Given for the Gospel

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us (Selah); that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:1,2). "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand... freely ye have received, freely give" Matthew 10:7,8).

The blessing that our God imparted,
He gave to make His mercies known.
So what if some are still hardhearted?
We answer still to Him alone.

Then freely give as you've received;
Declare God's saving health!
Our God commands us who believed
To thus impart His wealth.

Longing for Laborers

"Then saith He to His disciples, The harvest is truly plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.... These twelve Jesus sent forth" (Matthew 9:37,38, 10:5).

Pray to the Lord of the harvest today;
The harvest is ready, the laborers few:
Keeping in mind that as you thus pray,
The worker He sends may be you.

Simpler Said

"Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.... For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house" (Matthew 9:2,5,6).

We've heard it's "easier said than done;"
It's an often used cliché.
How true is was of God's own Son,
Who took our sins away.

"Sins forgiven!" What a word!
But oh, how hard to do!
Yet from our Lord was never heard
A word that wasn't true.

Yes, Jesus knew the task ahead
Was easier said than done.
Yet He did it, as He said,
And our salvation won!

Psalm of the Calm

"And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and sea; and there was a great calm" (Matthew 8:26).

With Jesus Christ so near at hand,
I have no cause for fear.
The winds and sea hear His command,
And I would likewise hear.

And since the winds obey His voice,
And seas thereby are calm,
I'll do the same, and that by choice,
And this shall be my psalm.

His Helping, Holding Hand

"Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me" (Psalm 63:7,8). "If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelations 3:20).

The Lord upholds me with His hand;
He helps me everyday.
I'll follow Him, yet understand,
Without Him I would stray.

So in His shadow I'll rejoice,
And He will hold me up.
I will delight to hear His voice,
And daily with Him sup.

The Time and Task

"And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).

For such a time as this,
Let us live to boldly tell
Of heaven's glorious bliss,
And deliverance from hell.

This is the time and task
That is given to us now.
Let us knock, and seek, and ask:
The Lord will show us how.

Higher Haven

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy" (Psalm 61:2,3).

My heart has found a Haven;
That is higher than the sky.
Its promise there is graven
In the higher Rock than I.

That Rock is Jesus Christ,
My Shelter and my Tower.
His grace till now sufficed;
So shall it every hour.

Seen in Secret

"Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:6).

We're seen in secret through the eyes
Of our heavenly Father wise.
A broken heart He'll not despise;
But will openly reward.

Every thought and every prayer,
Every sorrow, every care,
Every burden that we bear,
Is pondered by our Lord.

Mercy in the Morning

"But I will sing of Thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning: for Thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto Thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy" (Psalm 59:16,17). "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22,23).

Every morning let us bring
A heart prepared again to sing
Of mercies from our God and King,
For God is our defense.

Every morning they are new:
His mercies and compassions true.
Sing of His mercies all day through!
Now let the song commence!

Salt and Sight

"Ye are the salt of the earth.... Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13,14).

Unless we rightly understand,
Our purpose here as God has planned,
Our life is meaningless and bland:
May we as salt abide!

Lord, help us understand aright,
The darkness of this world's night,
That we may therein shine Your light,
So You'll be glorified.

Fixed to Fish

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and gave praise" (Psalm 57:7). "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left" (Proverbs 4:27). "And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

My heart is fixed upon my Savior;
I'll sing and give Him praise.
I'll let Him govern my behavior
Through my remaining days.

I'll follow Jesus where and when
He tells me I should go.
He's teaching me to fish for men,
That's all I need to know.

Trust or Tremble

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.... In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.... For 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 56:11).

In God I'll trust when I'm afraid.
I'll trust each promise He has made.
He rescued me when I had strayed,
And He has made me free.

When I trust Him I can't fear.
Who can harm me when He's near?
When I pray I know He'll hear,
And He'll deliver me.

For Want of Wings

"And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away, and be at rest.... As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.... Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:6,16,22).

And what if God should grant this prayer
To fly from trouble through the air,
With wings that lift us as a dove
From our unrest, to hide above?

Could not our Lord have likewise fled,
Instead of dying in our stead?
Was this the path our Savior took?
Was there a task that He forsook?

No, that's not what Jesus did,
When trouble came, He was not hid.
And neither should we thus escape,
To hide from every cut or scrape.

So let's be mindful when we pray:
We cannot always fly away.
But if we cast on God our pain
His promise is: "He shall sustain."

The Propriety of Prosperity

"Turn you at My reproof: behold I will pour out My Spirit unto you; I will make known My words unto you.... For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil"(Proverbs 1:23,32,33).

May you prosper in this year
In every way that God holds dear.
Yet heed those words with godly fear,
That warn of our seduction.

Be careful of prosperity
Indifferent to eternity,
That leads astray humanity
Into its own destruction.

You cannot measure these with math:
The wealth we find upon God's path,
The price God paid to save from wrath,
And from our soul's corruption.

So may you prosper in God's sight
Throughout the year in all that's right,
And find in Christ the life and light,
That's found in His instruction.

The Call to Come

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.... Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:17,20).

There is a call to every land,
To whosoever will,
That bids the foolish understand,
And thirsty drink their fill.

