Cheerful Charge

"And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.... Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned him to speak, answered... I do the more cheerfully answer for myself" (Acts 23:11, 24:10).

Where did Paul find his unquenchable cheer
To finish his task so opposed and so large?
Jesus Himself was the One who drew near;
"Be of good cheer," was His comfort and charge.

Where did Paul find the wisdom to speak
With grace to respond in that difficult hour?
Jesus Himself, when His servant was weak,
Drew near to impart to him wisdom and power.

Where do we find this cheer for the heart
With wisdom and power to finish our course?
Jesus Himself still has grace to impart;
Yes, Jesus Himself is our infinite Source!

Mistaken Mountain

"In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" (Psalm 11:1).

The world has counsel to give us today
That bids us to flee as a bird:
Flee your mountain, and there you must stay;
Hide there, and do not be heard.

My worldly friends, you're sadly mistaken:
The mountain is no place to hide.
Though we may be weak, we are not forsaken;
In Jesus we safely abide.

Flee to your mountain? Is that what you said?
Your strategy surely sounds odd!
Shouldn't you rather be fleeing instead,
In view of the judgment of God?

Truly there's safety, but not in the mountain,
There hiding yourselves in the caves.
Flee to the Savior and come to the Fountain
For cleansing and blessing that saves!

Then go to the world! It's not time to flee!
The Gospel still needs to be heard!
Go forth with boldness and humility,
Though others may flee as a bird.

Tending to the Tenderhearted

"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord... I also have heard thee, saith the Lord" (2 Kings 22:19). "Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear" (Psalm 10:17).

Tenderhearted soul, rejoice,
For God will hear your prayers!
Indeed, before He hears your voice,
Your heart He first prepares.

How loving is God's tender hand
That works within the heart,
That in our meekness we may stand
And from our pride depart.

For when our sinful pride exists
That we do not confess,
We find the pride that God resists,
Though He would rather bless.

Lord, keep our hearts revived and tender
By that which You allow.
From pride, oh Lord, be our Defender,
And humbleness endow.

Nestled in the Name

"The Lord also will be a Refuge for the oppressed, a Refuge in times of trouble. They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee" (Psalm 9:9,10).

Those who know the reputation
Of our Savior's name,
Are nestled in the sure salvation
Only His can claim.

None shall ever be forsaken
Who trust in Christ alone.
God (who never is mistaken)
Has surely made that known.

We're nestled in the matchless name
Of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who is a Refuge from our shame
And heaven's best Reward.

Mercifully Mindful

"What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:4). "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21).

Lord, what is man upon this earth
That You should give him thought,
Or that You ever thought him worth
The ransom that You brought?

How merciful and marvelous,
Oh Lord, that You revealed
That You have set Your love on us,
And by Your stripes we're healed.

Lord, what is man that he should be
The object of salvation?
There's more than human eyes can see,
That drives Your estimation.

The eyes of God that never wander
Behold us from above.
The heart of God will ever ponder
And hold us in His love.

Hezekiah's Hallelujah!

"And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord.... Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.... Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.... For I will defend this city, to save it" (2 Kings 19:20-34).

Hezekiah prayed his prayer,
And made his anguish known.
What a refuge he found there
Before God's mighty throne!

Stripped of all self-confidence
He went to God and pleaded.
There he found the Lord's defense
Was all he ever needed.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
The enemy must face,
Not Hezekiah's trembling sword,
But God's defending grace.

Surely there's instruction there
That God would have us see.
God was waiting for that prayer
To send His victory.

Let us thereby understand
That God still waits to hear
The prayer that moves His heart and hand
With grace when we draw near.

Welcome vs. Weary

"I am weary with my groaning" (Psalm 6:6). "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a Father the son in whom He delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11,12).

Lord, You've seen my weariness;
You have also heard my moaning,
And at times, I must confess,
I am weary with my groaning.

Yet I know Your purpose, Lord,
Is Your loving, wise correction.
Looking back with soul restored,
I rejoice in Your direction.

Chastening is never pleasant,
Yet I welcome its effect.
So I'll look beyond the present
Knowing by it You correct.

Urgency to Understand

"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom.... He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous" (Proverbs 2:3-7). "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11).

Lord, give me readiness of mind,
To search Your Word as hidden treasure.
By Your grace, Lord, let me find
The joy of serving You with pleasure.

The things that You are pleased to show
You manifest to those who pray
And lift their voice that they might know
Your perfect wisdom, will, and way.

Daily, Lord, I thus would seek
With urgency to understand
And readiness to hear You speak,
That I may follow Your command.

Searching our Secrecy

"And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God" (2 Kings 17:9). "But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself" (Psalm 4:3). "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.... Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with own devices" (Proverbs 1:29-31).

God examines all we do,
In public or in secrecy.
Right or wrong, false or true,
All is done transparently.

All we think and all we say,
Every motive for each deed,
Are before Him, plain as day,
By His grace or by our greed.

Save me, Lord, from secrecy;
Purge this folly from my heart!
Search the secrets seen in me;
Set me for Yourself apart.

Shield and Shining

"Thou, O Lord, art a Shield for me, my Glory, and the Lifter up of my head" (Psalm 3:3).

Lord, You are my only Shield
You alone are my Protection.
By Your Spirit I am sealed;
Here I rest in Your perfection.

Lord, You are my only Glory
And the Lifter of my head.
Author of Redemption's Story:
Oh, what light in darkness shed!

Lord, thank for this confidence!
In Your presence I recline,
Knowing You are my Defense,
Basking in the light You shine.

Wondering Why?

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing.... against the Lord, and against His Anointed?" (Psalm 2:1,2). “What is His name and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:4,5).

Why do the nations rage,
And the people imagine what's vain?
Where are the wise and the sage?
Why can't they see what is plain?

God has been perfectly clear
From the Scripture to history's page.
So why do the people not fear?
Why do the heathen still rage?

Are you wondering why they're so blind?
Are you wondering why they're not stirred?
Invariably you will find
They’ve cast aside God’s Holy Word.

Doom of the Deaf

"He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1). "Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you" (Acts 13:40,41).

We live in a day when the deaf have dominion;
No view will suffice but their own,
Selectively muting all but their opinion
No matter how clearly they're shown.

They harden their necks; they cannot be turned
From the path of their ultimate harm.
The Gospel that pleads for their souls they have spurned;
They are deaf to the Gospel's alarm.

