Song of my Sojourning

"This is my comfort in my affliction for Thy word hath quickened me.... I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself....Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered Thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept Thy law" (Psalm 119:50-55).

I have remembered Your name in the night,
O Lord, through the course of this year.
In difficult times You have led me aright;
Your statutes have made the way clear.

I have remembered Your name in the light
Of Your majesty, mercy, and fear.
Your statutes inspire the songs that I write,
Assuring my heart You are near.

In the year that is past, in the year that will be,
In my pilgrimage all the day long,
I will remember Your goodness to me,
And comfort my heart with Your song.

Life and Light

"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.... We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a LIGHT that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:3,19).

God has given us His power
To live a godly life
Through His knowledge every hour
In peace as well as strife.

God has give us His Word
As light in a dark place;
By evidence we are assured
Through prophecy we trace.

So by our life let others see
The power that God gives.
And let the light of prophecy
Declare that Jesus lives.

Telling Time

"For the time past of our life may suffice to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.... But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.... For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:3,7,17).

The time that is already lost
For which we are ashamed,
Is gone forever and its cost
Can never be reclaimed.

The time has come to now begin
To judge ourselves aright,
Discerning goodness, showing sin,
Exposed by Scripture's light.

The end of all things is a hand;
Be sober, watch, and pray
That we may follow God's command
While it is called today.

Priesthood of Praise

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

From the greatest to the least,
Each believer is selected
As a chosen, holy priest
Praising God as we're perfected.

As a chosen generation,
We are royal priests as well,
Showing forth so great salvation
That has saved our souls from hell.

Praise the Lord with all your might
Holy, royal priests today.
Out of darkness into light,
Share the Gospel, lead the way.

Eyes on Eternity

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psalm 119:18) "Riches are not forever" (Proverbs 27:23). "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word by the Gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter 1:24,25).

There is a more enduring prize
Than riches that must perish.
God has opened up our eyes
To what we ought to cherish.

These wondrous things within His law
Endure eternally.
I meditate and stand in awe
At what He shows to me.

And yet there's so much more to see
That God would still unveil,
Of things that fill eternity
And never shall grow pale.

For all of flesh like grass will grow,
But withers in the end.
Its flower falls away, we know;
Its glory thus descends.

The Gospel of our Lord, however,
On which we have relied,
Is truth that shall endure forever,
As God has testified.

Truer Treasure

"With my whole heart have I sought Thee.... I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches" (Psalm 119:14). "God... hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to and inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, wherein ye greatly rejoice" (1 Peter 1:3-6).

Riches of this world perish;
All their glories pass away.
Be careful, therefore, what you cherish,
Lest your heart be led astray.

Let your heart rejoice instead
In what God's living hope provides.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead
To give us treasure that abides.

Consider our inheritance
Which ever shall endure.
Neither time nor circumstance
Can make it less secure.

This is treasure God reserves
In heaven now for you.
This is value that deserves
A whole heart to pursue.

Satisfied Searchers

"Blessed are they that... seek Him with the whole heart" (Psalm 119:2). "The honor of kings is to search out a matter.... As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:2,25). "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem... there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:1,2).

The honor of kings is to search matters out.
They hunger to know what is true.
Only a fool is content with his doubt,
When God would bring truth into view.

The wise men of old were guided by God
To seek and adore the new King.
They must have thought it exceedingly odd
That no one had searched out this thing.

Shepherds and wise men, old people, youth,
The rich, and the poor are invited
To search out this matter of wonderful truth,
Or be by indifference indicted.

Follow the wise men who thus quenched their thirst
As cold waters freshen the soul!
How good is the news that the Lord sought us first,
And paid our redemption in full!

Common Sense Confidence

"It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in man.... The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.... The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head of the corner" (Psalm 118:8,14).

When I was too weak,
Lord, You made me strong.
When things looked so bleak,
Lord, You gave me Your song.

When all I could see
Was sure condemnation,
Lord, You came to be
My perfect Salvation.

When there was no man
Who for my soul cared,
You worked out Your plan
In foreknowledge prepared.

My soul's Confidence,
My Chief Cornerstone,
It's good common sense
To trust You alone.

Celebrating the Centrality

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 117:1,2).

