Hebrews 13:5-21).

Our times are in our Savior's hand;
We know He's on the throne.
Our days are few, like grains of sand:
Each grain to Him is known.

The Lord, we know, makes no mistake.
We rest in Him forever.
Our souls, we know, He won't forsake,
And He will leave us never.

We're trusting in our risen Lord
To work in us His pleasure
To find eternity's reward
In Christ, our fullest treasure.

We thank You, Lord! You paid the cost
To ransom us, Your sheep,
And for the promise, none are lost
That You have sworn to keep!

Better Blood

2011-12-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

"Wisdom hath... killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished her table.... As for him that wanteth understanding, she saith unto him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live, and go in the way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:1-6). "Ye are come... to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Now wisdom is calling to all who will hear
To come the feast that is spread on her table.
The beasts have been slain, and yet it is clear,
There's blood that is better than these and of Abel.

The blood of such beasts have foreshadowed the Christ,
And Abel's blood cried from the ground against Cain.
Yet neither the blood of these beasts has sufficed
Nor Abel's to take away sin's guilty stain.

But now we have come to our Savior and Lord
Whose blood is sufficient to wash sins away!
The blood of His cross that He shed will afford
The ransom we need that no other could pay!

We thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your mediation
With blood that You shed on the cross when You died.
In Your precious blood we have found our salvation,
Our cleansing, redemption, and place where we hide.

Faith's Foundation

2011-12-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

"Those that seek Me early shall find me.... and I will fill their treasures.... For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD" (Proverbs 8:17,21,35). "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.... Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.... Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:1-6).

Our faith is built on evidence
Which honesty demands,
As reason makes the strong defense
That logic understands.

There is no way the things we see
Were made by natural cause!
Behold the earth's complexity,
Its order, and its laws!

Alas, this evidence ignored
Has rendered many blind,
For all who have refused the Lord,
Have darkened their own mind.

But God can give the blind their sight
If only they are turned,
And He will manifest His light
That faith may be discerned.

Though many yet will stand aloof,
We ought to make our case
To those who yet will hear the proof
Of God's amazing grace!

We thank You for our faith's foundation
And for the great reward
Discovered in so great salvation
By those who seek You, Lord!

Sorrow and Sovereignty

2011-12-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

"Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.... And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni (lit., son of my sorrow): but His father called him Benjamin (lit., son of my right hand)." (Genesis 35:16-18). "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).

Benoni was titled, when Rachel travailed,
The "son of my sorrow," as life from her passed.
His father renamed him, and so he was hailed
As Benjamin, "son of my right hand" at last.

The son of my sorrow: reflect on that name
Portraying the beauty of Jesus our Lord!
The son of my right hand he later became:
What marvelous portraits these titles afford!

O Lord, we give thanks for the sweet meditation
In names where Your sorrow and glory are shown!
You humbled Yourself to accomplish salvation,
And now You're exalted upon heaven's throne!

Fading Fears

2011-12-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

"The LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

The Lord forever is my Light;
In view of this, whom should I fear?
He is my Strength and saving Might,
And He has promised to be near.

My enemies may boldly talk
And blindly say I am forsaken.
It doesn't matter if they mock,
For nonetheless they are mistaken!

Of whom then shall I be afraid,
Since Christ is Lord of all dominions?
He rules the universe He made;
He is not moved by vain opinions!

We thank You, Lord, for confidence
Which we may have in every hour,
For You have been our strong Defense,
And You will keep us by Your power.

New Name

2011-12-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

"And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob (lit., he held the heel; supplanter), but Israel (prince with God): for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.... And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (Turn Thou, God).... And Jacob came to Shalem (at peace).... and he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel (God, the God of Israel)" (Genesis 32:28-30, 33:18-20). "I will make a new covenant.... and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.... and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8:8-12).

When Israel's identity
Was found in his new name,
The Lord had turned then graciously
To take away his shame.

For he who held his brother's heel
Could also hold God's heart
Who turned to him and would reveal
The blessings He'd impart.

There was a blessing far above
All others Jacob found:
The peace extended by God's love
Where grace and truth abound.

And in the place he came to dwell
He named his altar there
As "God, the God of Israel",
To celebrate His care.

Lord, thank that you likewise changed
Our horrible condition
Who once had been from You estranged
And destined for perdition.

And thus, O Lord, we celebrate
Our newfound reputation,
Since You were pleased to elevate
Our souls with Your salvation!

Manifested to the Meek

2011-12-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

"And Jacob said... I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which Thou has showed unto Thy servant" (Genesis 32:10). "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way" (Psalm 25:9).

