What a Waste!

"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). "No longer should [we] live... to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.... 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 4:2,3).

What a waste of time it is,
Since God has saved our soul,
To live as if we aren't His
And not give Him control!

What a waste of saving grace,
And with it, gifts received,
To live as in our former case
Before we had believed!

What a waste of stewardship
To not give God the praise,
As opportunities will slip
And vanish with our days!

Lord, we would not waste the time
To live as in the past;
So lift us to that life sublime
To live for things that last!

Answering Anguish

"The sorrows of death compassed me.... Then called I upon the name of the LORD.... I was brought low, and He helped me.... Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling" (Psalm 116:3-8). "Hezekiah received the letter... and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed.... Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria.... He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.... Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand" (Isaiah 37:14-36). "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" (1 Peter 3:15).

All who have called on Christ Jesus our Savior,
Who answered us with His salvation,
Should always be ready to speak of His favor
To give souls a clear explanation.

The letter that King Hezekiah received
Was spread before God in his anguish.
God answered this king who was greatly relieved
That God did not leave him to languish.

O Lord, we would sanctify You in our hearts
And always be ready to say:
The reason for hope is the grace God imparts
To save those in anguish who pray!

Like our Lord

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.... They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in them.... Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield" (Psalm 115:4-11). "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

The nations have idols of silver and gold;
They fashion their eyes and their ears.
Their makers become like the image they mold:
Not one of them sees, neither hears.

But we have been called to become like our Lord,
For He is our Help and our Shield.
And so as we trust Him, His grace will afford
His likeness to those who will yield.

O Lord, we can see in the steps that we trace
Your likeness in Christ upon earth.
So help us to follow His pattern by grace,
Displaying His beauty and worth.

Peculiar People

"When Israel went out of Egypt.... Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion" (Psalm 114:1-7). "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 2:9).

As Israel who had been enslaved
Rejoiced when God's dominion came,
So we who now by grace are saved
Show forth the praises of His name.

We are a chosen generation,
Peculiar in our Savior's care,
A royal priesthood, holy nation,
To show His praises everywhere.

Lord, we thank You for Your voice
That called us into heaven's light
To make us Your peculiar choice
When we, by grace, received our sight!

Trial and Triumph

"My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me" (Proverbs 27:11). "Now, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6,7).

If now for a season a trial arrives,
We know that our Savior is still in control.
For thus He reproves, He refines, and revives
The faith of our heart and the strength of our soul.

As gold is refined when it's tried by the fire,
So faith is perfected by trials God sends.
The Lord surely knows what our faith will require
To give us a triumph that on Him depends.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your hand in each trial
Conforming us more to Your image each day.
Let this be our object: Your gladness and smile
As we are found faithful and wise in our way.

Light for the Lost

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (Psalm 112:4). "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped... and a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness.... And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:5-10).

How great is the darkness that covers the lost!
How hopeless their prospect appears in their night!
But God by His ransom has covered the cost
To send His redemption, providing them light.

Praise God for His light which arises today
For all who will call on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Praise God for the Gospel proclaiming the way
Through Christ our Redeemer, for us sacrificed!

We thank You, O Lord, that You opened our eyes,
You gave us the Gospel, and unstopped our ears.
The lost now have light, the fools are made wise,
And sorrow and sighing have fled with their fears!

Seeking and Seeing

"The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein" (Psalm 111:2). "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter" (Proverbs 25:2). "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail; none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit hath gathered them" (Isaiah 34:16). "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" (James 4:6-10).

How great are the works of the Lord to behold;
What pleasure to see them unveiled!
We search in the Scriptures and see them foretold:
Not one of their prophecies failed!

The glory of God may conceal such things
From those who are worldly wise,
But those who are humble are honored as kings
With grace that will open their eyes.

O Lord, we give thanks for the greatest of pleasure
We find as Your works are explored!
How great is our joy! How vast is our treasure
Revealed in Jesus our Lord!

Stability and Strength

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning" (Psalm 110:3). "The Lord is exalted, for He dwelleth on high.... And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of Thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is His treasure.... Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off" (Isaiah 33:5-17).

There is a firm stability
God's wisdom will afford.
There is a strength eternally
In trusting in the Lord.

The treasure of a godly fear
Shall strengthen us in duty.
The day of Christ's return draws near:
We'll see Him in His beauty!

Lord, even now we see afar
That land where You shall be;
To know that we'll be where You are
Gives great stability.

We thank You, Lord, for grace to live
And run our course's length,
Assured that You will daily give
Stability and strength.

Have my Heart!

"My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).

I hear the gracious invitation
That makes my heart rejoice!
It is the God of my salvation;
It is my Father's voice!