The prophets foresaw this fearful condition
When many would simply not hear.
Refusing God's peace, they are choosing perdition,
Too deaf and indifferent to fear.

What more can we say? What more can we do,
Than to plead with the lost to beware?
Help us, Oh Lord, that we may break through
By Your Spirit, Your Gospel, and prayer.

Focused on Fulfilling

"The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.... [God] gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.... John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And... John fulfilled his course" (Acts 13:2, 17-25).

What a happy occupation,
Searching out God's perfect will,
Living for His expectation,
All His pleasure to fulfill!

David sought for God's own heart,
As God told him, Seek My face.
There's no better time to start
Than today to seek His grace.

John the Baptist also knew
The privilege of seeking Christ.
The Lamb of God had filled his view,
His Lord who would be sacrificed.

God is seeking yet today
Those who will His heart pursue;
Those, like Paul, who humbly say:
Lord, what will You have me do?

Expanding the Expectations

"And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews" (Acts 12:11).

People have their expectations,
Sometimes high and sometimes low.
Cast aside these limitations;
Rise to levels God will show!

Now I know that God gives strength.
Yes, He gives grace with each command.
Expand the height, the width, the length:
Let God's expectations stand!

Name of those Near

"Both young men and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the Lord.... the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him" (Psalm 148:12-14). "God gave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.... Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.... And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:17-26).

The name of the people who God has brought near Him
Cannot be declared as a singular nation.
Gentiles and Jews, and all who will fear Him
Have all entered into to His wondrous salvation.

The name of that people who rightly can claim
This nearness to Christ that the psalmist speaks of
Is Christian, derived from our Savior's own name,
The Praise of His saints here below and above.

Word for the World

"He showeth His word unto Jacob, and His statutes and His judgments. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for His judgments, they have not known them" (Psalm 147:19,20). "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all): that word, I say.... give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:34-43).

The Word that God gave to Israel's nation
Was not for that nation alone.
The prophets gave witness to God's great salvation
That Christ and His grace may be shown.

That Word of His peace to each nation we preach,
For Jesus is Lord of them all.
Thus to the end of the earth it will reach,
And thus every soul it will call.

Present and Prepared

"And Cornelius said.... Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God" (Acts 10:30-33).

Why is it we sometimes find
The Word of God seems dry?
God who knows our double mind
Can surely tell us why.

We open up God's sacred Book
As if it were a chore.
We finish with a hasty look,
No wiser than before.

God shows to us Cornelius
In chapter ten of Acts,
And thereby manifests to us
The fervor our heart lacks.

Be present then before the Lord
Prepared for His commands.
God has promised to reward
The heart that understands.

End and Expectation

"Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, My son, and be wise, guide thine heart in the way" (Proverbs 23:17-19).

All the day long and every night
We should be in the fear of the Lord.
For surely there is an end in sight,
And there surely shall be a reward.

These are the guide posts that mark out our way:
The END and our great EXPECTATION.
These will remind how short is our day
And the treasure we have in salvation.

Lift up your eyes, for the end is not far;
Behold there your sure expectation.
Then live in the fear of the Lord where you are,
Thus guided in each situation.

Gospel of Gladness

"Philip preached Christ unto them... And there was great joy in that city.... Philip opened His mouth... and preached unto him Jesus.... and He went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:5,8,35,39).

The essence of the preaching that surely leads to joy
Is centered in the Person of our Savior Jesus Christ.
All the good news needed, the message we employ,
Is the Gospel of our Savior, for us once sacrificed.

The privilege of preaching, to speak for God above,
Belongs to His ambassadors, the stewards of His Word.
The rivers of our happiness, the ocean of God's love,
Are thrilling souls today by the Gospel they have heard.

Do We Do Well?

"Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household" (2 Kings 7:9).

Do we do well if we hold our peace,
Withholding good tidings today?
Do we do well to slothfully cease
To look on the fields and pray?

Do we do well if we fail to share
The Gospel to all who will hear?
Do we do well if we don't really care
For sinners as judgment draws near?

Now therefore come that we may go tell
The good news that Jesus Christ lives!
We dare not be silent as souls march to hell;
Let's seize every minute God gives!

Final Failure

"I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living" (Psalm 142:4,5).

I sought for a refuge in my fellow men
When I was afraid and distressed.
No man would know me or cared for me then;
I found neither refuge nor rest.

But refuge had failed me for the last time,
When I finally turned to the Lord.
There He was waiting with refuge sublime,
That His grace alone could afford.

What kind of love could patiently wait
To save me by His sacrifice?
Why not just leave me to my chosen fate,
The consequence of my device?

Lord, You are my Refuge that never can fail,
As sure as Your heavenly throne.
I rest in the knowledge that none can prevail
To separate You from Your own.

Cancel the Counsel

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.... Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 29:20,27). "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

Cancel the counsel leads you astray
That you may be wise in the end.
Sift every word through the sieve of God's way,
Whether from foe or from friend.

The counsel of men is often so flawed
That gives no regard to God's Word.
Rather than men, we ought to heed God,
Obeying His truth that we've heard.

Cease now from hearing instruction that turns
Your feet to the left or the right.
Stay on the pathway that your heart discerns
Is true to God's Word and His light.

By the Book Boldness

"And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost said unto them... by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead.... This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John... they marvelled" (Acts 4:7-13).

The ones who know the Scriptures well
Can see the plan of God unfold.
The hearts wherein God's Word will dwell
Shall be obedient and bold.

But how can we be bold to speak
It we don't study, to our shame?
Shall we thus urge the lost to seek
And trust alone our Savior's name?

Our boldness, then, is by the Book
Inspired by God's Spirit.
Lift up your eyes, and thereby look
On those who need to hear it!

Searching the Sum

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me.... Thou understandest my thought afar off.... How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee" (Psalm 139:1,2,17).

Lord, You have searched me and known me completely,
And You understand my thought from afar.
How precious Your thoughts in Your Word also sweetly
Permit me to search out how awesome You are!

The thoughts of Your heart, Lord, preserved in Your Word,
You've graciously given to each generation.
Oh Lord, how our hearts have thereby been stirred
With love and with worship through Your revelation.

Searching the sum of Your thoughts, precious Lord,
Forever (for that is how long it will take)
Shall thrill us with every new thought we've explored,
And even now greet us each morning we wake!

Asking for the Awesome

"And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing" (2 Kings 2:9,10). "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.... And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days My Spirit" (Acts 2:17,18).

Lord, You have taught me how to ask
For those things that matter most.
So I'll pray each word and task
Be governed by Your Holy Ghost.