How good the Lord is to the meek
To guide and teach them in His way.
How good it is to hear Him speak
And also do what He will say.

The meek are sinners who have known
They're neither worthy of the least
Of all the truth that God has shown
Nor all the mercies He increased.

With Jacob we must take our place
To own our true unworthiness,
That God may thereby show His grace
To sinners He would teach and bless.

We thank You, Lord, for heaven's love
Where humble sinners find their rest
And for Your mercies from above
Which to the meek You manifest.

Doors of His Dominion

2011-12-03T22:12:00.000-08:00

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24:7). "Trust in the LORD with all Thine heart.... He blesseth the habitation of the just.... He giveth grace to the lowly" (Proverbs 3:5,33,34). "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20).

The door for Christ who came to earth,
Which ancient prophets saw afar,
Was opened through His humble birth,
Announced by Scripture and His star.

The doors of earth not opened now
Shall open when the King comes in,
And every knee shall surely bow
To Him who washed us from our sin!

The doors at which our Lord will knock
Are found at every heart today.
Though many in these days will mock,
He enters those who humbly pray.

O Lord, we thank You that You came
To make our hearts Your habitation.
Now come, exalt in us Your name;
Enlarge our hearts with Your salvation.

Appetite for Application

2011-12-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.... Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" (Psalm 23:1,5). "My son, if thou wilt apply thine heart to understanding... then thou shalt understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5). "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye... are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14).

The Lord is my Shepherd who feeds me so well;
He spreads out a table abundantly full.
Though enemies watch from the powers of hell
They tremble before Him who comforts my soul.

With all this abundance before me now spread,
There's more than just milk here for which I am reaching:
I ought to be hungry for strong meat instead,
And exercised thereby, I ought to be teaching!

O Lord, You have taught me to trust and obey,
That I may between good and evil discern.
How faithful You've been to my soul everyday
To grant me the strength to apply what I learn!

Lord, cause to come to Your freshly spread table
Each day with an appetite for application,
And thereby discover through Christ I am able
To do what will please You in each situation.

Remaining Rest

2011-12-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

"They have pierced My hands and My feet.... I will declare Thy name unto My brethren.... They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this" (Psalm 22:16,22,31). "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:9,10).

The work that saves and gives us rest
Is now forever done,
As words upon the cross attest
Declared by God the Son!

The work "is finished!" He declared,
And nothing more remains!
Our rest in heaven He's prepared
Was purchased by His pains.

He calls us brethren, unashamed!
His work is thus complete!
The serpent's head, as God proclaimed,
Is crushed beneath His feet.

We thank You, Lord, for what You did
That left no sin behind.
They are removed, not merely hid;
What rest this gives our mind!

Present in this Place

2011-11-30T13:56:00.000-08:00

"And Jacob went out.... and he lighted upon a certain place.... and he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it, and said.... I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest... I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I knew it not" (Genesis 28:10-16). "Who hath ascended up to heaven, or descended.... What is His name, and what is His Son's name if thou canst tell?" (Proverbs 30:4). "Jesus answered... thou shalt see greater things than these.... Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (John 1:50,51).

As Jacob journeyed from his home
And knew not what would lie ahead,
So we, it seems, like pilgrims roam,
Yet faithfully by God are led.

For all is not as it has seemed:
The Lord is surely in this place!
Above all that we could have dreamed,
Our God has met us with His grace!

When Jacob dreamed and saw ascending
A ladder up to heaven above
With angels up and down attending,
He saw a vision of God's love!

We know his dream's prophetic end:
It is the Son of God who came,
Descending that He might ascend
And save those calling on His name!

Lord, thank You that You came to earth
To be our Ladder to Your throne,
To make us Yours by second birth,
And grant us peace in You alone.

Heed what is Heard

2011-11-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

"He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.... Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:1,18). "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:1-4).

In view of the words from our Lord's gracious lips
Which we have been privileged to hear,
We ought to be sure that not one of them slips
By lending a more earnest ear.

Since all of the words that the prophets have spoken
Were steadfastly shown to be true,
And evidence stands that no promise was broken,
We ought to show others this too!

Since judgment is looming for all who dismiss
The Bible as fabled tradition,
How shall they escape from that fearful abyss
Who scoff when they're warned of perdition?

O Lord, give us boldness and earnest desire
To preach with conviction Your Word,
To show heaven's glory and hell's lake of fire,
That hearts may now heed what is heard.

