Satisfied Soul (Merry Christmas!)

"As long as he [Uzziah] sought the LORD, God made him to prosper" (2 Chronicles 26:5).  "I stretch forth my hands unto Thee: my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land… 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 143:6,8).  "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:25).  "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven" (Revelation 4:1). 

Uzziah wisely sought the Lord,

And as he did, God gave him favor. 

The Lord extends the same reward

To all who thirst to know the Savior. 

Apart from Christ we would be cursed

And lost for all eternity. 

No wonder wise men sought with thirst

To worship Him so earnestly!

The thirsty soul is satisfied

With good news that the Lord has shown,   

For heaven's door is open wide

With grace extended from His throne! 

O Lord, Your love is wonderful

That draws our heart to seek Your face,

That satisfies our thirsty soul,

And rescues us with saving grace! 

Coming of Christ

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice… When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path... Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my Refuge" (Psalm 142:3-5).  "He that pondereth the heart… keepeth thy soul… thy expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 24:12,14).  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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" (Revelation 3:20). 

I do recall a Christmas season

When I was overwhelmed in spirit. 

I sought for truth by means of reason,

But there was no one who would hear it. 

The year of nineteen seventy-three,

The twenty-eighth night of December,

Was when the truth had set me free

By finding Christ, I do remember!

The evidence I found was full 

In prophecies that Christ fulfilled.

He came to earth to save my soul;

The Lamb of God for me was killed! 

You are my Cause for celebration,  

O Lord, because You have come in

To be the Lord of my salvation

With grace that takes away my sin!  

First Fire

"Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties" (Psalm 141:4).  "Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat… My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:3,26).  "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… remove thy candlestick " (Revelation 2:4,5). 

The Lord beholds our heart's desire;

He sees the coldness of our love. 

May we rekindle first love's fire

And set our hearts on things above!

The empty "dainties" we behold

Betray the soul with vain deceit

And leave the heart depressed and cold

Because they are deceitful meat. 

Let such distractions now depart,

So we may heed the invitation

To fully give to God our heart

As we rejoice in His salvation.  

Lord, as You find our hearts aloof  

Where love's first fire should be stirred,

Arrest us with Your wise reproof

As You revive us with Your Word.  

Transgression's Treason

"Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said… Then Athaliah [Heb."Jehovah has constrained"] rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason" (2 Chronicles 23:3,13).  "I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor" (Psalm 140:12).  "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 22:3).  "Jesus Christ… the Prince of the kings… loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelations 1:5). 

Our Savior Jesus Christ shall reign

In all the earth, as God has said,

And all His foes He shall constrain

Until they are to judgment led. 

The truest treason sinners know,

The great transgression of their sin,

Is their rebellion as God's foe;

It is a fight they shall not win. 

The Savior died to fight our cause;

He lives to be our Hiding Place. 

We are found guilty by His laws,

Yet justified by saving grace. 

O Lord, we love You for good reason: 

You first loved us and shed Your blood

To wash us from transgression's treason

And hide us from Your judgment's flood!  

Kindly Kept

"O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me…  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me… When I awake, I am still with Thee" (Psalm 139:1-18).  "The LORD pondereth the hearts... as for the upright, He directeth his way" (Proverbs 21:2,29).  "Now unto Him that is able to keep you… to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 24,25). 

The Lord has searched and known our heart;

There's nothing hidden from His eyes. 

As He reproves our inward part,

His perfect counsel makes us wise.   

How kindly does our Savior ponder

Our hearts He ever lives to keep!

He knows that we are prone to wander,

Yet He restores His wayward sheep. 

The Lord directs the path we take

And leads us in His righteous way.   

He's with us when we sleep and wake

And keeps our hearts throughout the day. 

O Lord, by You we're kindly kept;

We need no other confidence! 

Your watchful eye has never slept;

We rest assured in Your defense.  

Lord of the Lowly

"Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me" (Psalm 138:6-8).  "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24).  "I have no greater joy than to hear that My children walk in truth" (3 John 4). 

The Lord is exalted and holy

Above all our minds comprehend,

And yet He is Lord of the lowly,

Our faithful, compassionate Friend. 

In trouble, our soul is restored;

In danger, we have His protection. 

We are the concern of our Lord,

The workmanship of His perfection. 

The Lord takes delight in His own,

Directing our way in His path. 

The proud, who are distantly known,

Are warned now to flee from His wrath. 

O Lord of the lowly You save,

Our God and our Guide from our youth,

You've freed us from lies that enslave,

To walk in the way of Your truth.