The call extends, not just to some,
But to every living soul.
The Spirit and the bride say, Come,
And Christ will make you whole!

There is a call to Christ our Lord
To come to earth again.
That day comes we look toward!
Even so, Lord, come! Amen!

The Goodness of God

"The goodness of God endureth continually" (Psalm 52:1).

The goodness of God that brought our salvation,
Continues forever, never takes a vacation.
Though evil abounds and continues to climb,
The goodness of God prevails through time.

Yesterday, today, and thus evermore
His goodness surrounds us, behind and before.
His love cannot fail towards you and me;
It continues through time and eternity!

No Need

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.... And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof... there is no night there" (Revelation 21:4,22-25).

Heaven has no tears or death,
No more sighs with sorrow's breath.
No more crying, no more pain,
Ever need be feared again.

There is no temple seen above,
There is no need in heaven thereof;
For God Almighty and the Lamb
Are worshipped as the great "I Am."

There is no need there of the sun,
Nor of the moon, their course to run.
The Lamb shines there with glorious light!
There is no need, nor is there night.

Order and Offer

"Offer unto God thanksgiving.... Whosoever offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:14,23).

Offer to God the praise He deserves
And you'll glorify Him everyday.
Order your life so it willingly serves
The purpose of God's perfect way.

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord
And then He will lift you up.
Call on His name and He will reward
With grace that runs over your cup.

For God loved the world so much that He gave,
And offered Himself for the lost.
He ordered His life with a purpose to save
Poor sinners at so high a cost!

So offer to God a heart giving thanks
For all that our Savior has done.
No one would make it to heaven's banks,
Without Jesus Christ! No, not one!

P.S. 31 years ago today I discovered so gracious a Savior thus sought me and so great a salvation thus saved me. Hallelujah! What a Savior! What a salvation!

Forever Fearless

"Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?.... God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah" (Psalm 49:5,15). "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). "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).

Rejoice! Rejoice! As Jesus said,
Your names in heaven's book are read!
The book of life contains each name
Of those who fled from wrath and shame;
And found eternal refuge in our Lord:
Now there is no fear to look toward!

That day is surely drawing near
Do you see joy, or is it fear,
When God Almighty on His throne,
Declares who are and aren't His own.
Come to Christ! It's not too late;
You surely can't afford to wait!

God and Guide

"This God is our God forever and ever: He will be our Guide even unto death" (Psalm 48:14).

This God is our God forever.
He orders all things for our good.
He'll never forsake us; no never!
Though many by now surely would.

This God is our Guide forever.
He'll guide us each step of the way.
He'll counsel us in each endeavor,
With truth from His Word everyday.

Praises with Prudence

Christmas Day 2004

"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).

There are busy, subtle perils
In the seasonal routine:
We can sing the Christmas Carols
Not knowing what they mean.

"Hark! The herald angels sing!"
Have we listened to their song?
The prophetic message that they bring,
Have we understood it wrong?

"Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!"
Have we understood it thus?
That God came down for you and me,
As a Man to rescue us?

"God and sinners reconciled!"
Let's sing the song anew!
Hopeless sinners once defiled,
Are saved by grace! It's true!

Steadied in the Stillness

Christmas Eve, 2004

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore will not we fear.... Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:1-3, 10). "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20,21).

Amidst this world's noise and shame,
Our God commands: Be still.
It was in stillness angels came
With tidings of good will.

It was in stillness in the night,
While Joseph dreamed and thought,
An angel came with truth and light
To tell what God had wrought.

This world's confusion and its noise
Can never thereby know
Nor hear from God His still small voice,
He whispers soft and low.

Be still, therefore, that you may hear,
And think upon His name.
JESUS! Savior! Refuge near!
Forevermore the same!

The Joy in Jesus

"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). "And there were in the same country shepherds.... And the angel said unto them... Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.... And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (Luke 2:8-17).

There's joy in Jesus and His love;
And in that joy, strength from above:
Strength to live and give God glory,
Strength to tell the Gospel story.

Joy that filled each shepherd's heart,
When those angels did depart,
With strength to make it known abroad,
That Christ was born, the Son of God!

Oh Lord of heaven, send us thus
With joy that likewise strengthens us,
To share Your message once again,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

The Boast of the Battle

"Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through Thee will we push down our enemies.... In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name forever. Selah" (Psalm 44:8).

In God alone we make our boast;
He is our conquering King.
Death and Satan, with his host,
Lament to hear us sing:

Oh grave, where is your victory?
Oh death, where is your sting?
You lost it back in history,
To Jesus Christ our King!

Let's boast in Jesus all day long,
And thus proclaim His worth!
And spread the message of our song
To every place on earth.

The Sign and the Song

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous.... And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?" (Revelation 15:1-4).

Who, indeed, Lord, shall not fear
When Your judgment is brought near?
This is the song that we shall hear,
In the coming tribulation.

Kings of saints! Oh God of might!
Your ways are just and true and right!
Grace and truth came down with light,
To every tribe and nation!

Lord, let your song be heard on earth!
And let us thus proclaim Your worth,
And why You came in humble birth:
To bring us Your salvation.