"My son," my Father says to me,
Now "give to Me your heart."
Shall I respond halfheartedly
Withholding now some part?

With all my soul, my strength, and mind,
And heart would I surrender!
Should I be otherwise inclined,
Since God is my Defender?

I thank You, Father, for Your call
To follow Your command
To come by grace, committing all
My heart into Your hand.

Man of Mercy

"A Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32:2).

Our God became a mortal Man
To be for us a Hiding Place.
This was His predetermined plan
To save us by His truth and grace.

To be our Shelter from God's wrath,
A River flowing where it's dry,
A Shadow on our weary path,
This Man of mercy came to die.

O Lord, our Rock, our Refuge sure,
A Man, yet fully God as well,
What mercy caused You to endure
The cross to rescue us from hell!

Hopeless Horsemen

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalm 107:2). "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31). "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isaiah 31:1).

The proverbial horse may be well prepared
On which men have placed confidence,
But horsemen are hopeless when they're running scared
Because they forsook God's defense.

The Lord has redeemed from the enemy's hand
His people who trust in His arm.
Our safety thus rests in the sovereign command
Of Him who has kept us from harm.

O Lord, we have trusted in You for salvation;
You rescued our souls from despair!
How hopeless indeed is the false expectation
Of safety apart from Your care!

Returning and Rest

"Thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength, and ye would not.... And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him" (Isaiah 30:15,18).

There is a way that God decreed
That rebel sinners may be saved,
And thus they may be free indeed,
Though once by sin they were enslaved.

Return to God and find your rest!
Now find your strength in His defense!
For in repentance we are blest
With quietness and confidence.

We thank You, Lord, for love so great
Extended to the human race
That You would ransom us, then wait
For those responding to Your grace!

The Blood that Blesses

"Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain... and by it, he, being dead, yet speaketh.... But ye are come unto... God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 11:4, 12:22-24).

Recalling that instance when Abel was slain,
When his blood cried to God from the ground,
His blood then indicted his own brother Cain,
And the verdict of GUILTY was found.

Praise God for the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
That speaks for our justification!
God looks on the blood of the Lamb sacrificed
That says, "There is no condemnation!"

We thank You, O Lord, for the much better things
That the blood of our Savior has spoken
Of grace, of redemption, of blessing He brings,
And healing the heart that is broken!

My Meditation

"I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD" (Psalm 104:33,34). "There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). "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" (Hebrews 12:2,3).

How rich are the themes of my sweet meditation
When looking to Jesus, my Savior alone!
Enduring the cross, He has wrought my salvation,
And now is set down on His glorious throne.

How sweet is the Friendship of Christ, as no other,
Reminding me always I'm bought with a price.
Sticking much closer than even a brother,
He shows me my ransom by His sacrifice.

O Lord, I will sing for as long as I live,
And then ever after I'll be singing still!
I'll sing every song with the lyrics You give
In my meditation that You sweetly fill!

Answer of the Ark

"Bless the Lord.... who redeemeth thy life from destruction.... for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him" (Psalm 103:1-12). "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 11:7).

Noah didn't build the ark for popularity;
Surely he was ridiculed by folks on every side,
Attributing his actions to his pure insanity,
As he described the judgment that was coming worldwide.

The ark was Noah's answer to the voice of God's instruction;
The warning of the Lord had come to his obedient ear.
The ark was Noah's statement to the world of its destruction,
With faith that stood for righteousness and moved with holy fear.

We see the work of faith, O Lord, in Noah on display
That served the world notice of its coming condemnation.
There was a single refuge then, and so it is today,
So help us show the answer is in Christ and His salvation!

Little Longer

"Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 11:37).

Yet a little longer, and our Lord will come again;
We dare not be dissuaded by this world's apathy.
Prophecies concerning Christ must surely have an end,
And we are one day closer to that great reality!

Yet a little longer, and our Savior will return.
He'll come and will not tarry on the day that He has planned.
Though mockers in these latter days in unbelief will spurn,
Their mocking changes nothing, for His counsel yet will stand.

Yet a little longer, Lord, and we shall see that day,
Yet even now our eyes of faith behold this expectation.
Looking now to You, Lord, as we watch and as we pray,
We'd labor till You come again, declaring Your salvation.

Promised Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because He trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:3,4). "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised" (Hebrews 10:23).

Our Lord gives a peace that this world can't give;
The world sees its prospects are grim.
Because Christ is living we know we shall live
With peace that is anchored in Him.

Our Lord gives a peace that is perfect indeed,
For on Him alone it depends.
We know He is faithful to perfectly lead;
He's with us wherever He sends.

O Lord, You're the Object of our confidence;
Your faithfulness never shall cease.
We'll rest in the shadow of Your strong defense,
And labor in Your perfect peace.

