Decision amid Derision

"The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from Thy law.... This I had because I kept Thy precepts" (Psalm 119:51,56).

I hear derision from the proud
Who think that they are clever,
Who gain approval from the crowd,
Applauding their endeavor.

I am not moved by their vain talk,
For all of their derision
Does not change the truth they mock,
Nor weaken my decision.

If mockers think the earth is flat,
It nonetheless is round.
God is God, and that is that;
His precepts are all sound.

And so I have not changed my mind,
For God has not changed His;
Nor from His law have I declined,
Which tells it like it is.

Forced by the Fire

"Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His Word was in mine heart, as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not stay". (Jeremiah 20:9).

Sometimes I think it might be best
To just withhold what I would say,
To give my rhetoric a rest,
And let the world have its way.

But then the fire in me burned
As I began to count the cost.
So many things that had learned
Were not for me, but for the lost.

How shall I keep this fire contained
That burns within my soul?
I'll simply do as I've been trained,
And give the Lord control.

Quicken me Quickly

"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy way" (Psalm 119:37).

Quickly, Lord, now turn my eyes
From beholding what is vain!
Quicken me; I would be wise;
Make Your values plain.

Another day has come and gone;
Was it wasted or redeemed?
Lord, let me meet the coming dawn,
And prize what You've esteemed.

Thus fixed upon eternity,
And things that ever last,
Lord, turn my eyes from vanity;
Consign it to the past.

Stuck on Studying

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken me according to Thy Word.... I have stuck unto Thy testimonies" (Psalm 119: 25,31). "The heart of the righteous studieth to answer" (Proverbs 15:28).

My soul cleaves to the things, I know,
That surely turn to dust.
And yet my heart will not let go
Of truth I've learned to trust.

Your Word, oh Lord, is where I find
The truth that makes me free.
So I would give my heart and mind
To study carefully.

And thus would I be free at last
From dust to which I cleave.
And thus when seekers come to ask,
I'll say why I believe.

Hopeless Heart

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, to give every man according to his ways, and according to he fruit of his doings... Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise" (Jeremiah 17:9,10,14).

Lord, You've seen this heart of mine;
You've searched it through and through.
There's nothing there that would incline
My heart to follow You.

Oh hopeless heart! Where shall I turn
To heal your wretchedness?
What physician can discern
And treat you with success?

Lord, You know I have no hope
Unless You intervene.
Your eyes search like a microscope;
You know that I'm unclean.

In view of what You have revealed,
A hopeless heart depraved,
Lord, heal me, and I shall be healed;
Save, and I'll be saved.

For You, Lord, have foretold abroad
By prophecies and types
That You became the Lamb of God,
Who heals us by Your stripes.

What shall I render to You, Lord,
For blessings You impart?
I'll give You what I can afford:
My healed, once hopeless heart.

Prosperity vs. Poverty

"I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches" (Psalm 119:14). "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.... Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction" (Proverbs 13:7,18).

The testimonies of the Lord can truly make us wealthy.
They also tell us we are poor if we won't pay them heed.
Obeying them will make us rich and spiritually healthy;
Trusting in the Lord will make us prosperous indeed.

Delicious Direction

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16).

Your words were found which I did eat,
And oh how they rejoiced my heart!
The comfort that they bring is sweet
With each instruction they impart.

Your words have given me direction
And called me by Your name, my Lord,
Working in me Your perfection:
More like Jesus! Sweet reward!

Study the Stone

"The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:22). "Search the Scriptures... they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

Search the Scriptures everyday.
Listen well to what they say.
See this One Whom they portray:
Our own beloved Savior.

Behold the Stone Who was refused,
Silent when He was accused,
By our world, so abused:
How wicked our behavior!

Stone of refuge, now our Head,
Thus You suffered in our stead,
Thus You rose up from the dead,
With love that would not waver.

Lord, we worship You alone,
For You were that smitten Stone.
Boldly we approach Your throne,
Now sheltered by Your favor.

Merciful Memory

"The memory of the just is blessed.... The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:7,22).

The memory of the just is blessed,
That manifests God's grace,
And promises eternal rest,
When we shall see His face.

The memory of the just is blessed,
For God commands it so.
It passes every stormy test,
Withstanding every foe.

The memory of the just is blessed,
And with it there's no sorrow.
The sweetness it will manifest
Will grow with each tomorrow.

The memory of the just is blessed,
Through time and to the end.
It enters like a welcome guest
And like a cherished friend.

The memory of the just is blessed:
Lord, thank you for this gift!
It's like a wondrous treasure chest
With thoughts that love and lift.

The memory of the just is blessed,
Though such a one departs.
Our mother's love that once caressed,
Still comforts thus our hearts.

Dedicated to our dear mother, Stella May Hall (May 5, 1916—June 6, 2008), now on heaven's beautiful shoreline. God commands the blessing, and we are indeed blessed by her memory. Thank you, Lord, for our mother.

Girded to God

"For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the Lord, that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear" (Jeremiah 13:11).

Lord, keep us cleaving to You everyday,
To live as Your people for Your holy name,
To show forth Your praise as we humbly obey,
To give You the glory, declaring Your fame.

How quickly we find that our life becomes bland,
A meaningless effort, a tedious story,
Unless You will draw us by Your gracious hand,
To live for the purpose of giving You glory.

So may You find us, Lord, girded to God,
Cleaving steadfastly and giving You praise.
All other options are hopelessly flawed,
Lamentable choices, a waste of our days.

Pleading and Pleasure

"Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors" (Proverbs 8:34). "Righteous art Thou, O Lord, when I plead with Thee: yet let me talk with Thee of Thy judgments" (12:1).