Why the Woe?

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" (Psalm 42:11).

Tell me again, O my downcast soul,
The reason you're pouting today.
With redemption so free, salvation so full,
Why aren't you shouting, "Hurray!"?

How can you be sad at a time like this?
Can it be that you've misunderstood?
Or have you forgotten that promise of His,
That God works all things for our good?

Return to the joy that is found in the praise
That you rightly should give to your Lord!
Hope in your God, His promise, and grace,
And thus shall your joy be restored.

Concrete Counsel

"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21).

The devices of men shall fail.
The counsel of God shall prevail.
His truth, to the smallest detail,
Shall certainly all be fulfilled.

The word of our God shall stand.
The work of His almighty hand,
The decree of His sovereign command,
Shall accomplish all the He has willed.

The Thrill of His Thoughts

"Many, Oh Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.... But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me" (Psalm 40:5,17).

How great are the thoughts of Your omniscient mind!
Their quantity numberless; quality kind!
How thrilling to know, Lord, You think upon me!
Your thoughts are my comfort; Your truth makes me free.

Hopeless Hushing

"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.... I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:1-3).

How can I silence my tongue,
While there's so many people in need?
Hearken, dear friends, old and young,
Eternity draws near with speed!

The ship you are sailing aboard,
Is like the Titanic's sure doom.
The lifeboat is Jesus our Lord!
Climb aboard, for still there is room!

Build and Battle

"They which builded on the wall... everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon" (Nehemiah 4:17).

To build and to battle; yes, this is the call!
To work and to war, repairing the wall!
Rise up to the task again if you fall,
For Jesus is coming again.

The work is before us, repairing the breach.
The long war continues; be steadfast and preach!
Till Jesus returns, there's still more to reach!
Even so come, Lord. Amen!

Delightful Desires

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).

Sweet object of my soul's delight!
Lord of love, of life, of light!
Jesus Christ has filled my sight,
And this is my desire.

So what have we to do with greed,
And vain desires we don't need?
For Jesus Christ will surely feed,
Our souls as they require.

The Hope of Home

"The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death" (Proverbs 14:32).

The wicked come, yet they will go.
Like the chaff the wind will blow,
Driven on, they cannot slow,
The horrors of their grave.

The righteous have a different end.
They trust their Savior, Lord, and Friend.
Ah! This is hope we comprehend,
That will forever save!

Bold to Build

"The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build" (Nehemiah 2:20). "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). "And after this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb... and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9,10).

Brothers, sisters, rise and build!
For as our Lord and Savior willed,
His promise thus shall be fulfilled,
And hell shall not prevail.

Strengthen, then, determination!
Christ Himself is our Foundation!
His church advances with salvation,
With grace that shall not fail.

Every tongue and tribe and nation,
Gathers with each generation;
Hear their voice of jubilation:
All hail, King Jesus! Hail!

The COMFORT of COUNSELORS

"To the counselors of peace is joy" (Proverbs 12:20).

The counselors of peace are couriers of joy,
To men and to women, each girl and boy,
To the rich and the poor, to the greatest and least,
The glad tidings comes, announcing God's peace.

Peace by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Peace by the Savior, the Lamb sacrificed!
Peace, but not as the world vainly gives;
Peace in assurance that Jesus Christ lives.

Peace, for all who receive Him as Savior!
Peace freely given, unmerited favor!
Peace everlasting that never shall end,
Peace in our Lord, our Savior, and Friend.

Worthy of Worship

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

Worthy! Worthy is the Lamb,
Of all I have and all I am!
Indeed He's worthy of much more,
Since I'm so weak and very poor!

For Jesus Christ my Lord was slain,
He gave His life, He took my pain,
To pay my looming debt for sin.
Now what should I withhold from Him?

Encouraging Eye

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye" (Psalm 32:8).

With the eye of God upon me,
And the promise He will guide,
I'd trust Him more completely;
And in His love abide.

Eye of wisdom, Heart of love,
Watching over me each day,
Until I reach Your throne above,
Lead me in Your perfect way.

My Hopes in His Hands

"Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.... My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:5,15).

Into Your hand I commit my life;
My times, Lord, are in Your hands.
There's no safer place, in peace or in strife;
There's no better place for my plans.

Space for Grace

"And now for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God... that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving" (Ezra 9:8). "And I gave her space to repent... and she repented not" (Revelation 2:21).

The space of time that our God will give:
Is it not to repent of the way that we live?
Is it not that our God may lighten our eyes,
That we may return to Him and be wise?

Oh God, forgive us for wasting this space,
For taking for granted your patience and grace!
Revive us again, Lord, show us the way,
And give us a heart that will no longer stray.

Lackluster Love

"I know thy works.... Nevertheless 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" (Revelations 2:4,5).

If our labor for God is mechanical duty;
Our heart is no longer caught up with His beauty;
If effort is loveless; its savor is bland,
It's time that our fire of first love be fanned!

Sorrowful Silence

"Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my Rock; be not silent to me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit" (Psalm 28:1).

Oh Lord, be not silent to me,
Lest, if you would, I'll admit;
In no time at all I would be
Like those who go down to the pit.