What Wonderful!

"O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.... for Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.... He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.... This is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah 25:1-9).

What wonderful things by the Lord have been done;
How faithful and true are His counsels of old!
He promised to send to the world His Son,
And thus He accomplished what prophets foretold.

What wonderful things from the Lord are displayed,
Enriching the poor and relieving distressed!
In storms He's our Refuge, in heat He's our Shade,
In death He's our Victor: How much He has blessed!

What wonderful things, when the Lord yet appears,
Will strengthen and comfort us then by His grace!
The Lord God will tenderly wipe away tears,
And joy with rejoicing shall then take their place.

O Lord, when we think of how faithful You've been,
We praise and we thank You for so great salvation!
Assured by Your Word that You're coming again,
We wait, work, and worship with this expectation!

Finer's Fires

"The earth mourneth and fadeth away.... The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have... broken the everlasting covenant.... When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD.... Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires.... the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously" (Isaiah 24:4-23).

This weeping earth shall fade away,
With all its evil, vain desires,
So glorify the Lord today
And praise Him even in the fires.

For as an olive tree is shaken
And vintage gleaned, as it requires,
God will judge; be not mistaken,
And praise Him even in the fires.

For then the Lord of hosts shall reign
With majesty that thus inspires
His songs from all who shall remain,
Who praise Him even in the fires.

O Lord, we thank You for Your love
Eternally that never tires!
So set our hearts on things above
To praise You even in the fires.

Victory in View

"He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory. The LORD hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:1-3).

How marvelous is our Lord's demonstration
Of victory that He has shown!
The ends of the earth have seen His salvation,
For God made it openly known.

His mercy and truth have not been concealed,
Which God manifested in Christ.
How clearly in Him was redemption revealed,
Beheld on His cross sacrificed!

We praise You, O Lord, for the victory in view
Accomplished by sending Your Son.
Now make us ambassadors, faithful and true,
Declaring the victory He won!

Holy and Harmless

"The LORD reigneth.... righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne. A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about.... He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them.... give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness" (Psalm 97:1-12). "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. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Hebrews 7:25,26).

Who is holy, save our God?
How then can we ever stand
In His presence since we're flawed,
Coming short of His demand?

Righteousness demands a price
That only Holiness could pay;
All our tears would not suffice
To take our sinfulness away.

For "holy, harmless, undefiled,"
Describes the things that we were NOT!
Yet God in satisfaction smiled
At what our Lord and Savior wrought.

Remembering Your holiness,
O Lord, we thank You that You came
To clothe us in Your righteousness
And bear away our sin and shame!

Valley of Vision

"In that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: and behold joy and gladness, slaying of oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts" (Isaiah 22:12-14).

Behold now before us the valley of vision,
For God has revealed His own expectation:
He calls for repentance, remorse, and decision
To turn every heart to the God of salvation.

Behold now indifference, rebellion, and sin:
With laughter they say, "Let us eat! Let us drink!"
Refusing the call of God's Spirit within,
They pay no attention to what God will think.

Behold now their statement, "Tomorrow we die."
But what of the moment that follows their grave?
Lord, help us to turn them from trusting a lie,
And show them the Savior alone who can save!

Sword against the Superficial

"O come, let us worship.... Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation.... It is a people that do err in their heart" (Psalm 95:6-10). "Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time, as it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight" (Hebrews 4:7-13).

The eyes of God behold each heart;
He knows our every secret thought,
So by His Word He will impart
Discernment if we're true or not.

The superficial praise of those
Who do not mean the words they say
The Word of God will thus expose,
To turn them while it's called Today.

God's Word is like a sharpened sword
That will discern our thought's intent,
And thus would turn us to the Lord,
Whose goodness leads us to repent.

O Lord, we thank You for Your Word
Dividing spirit, soul, and bone,
Reproving shallowness You've heard,
Until we worship You alone.

Comforts amidst Confusion

"Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall He not know? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.... In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:8-19). "Surely the princes... are fools, the counsel of the wise counselors is become brutish.... Where are thy wise men?" (Isaiah 19:11,12).

The worldly wisdom of this earth
So influential in our schools
Has now received its graded worth:
God esteems them all as fools.

When, O fools, will you be wise,
And when will you receive instruction?
He who made our ears and eyes
Is God, by logical deduction!

O Lord, You see the great confusion
And vanity that fills their mind
Who come to such a strange conclusion,
As fools who render themselves blind.

We thank You, Lord, amidst it all,
Your comforts still delight our soul,
As You command us to recall
That You are God, and in control.

Hide in Him

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?.... 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. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:3-10).

None escape the consequence
Of their neglect of God's salvation;
Heaven has but one Defense
To save the soul from condemnation.