For in these last days You decreed
You'd pour out Your Holy Spirit.
Lord, this is all I really need;
Nothing else comes even near it!

Like Elisha who was told:
"Ask what I shall do for you,"
I ask, Lord, for a life controlled
By Your Holy Spirit too.

Send the Song

"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Psalm 137:4). "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

How shall we sing of our Lord and His grace
In a land that despises His song?
How shall speak of His love in a place
Where it seems that we just don't belong?

This is the answer, for what it is worth:
We're empowered by God's Holy Spirit.
Thus we are sent to the ends of the earth
With His Gospel that others may hear it.

Thoughts on These

"Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.... Jesus saith to Simon Peter... lovest thou Me more than these?" (John 21:10,15).

What a question Jesus posed!
"Do you love Me more than these?"
How the heart is thus exposed,
As it harbors vanities!

"More than these" in Peter's case
Might refer to all those fish.
It's what we are inclined to chase;
It's what our hearts may vainly wish.

God the Holy Spirit sees
And knows our hearts are thus inclined.
Do we love You "more than these?"
Expel these idols, Lord, You find!

Do Nothing Deities

"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.... The idols of the heathen.... have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears but they hear not" (Psalm 135:6,15-17).

Our Savior and Lord has done what He pleased
In heaven, in earth, and in every deep place.
He extended His hand to heal diseased,
He opened His mouth and expounded His grace.

This is the way that one understands
The living true God from the idols untrue:
Idols have mouths, have eyes, ears, and hands,
But speak not, they see not, they hear not, nor do.

Risen Rabboni

"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master" (John 20:15,16).

Risen Rabboni, oh, what a sight!
Jesus said, "Mary," and opened her eyes.
Weeping, indeed, had endured for a night,
But joy in the morning then dawned with surprise.

Risen Rabboni, forever the same!
Like Mary, You draw me by faith to the place
Where I am hearing Your voice call my name
To open my eyes by Your marvelous grace.

Risen Rabboni, my Teacher and Lord,
I've come to Your tomb and within I have peered,
Where Death is vanquished, my joy is restored,
My strength is renewed, and my vision is cleared.

Marvel at the Man

"Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the Man! .... Behold your King!" (John 19:5,14).

Behold the Man that sinners mocked,
God incarnate, perfect Man.
Angels watch, dumfounded, shocked,
Stunned at God's unfolding plan.

Behold your King comes meek and lowly,
Though He is the great I Am,
Over all transcendent, holy,
Mighty God, and spotless Lamb.

Behold the Man! Behold your King
Claims His victory from the grave!
He Who has removed Death's sting,
Ever lives henceforth to save!

Victory in the Valley

"There came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord" (1 Kings 20:28).

Life is filled with highs and lows
Yet Jesus Christ is Lord of all:
Hills and valleys, thorn and rose,
Whether joy or sorrows call.

Hills ascend that thrill our soul;
These are high points in our life.
Valleys too can take their toll,
When we're tasting pain or strife.

Let it thus be clearly shown
That hills and valleys are the Lord's.
As through trials we make known
The peace and strength His grace affords.

Contemplating the Cup

"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth.... Then said Jesus unto Peter... The cup which my Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:4,11).

We shall never fully know
What was in that awful cup
Filled with our eternal woe,
When our Savior drank it up.

Jesus, knowing everything
That would come upon Him then,
Went forth to bear our suffering
At the hands of sinful men.

All the treachery and scorn
That filled that vessel to the brim,
The cruel cross, the crown of thorn,
Were in that cup God gave to Him!

Contemplate how very full
That mixture was that He drank thus,
And let it thrill your heart and soul
To know He drank it all for us.

Low Volume of the Lord's Voice

"And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind.... but the Lord was not in the earthquake.... but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.... And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:11-13). "Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors" (Proverbs 8:34).

Lord, You shouldn't have to shout
To get my singular attention;
Elijah figured that one out
In the cave of his detention.

For there you sent a mighty breeze,
An earthquake, and a fire.
But, Lord, You were in none of these;
A voice was Your desire.

That still, small voice, Elijah heard,
Was where the Lord was found.
And so may we, who have God's Word,
Thus hear our Lord expound.

Cynical Certainty

"[They] called upon the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered.... And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.... And Elijah said.... hear me, O Lord.... Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench (1 Kings 18:26-38). "Surely He scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly" (Proverbs 3:34).

I must admit I love to hear
Elijah's cynicism,
As he called the scorners near
To heed God's criticism.

For still God scorns the one who scorns,
But He gives grace to the lowly.
And God will judge the one He warns
By a standard that is holy.

Mockers think that they are clever,
By their scorning without shame.
And they think that God will never
Speak to glorify His name.

They shall find that they are wrong
When all the laughter dies.
The day will come, it won't be long,
That takes them by surprise.

Obstinate Opinion

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him.... And the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21). "If I (Jesus) had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father" (John 15:24).

How long shall Jesus Christ's dominion
Be foolishly denied?
How long shall ignorant opinion
Be vainly magnified?

How long shall sinners thus ignore
The deeds of God the Son?
For never were there works before
Nor after like His done.

How long indeed shall sinners halt
To waste another day?
Alas! It shall be their own fault
When time sweeps them away.

Perpetual Peace

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

The world gives a fragile peace,
When things may go your way.
But alas, when good times cease
That peace can never stay.

The peace that Christ our Savior gives
Is anchored to His throne.
It rests secure because He lives
And has redeemed His own.

How different is the quality
Of peace that Christ imparts!
It lasts for all eternity
And satisfies our hearts.

Do not let your heart be stressed,
Nor let it be afraid.
Child of God, in this thought rest:
Your ransom has been paid!

Excellent Example

"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.... By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:15,35).

Jesus, Lord of realms above,
Exalted on His throne,
Set it all aside for love
That He had for His own.

His splendor that He left behind,
His suffering in our stead,
Were all considered in His mind,
And yet He went ahead.

And thereby God has given us
This model of our Savior
That we should love each other thus
In likeminded behavior.

Appraising our Approval

"They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43).

If we love the praise of men
More than the praise from God,
We're only motivated when
Our fellow men applaud.

If we are by God approved,
We shall be satisfied.
Why yearn for praise that is removed
As soon as men have died?

If we've longed for human praise,
Then God's praise we have scorned.
No, we cannot have both ways,
For so our Lord has warned.