The central chapter of God's Book
Is Psalm one hundred seventeen;
The mercy and the truth it took
To ransom sinners here are seen.

Consider the centrality
Of Christ Whom we thus celebrate,
Acknowledged in our history
Each time a person writes the date!

Before Christ came (thus called B.C.)
The world longed and looked toward
That year of promise (called A.D.),
The advent of our saving Lord.

And though this world would erase
The central theme of Jesus Christ,
Our God divided time by grace,
And no eraser has sufficed.

And so it comes as no surprise
The central chapter of God's Word,
Displays before our joyful eyes
The sweetest themes our ears have heard.

Oh Lord of all eternity,
The Center also of our days,
The grace and truth in Christ we see
Shall fill our hearts with endless praise.

Good Gifts

"Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.... What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:7,8,12). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

Every good gift that comes from above,
Is always bestowed with heaven's perfection.
Our Lord is the Giver of these gifts is love
And in them we see our Father's reflection.

What shall I render for all that He gives,
In view of the price that my Savior has paid?
My soul that was dead because of Him lives,
My tears have been dried, my feet are now stayed.

I'll offer to Him my life in return,
A token of worship, thanksgiving, and praise.
For all I might give I know could not earn
The good gifts our heavenly Father displays.

Place of His Pleasure

"Our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" (Psalm 115:3). "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20,21).

Our God is in heaven above,
But His pleasure is seen in the earth.
His manifestation of love
Was displayed in our Lord's humble birth.

No person could ever compel
Or coax Him to do what He did.
He acted to save us from hell,
With love that refused to be hid.

We are the place of His pleasure!
It pleased Him to die in our stead,
And thereby to purchase the treasure
Of souls that were otherwise dead.

It pleased Him to conquer the grave
As Jesus declared that He would,
Displaying His power to save
And work in His people for good.

So why should our world then say:
"Where is your God?" in this place?
He does what He pleases each day,
In all who respond to His grace.

Tremble and Trust

"Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord" (Psalm 114:7). "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28,29).

Tremble, O earth; your God has come down.
Surely you knew it, though mankind did not.
Setting aside His magnificent crown,
The Word was made flesh, unveiling God's thought.

Tremble, O earth; your glorious God
Has graced His creation by His humble birth.
Surely to you must have considered it odd
That mankind so blindly discounted His worth.

Tremble, O earth; the God of creation
Who spoke into being all things by His power
Descended to earth to bring His salvation
To many who mock Him to this very hour.

Tremble, O earth; your God will return.
Trust Him, O sinner, whom earth yet obeys.
Turn from the folly of sinners who spurn
The Gospel of God and the grace He conveys.

Tremble, O earth; your God will restore
The peace that you groan for with earnest desire.
Trust Him, His people, and reverence Him more,
For He will yet visit this earth with His fire.

Patient Pace

"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, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Run patiently your homeward race
With Jesus Christ in view.
Be strengthened daily by His grace;
His heart of love pursue.

Consider Him who freely gave
His life to ransom yours,
Who rose in triumph from the grave,
And opened heaven's doors.

Consider Him who thus endured
When trials take their toll.
Rest with confidence assured
That He will guard your soul.

Follow with a patient pace
Your Lord who leads the way.
Until we see Him face to face,
Run patiently each day.

Respect for the Reward

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Faith can make us analyze
And forfeit earthly dreams
To choose instead the greater prize
In what the Lord esteems.

What is precious to the Lord?
That's all we need to know
To have respect for the reward
That God will yet bestow.

So it was in Moses' case
That he would choose eviction,
To rather have God's saving grace
Attended with affliction.

He set aside the sinful pleasure
That lasts for just a season,
Esteeming Christ the greater Treasure,
And not without good reason!

For who or what in all the earth
Compares with Christ our Lord?
There is no treasure with His worth,
No greater a reward.

Holding Fast our Holy Faith

"Let us hold fast the profession our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised.... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.... Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised" (Hebrews 10:23, 11:1,11).

Holding fast our faith's profession
Is not a hopeful guess,
But rather it's a well learned lesson
Of Christ Whom we assess.

The fact regarding Jesus Christ
That gives us confidence
Is that His promises sufficed,
To give us evidence.

We look on promises He made
And see integrity.
His faithfulness is thus displayed
To give us faith to see.

