Compelling Cause

"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.... Plead the cause of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8,9). "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.... yet their is room. And the Lord said.... compel them to come in, that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:21-23).

Open your mouth for cause of the lost.
Plead now the cause of the blind, deaf, and dumb.
Their cause is compelling, in view of the cost
Of hell and destruction unless they will come.

The battle is raging with spiritual strife
For souls yet appointed for judgment and hell.
Convince them to run to the Lord for their life!
Open your mouth to persuade and compel!

Compel them to come to the Savior today!
Bid them examine our Lord's empty tomb.
Death now pursues them; they dare not delay!
The Savior invites them, and yet their is room.

Teach us, O Lord, to compel with our speech
The souls yet appointed to hopeless destruction.
Give us the words of Your Gospel to reach
And turn them to You from Satanic seduction.

Lordly Lamentation

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" (Luke 13:34).

Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
O hear your Lord's lament!
You killed His servants, stoning them,
And you would not repent.

Hear His Lordly lamentation:
"I would.... and ye would not!"
You turned away the great salvation
Which your Messiah brought.

His lamentation still is heard
Against the world today
That mocks His mercy, scorns His Word,
And turns His love away.

O Lord, we thank You for Your love
You likened to the hen
That spread protective wings above
Her brood in danger then.

To souls just like Jerusalem:
What more could God have done?
And will you still yourselves condemn
By turning from God's Son?

At the Altar

"O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God" (Psalm 43:3-5).

I know where to go when my soul is cast down.
I know where the light and the truth of God lead.
At last at the altar of God I have found
The Source of my joy and the hope that I need.

Here at the altar of God is my joy
That melts away sadness as if it were dross.
Here no invader can change or destroy
The work of my Savior for me on His cross.

Here is my hope, my joy, and my health
I've found in my Savior, who evermore lives.
Here at the altar He shows me the wealth
At Calvary purchased, which He freely gives.

Here at Your altar, O Lord of salvation,
I'm finding Your joy and compassion so tender.
Here at the altar of sweet consecration,
I'm led by Your Spirit to fuller surrender.

Posture of the Prepared

"Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning, and be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord.... 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 12:35-43).

Live with a posture that's always prepared
For Jesus your Lord to return,
With loins ever girded, the Gospel declared,
And lights that continually burn.

Live as a steward, both faithful and wise,
Who lives for the pleasure of God.
Seek the approval of His searching eyes,
Since all other standards are flawed.

Live with a purpose to give an account
To God who has given so much:
Those He has given a greater amount,
Will give an accounting for such.

Transcendent Treasure

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not forever" (Proverbs 27:23,24). "Seek ye the kingdom of God.... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:31,34).

There are riches that transcend
All temporary measures:
A ransomed soul will never end,
Which God supremely treasures.

The Lamb of God was sacrificed
That souls may be redeemed!
The ransom of our souls was Christ:
Our worth was thus esteemed!

So let us, by this estimation,
Evaluate the worth
Of souls, in light of our salvation,
Compared to things on earth.

So help us, Lord, to win the prize
Of souls for Your dominion,
To see their worth now in Your eyes,
And not the world's opinion.

Design of His Desire

"Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart" (Psalm 40:6-8).

Sacrifice and offering are not what God desired,
For none of these could ever have sufficed
To cleanse our sin or ever bring what righteousness required,
As God could only do through Jesus Christ.

Sacrifice and offering provided a design,
But these were only shadows of our Lord.
Shadows cannot show a thing without a light to shine,
Which here prophetic light could well afford.

We hear our Lord and Savior say that He delights to do
The law of God His heart contained within;
The shadows now have passed away, and He is now in view:
The Lamb of God who takes away our sin!

Thank You, Lord, that You unveiled the passion of Your heart
Recorded in the volume of Your Book.
We see the love that never failed with grace that You impart,
And marvel more, the longer that we look.

Height of my Hope

"Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.... verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.... And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee" (Psalm 39:4-7).

In search of the height of my hope,
I climb to the length of my days,
And view there that slippery slope,
Where health soon in weakness decays.

I search for a different measure,
Since hope isn't found in my health.
I climb to the summit of treasure,
But wings fly away with my wealth.

I search in the sphere of attraction
To win and influence my friends:
Adversity ends this distraction,
When weather that's fair quickly ends.

I searched all these prospects so flawed;
I climbed every mountain but One.
I finally turned then to God,
And placed all my hope in His Son!