Kept in His Kindness

"Keep yourselves in the love of God.... 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 ever. Amen" (Jude 21,24,25). "Kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5).

Continue in God's love so kind.
Yet while keeping this in mind,
Remember He is keeping you.
By His power and love so true,
Able to present His own,
Faultless, joyful, at His throne.

Prepped to Preach

"Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10).

Seeking, doing, teaching:
That's the proper way!
Before I start my preaching,
I must first obey.

May the truth be seen in me
That's consistent with God's Word.
May the things I do agree
With my teaching that is heard.

Secret of Safety

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.... Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee" (Psalm 25:14,15). "His secret is with the righteous... He giveth grace to the lowly" (Proverbs 3:32,34).

What's the secret of the Lord
That keeps us safe along the way?
It is to keep our eyes toward
Our Savior day by day.

His grace He always will impart
To those fear His name;
The meek and trusting, lowly heart
Will not be put to shame.

Knowing and Kneeling

"Who is this King of Glory?" (Psalm 24:8,10). "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10,11).

Who is this King of Glory?
His name is Jesus Christ!
The Gospel tells the story,
How He was sacrificed.

Yes, sacrificed for you and me—
That's why He came to earth.
And now we gladly bow the knee,
And we confess His worth.

King of Glory! We confess,
And bow before Your name!
We thank you that You came to bless,
And take away our shame!

Farewell to Fear

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4). "But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from the fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33). "Perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

Farewell to all my former fears!
Though you have been with me for years,
You all must leave; now flee away,
For Christ my Lord has come to stay.

He walks with me through all of life,
In times of peace, in times of strife.
Now even death can't make me fear,
For in its shadow, Lord You're near.

So make Yourself at home, Lord, here;
As from my heart You cast out fear.
Whatever else You want to heave,
I'll bid farewell, good riddance, leave!

Marvel at the Manner

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?.... They pierced My hands and My feet.... I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.... All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord.... A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this" (Psalm 22:1-31, 1000 B.C.). "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!" (1 John 3:1).

Behold and marvel at the love
That calls us sons of God!
Behold that manner spoken of
By God's judgmental rod!

It fell upon the sinless Christ
And pierced His hands and feet.
Behold, God's Lamb was sacrificed
To pay the ransom meet!

Oh God, our God, did you forsake,
The Son of Your delight,
That You might thereby justly make
Us children in Your sight?

Amazing love! What can we say,
When we behold this manner?
"He has done this!" We display
Upon our upheld banner!

And thus we turn while here on earth,
To share His love with others.
And we rejoice in our new birth
That makes us sons and brothers.

Aflame or Ashamed?

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed" (1 John 2:28).

And shall it be when Christ returns
He'll find my witness brightly burns?
Or shall there be shortcomings named
That in my life make me ashamed?

Perhaps a selfish attitude?
Perhaps a lack of gratitude?
Perhaps an unkind word or deed?
Perhaps indifference to a need?

Oh Lord, protect this heart of mine!
So let my love and witness shine,
That when at last my Lord shall come
I may rejoice to hear "Well done!"

Faithful Forgiver

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.... And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 1:9, 2:1,2).

Our God is faithful and just
To forgive us the sins we confess.
Though holiness mandates He must
Bring judgment before He can bless.

Then how can we be justified?
And how can God justly forgive?
It's because Christ our Advocate died!
He gave Himself that we might live!

The judgment He bore was for us.
The debt that He paid was our own.
And thereby He's faithful and just,
To forgive us who come to His throne.

Grow in Grace

"Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:17,18). "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Only two options are shown
That are written for our exhortation:
Either in grace we have grown,
Or we've fallen in error's temptation.

But grow in the grace of our Savior!
Advance in the knowledge of Christ!
Let Him control your behavior;
You'll find that His grace has sufficed.

Returning to the Repulsive

"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:22). "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

It's the nature of the dog
His vomit to desire;
It's the stature of the hog
To wallow in the mire.

It's the nature of the lost
To lust for the perverse,
And care not for the cost
That ransoms from the curse.

That's why our God imparts
A nature that is new;
And changes sinful hearts
To value what is true.

Love, then, not the world,
Nor follow its seduction
By which the lost are hurled
Into their own destruction.

When We Wake

"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psalm 17:15). "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:12).

For blessings given without number
That from Your hand we take,
In winter, spring, in fall and summer,
We give thanks, for Jesus' sake.

For blessings yet beyond our graves
When each believer wakes,
We give You thanks that Jesus saves,
Then in His likeness makes!

What shall we render to You, Lord,
For all that You have done?
You gave what we could not afford,
Through Your beloved Son!

When we shall wake on heaven's shore
We'll thank You face to face.
But till then we would live more
In gratitude and grace.

Pleasant Places

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage" (Psalm 16:4-6). "Jesus our Lord, according to His divine power, hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:3,4).

The lines that mark our blessed portion
Clear and bold, without distortion:
Are in Christ, that pleasant name!
Yes, in the Lord we stake our claim!

Each precious promise found in Him
Have filled our cup beyond the brim!
Yes, all things that we need for living,
God has given, and keeps giving!