Our heart will surely hold to one;
The other we'll despise.
So let us seek for God's "Well done,"
That God may find us wise.

Serving, Sitting, Sacrificing

"They made Him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment (John 11:2,3).

Worship has a threefold chord:
To serve, to sit, to sacrifice.
These are valued by the Lord:
Very costly, without price.

Martha served as she was able,
Joyfully for Christ, her Guest.
Lazarus was at the table:
What a portrait of our rest!

Mary's ointment sweetly filled
The house with fragrance of her love
For her Lord who would be killed,
But then exalted far above.

To everything there is a season;
God ordains the time and place.
Every purpose has a reason:
To glorify the God of grace.

Loosing Lazarus

"[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:43,44, 12:1,2).

What a sight it must have been
At the tomb of Lazarus!
What a lesson learned back then;
What comfort now for us!

Lazarus was loosed above;
Earthly bonds were set aside.
Perfect liberty and love
Were his portion when he died.

But Jesus called him from the grave,
Choosing him to testify,
That Christ alone can surely save
And loose the souls of those who die.

And so we sorrow not as those
Who have no hope beyond the tomb.
Jesus Christ who died and rose
Has robbed the grave of all its gloom.

Those in Christ who safely sleep,
Are loosed forever as they wait
For the promise God will keep:
His shout that we anticipate!

That shout will come, we surely know
When our Lord comes for His own.
Thus we loose and we let go
Those He calls forth to His throne.

Stubborn Stone

"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (John 11:39,40).

The glories that our God reveals
To those who will obey,
The stone of unbelief conceals;
Now take the stone away!

A thousand reasons we may say
The stone must stay in place.
The bottom line: We disobey,
And so we miss God's grace.

We may not have it figured out
Why God commands us so,
But that is no excuse to doubt
What God will wait to show.

Trust in God and God alone,
And do what He has said.
Now take away the stubborn stone
That renders our faith dead.

Shade and Shield

"The Lord is thy Keeper: the Lord is thy Shade upon thy right hand" (Psalm 121:5). "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).

Lord, I'm resting in Your shade
That covers me at my right hand.
Here no enemies invade
As I follow Your command.

Where You lead me I am sure,
For there Your shade will also be.
Every word of God is pure,
And thus You are Shield to me.

Weakness of my Woes

"In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me.... Woe is me.... My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war" (Psalm 120:1,5,7). "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.... If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest" (Proverbs 29:1,9). "Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not.... Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him" (John 10:24,25,31).

Woe is me! I've lived so long,
With those who hate the word of peace.
No matter what I say, it's wrong;
They war with words that never cease.

And so I turned to God distressed,
And in effect He answered me:
Why are you expecting rest
From souls who spurn God's remedy?

It's been the same from age to age;
They scorned your Lord on earth as well.
Yes, you may laugh or you may rage,
But souls still choose to go to hell.

Of course you dwell with those who hate
The Gospel more each time they hear it!
Yet thirsty souls still yearn and wait,
Responsive to God's Holy Spirit.

At last I see reality!
God's Spirit and His Word expose
That I forget eternity
When dwelling on my selfish woes.

Showing the Shepherd

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:176). "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

Seek me, Lord, I've gone astray,
Like a lost, endangered sheep.
Show Yourself to me today;
Only You can save and keep.

For even though I'm seeking You,
Lord, I know You sought me first.
No one loves me like You do,
Nor satisfies my inner thirst.

I know this prayer sounds kind of odd,
That You should seek for me.
But since it's in the Word of God,
I'll pray it earnestly.

Lord, You saw my hopeless strife,
Before I thought to pray.
What kind of Love surrendered life,
For sheep that went astray?

Lord, since Your love is still the same,
Unchanged with passing years,
I will call upon Your name,
And know my Shepherd hears.

Marvelous Madness

"One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.... Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes" (John 9:25,30).

There was a man who once was blind
Whom Jesus made to see.
How marvelous it was to find
His sight by God's decree!

Yet still more marvelous that day
Than his new sight received,
Was stubborn blindness on display
In those by choice deceived.

How could it be they did not know
That God was in their midst?
How could they miss what God would show?
How could they still resist?

We need not look to days of old
For blindness of this kind.
In this our day we still behold
This madness of the mind.

Abraham's Awe

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:56-58).

Abraham could see the day
That God would send His Lamb
To die and take our sins away:
Behold, the great "I Am"!

What an awesome sight he saw,
Beholding Christ his Seed!
Filled with gladness and with awe,
He saw Him meet our need.

And so with Abraham we share
The ability to see
The Lamb of God who came to bare
Our sins at Calvary.

Yet we also see the time
When Christ shall come again.
What an awesome sight sublime
Shall fill our vision then!

Solomon's Sorrows

"King Solomon loved many strange women... of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall the come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.... and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods" (1 Kings 11:1-4).

How sad the state of Solomon
Who had it all— or so it seemed.
Yet by his lust was he undone,
Deprived of what he most esteemed.

His power, wealth, and many wives
Could not satisfy his soul.
God alone can fill the lives
Of all who give to Him control.

May this be a lesson learned,
Lest our hearts be turned away;
Lest we cease to be concerned,
When our souls have gone astray.

Haven't Heard the Half!

"And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove Him with hard questions.... And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it, and behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard" (1 Kings 10:1,6,7).

The half has not been told
Of the wisdom and the love
That God shall yet unfold
When Christ is seen above.

Our human words must fail,
Nor could we comprehend
What God will yet unveil
In Christ, our dearest Friend.

We see not all His heart
Nor the fullness of His grace.
For now we see in part,
But soon we'll see His face!

Right Rivers

"Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law" (Psalm 119:136). "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

Rivers of sorrow have run down my eyes;
God surely knows the tears and the pain
I could have avoided if I had been wise,
If I had been true to His teaching so plain.

Rivers of life are now flowing within,
Refreshing my soul and quenching my thirst.
These are the rivers that cleanse me from sin,
Filling with blessing a life that was cursed.

Rivers of sorrow or rivers of life
Will flow from the choices we make— right or wrong.
Choosing our own way brings weakness and strife.
Choosing to honor the Lord makes us strong.

Time for Truth

"It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law. Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:126-128). "Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:20,21). "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise" (1 Kings 8:56). "If any man will do His will, He shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).

The world thinks they have made void
The truth of God's unerring Word.
The reasoning that have employed
Is blind, dishonest, and absurd.

It's time to set the record straight!
It's time to show the evidence!
It's time to clearly demonstrate
The certainty of our defense!