In Christ is the height of true gain;
In Christ is eternal salvation!
All temporal hope is in vain;
In Christ is my soul's satisfaction!

Strategy of the Stronger

"By wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.... If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:6,10). "They cried to God in battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him" (1 Chronicles 5:20). "If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?.... But when a Stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth" (Luke 11:17-23).

There is a strategy for war
And strength to win as well,
That Jesus Christ has shown before
Against the gates of hell.

Put your trust in God today
And in this needful hour
Stand with God and to Him pray,
And He shall send His power.

There is no other strategy
That ever can succeed
In this day of adversity,
In view of our great need!

We dare not trust our feeble sword
To help us any longer.
Our strength to win comes from the Lord,
For He alone is Stronger.

Teach us, Lord, to put our trust
In You now to prevail,
Convinced now that we surely must;
All other plans will fail.

Marking Mary

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace" (Psalm 37:37). "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 23:17,18). "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).

There is an end to all we hold
Of things confined by time,
But things eternal shall unfold
Unending peace sublime.

Mark the souls who wisely choose
To fear God all the day:
They hold the peace they cannot lose,
And none can take away.

Mary chose the better part,
Which Jesus would commend:
By heeding Him with all her heart,
Her peace would never end.

Teach us, Lord, to heed Your voice
Like Mary in the past.
For surely there's no wiser choice,
And nothing else will last.

Privileged Prayer

"Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, O that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast.... And God granted him that which he requested" (1 Chronicles 4:10). "And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them" (Luke 10:23,24).

The prayer of Jabez long before
Was heard, and he was blessed,
Yet God has granted us much more
By granting our request.

Blessed are eyes that see those things
That prophets longed to see,
And ears that hear what many kings
Desired earnestly.

Things that God has now revealed
Which we may now behold
For centuries had been concealed,
But now in Christ are told.

This privilege held within our grip
That God has thus enlarged
Endows us with a stewardship
With which we now are charged.

Thank You, Lord, for light to see
Your truth that never failed;
It is that truth which makes us free,
And thereby we've prevailed.

So help us, Lord, to occupy
Until You come again,
Enlarged with grace to testify
With boldness until then.

Settled Safety

"O LORD.... Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation" (Psalm 35:1,3). "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).

Our Lord of salvation
Assures us today
That since He has taken control,
There's no situation
Ahead, come what may,
That now can unsettle our soul.

In this sweet assurance
That settles the heart,
Which only our Savior can give,
We find the endurance
His grace can impart
To thereby abundantly live.

Through battles in life
The horse is prepared,
But safety still comes from the Lord.
In peace or in strife
His Word has declared:
His Truth is our shield and sword.

Say to my soul, Lord,
"I am your Salvation,"
And thereby dispel every fear.
Your words thus afford
Such sweet meditation,
Reminding me that You are near.

Bountiful Boast

"My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.... O taste and see that the Lord is good... The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry" (Psalm 34:2-15).

My soul shall come with joyful boasts
As I recall the story
Of Jesus Christ, the Lord of hosts:
He is the King of glory!

My soul shall boast in Jesus Christ
The Lord of all creation,
Who for my soul was sacrificed
To purchase my salvation.

My soul shall boast in Christ with those
Whose purpose is the same:
To praise the Lord who died and rose,
As we exalt His name.

My soul shall boast of answered prayer
With all who thank Him thus:
That we may cast on Him our care
Because He cares for us.

My soul shall boast, as well it should,
In Christ for all His grace.
O taste and see! The Lord is good
To those who seek His face!

Cynics will Cease

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mightest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.... Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment.... Judgments are prepared for scorners" (Proverbs 19:20-29).

Cynics rise up every morning
To mock at the sublime,
But there shall be an end of scorning,
When judgment comes in time.

Mockers publish their instruction
That scorns the truth of God,
Which many, to their own destruction,
Will follow and applaud.

For so they did in Noah's day,
When mocking had an end:
The rain descended anyway
That God said He would send.

Though cynics come to entertain
Like jesters in a court
To mock the truth that they disdain,
Their time is very short.

For mocking cannot nullify
The judgments yet prepared
For wishful cynics who deny
The truth God has declared.

So teach us, Lord, in these last days
To win the souls we warn,
That they may live to give You praise
And turn away from scorn.

Hiding in Him

"Thou art my Hiding Place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7). "The name of the LORD is a Strong Tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

You, Lord, are my Hiding Place,
And You are my Strong Tower.
I've found my refuge in Your grace,
And safety in Your power.

Other powers still abound
That wish to see me harmed,
But in Your presence I have found
I need not be alarmed.