Yes, our heritage is pleasant!
Blessings in our past and present
And those blessings yet to be
Shall be explored eternally!

What a pleasant way to measure,
Lines that fall with grace and pleasure!
They are found in Christ our Lord,
Our Savior and our Great Reward.

Cast your Care

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Yes, casting all your care on Him
Is all you have to do.
Though heart be faint and eyes be dim,
You know He cares for you.

You are the object of His care.
He knows your past and sorrow.
He knows today the load you bear,
And what will come tomorrow.

Sufficient, then, is His command
That peace may be restored.
Commit your life into His hand;
Completely trust your Lord.

Manifold Ministry

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).

Stewards of God's manifold grace,
Serve God in His chosen place,
Until we see Him face to face,
And dwell with Him above.

Whatever your ability,
It is God's gift for ministry.
Then serve Him with humility,
And minister His love.

Ready to Reason

"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).

Let your Lord be magnified,
And in your heart be sanctified.
As for those who ask the reason,
Give to them a word in season!

Let them know the reason why
The truth is sure; the stakes are high!
For God has spoken and displayed
His truth in every promise made.

Prophetic truth is clear and plain;
But are you ready to explain,
This evidence of prophecy,
As in Isaiah fifty-three?

Or if your conversations turn
To things of Christ, can you discern
The wonders of Psalm twenty-two,
To show the Christ who died for you?

Let us study then to show
The sureness of this truth we know.
And share it meekly and with fear
With those who have an ear to hear.

The Promise of Preservation

"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 12:6,7).

Surely God's words are pure; few would dispute that claim.
The question is: have they endured, as pure as they were when they came?
The textual critics say "NO!" That concept to them is absurd.
And likewise our Satanic foe, endorses with pleasure their word.

"Yea, hath God said?" Satan chants, just as he did in the garden.
And thereby the seed of doubt plants, in hearts he is seeking to harden.
Oh, when will we wake from our sleep? When will we see our mistake?
Didn't God say He would keep, those words that we let Satan take?

Turn to the time-honored text! God promised His words would abide.
Why should your heart be perplexed? Surely God never has lied!
We're trusting God's words for salvation. We know they're inspired and true.
To trust in His words' preservation, is just simply following through.

Mountain of the Mistaken

"In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?.... If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men.... Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup" (Psalm 11:1-6).

Flee as a lone, frightened bird?
Is that what you want me to do?
Forget about God's holy word,
And listen instead now to you?

My friend, you are sadly mistaken!
The Lord God is still on His throne.
You cannot destroy this foundation:
God never abandons His own.

Indeed, there is coming a day
When sinners in mountains shall hide,
And then to those mountains they'll say:
Fall on us! Who may abide?

They'll flee from the wrath and the face
Of the Lamb in the Great Tribulation.
But then there'll be no hiding place
For those who reject His salvation.

Flee as a bird? I don't think so.
I'll trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'll go where He wants me to go,
Dismissing all other advice.

Ready Reservation

"God... hath begotten us again unto to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time... at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom... ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:3-8).

Heaven holds our reservation,
Kept by God through our salvation,
Ready for the revelation
Where our joy is stored.

Can you hear the celebration?
Every tribe and every nation
Join and shout in exultation:
Let Christ be adored!

Joyful, wondrous expectation!
Angels, saints, and all creation
Sing to Christ in adoration
With each rising chord.

Happy, single occupation:
Serving Christ with dedication;
Whether joy or tribulation,
Christ is our reward.

Hear this earnest exhortation:
Till we reach our destination,
Let this be our proclamation:
Jesus Christ is Lord!

Justly Judging

"Thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou satest in the throne judging right.... The Lord shall endure forever: He hath prepared His throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a Refuge... for Thou, Lord hast not forsaken them that seek Thee. Sing praises to the Lord.... The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth" (Psalm 9:4-16). "Grudge not one against another, brethren... behold, the Judge standeth before the door" (James 5:9).

The Lord is seated on His throne.
He always judges right.
He watches over all His own.
They're precious in His sight.

This Judge is coming back to earth.
Behold, He's at the door.
He will not come in humble birth.
As He did once before.

He'll come in glory in the sky,
To gather first his own.
In just the twinkling of an eye,
We'll know Him as we're known.

Then He'll come with all His saints.
To reign a thousand years.
Let this prospect purge complaints
And brush away our fears:

"Amazing grace!" we shall proclaim,
When earth is done with strife.
We'll praise the Judge who wrote our name
Within His book of life.

Reason to Rest

"Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah" (2 Chronicles 32:21).

Be strong and courageous! Be not dismayed!
Do not be troubled in heart or afraid.
Rest in His promise; submit to His will.
Hear His command even now to be still.

And cast every care on Him for this reason,
He cares for you now and in every season:
In seasons of peace, in seasons of strife,
In joy or in sorrow, throughout all our life.

This is our comfort. This is our rest.
Our God is found true when He's put to the test.
In the world there's trouble, but be of good cheer:
Our Savior for us overcame! Do not fear!

Want Wisdom?

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).