Has not the Word of God prevailed
By promises we've read?
There has not even one word failed
Of all that God has said!

It's time the truth of God be shared
With confidence and skill.
Study therefore! Be prepared
According to God's will!

Soul Safety

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word.... Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Psalm 119:114,117). "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).

Lord, You are my Hiding Place;
Where I find a safe retreat.
Here I rest in saving grace;
Where redemption is complete.

Yet also, Lord, You are my Shield;
Protecting me from harm.
You call me to the battle field;
Your Word sounds the alarm.

So whether I am called to hide
Or battle is in view,
My soul in safety shall abide
Upheld, oh Lord, by You.

Lamp and Light

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.... The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from Thy precepts.... I have inclined mine heart to perform Thy statutes always, even unto the end" (Psalm 119:105,110,112).

Your Word, oh Lord, shines at my feet,
A lamp to guide each step with care.
Thereby I may always meet
Each day avoiding every snare.

Your Word, oh Lord, shines on my path,
To show the things which lie ahead.
Thereby I have fled from wrath,
And heavenward I now am led.

Your Word is both a lamp and light
To guide my feet and show Your way.
Lord, guard and guide my steps aright,
And lead me lest I go astray.

It Is I

"They were afraid. But He (Jesus) saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid" (John 6:19,20).

Storms will come from time to time;
The howling winds may terrify.
But our Savior's voice sublime
Calms us, saying: It is I.

It is I; be not afraid:
What a word to fearful souls!
Peace and joy are thus conveyed,
Just in knowing He controls.

It is I! We hear His voice
Within His word; in answered prayer.
Throughout the storm we still rejoice
Just to know that He is there.

Impossibe Impasses

"How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?.... Moses... wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:44-47).

There are two obstacles so great,
Which Jesus Christ reproved,
That saving faith is made to wait
Until they are removed.

The first is in the lust to hear
Approving men applaud,
So much so that there is no fear
Nor honor left for God.

The second obstacle we see
To which our Lord referred,
Is lack of the integrity
To search God's holy Word.

How indeed can they believe
Who never have been stirred
To turn to God and thus perceive
The truth within His Word?

Climax of Clarity

"I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget Thy statutes" (Psalm 119:83). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

This world still is blowing smoke,
And living daily in denial;
As if God's judgment were a joke,
As if His truth were out of style.

But God has cleared the smoke to see
His glorious truth before our eyes,
And oh the wondrous clarity
With which His Word now testifies!

For all God's children it is clear:
Their future holds no condemnation;
The past and present hold no fear
For those who trust Him for salvation.

But to the lost God has appealed,
And still continues by His Spirit:
The wrath of God shall be revealed
Though scorners rather would not hear it.

Fashioned with Faithfulness

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments.... I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119:73,75).

Lord, You made and fashioned me;
That's why it's no surprise,
You see the good I cannot see,
Nor ever could devise.

You are Lord of all creation
In majesty above.
Yet my every situation
Is governed by Your love.

At times I need correction,
The affliction of Your rod;
By this You give direction
And show the love of God.

Lord, You made me by Your hands
As one You long to bless.
Give me a heart that understands,
Your love and faithfulness.

Examining Eyes

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.... Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (Proverbs 15:3,11).

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Beholding the evil and good in our lives.
Nothing is hid from the light of His face,
In hearts that He humbles, and hearts He revives.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place;
So, what do the eyes of my Lord see in me?
Lord, search me and purge me of every disgrace,
That You may find pleasure in what You will see.

The Good Fellowship of the God Fearing

"I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts" (Psalm 119:14). "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 principles that draw us near,
And give us confidence,
Are love for God and holy fear
Which prompt obedience.

Here we have our hiding place,
Protecting us in strife.
Our common ground is saving grace
In Christ who is our life.

Here we have the fountainhead
That satisfies our thirst,
That bids us be like Christ instead
Of putting ourselves first.

This is my family in Christ,
Companions I hold dear,
Who love our Lord once sacrificed,
And worship Him with fear.

Holy Horror

"Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake Thy law" (Psalm 119:53). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.... He that believeth not on Him is condemned" (John 3:16,18).

Does "horror" sound a bit extreme
When pondering the lost?
With what word shall we then esteem
Those who into hell have crossed?

How should we describe the fate
Of time and circumstance
For those who call on God too late,
And thus forfeit their chance?

For God so loved the world He feared
The fate of souls undone,
By sin condemned as judgment neared,
Had He not sent His Son.

Yes, "horror" is a fitting word
For praying with desire,
When fervent hearts are rightly stirred
About the lake of fire.

Assured vs. Ashamed

"I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46).

Kings or paupers, wealthy, poor,
Whatever status these have claimed,
Still need Christ, no less or more,
So I will preach Him unashamed.

INCLINED by INTEGRITY

"Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness" (Psalm 119:36). "The integrity of the upright shall guide them" (Proverbs 11:3). "Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see.... Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:38,39,47).

Lord, guide me by integrity,
Incline my wayward heart toward
The blessings of eternity
Which flow from Jesus Christ my Lord.

I hear you ask, What do you seek?
My heart begins to inventory,
Things I covet, vain and weak,
Rather than Your awesome glory.

Come and see, I hear You say,
As lesser things now seem so vile!
Rise, my soul, and come away,
Forsaking foolishness and guile.

Let this be my inclination,
And integrity's reward;
Let this be my restoration:
Draw me nearer to You, Lord.

UNDERSTANDING before UTTERING

"Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts: so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27). "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found.... The lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:13,21). "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe" (John 1:6,7).

Lord, how can I speak without understanding?
What could I say that would have any worth?
Lord, give me the wisdom the need is demanding,
To talk of Your wonderful works in the earth.

Lord, how can I speak without righteousness?
Only the lips of the righteous can feed
The hearts of those hungering for You to bless.
Lord, give me the wisdom to speak to their need.

Lord, how can I speak without being sent,
As John who bore witness to Christ, the true Light?
Lord, You are the Fountain that never is spent;
I thirst for the wisdom to say what is right.

OPERATION OPEN

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psalm 119:18). "And beginning as Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.... And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and bless it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him.... Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:27,30,31,45).

Open my eyes, Lord, that I may behold
The wonderful things that the prophets foretold.
Open my ears, Lord, to your precious Word,
As those on the road to Emmaus once heard.
Open my mind, Lord, so I'll understand
The way that conforms to Your righteous command.
Open my heart, Lord, as when you broke bread,
Showing Yourself then alive from the dead!

