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.