How righteous and kind You are toward me,
Oh Lord, as You hear me each time that I plead.
Yet let me talk with You intimately,
That I may discern in Your Word what I read.

Oh what a privilege it is to draw near,
And know that You hear us as we intercede!
Oh what a pleasure as we also hear
The voice of our Lord to comfort and lead!

Daily, Oh Lord, we would lift up our voice,
To plead at Your throne, and yet also to talk.
In two-way communion with You we rejoice,
As thereby You teach us the way we should walk.

Correction with Compassion

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing" (Jeremiah 10:23,24).

Correct me, O Lord, as You watch from above.
You know how quickly my feet tend to stray.
I know You correct, not in anger, but love,
That You might direct us in Your perfect way.

For I know that the right way of man is found,
Not in himself, Lord, but only in You.
How did we get here, and where are we bound?
Only Your Word, Lord, declares what is true.

Comfort me, Lord, by Your staff and Your rod.
Your loving correction refreshes my soul.
How great are Your mercies, my Lord and my God,
Discovered by all who will give You control.

Bring on the Brighter

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18). "Thou shalt see greater things than these.... Hereafter, ye shall see heaven open" (John 1:50,51).

The path of the just (those by grace justified)
Grows brighter and brighter each day till the end.
For Christ is our Life, our Light and our Guide,
Our Savior, our Lord, and our very best Friend.

The path grows yet brighter, and this is the reason:
The heavenly Light we approach is our Lord!
He brightens each phase of our life in its season,
And He is the brightness of heaven's Reward.

Then bring on the brighter! The way may be steep,
Yet we are upheld by our Lord's gracious hand.
That bright day draws nearer: we shall not all sleep,
But we shall be changed by our Savior's command.

Mercy of Melchizedek

"The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). "Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God... first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace... abideth a Priest continually" (Hebrews 7:1-3).

Melchizedek, the King of peace
And also King of righteousness,
Portrays the One Who does not cease
To save, to keep, to love, and bless.

Melchizedek displays the name
Conveying Priest and King.
So grace and truth by Jesus came
That only Christ could bring.

Moses surely gave the law,
Which charged us with our sin.
In Christ our Priest and King we saw
God's mercy enter in.

Melchizedek, that name is sweet
Reflecting Jesus Christ!
We saw His truth and mercy meet
When He was sacrificed.

Undertaking Understanding

"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding... then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3,5). "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

Our natural and finite mind
Could never understand
Or from the Scriptures ever find
The things that God has planned.

Be sure, if you would make the choice
To understand God's Word,
To cry for knowledge, lift your voice,
And trust that God has heard.

For such an order so demanding,
There's little hope indeed
For undertaking understanding,
Unless Christ meets that need.

Sliding Back on Slow Belief

"Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27).

How is it we can take so long
To trust what God has said?
His prophets never have been wrong,
So why are we misled?

Everyday we put our trust
In words from mortal men
Who soon must die, return to dust,
As all their words shall then.

Jesus promised He would rise,
His prophets spoke this too.
How can we be so unwise
And slow to deem it true?

Thus we hear our Savior chide
Our slowness to believe,
For thereby backward we shall slide,
And no good thing achieve.

So may we therefore heed reproof
That we may be thus spared
The slowness of a heart aloof
To what our Lord declared.

Merciful Mouth

"O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalm 107:1,2). "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.... A virtuous woman... openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:8-10,26).

Open your mouth and give thanks to the Lord;
If you are redeemed then you ought to say so.
If on you the mercies of God have been poured,
Then surely you ought to let others know.

Open your mouth; plead the cause of the poor;
The poorest of all yet face condemnation.
If you are redeemed, then how much the more
Should you be conveying the way of salvation.

Open your mouth with wisdom and kindness,
Like the wise woman that Proverbs displays.
A word that is timely may heal the blindness
And open the mouth of the dumb to give praise.

Old but not Obsolete

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk therein" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Stand in the ways that you may behold;
Ask for the old paths, and there guide your feet.
Walk in the good way, for though it is old,
God has assured us it's not obsolete.

For there is the good way that God has provided,
And this is where we shall find rest for our souls.
Yet many refuse to walk where He's guided,
To walk in their own paths and follow their goals.

Walk in the old paths; come, follow the Lord!
Above every other, His way is sublime.
For He is our Treasure, He is our Reward,
And His way is perfect and tested by time.

Our Hour

"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.... And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him" (Luke 22:53,63).

What a horrifying hour,
When sinners mocked our Lord!
What a cruel, satanic power
Of darkness was outpoured!

Why did our Lord endure the shame
He surely could have ended?
This was the cause for which He came,
For sinners He befriended.

Across the span of history,
This was our cruelest hour:
When Christ became for you and me
Our Refuge and our Tower.

Satan, like a lion, roared,
And sought then to devour,
The Lamb of God, our loving Lord,
By dark and hateful power.

Yet that hour came and went;
That power was defeated.
The throne from which our Lord was sent,
Is now where He is seated.

Our finest hour yet ahead
Will be to see His face,
And thus be with Him, as He said,
Forever changed by grace.

Forsaken Fountain

"My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 1:13).

Why has this age forsaken Him,
Who gave us living waters
And filled our cups beyond the brim
For us, our sons, and daughters?

Oh what a foolish generation
Would thus forsake this Fountain
That fills our desert with salvation
Like rivers from a mountain!

And how indeed do we replace
This Fountain never dry?
With broken cisterns of disgrace
That cannot satisfy!

Lord, we come at last to You;
(Why didn't we come first?).
For what can broken cisterns do,
But disappoint our thirst?