Wisdom that comes from above
Is peaceable, gentle, and pure.
It comes from the Lord's heart of love,
And therefore will always endure.

It's easy to be entreated.
It's full of the mercy of God.
It loves when our heart is depleted,
By the Spirit who sheds love abroad.

Wisdom is ours if we ask!
The fruit of His Spirit imparts
Impartially for every task,
Without hypocritical hearts.

Fountain of our Life in the Fear of our Lord

"In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Proverbs 14:26,27).

The fear of the Lord is like a steep mountain,
A refuge wherein we can hide.
The fear of the Lord is like a deep fountain,
Where snares of death cannot abide.

The fear of the Lord is God's invitation
To hide in the Savior today.
It turns us from sin to receive His salvation,
As sheep who will no longer stray.

Come to this mountain that shelters the soul,
That shadows this dry, barren land.
Come to this fountain, and drink to the full:
There's more than your thirst can demand!

Double Mind of the Doubting Man

"A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8). "One thing have I desired... to behold the beauty of the Lord" (Psalm 27:4). Teach me Thy way, O Lord... unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:11).

Keep me, Lord, from doubting You, and from a double mind,
Never sure what I should do, nor what I want to find.
You know my life is short, Lord; You know how few my days.
You know that I cannot afford, to have unstable ways.

Unite my heart to fear Your name! One thing have I desired:
To see Your beauty and proclaim the truth You have inspired!
So keep me faithful, single-hearted, steady in temptation,
To finish well what I have started, Lord of my salvation!

Joy in Jesus

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased" (Psalm 4:7).

More than the measure of this world's success,
More than the leisure that may relieve stress,
More than the pleasure this world can afford,
Is the gladness and treasure in Jesus our Lord.

Lord and Lifter

"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But Thou, Oh Lord, art a Shield for me; my Glory, and the Lifter up of mine head.... I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about" (Psalm 3:2-6). "For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5,6).

Lord, You are my Shield, my Glory, my Lord
Who comforts and lifts up my head.
In life's battlefield, Your Word is my sword
And compass by which I am led.

Lord, You are my God, my Helper in life,
So therefore I need never fear.
At home or abroad, in peace or in strife,
It's enough, Lord, to know that You're near.

To Run the Race

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, let ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Let us run the race before us
With a patient, steady pace;
As we fix our eyes on Jesus
And we draw upon His grace.

Let us lay aside the weight
Of sin that breaks our stride.
Love the Lord, and evil hate,
Renewed and cleansed inside.

Consider Him, who ran so well,
Though He despised the shame.
But for Him, we'd race to hell,
And we would bear the blame.

Lean on Him, then, weary hearts;
His strength will be your own.
For He will finish what He starts,
Till we come to His throne.

Schooling the Scorner

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1). "He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame.... but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it" (Proverbs 9:12).

The scorner sits and mocks the call
To flee from the wrath to come.
He's in the seat that knows it all,
Unsettling the faith of some.

And since he will not heed the voice
Of reason and truth in God's school,
The end of his arrogant, ignorant choice
Is to die without hope as a fool.

Faith in the Facts

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.... He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:1-7).

Faith is not a foolish leap into the unknown dark.
Nor vain tradition that we keep, to leave our culture's mark.
It is like waking out of sleep, to honestly embark
Upon the sea of truth so deep, it saved those in the ark.

Faith examines evidence, in the things that we can see,
And thus believing God makes sense, for the unseen things to be.
For as the Lord, in future tense, told Noah His decree,
So Noah moved with fear, and hence, He speaks to you and me.

God means business when He speaks, as history has agreed.
He will reward the one who seeks the Lord to meet his need.
Trust Him now! The days and weeks are rushing by with speed!
Christ is the Ark that never leaks; believe Him and take heed.

The Focus of Fellowship

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love ant to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.... For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:24,25,37).

Let us consider each other
While focused on our Lord's return;
Provoking in love one another
That fires of revival may burn.

For the day is approaching when He
Who shall come will come and not wait.
He is coming for you and for me:
He won't be a minute too late!

Without Wavering

"Let us hold fast our profession of faith without wavering: for He is faithful that promised" (Hebrews 10:23).

Whatever God has promised you,
Take it to the bank— it's true!
There is no cause for you to doubt.
Come and check each promise out.

As He promised, Jesus came.
As He promised, bore our shame.
As He promised, rose again.
As He promised, lives! Amen!

So let us therefore never waver.
Trust our faithful, risen Savior.
Don't let go of what you've heard.
Hold it fast; it is God's Word!

Infinite and Intimate

Friday, November 05, 2004

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek" (Psalm 147:3-6). "The heavens declare the glory of God... Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out throughout all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Psalm 19:1-4).

How infinite God's understanding and His power are!
The earth was made by His commanding; also every star.
He named each one a special word that speaks of His salvation.
There is no place they are not heard; they speak to every nation.

How intimate God's loving ways that heal the broken heart!
He longs to bless us all our days, and also would impart
The mercy that will lift the meek, with saving grace that shows
The strength He gives when we are weak; and in His love, repose.

Promises of Princes

Thursday, November 04, 2004

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth forever" (Psalm 146:3-6).