Searching every hiding place
On earth in every size and shape,
We find not one provides the grace
To offer sinners an escape.

But we see Jesus tasting death,
And bringing many sons to glory,
Fighting to His final breath:
The Captain of redemption's story!

Hide in Him without delay;
He ever lives to save the lost!
Boast not of another day;
Neglect demands an awful cost!

Thank You, Lord, that You became
The Lamb of God to purge our sin.
We find a refuge in Your name
For every soul You died to win!

Palm Psalm

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High: to show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.... The righteous flourish like the palm tree.... They shall still bring forth fruit in an old age... To show that the Lord is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (Psalm 92:1,2,12-15).

The palm tree deeply sends it root
Into the fertile ground;
It flourishes and gives its fruit
With branches that abound.

The palm tree is a fitting type
Of those in Christ who grow
And bring forth fruit in season ripe
To bless the world below.

Lord, help us grow, as does the palm
That weathers every storm,
To thank and praise You with our Psalm,
And to Your will conform.

Lord, like the palm, though old in age,
We'd flourish in our walk,
To show the truth of Scripture's page,
That You are still our Rock.

Laying our Love

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.... He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.... Under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him" (Psalm 91:1-15).

There never was a better place
For us to lay whole hearted love
Than on the Lord of truth and grace
Who guards and guides us from above.

Trusting now beneath His wings,
He is our Buckler and our Shield,
For though He is the King of kings,
With tender mercies we are healed.

We call to Him; He answers thus
With words to comfort and to guide:
In trouble He will be with us
To be our Refuge where we hide.

O Lord, we thank You that You came
With love that would not turn away,
That we might know and praise Your name,
And all our love upon You lay.

Taught in Time

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.... and let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us" (Psalm 90:12,17). "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand" (Isaiah 14:24).

Days are numbered, life is fleeting,
Youth and vigor surely flee.
Soon enough we will be meeting
Christ, whom face to face we'll see.

Teach us the surpassing beauty
Seen in Christ, so worthy of
All our heart and soul in duty,
With our undivided love.

Teach us, Lord, to number still
All our days that are at hand.
Hold us in Your perfect will
By Your purpose which shall stand.

Let the beauty of our Lord
Be established in our ways
With the fruit that will afford
Portraits, Lord, of grateful praise.

Mercy and the Moon

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever: Thy faithfulness shalt Thou establish in the very heavens.... Mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.... established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven" (Psalm 89:1-37). "Adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:10,11).

The faithful moon reflects the light
That manifests the blazing sun.
It is a witness in the night,
Throughout the course that it will run.

The moon, with no light of its own,
Has been appointed in its way
From night to night to make it known,
The sun still shines from day to day.

So like the moon, we ought to be
A faithful witness of the face
Of Christ who went to Calvary,
Enlightening the world with grace.

The night surrenders to the morning;
The glorious day is coming soon.
So let us therefore be adorning
The light of God, as does the moon.

Lord, help us shine the light You gave
And be a witness that is true,
To show Your mercy that will save
Each sinner who will trust in You.

Reminded by the Removal

"Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me.... But unto Thee have I cried, O LORD, and in the morning shall my prayer prevent Thee.... Lover and friend hast Thou put far from me" (Psalm 88:8-18). "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.... At my first answer no man stood with me.... Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... and delivered me out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me... and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:10-18).

I wouldn't have chosen to be left alone,
Abandoned by lover and friend,
But that is the way, Lord, You made Yourself known;
You meant it for good in the end.

I wouldn't have chosen to feel forsaken
By others who turned to depart,
But when they were gone, Lord, Your love was unshaken,
And thereby You strengthened my heart.

I wouldn't have chosen the pain of rejection
By fair-weather friends that I knew,
But this was the path, Lord, You chose with perfection,
That caused me to lean upon You.

I wouldn't have chosen, nor would I now trade,
Those times when my heart felt so lonely,
For then, Lord, You taught me to not be afraid,
But trust in Your faithfulness only.

Zeal for Zion

"The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.... The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there (Selah), as well as the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee" (Psalm 87:2-7). "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:2,3).

What glorious things now, O city of God,
Are spoken in heaven of you!
They aren't the things that the proud would applaud,
Nor things the elite would pursue.

The glorious things that our Lord speaks about,
The things of which heaven now sings,
Are souls that are saved, and sinners called out
To be washed in His heavenly springs!

The glorious things are the names that are written
In heaven, in God's Book of Life!
The songs they are singing are of the Lamb smitten,
Victorious for us in the strife!

We're drawing, O Lord, from the well of salvation,
And plumbing the depths of Your love!
What glorious things every people and nation
Are singing in Zion above!