As Sarah judged Him faithful too
Regarding promised seed,
God extends Himself to you
To trust Him for your need.

Judge Him faithful, based on fact,
For Christ has never failed.
Not one promise ever lacked
Fulfillment that prevailed.

Space of Grace

"And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the Lord our God... to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving" (Ezra 9:8). "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:27,28).

A little space of grace, that's all,
Remains for you and me,
Before our final upward call
Into eternity.

Grace that saves is truly large,
Yet life by time is driven.
We have from God a holy charge
To share what we've been given.

It is appointed once to die
And after this we'll stand
Before the Lord to testify
Regarding His command.

A little space of grace remains
That God may lighten eyes.
The hour glass of sand that drains
Implores us to be wise.

So grant us, Lord, in this short time,
Revival in our days,
That we may live for the sublime:
The privilege of Your praise.

Able Advocate

"I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul" (Psalm 109:30,31). "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

I will greatly praise the Lord,
My Advocate forever.
He ever lives to thus afford
My soul an Intercessor.

Standing at my own right hand
He is my sure Defender
That no accuser can withstand,
Nor condemnation render.

I know the verdict for my soul,
And "guilty" is my plea,
But Jesus Christ has paid in full
My judgment's penalty.

My Savior shows His marks of love:
No charges now I face!
He intercedes for me above,
And here I rest my case.

Anchored Assurance

"In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:26). "And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.... [We] have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:11,18,19).

What an anchor for the soul!
What a steadfast consolation!
What assurance strong and full
We have found in our salvation!

What confidence along the way!
What hope we have until the end!
What more could our Lord convey
To help us better comprehend?

For Jesus Christ has now prevailed
With mercy, truth, and grace.
His promises have never failed
In every time and place.

So do not let your confidence
Be hindered or diminished,
But feed your faith with diligence
Until your course is finished.

Antidote for Antipathy

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!.... Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:31,43).

There is a wondrous antidote
For bitterness of soul:
Observe these things the psalmist wrote,
Considering the whole.

When for our good the Lord afflicts,
He heals and makes us sound.
The wise observer thus predicts
God's love shall then be found.

How wondrous are the works of love
The Lord's redeemed can claim,
Who found redemption from above
By trusting Jesus' name!

Oh, that men would praise the Lord
In view of all He's done!
What healing this would soon afford
Through God's beloved Son!

Help for the Heart

"It is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... 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 3:15, 4:16).

There's grace to help in time of need:
That time is called TODAY!
Lord, help our hearts today with speed,
Lest we should go astray.

Lord, You know how much inclined
Our hearts may be to harden.
So help our spirit, soul, and mind
With healing, hope, and pardon.

We dare not wait until tomorrow
While help is here today.
Deliver us from folly's sorrow;
Lord, help our hearts, we pray.

Lower to Lift

"He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that... the king sent and loosed him.... He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance" (Psalm 105:17-21). "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

Joseph was a man God sent,
A lowly servant sold.
But by his trials God had meant
That good would thus unfold.

With fetters then they hurt his feet;
In iron he was laid
Until God's timing was complete,
To lift him by God's aid.

But we see Jesus who was made
A little lower still
Than all the angels that He bade
To do His sovereign will.

They hurt His feet with iron nails
And laid Him in a grave.
His name, now lifted, heaven hails!
No other name can save!

Feeding from His Fullness

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches... These all wait upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good" (Psalm 104:24,27,28). "The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom" (Proverbs 10:21).

The lips of the righteous by faith will feed many,
Though famine for truth is at hand.
Still God offers wisdom to all and to any
Who humbly obey His command.

He opens His hand to fill us with good,
And herein we find our supply
To feed our own souls, as surely we should,
As well as feed many thereby.

Remembering our Renewing

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits... thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.... He made known His ways" (Psalm 103:2,5,7). "For we ourselves also were 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, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Titus 3:3-6).

Do you recall your heart defiled
Before regeneration?
(Unless you were a little child)
You longed for liberation.

For we ourselves were also fools,
Rebellious and deceived,
Living by this world's rules,
Before we had believed.

But then God's kindness and His love
Appeared in Christ our Lord
To show us mercy from above,
Which we had long ignored.

So look on others with compassion
Who still are not renewed,
And may we live in such a fashion,
Christ may thus be viewed.