Message Declared in Manners Diverse

2011-11-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

"The heavens declare the GLORY of GOD; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.... Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.... He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names" (Psalm 19:1-4, 147:4). "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son... Who being the BRIGHTNESS of His GLORY... by Himself purged our sins" (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The manners in which God Almighty arranged
To manifest Christ are diverse.
The message, however, has surely not changed:
Christ ransomed our souls from the curse!

The message proclaimed in the heavens above,
Portraying the virgin-born Seed,
Is one of God's methods proclaiming His love,
Declaring His glory indeed!

It's not up to us, with our vision so dim,
To limit the means of God's glory.
The Lord named the stars! Is it not up to Him
To use them to publish His story?

It should not surprise us that Satan now mars
The message of God in the skies,
Distorting the meaning and purpose of stars,
For he is the father of lies!

O Lord, we give thanks for the message You gave
By whatever means You thought right,
Declaring Your glory to those You would save
By purging their sins out of sight!

Generously Gentle

2011-11-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

"Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Psalm 18:35).

How generous with grace is God
Who gently makes us great,
As we are found by Him so flawed
And in a sinful state.

He gives to us salvation's shield,
His right hand holds us up,
And daily blessings are revealed
Which overflow our cup.

We have no greatness of our own
Or righteousness to claim
Apart from grace, and grace alone,
That lifted us from shame.

We love You, Lord, because You first
Have loved the wayward soul;
You satisfied our inner thirst
And hunger to the full.

We thank You, Lord, and we rejoice
That You will meet the need
Of all Your sheep who hear Your voice,
Whom You will gently lead.

Decision Day

2011-11-26T14:29:00.001-08:00

"And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.... Hinder me not.... And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go" (Genesis 24:49-58). "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared... He saved us... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).

There is day when souls are called
To be the Savior's bride.
Decision day cannot be stalled:
We go or we abide.

Like Abraham who sent that one
Upon that special mission
To seek a bride for his own son,
We make our own decision.

The options then are very plain:
We either stay or go.
We trust the Lord, or live in vain;
We answer yes or no.

Eternity constrains our choice
To choose while yet we may.
He call us with His Spirit's voice
While it is called Today.

But when His Spirit from above
Has heard our heartfelt, "Yes!"
God's kindness and eternal love
Are ours with righteousness.

We thank You, Lord, that You would call
And rescue by Your grace
A bride once ruined by the fall
From Adam's sinful race.

Purchased Possession

2011-11-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

"And Abraham weighed to Ephron (lit., him of dust) the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth.... and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession" (Genesis 23:16-18). "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea I have a goodly heritage" (Psalm 16:5,6). "The great God and our Savior Jesus Christ... gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:13,14).

By Abraham the price was paid
To make his heritage secure.
With silver of redemption weighed,
His borders thereby were made sure.

Though Ephron was a man of dust
With all those in his audience,
That price gave Abraham a trust:
That place was his forever hence.

Then how much more has God assured
That our inheritance is bought
Since He, with precious blood, secured
The lines of our eternal lot!

How pleasantly the lines are drawn,
O Lord, for our inheritance!
Our home is heaven! Sins are gone!
Redemption is our confidence!

Lord, thank You that You weighed the price
That satisfied redemption's cost;
You paid it by Your sacrifice,
Redeeming us who once were lost!

Look for the Lamb

2011-11-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

"On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.... And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said... Where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a Lamb for a burnt offering.... And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen" (Genesis 22:4-14). "In the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2).

We lift our eyes with Abraham;
And see afar that place
Where God provided there a Lamb
Extending to us grace!

As on the third day he could see
The place of God's selection,
We see beyond Mount Calvary
The Lamb in resurrection.

We see the greater Offering
Of Christ, the great I Am
In Isaac who was wondering,
And asked, Where is the Lamb?

Behold, the Lamb is Jesus Christ:
Our Lord, the perfect Man,
Determined to be sacrificed
Before the world began!

Jehovah-jireh (God provides)
This Lamb whom we receive!
Our Savior now in us abides,
And He will never leave!

We thank You, Lord, as we behold
The Lamb whom we adore,
As by Your Spirit You unfold
His glories more and more!

Earnest Evangelist

2011-11-23T15:44:00.000-08:00

"Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long, for surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17,18). "Preach the Word.... Do the work of an evangelist.... For the time will come when they shall not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2-5).

Be sure of this: there is an end;
The finish line is not far off.
So preach the Word; its truths defend,
Though many, as foretold, will scoff.