HOLY HATRED

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.... But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death" (Proverb 8:13,36).

There is a hatred that is good
That holy fear controls
Against the evil way that would
Destroy eternal souls.

The love of God must also hate;
We should not think it odd
That truest love won't tolerate
The sin that grieves our God.

The fear of God will teach us well
The wretchedness of pride
That sends eternal souls to hell
By pushing grace aside.

Love is not indifferent,
Unless it is not strong.
The love of God bids us repent
And hate the way that's wrong.

DEFILEMENT DEFIED

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:1-3). "Be thou strong, therefore... and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways" (1 Kings 2:2,3).

There is a principle we find
That keeps us undefiled,
That gives us purity of mind
And cannot be beguiled.

Seek the Lord with all your heart:
And walk in all His ways.
Defilement must then depart,
And be replaced with praise.

Defilement is thus defied
And holiness perfected.
God is thereby glorified,
And Christ is thus reflected.

Bumbling Builders

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:21,22). "And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him.... And He said unto them... Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God" (Luke 22:63,67,69).

The corner stone must be just right;
It squares the whole foundation.
So is Jesus in our sight
The Rock of our salvation.

But bumbling builders have refused
That precious Corner Stone.
For they rejected and abused
The Lord of heaven's throne.

How marvelous indeed it is
In our astonished eyes
That God should call this doing His,
That used men so unwise!

And yet these bumbling builders show
That God was in command.
For God was faithful even though
They did not understand.

Herein we learn so vividly
To trust the Lord alone.
He is for all eternity
The precious Corner Stone.

Hour of Honor

"When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53).

The finest and the darkest hour
When love came shining through,
Was when the darkness saw its power
Thus conquered, Lord, by You.

Satan in his darkest rage
With all his wicked bands
Then drafted history's brightest page
When they stretched forth their hands.

Those wicked hands that did their worst
Unwittingly unveiled
The heart of God that loved us first,
And never, never failed.

Hatred had its hour, Lord,
And darkness had its ways.
But honor had its sweet reward
Of our Redeemer's praise.

Rendering Remembrance

"The sorrows of death compassed me.... Thou hast delivered my soul from death.... What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:3,8,12,13). "This do in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19).

Lord, You have delivered me
From death that stalked my soul!
You gave Your life to set me free,
Your suffering made me whole.

Death no longer has its sting;
The grave no longer wins.
Let the bells of freedom ring,
For Christ removed my sins!

My bonds of sin are cast away!
For, Lord, You paid my debt.
You paid a price I could not pay,
And I should not forget.

Dispel the Doubt

"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. Their idols.... speak not... see not... hear not... smell not... handle not... walk not... neither speak" (Psalm 115:2-7). "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens. By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew" (Proverbs 3:19,20).

Why indeed should people ask,
Where is now your God today?
But since they do, it is our task
To show the proof that's on display.

Our God is seated on His throne
Where He created all we see.
The earth and heavens are His own,
By right of His divine decree.

We see His hand in all creation:
Design is everywhere we look.
We see His heart in His salvation,
And in the suffering that it took.

The heathen idols, this is clear,
Are all without their own defense.
They do not speak, or see, or hear;
They have no shred of evidence.

Come to Christ who calls you out—
Out of darkness into light.
Let the Lord dispel your doubt.
He will show you what is right.

Refuge of His Reign

"When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.... What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" (Psalm 114:1-3).

When Israel had left the land
In which God's people had been slaves,
They surely knew it well firsthand
That God alone protects and saves.

The Red Sea saw it then, and fled.
The Jordan, too, was driven back;
God by cloud and pillar led,
And never did His people lack.

What accounts for their success?
How on earth could they survive?
Throughout that desert wilderness
God alone kept them alive.

And so it is through joy or pain,
That as we walk this desert land,
We have our refuge in His reign;
Our preservation by His hand.

Perrenial Praise

"Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of he same, the Lord's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:2,3). "And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.... because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation" (Luke 19:40,44).

Whatever God decrees is done:
The earth shall praise His name
From the rising of the sun
To the setting of the same.

It isn't our prerogative
To halt His ceaseless praise,
But we may join in while we live
In our visitation days.

But God will have His praise from others,
If we miss our visitation.
No one hinders, neither smothers,
Praise from all of His creation.

And should it please the Lord to make
The rocks cry out to praise His name.
He will do it for His sake,
If we fail, to our shame.

Let the rocks keep silence, Lord,
For why should we not rather thus
Declare His praise Who has restored
His praise perennial in us?

Manifold More

"Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.... Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever.... His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm 112:1,3,7). "And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting" (Luke 18:29,30).

Manifold more in this present time
Than all of this world and all it has stored:
This is the offer, secure and sublime,
To all who will follow Christ Jesus the Lord.

Manifold more, by heaven's true measure,
Than temporal family, fair-weather friends,
Houses or riches, or any such treasure,
Is given to each who on Jesus depends.

The Right Ruler

"If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.... Many seek the ruler's favor, but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord" (Proverbs 29:26).

Sometimes rulers do what's right.
Sometimes they will do what's wrong.
If I'm walking in the light,
God is ruling all day long.

Who is ruler of my heart?
Is it God and God alone?
Let me know, Lord, from the start,
Who is really on the throne!

Then help me, Lord, to seek Your favor,
And make this my priority:
Obedience to Christ my Savior,
Loving Him who first loved me.

Parables on Prayer

"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.... And He spake a parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican" (Luke 18:1,910).

Men ought always to be praying,
Or they will surely faint.
This is what our Lord is saying,
To every feeble saint.

Men should never pray with pride,
As did the Pharisee,
But like that publican who cried:
Be merciful to me!

May these parables sink in,
To show us how to pray.
May they cleanse our hearts from sin,
And teach us everyday.

Forever Fixed

"O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory" (Psalm 108:1). "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.... And beside all this, between us... there is a great gulf fixed" (Luke 12:17,26).

Oh God, You know my heart is fixed,
Just until I am distracted.
How different is Your love unmixed,
Unaltered by the way I've acted.

Mold me in Your faithfulness;
And fix my heart on what is true,
Satisfied with nothing less
Than what I find, O God, in You.

Like Your words which cannot fail,
And like the gulf that's fixed above,
Let Your Spirit thus prevail
To fix my heart upon Your love.

Prodigal Praise

"Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:5,7, 43). "I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father... But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him" (Luke 15:17,18,20).