For You have stood against their claim
Which calls for condemnation.
I'm trusting my Savior's name,
Who purchased my salvation.

O Lord, You knew the awful price
That You would have to give,
So You became the Sacrifice
For sin that I might live.

My cup of fearful wrath was full,
But You, Lord, drank it up!
Because You longed to save my soul,
You drained that awful cup!

Thank You, Lord, for what You did,
So I might safely hide,
For in Your righteousness I'm hid
And ever shall abide!

Children's Children

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" (Proverbs 17:6).

Children's children are the crown
Of old men gladly worn.
Today this song is written down,
For one more has been born!

Refrain:
Children's children are the crown
Of old men, says the Proverbs,
And the glory of chiLdren found,
We're told then, are their fathers.

Noah Byron de la Motte,
This morning, around One,
Arrived to show what God had wrought:
Another precious son!

Josiah is the firstborn's name,
Then Pearl Anne arrived,
Elijah, then Naomi came,
And Noah now makes five.

We thank You for these children, Lord,
And pray they will pursue
Abundant life that You reward
To those who trust in You.

Purpose Perceived

"Thou hast... girded me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever" (Psalm 30:11,12). "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).

There is a purpose to perceive,
An end we should embrace,
In view of blessing we receive
With God's abundant grace.

There is a purpose for the ground
In which God's Word is sown,
Where life abundant may be found
To make God's glory known.

There is a purpose we may find
In sweet and full surrender
Of heart, of soul, of strength, and mind
To Christ, our great Defender.

Lord, lead us to that destiny
Of joy that You intend
Through life that's lived abundantly
With gladness to that end.

Little Love

"Kiss the Son" (Psalm 2:12). "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). "Thou gavest Me no kiss.... to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little" (Luke 7:45-47).

Little love for Jesus Christ
Is based on pure deception,
As if somehow our works sufficed
To make us an exception.

Jesus Christ came from above
For you and me as well.
Shall we return Him little love
For saving us from hell?

His eyes behold in every place
The evil and the good.
He saw our need for saving grace
Before we understood.

He ponders every sinful thought
Demanding condemnation.
He knew our ransom must be bought
To grant us His salvation.

O Lord, in view of all of this
We ought to love You more,
Yet now in worship we would kiss
The Christ whom we adore!

Refusing the Refuge

"Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up" (Psalm 28:5). "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:26).

There is a refuge in God's grace
For all who fear the Lord.
We flee to safety in this place
From judgment's righteous sword.

For judgment here is satisfied
With all that Christ has done
When He for us was crucified
And our salvation won.

Yet many still do not regard
His saving operation,
Nor that our Savior's hands were scarred
And pierced for our salvation.

Because they turn away from God,
Refusing His redemption,
They choose instead His judgment rod,
Wherein there's no exemption.

We thank You, Lord, that in Your fear
We find our confidence:
In Christ we have our refuge here
And rest in His defense!

Resting on the Rock

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after... to behold the beauty of the LORD.... For in the time of trouble.... shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock" (Psalm 27:4,5). "Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them... is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock" (Luke 6:47,48).

To seek the Lord continually
Will guard our daily walk,
And having this priority
Will set us on the Rock.

A heart that seeks Him will afford
A life that's more than talk,
But rather will obey the Lord
Who sets us on the Rock.

Our risen Shepherd leads the way
And cares for all His flock:
They hear His voice, and they obey;
He sets them on the Rock.

We surely know that tribulation
Like storms will rage and knock,
Yet never shake our sure Foundation
In Christ who is our Rock.

Thank You, Lord, for this one key,
And all it will unlock:
To know the truth that makes us free,
And sets us on the Rock.

Tender and Turned

"To the king of Judah [Josiah]... thus saith the LORD God of Israel... Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD... and wept before Me, I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.... And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might... neither after him arose there any like him" (2 Kings 22:18,19, 23:25).

Before there never was a king,
The Scriptures thus record,
Like king Josiah who would bring
Such pleasure to the Lord.

And neither was there afterward
A king like him, we learn.
Shall we not heed what we have heard,
And for his virtues yearn?

Josiah's heart, to God's delight
Was humbled tenderly,
And turned with all his soul and might;
Shall we not like him be?

O Lord, You heard Josiah's tears
And saw his tenderness.
And still, Lord, after all these years,
We do not need it less!

Turn us, Lord, revive again
Our hearts to thus surrender
To see in us what You saw then:
A humble heart that's tender!