Put not your trust in princes,
Nor in the son of man.
The ocean tide that rinses
The castles in the sand,
Is like the current that will sweep
The shoreline of their lives.
And promises they cannot keep,
Not one of them survives.

But happy and assured is he
Whose help is in the Lord,
Who made the heaven, earth, and sea,
And wonders therein stored.
Our God will keep His truth forever,
And to His truth we're tied;
There is no power that can sever
All those for whom He died.

Trust and Tribute

"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). "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5). "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:6,7).

Trust the Lord in all your ways,
With all your heart, for all your days.
He puts down one— another raises;
God alone deserves our praises!

Promotion comes not from the east;
It does not matter in the least,
Whether it be west or south,
The final word is from God's mouth.

Mark this one that our God chose:
Pray for him and all of those,
Who now for God will take their stand,
That God may thereby heal our land.

Happy Homes

"That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones... that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:12-15).

Happy are those people whose God is Christ the Lord,
Who trust Him as their Savior, and He is their Reward!
Happy are their sons and daughters trained up in His truth,
Who find Him faithful throughout life, as well as in their youth.

This is the key to happiness, for homes and for our nation:
To trust in Jesus Christ our Lord, the God of our salvation.
"In God we trust" must be the motto lodged within our heart!
Happy are those people who from Him will not depart.

Cause for Comfort

"Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee" (Psalm 143:8). "Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33). "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

Not the latest tracking poll
Can give comfort to my soul,
Nor the temporal shift of favor
Of opinions that may waver—

But the voice from heaven's throne:
Comfort comes from God alone!
Cause me, therefore, Lord, to hear
Perfect love that casts out fear.

Needy Nation

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Welcome to the throne of grace;
Jesus bids us to this place.
Let us therefore come to find
His mercy, grace, and peace of mind.

Yes, boldly come in time of need.
For such a time as this? Indeed!
How great the need is for our nation!
We need revival and salvation!

Talking Today

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

While it is still called today,
Let's talk of eternal things.
Exhort one another to pray,
Redeeming the time each day brings.

While it is still called today,
Let's care now for each other's state.
Deal with deceit right away!
Tomorrow it may be too late.

Catastrophic Carelessness

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1). "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

If we neglect so great salvation,
Shall we escape the condemnation?
No! Never in a thousand years
Of endless labor, flowing tears,
Could we thus cancel out our debt,
Nor pay our ransom even yet.

So if we've carelessly neglected
Or if we've spitefully rejected
This great salvation God provides,
God's wrath in either case abides.
For if God's grace has been refused,
Well how then shall we be excused?

Wondering Why

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me... and art acquainted with all my ways... and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Psalm 139:1-6).

Lord, You are acquainted
With the details of my ways.
You know when I have fainted,
And failed to give You praise.

You know when I have grumbled,
Instead of giving thanks.
You know when I have stumbled
In battle, breaking ranks.

In spite of all You understand
Of all my foolish ways,
You never let go of my hand,
Nor turn from me Your gaze.

Such love is too astounding,
Beyond my grasp, so high!
I know it is abounding—
But I still am wondering why.

Kind as our King

"Put them in mind... to be ready to every good work... showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves were also sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3,4,7).

What kindness God our King returned
To those who foolishly had spurned
The grace of God that saves the soul,
And Jesus Christ Who makes us whole!

Yet, we were also once deceived;
But now, by grace, we have believed.
So let us, like our King, be kind
And pray for those who yet are blind.

The Greatness of Grace

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

The grace of God that brings salvation
Has appeared to every nation;
And teaches us to look toward
The coming of our glorious Lord.

This grace revealing Christ our Savior
Also purifies behavior.
It changes how we think and live
With hope that God alone can give.

That blessed hope will soon appear!
The coming of our Lord draws near!
So let the world we live in see:
Grace that saves us makes us free.

Important Impossibilities

"He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). "In the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

There are some things God cannot do.
He cannot lie nor be untrue.
He can't deny those traits of His
Defining who He truly is.

It's these impossibilities
That give us joy and hope and peace!
And thus we rest upon this claim:
Forevermore He is the same!

Faced with Fables

"Preach the Word... for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:3-5).

The time has come to preach the Word
Though many hearts may not be stirred;
Though many turn from what is true,
To fables that their hearts pursue,
By itching ears enticed.

Yes, preach the Word in every season!
God still says, "Come, let us reason."
Though fables grow with itching ears,
The truth still frees the one who hears
And turns to Jesus Christ.

Eyes throughout the Earth

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

His eyes are running to and fro
The whole earth every hour
To find a trusting heart to show
His faithfulness and power.

Lord, when Your eyes examine me
(As constantly they do),
May You be pleased with what You see:
A heart that's trusting You.

Thus may the world see displayed
That You are strong toward
The one whose confidence is stayed
On Jesus Christ our Lord.

Vocational Victories

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.... Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:2-6,15).

Lord, as I soldier I would fight
To do what's pleasing in Your sight.
And as an athlete I would run
Until my course is fully done.