Prior Promise

"This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.... Of old Thou has laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment, as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end" (Psalm 102:18,25-27). "I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, or ever the earth was.... Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men" (Proverbs 8:23,31). "[The] hope of eternal life... God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:1,2).

Before You formed the ancient earth
By Your decree sublime,
Or space and matter had their birth
Along with father Time,
You fixed upon us your delight
(Then prior to creation),
And You beheld us in Your sight,
And promised us salvation.

Lord, we cannot comprehend
Your ability to see
From beginning to the end
Through all eternity.
Yet surely we can testify
What You have demonstrated:
You are the God who cannot lie,
And shall not be frustrated.

And thus we find our confidence
By trusting in the name
Of Christ Who is our sure Defense,
Forevermore the same.
And thus in every time and place
His prior promise stands,
That all those who are saved by grace
Are safe in Jesus' hands.

Cherish the Charge

"Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah" (Ezra 1:2). "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ... preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season.... do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:1,2,5).

Cherish the charge God gave you to do,
Preaching the Word in all seasons.
God has a ministry tailored for you,
For all of His merciful reasons.

God charges peasants and God charges kings;
He charges the young and the old.
He's perfectly working together all things,
Including His charge that you hold.

Cherish the charge God gave to fulfill,
Redeeming the time while you may.
Discover the glory of God's perfect will,
Preparing your heart to obey.

Mocking the Messengers

"They mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chronicles 36:16). "Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy" (Proverbs 6:15).

There is a remedy for sin,
A cure for all transgression,
If only sinners will begin
To turn with true confession.

This is why God sent His word
By messengers who came,
Yet they mocked the message heard,
Rewarding them with shame.

Still today the mockers spurn
The Gospel they despise.
The messengers are mocked in turn,
Disdained with lofty eyes.

There is at last no remedy
For those will not hear,
And therefore their calamity
Shall suddenly appear.

We live in days of apathy,
As if there's none Who sees us.
Yet still there is a remedy
For all who trust in Jesus.

Scenarios of Service

"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 (farmer) 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 2:3-6,15).

A soldier surely ought to please
The One who calls him into battle.
An athlete does not take his ease;
A farmer labors with his cattle.

These scenarios are named
That we might understand,
The workman who is unashamed
Will live for God's command.

Senseless Science

"Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20).

Call it science, if you will,
Though it falsely is portrayed,
Which ignores God's matchless skill,
Evident in all He made.

It's senseless science that denies
The obvious in all we see!
For all creation testifies
Of our Savior's majesty.

So-called science plagues our schools
With its godless education,
Sowing lies and reaping fools
In denial of creation.

How shall we then guard our youth
From this myth of evolution?
All they really need is truth:
What a theme for revolution!

Neglect Not

"Neglect not the gift that is in thee.... Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:14-16).

Every child of God receives
A special gift within,
The moment one in Christ believes
Who takes away our sin.

Thus we are by God employed
To exercise these gifts.
Thus we fill a special void
That edifies and lifts.

Take heed, therefore, to not neglect
This gift that God imparts.
But let it have its full effect
In blessing other hearts.

Manifest Mystery

"If thou seekest her [understanding] as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:4,5). "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).

If you will search the mystery
That God would have revealed,
These secrets of eternity
Shall no more be concealed.

These truths have not been hidden,
Except from prideful eyes.
The proud have been forbidden
To see what makes one wise.

But God will show the humble
The truth that makes one free,
The very truths that stumble
The proud who will not see.

Now come and see this glorious plan
Revealed in Jesus Christ:
God was manifest as Man,
And for us sacrificed.

By Him all are justified
Who on Him have believed.
It was to this end that He died,
And heaven has received.

We manifest the mystery
Declaring everyday
The Gospel some will choose to see,
And others turn away.

End and Enabling

"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.... And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:5,14).

Our Savior's commandment has this end in view:
Pure love, a good conscience, and faith that is true.
And with His commandment He gives us His grace,
Enables us always and in every place.

To every purpose an end is in sight.
We're sent into darkness that we may be light.
We're sent into hatred to manifest love,
Equipped with compassion and faith from above.

This is the end and enabling too;
This is what we in good conscience should do.
Stewards of grace, be true to your call.
As debtors of mercy to witness to all.