If you will observe and learn
The love that God displays,
You'll see why prodigals return
To give Him thanks and praise.

The prodigal left to himself
Always comes to thirst
And hungers with an empty shelf;
These things must happen first.

But when the prodigal comes back,
He meets a father's kiss.
Why did he wait so long with lack,
When he could have all this?

The best of robes we have put on:
His robe of righteousness.
The ring affirms the curse is gone,
And that He lives to bless.

He puts the shoes upon our feet
That make us fit to go,
To share the Gospel message sweet
That everyone may know.

So God rescues from distress
Each prodigal who cries.
And thus He longs to love and bless,
And make the foolish wise.

The Fitness to Finish

"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.... Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house" (Proverbs 24:3,27). "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28,29).

Wisdom teaches us to build
Upon a good foundation,
Counts the cost that must be billed,
And plans for the duration.

Teach us, Lord, to build this way,
Clearing grounds make them fit,
Drawing strength from You each day,
To finish well, and never quit.

Explanation by Expectation

"Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17).

Why should I not envy sinners
Who have far more than they can spend?
Though the world accounts them winners,
They'll have nothing in the end.

Fear the Lord, then, all day long,
And focus on your expectation:
Christ is coming! What a song!
I need no further explanation!

Medication of Meditation

"My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord" (Psalm 104:34).

My meditation on the Lord
Shall be exceeding sweet,
His salvation my reward,
His joy in me complete.

My meditation on the Lord
Reveals my inward part.
By it is my soul restored;
It heals my broken heart.

Forfeiting Forgetting

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:2-5).

Bless your Savior, O my soul,
For blessings that He heaps.
How good to know He's in control,
And every promise keeps!

Forget not how He yet forgives,
And heals your soul's disease.
Forget not your Redeemer lives
And from destruction frees.

Forget not all the love He brings
With mercies that abide,
Who satisfies you with good things,
And keeps you satisfied.

Finding Faithfulness

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over His household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing" (Luke 1:42,43).

A faithful man, Lord, who can find?
They seem to be in short supply,
Though most imagine in their mind
That surely they would qualify.

Who then is a faithful one,
A steward whom the Lord calls wise?
Who labors till the work is done,
And lives for God 's approving eyes?

How blest is he in such a case!
How joyful is he in the Lord,
Who daily draws upon God's grace
To find his faithfulness restored!

Latter Lament

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end" (Proverbs 19:20). "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:19,20).

Consider well your latter end,
And weigh the counsel you receive.
Be careful that you don't depend
On counselors that will deceive.

Go ahead and take your ease,
The counsel from your heart may say.
Eat and drink; do as you please,
And think of God some other day.

The world's counselors applaud
Your pleasure and prosperity,
And never give a thought to God,
Or planning for eternity.

The day is surely coming when
All those things shall pass away.
And nothing else shall matter then
But what Almighty God will say.

Will you then be called a fool?
Or will you hear the words, "Well done"?
No lament shall be so cruel
As knowing you refused God's Son.

Joyfully Justified

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.... Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name" (Psalm 100:1,4).

Let the people in all lands
Come with joy before the Lord.
Let each one who understands:
Come with thankfulness outpoured.

Enter through His gates with praise;
Meditate on all you see:
The tabernacle thus portrays
My Savior Who was slain for me.

But tabernacle sacrifice
Could never take my place;
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Alone could save by grace.

Be thankful therefore that He came
(His love could do no less),
To take away our guilt and shame,
And give us righteousness.

The tabernacle now is gone,
But Jesus Christ is not.
Our Savior's love goes on and on;
Oh what a happy thought!

Favor of Fathers

FATHER'S DAY

"The glory of children are their fathers" (Proverbs 17:6).

A father's greatest legacy
That he can leave behind
Is a model of integrity
That his own children find.

Since fathers are the glory
Of children that they train,
Let's leave them a true story
Of life lived not in vain.

As God our Father is to us
Our glory and our Savior,
May our children learn to trust
By watching our behavior.

Principles of Prayer

"Lord, teach us to pray.... And He said unto them, When ye pray, say Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Luke 11:1-4).

There's more to prayer than what we say;
It's how we say it too.
We must be sure that when we pray,
The words we speak are true.

All who pray "Our Father" should
Be certain of salvation.
We do not earn by being good
This wonderful relation.

God in heaven is obeyed;
So should it be on earth.
The Gospel truth is thus displayed
By those who know its worth.

Day by day He meets our need
Before the day begins:
From daily bread on which we feed,
To cleansing from our sins.

Keep these principles in mind
That Jesus taught His own.
All who do shall surely find
Rich mercies at His throne.

Rejoicing at the Remembrance

"Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness" (Psalm 97:11,12). "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank Thee, O Father" (Luke 10:20,21).

Rejoice at the remembrance
That God has found a way
To close the fearful distance
That held our souls at bay.

Rejoice, for Christ rejoices;
How wonderful the thought!
His joy now stirs our voices
To praise Him as we ought.

Rejoice! Our names are written;
Our Savior bids us look:
The Lamb Who once was smitten,
Has sealed them in His book.

Witnesses among Wolves

"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves" (Luke 10:2,3).

The word of Jesus Christ today
Has found me where I am:
Am I earnest when I pray?
Meek and harmless lamb?

Among the wolves of greed and strife
God calls me to be meek,
That I may witness with my life
And with the words I speak.

Yes, this is what I'm called to do,
And who it is I'm called to be:
A witness that is bold and true,
A lamb reflecting Christ in me.

Sinking Sayings

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart" (Psalm 95:7,8). "Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hidden from them.... Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be the greatest" (Luke 9:44-46).

Are my Savior's sayings sinking
Down into my ears and heart?
Are they hidden from my thinking,
From my deepest inward part?

What reasoning within my mind
Distracts me from my Savior's voice?
What vanity has rendered blind
My eyes to see my foolish choice?

Your words, O Lord, are good and right;
Your wisdom surely has no peers.
So let Your sayings, day and night,
Sink deeply down into my ears.

Minimizing the Multitude

"In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:19). "This is My beloved Son: hear Him" (Luke 9:35).

The multitude of thoughts replete
That vie for my attention,
Can never with my Lord compete;
Nor are they worth the mention.

The comforts that delight my soul
Are found in Jesus Christ.
I know He paid my debt in full
When He was sacrificed.

"This is My beloved Son;
Hear Him," God will say.
Thus distractions turn and run,
And comforts come to stay.