Be earnest in eternal things,
And serve the Lord with godly fear.
Exalt the Lord, the King of kings,
Assured that His return draws near.

Though souls may choose to not endure
The Gospel truth that saves the soul,
Still every word of God is pure,
And all are held accountable.

O Lord, we fix our eyes on You,
And thank You for the expectation
That all Your promises are true
Which yet extend Your great salvation.

We thank You, Lord, that we may be
Evangelists with earnest hearts,
Who preach the truth that makes us free
And everlasting life imparts.

Stewards of the Scriptures

2011-11-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

"That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsel and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:19-21). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Has not the Lord provided well
His words by inspiration?
Are not we now equipped to tell
The lost of His salvation?

How excellent His counsels are
That give us certainty,
For by them we can see afar
The things that yet shall be!

We thank You for the excellence,
O Lord, within Your Word.
Its certainty is our defense
And armor that we gird.

Lord, thank You for this stewardship
Of precious words with power,
By which You thoroughly equip
And fit us for this hour.

Until the day the day we see Your face,
O Lord, may we be found
Good stewards of Your truth and grace,
Which in Your Word abound.

Set in Safety

2011-11-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

"Help, LORD, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.... I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever" (Psalm 12:1-7). "There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21:30,31).

The enemy puffs with an arrogant face
At all who would hold to the truth.
He scoffs at those trusting in God's saving grace,
And aims at destroying our youth.

Come help us, O Lord, for the godly man ceases!
The armies of hell gain more ground!
Deception continues, confusion increases,
And those who forget You abound!

God sets us in safety! His answer we've heard!
And none from His safety can sever:
We need nothing more than His purified Word
Preserved by His power forever.

Lord, thank You for meeting our need for protection
Against Satan's wiles today,
Providing Your counsel for us with perfection
To guard all who humbly obey.

Flawed Flight

2011-11-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

"In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" (Psalm 11:1). "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Now flee as a bird to your mountain, we hear
From those whose alarming perspective is flawed.
Yet we were not given the spirit of fear,
But power, and love, and a sound mind from God.

To all who have told us to flee as a bird,
We ought to inform them their efforts will fail.
For we have the promise of Christ in His Word
That hell and its armies shall never prevail.

O Lord, we give thanks for the boldness we find
When led by Your Spirit with deeper surrender,
With power, with love, and with soundness of mind,
Since You are our Savior, our Lord, and Defender!

Forsaking the Falsehood

2011-11-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the LORD shall stand.... Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:21,27). "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20).

So many devices in man's wicked heart
Imagine a counsel that contradicts God's.
From all such instruction, we're called to depart,
Forsaking the counsel this world applauds.

Such "science" so called, we are called to resist,
Which argues against what the Lord says is true.
It starts with presuming that God is not there,
And that false assumption perverts all they do.

Praise God for the anchor of truth in His Word,
Defining true science with counsel that stands!
The godless assumptions of men are absurd,
Refusing to see the design of God's hands!

O Lord, we are thankful for all You have shown,
Which we are committed to teach to our youth.
So grant us the wisdom to make Your truth known,
That they may discern between falsehood and truth.

Questions of my Quest

2011-11-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

"And the angel of the LORD... said, Hagar (lit. Sojourner)... Whence camest thou? And whither wilt thou go?.... She said, Have I also looked after Him that seeth me?" (Genesis 16:8,13). "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.... There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:1,24).

How well I can remember when
My questions plagued me in the night.
With no one else to turn to then,
I searched for God with all my might.

Was I a product then of chance?
And what about eternity?
Was everything blind circumstance?
My questions would not let me be!

I feared my quest could have no end,
But to my joy and great surprise,
I found in God my closest Friend,
Who saw me then with loving eyes.

O Lord, I've found in You my rest,
With all my questions satisfied!
You met me in my fearful quest,
And saved me when to You I cried.

I thank You, Lord, for mercy shown
And truth unveiled on my path:
You gave Yourself, and You alone
Could save me from eternal wrath!

Until the day we meet above
Lord, help me now to clearly speak
And satisfy the quest for love
And truth in You that others seek.

Narrating, Not Numbering!

2011-11-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

"The LORD.... brought him [Abram] forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven and tell (Heb. "sawfar" narrate) the stars, if thou be able to number (same word: "sawfar" narrate) them: and He said unto Him, So shall thy Seed (i.e. Christ: Genesis 3:15, Galatians 3:6,16, "thy Seed, which is Christ") be. And he believed in the LORD, and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:4-6). "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, who has set Thy glory above the heavens!.... When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:1-4). "The heavens declare (Heb. "sawfar" again!) the glory of God.... There line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.... He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names" (Psalm 19:1-4, 147:4).