Lord, as a farmer I would sow
The Gospel that the world may know.
And as a workman unashamed,
I'd work that Christ may be proclaimed.

In each vocation I am found,
Lord, let the grace of God abound.
And let the crown of my reward
Be at the feet of Christ my Lord.

Searching and Saving

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?.... The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts" (Proverbs 20:9,27).

Who can say (and say it in truth):
I’ve made myself pure from my sin?
Surely our sins of adulthood and youth
Will condemn us before we begin!

Yet He who has searched our most inward part
Is able to cleanse to the full.
By His precious blood He cleanses our heart,
Eternally saving our soul!

The High Priority of Heart Preparation

"And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.... And he did this evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:1,14).

There is a way we may be spared from living life in vain:
Give to God a heart prepared to let Him fully reign.

Time to Talk

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works" (1 Chronicles 16:8,9).

Talk of all His wondrous deeds:
There's still so much to say!
Jesus died, He rose, He leads,
And loves us everyday.

Spend and Spent

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (2 Corinthians 12:15). "The Son of Man came ... to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "The Son of God ... loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). "Who is like unto the Lord our God?" (Psalm 113:5).

Jesus Christ was spent for me.
What more could my Lord have done?
Search the heavens, land, and sea:
Who is like Him? There is none!

Thus He spent and still He spends;
Thus His love is on display.
Thus I pray each breath He lends
Will be spent for Him each day.

Status of my Strength

"He said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).

It's when I'm weak that I am strong.
It's when I trust God all day long.
It's when I praise Him in my song
That He bestows His power.

The outlook may look bleak and grim.
That's when my heart will look to Him.
He'll fill my cup beyond the brim,
And He will be my Tower.

Suficiency in Simplicity

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through His subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).

How sweet it is to trust in Christ and His sufficiency!
I know the lovingkindness of the Christ who died for me.
I know His power shall endure for all eternity.
I know His wisdom orders all for good by His decree.
This is the peace He offers us in His simplicity.

Reputation Repercussion

"If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bare it" (Proverbs 9:12). "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot" (Proverbs 10:7).

There is a consequence for scorn
That many in the past have borne.
The reputation of their name,
With ignominy, grows in shame.

But memories are surely blessed
Of names that even now attest
That God is faithful, Whom we trust:
This is the memory of the just.

Defying Description

"Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it" (Proverbs 8:11). "Thanks be unto God for His Unspeakable Gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

All the things we can desire cannot compare to Christ.
He is the Gift Unspeakable for sinners sacrificed.
His worth defies description; words fail us when we try.
His lovingkindness, Oh how deep! His wisdom, Oh how high!

The Purpose of His Poverty

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

That He might make us rich indeed,
That He might meet our deepest need,
That He might for the sinner plead,
He set His wealth aside.

That He might heap upon us grace,
That He might spare us from disgrace,
That we might see Him face to face,
Our Lord was crucified.

Say So

"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy ... Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psalm 107:1,2,8,9).

He satisfies the longing soul.
Give thanks! The Lord is good!
He filled our hunger to the full
As only Jesus could.

Oh, that men would praise the Lord,
And let the world know:
Redeeming grace has been outpoured.
Let those redeemed say so!

Grab the Grace!

"We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain ... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1).

There is grace that God gives us today
To labor, to love, and sustain.
There is grace now to trust and obey;
Oh receive not His grace in vain!

There is grace that God gives to the lowly;
Yet it's forfeited when we are proud.
There is grace to be faithful and holy,
If only His grace is allowed.

Now is the day of salvation!
Now is the time we must choose!
Whether it's grace or frustration
Depends on the grace that we use.

The Logic of Love

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).

Once we were spiritually and hopelessly dead,
There was no one found righteous, no, not even one.
But Christ sacrificially died in our stead.
So what do you think now ought to be done?

It's only pure logic that moves us to love!
To live for ourselves is foolish and vain;
Seeing that Jesus left heaven above,
Leaving His glory for sorrow and pain!

Constrained by His love, yet also set free,
There's only way we therefore should live:
Since Jesus has died for you and for me,
There's no sacrifice that's too great to give!

Blind to the Blessing

"But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:3,4).

If our Gospel is hid, it is hid to the lost,
Who have not considered the horrible cost.
For Satan has blinded their indifferent eyes;
Becoming thus foolish, they think themselves wise.

They're blind to the judgment of God that draws near;
They're blind to salvation that makes His love clear.
They're blinded by lies and are thereby enticed
To forfeit the glorious Gospel of Christ.

Mindful of His Mercies

"Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits ... He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities ... As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:2,10,12).

Remember how the Lord has blessed
And how His love was proved:
As far as east is from the west
Our sins have been removed.

And thus He puts on full display,
The blessings He unfolds:
By benefits bestowed each day,
And judgment He withholds.

Summary of our Sufficiency

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place ... And who is sufficient for these things? ... Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, 3:5).

Who is sufficient to publish the story
Of the wonderful love that Jesus displayed?
Who is sufficient to give Him the glory
For the cross He endured, the price that He paid?

God is sufficient, and in God alone,
We find we are able to be
Messengers that can make our Lord known,
By the truth that has made our souls free.