So this is how I minimize
And filter every thought:
I fix my heart, my ears, and eyes
On Jesus as I ought.

Holiness of His Household

"Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forever" (Psalm 93:5).

Holy is Your reputation,
O Lord, in all Your ways,
And Your household of salvation
Your holiness displays.

Your holiness demands a price:
A ransom paid in full,
And You became our Sacrifice,
To thus redeem each soul.

Your holiness was satisfied,
Your household was secured,
O Lord, when You were crucified,
And for us You endured.

So may Your holiness be shown
In how Your house behaves.
To testify and make it known
That Jesus surely saves.

It's a Good Thing to Give Thanks

"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.... To show that the Lord is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (Psalm 92:1,2,15).

Every morning there's a reason
That we ought to thank the Lord;
Everyday another season
Of His love to look toward.

Before the rising of the sun,
Before the day begins,
Let us thank Him for His Son
Who put away our sins.

Every night concludes a day
Of our Savior's faithfulness.
Let us thank Him, as we pray,
For the way He chose to bless.

Everyday we ought to bring
A heart of thanks and praise.
It is a good and righteous thing
To show His upright ways.

Responsible to Reveal

"And He [Jesus] said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.... No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light" (Luke 8:10,16).

We who have the truth today
That God's Word has revealed,
Should be like candles on display,
And not like those concealed.

For oh, the light is glorious!
It shines that all may know
The love that God has for us
Which He delights to show.

This very light exposes
Responsibility
That privilege imposes
To show this mystery.

Today the darkness dominates
And cloaks the wrong as right.
Yet God's Word still illuminates
And brings the truth to light.

In view of this, Lord, help me shine
That others thus may see,
Remembering this light of mine
Is not for only me.

Logical Love

"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave the most. And He [Jesus] said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:41-43).

There was a certain creditor,
In a parable portrayed,
Whose debtors couldn't give him more,
Their debts could not be paid.

Fifty and five hundred pence,
Two of debtors of his owed.
But he forgave them both, and hence,
His kindness to them showed.

The question comes by logic driven:
Which one will love him most?
That one with greater debt forgiven,
And lesser cause to boast.

Which debtor are you like above,
By the grace you calculate?
How rightly we assess God's love,
By our debt that was so great!

Revere and Rejoice

"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.... Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:7,15,16).

We hold You, Lord, in reverence,
As we approach Your throne.
We tremble at the evidence
That You are God alone!

We love You, Lord, and we rejoice
To hear the sound of peace.
That joyful sound is Your own voice,
That makes our joy increase.

We thank You, Lord, for righteousness
That You for us procured.
The awful price could be no less
Than Calvary endured!

We worship You with fear and joy
And thus we seek Your face.
The theme of worship we employ
Is still amazing grace!

Rationale of our Rhetoric

"And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).

It is a valid question
The Lord is asking us:
Its obvious suggestion
Exposes whom we trust.

Why do we call Jesus Lord,
But do not what He said?
Do we think we can afford
To trust ourselves instead?

Do we think we have a plan
Superior to His?
How foolish is the mind of man!
How arrogant it is!

Lord, save us from the foolishness
That does not what You say:
With lips that outwardly confess,
But hearts that don't obey.

Blindness isn't Bliss

"Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Luke 6:39).

Does it not seem somewhat odd
That those least qualified
Are chosen, rather than our God,
To lead us and to guide?

Although the lost are now content
To heed the blind man's voice,
The day approaches of lament
When they'll regret their choice.

The blind will fall into the ditch
With those that they have led.
Yet God still pleads with souls to switch,
And follow Christ instead.

What boundless treasures we may find
In Jesus Christ our Lord,
That those who willfully are blind
Have totally ignored!

Harness my Heart

"Unite my heart to fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart" (Psalm 86:11,12). "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

Lord, You know how hard to tame
My wayward heart can often be.
Unite my heart to fear Your name
For only then shall I be free.

So let the harness of Your fear
And the bridle of Your love
Direct affections that will steer
My heart toward the things above.

So whether peace or whether strife,
Whether joy or whether pain,
Lord, let the mixture of this life,
All the more my heart constrain.

Unite my heart to give You praise!
Harness my heart to love You more!
Lord, fix my heart upon Your ways,
And my straying heart, restore!

Anticipating His Answer

"Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?.... I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly.... Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps" (Psalm 85:8,13). "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6). "He [Jesus] said unto him, Follow Me" (Luke 5:27).

Will You not revive the weak,
That they may rejoice in You?
I will hear what God will speak
And I will watch what God will do.

He speaks His peace and calms our soul;
He shows the cross on which He died,
Where mercy makes the sinner whole
And righteousness is satisfied.

What words of grace our Lord conveys
To sinners who deserve His wrath!
He sets us in His perfect ways
And guides us in His footsteps' path.

Lord, we've heard Your words of peace,
And You have answered, "Follow Me."
May our revival thus increase
In Your footsteps faithfully.

Weeping World

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee... who passing through the valley of Baca (weeping) make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.... the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He uphold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:5-7,11).

The lost who weep are surely right
That there is cause to weep.
One wonders how they sleep at night
Or sanity can keep!

The valley comes, it surely must,
Where death confronts them all.
The great things they pursued in lust,
Now seem so vain and small.

We're sent into this weeping world
Equipped with grace and glory.
With banners of God's love unfurled,
We tell redemption's story.

We have the fountainhead of joy
That fills the driest well!
The Gospel message we employ
Will save a soul from hell!

We go from strength to strength from God,
Like rain that fills the pools,
That overruns and sheds abroad
His love where Jesus rules.

Come before your Lord each day,
Then go to those with tears
To share through Christ the only way
Of joy for endless years.

Why Not Now?

"Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: NOW then do it" (2 Samuel 3:17,18). "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity, and scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you" (Proverbs 1:22,23). "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me... to preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18,19). "Behold, NOW is the accepted time" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

If God is calling you to turn,
And His Spirit shows you how,
Since He bids you come and learn,
Why not therefore do it now?

If God has warned you not to wait
Why would you then still allow
Yourself to thus procrastinate?
Why not therefore do it now?

If God has given you a gift
To serve in love and thus endow
His grace to others you may lift,
Why not therefore do it now?

If God has spoken to your heart
To place your hand upon the plow,
What has hindered you to start?
Why not therefore do it now?

If God exalts our Savior's name,
And every knee shall surely bow,
Why then wait to do the same?
Why not therefore do it now?