The Lord brought Abram forth abroad
And told him then to look above
And tell the stars (all named by God),
Unveiling Christ's triumphant love.

Yes, Abram surely saw Christ's day
(As Jesus Christ so plainly said).
He knew that Christ would come to pay
Our ransom, dying in our stead.

The stars were named to understand
And to expound redemption's story.
Their WORDS have gone to every land
Declaring thus our Savior's glory.

The ancient star names we can read,
Like Virgo, Spica, and much more,
All speak of Christ, "The Virgin's Seed!"
How much there is we may explore!

So Abram didn't count each star,
But rather he was naming them.
And thereby he could see afar
His Seed which came to Bethlehem.

O Lord our Lord, how excellent
In all the earth is Jesus' name!
May we, as stars, be likewise sent
To tell the glory they proclaim!

Youtube exposition: http://youtu.be/yBzuc2Lt8Lc

Preparing and Purging

2011-11-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

"The preparations in the heart of man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.... By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.... Understanding is a wellspring of life.... The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth" (Proverbs 16:1,6,22,23).

The preparations in the heart
To give eternal answers right
Is from the Lord, who will impart
An understanding in His light.

On matters of eternity
We should not ever speak amiss!
Through Christ alone we are made free:
The Lord has clearly taught us this.

By truth and mercy we are purged
From all iniquity within,
And by the fear of God we're urged
To flee from wrath and from our sin.

These principles are surely plain,
Yet many still don't understand.
The search for truth is all in vain
Unless we seek it from God's hand.

Yet God will give the preparation
To every heart that is sincere
And calls on Him for His salvation,
Instructed by a Godly fear.

O Lord, we thank You that You teach
The hearts that You prepare with grace.
Prepare us, therefore, now to reach
The souls You prompt to seek Your face.

Priority and Privilege of Prayer

2011-11-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

"The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer" (Psalm 6:9). "The prayer of the upright is His delight.... He heareth the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:8,29). "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.... For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved, and come unto 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.... I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

There is a great priority
That God has placed on prayer
For matters of eternity
As well as daily care.

The Lord has called for supplication
That souls may not be lost,
But rather learn of His salvation
And of their ransom's cost.

There's many things to pray about,
But surely none is greater
Than precious souls, without a doubt,
Who need a Mediator.

For this is why our Savior came
And paid so great a price:
To bear away our sin and shame
Through His great sacrifice.

Indeed, there is no other one
Who can extend God's grace
But Christ the Man, yet God the Son,
Who took the sinner's place.

O Lord, we stand by grace alone,
Permitted now to pray,
As we are called now to Your throne
While it is called today.

O may this privilege You afford
For us to intercede
Be exercised each day, O Lord,
To pray for souls in need!

Proving the Prudent

2011-11-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

"Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou peceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way.... There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:7-12). "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying.... from which some having swerved have turned aside to vain jangling.... This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:4-7).

Now go from the presence of those who reveal
Their foolishness by what they say,
For words have the power to kill and to steal,
Destroying those thus led astray.

We prove what is prudent and weigh what we've heard
Against what we know to be right,
For this is the standard we have in God's Word,
Exposing all things to its light.

We know there's a way which can seem right to man,
Yet death, after all, is its end,
For Christ came to save us; there's no other plan
That heaven will ever extend.

O Lord, we give thanks for the way of salvation
That's proven, since Christ Jesus came
To save helpless sinners approaching damnation
Who find refuge now in His name!

Terminated Tower

2011-11-13T21:29:00.000-08:00

"God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply.... bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.... And the whole earth was one speech.... And they said, Go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.... And the LORD said.... Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language.... So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 9:1,7, 11:1-8).

God gave a very plain command
To Noah's children giving birth.
It wasn't hard to understand:
"Be fruitful," filling all the earth.

But his descendants thought instead
That they would rather build a tower,
Thus contradicting what God said,
Unmindful of His sovereign power.

Their purpose set aside God's grace,
As they united then to build
A tower and a dwelling place
In conflict with what God had willed.

God brought their plans to a conclusion,
And they were scattered all abroad.
Through languages He brought confusion
To those who tried to withstand God.

O Lord, how gently then You brought
That tower to its termination,
That rebel sinners might be taught
To turn and find in You salvation!

So teach us, Lord, to know Your will
And do (the first time) what You say,
That we may joyfully fulfill
Your plan for us as we obey.