I Forgive

 "O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;”   Psalm 16:2

Is there any good in me that I should be bathed with this so great love GOD has bestowed upon me?  I say NO!  When He drew me I was nothing, a marred and broken vessel, undesirable in every way and yet He loved me.  I lay prostrate before Him at the cruel cross where He took my place and hear the sound of His voice say, “I Forgive”!  Words are not enough to express the love and gratitude I have for Him!   JESUS is my LORD!

Even after my forgiveness, I have utterly failed Him and yet He, keeps loving me, lifting me from my shame.  I continue to hear His voice say, “I Forgive”! 

If there is any good in me, it is not me, but He that lives within me, JESUS!

Hearing the words that came that day,

Lifts me to heights undisclosed.

Far above the painted sky!

The sweetest music ever composed!

When you see yourself in a hopeless state

And know there seems no way to win.

Humbly bow before the LORD!

He will take away your sin!

Then you’ll know as I did that day.

The sweetness of those words

You’ll take a flight like never before

Singing along with birds!

I forgive CHRIST said! He took my shame

As He hung upon that cross.

I forgive all the sin you have

Now you will never suffer lose!

So come along and sing with me

With a joyful voice.

I’m forgiven!  I’m forgiven!

LORD I’m happy, You were my choice!

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” Matthew 1129

The Always Answered Prayer

“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”   Psalm 16:1

There is a prayer that never goes unanswered!  It is a prayer GOD hears from every heart.

This prayer is life changing to the petitioner, no matter who you are or what you have done!  Although it may seem simple it is the one prayer that is required to enter the Kingdom of GOD, give you everlasting life and the peace one needs to go through anything they will ever face in this present life!

It has been forty three years sense I prayed this prayer and I can testify that it is real.  When I saw myself, realized what I was and the desperate need for something better, I fell to my knees and prayed this prayer, LORD JESUS save me!  I trust You and not myself!

God listens to our heart; He knows the true intent of it and answers when we see our need for Him.  

I trusted self and kept on falling.

Falling more each time I tried.

I reached out to others wisdom.

Only to find they had lied!

I turned to all the philosophies.

Wanting something I didn’t have.

When I found what they offered.

I returned again and I was sad!

Then one day a kindly gentlemen

Told me of One that would make it right.

I wasted all my money on all the others.

Now had nothing for this new plight!

Good news this gentleman said to me.

The bill for you has already been paid.

The One I speak of is CHRIST the Savior.

All your sins are prepaid!

Now I’m happy in my Savior.

All my fear was set aside.

I’d never tasted oh such freedom.

For in my JESUS I now abide!

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,” Isaiah 55:3a!

Love is Action

"He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”  Psalm 15:5

“God is love” and those that are His will love Him and the brethren. We would never be able to repay the Lord for His sacrifice.  We show Him our love by having the same giving heart that He has.  Total sacrifice to Him and the Church He loves.  

How would we ever be able to pay the Father for all His love and compassion?  This is impossible!  Our only way to give any compensation at all is though our complete love to Him and His Church!

Love is action!  How are we doing?

There is one that is filled with joy.

Whose home is God’s Holy Hill!

He’ll take his flight with full delight.

And forever is filled with the thrill! 

He is the one with a gracious heart,

That gives without a return.

From deep inside he gives with humility.

With integrity he does discern!

He loves the LORD and he loves His Church.

To him they are his own kin.

He gives his all, he stands real tall.

It’s all about them and not him!

In God’s Holy Hill there will be no greed.

And never a selfish heart!

So practice now, He will teach you how.

It would be good to have a head start!

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1John 3:14

To where Goes our Honor?

“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.”  Psalm 15:4

To what degree do we give GOD honor?  It is with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.  Nothing should ever come before Him or overshadow Him!  Having full dependence on Him, at all times, no matter the situation. Yes, when it comes to GOD we are to be dogmatic in our honoring Him!

We should love the believers and honor them, caring for them, praying for them, asking for God’s strength for them.

We should love and care for the lost, those that haven’t found CHRIST as their Savior.  We should do everything in our power to win them by living a life that honors GOD in front of them.  But we do not honor those that are in rebellion to the Savior! 

To whom is rewarded honor?

Is it to the mighty and the great?

And where goes our honor?

Is it to those of low estate?

Better that it goes to the one

That has integrity in his heart.

Standing firm in his word!

From GOD he’ll never part! 

To where goes our honor,

To be given full and pure?

To CHRIST the LORD of Glory,

From Him, never to detour! 

(Abraham) “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:20-21

No Buts about It!

“He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”  Psalm 15:3

Why is it that we say we are Christians and don’t follow what JESUS taught us?  It is easy to fault the one next to us. It is easy for us to condemn, even though we know it is contrary to what the Word of GOD teaches.

It is easy for us to judge but when we are caught in the midst of it somehow we like to wiggle out of it by making excuses.  There is never an excuse to ignore GOD’s Word.  If the LORD says don’t do it, He means don’t do it!  I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say, “But”!  Like they are different and GOD wasn’t speaking about them because of their situation!  But! There are no buts about it! 

Who is the he that pleases the FATHER?

He’s the one that speaks kind of another!

His lips are sealed from dialog that harms!

To the one that hears, he definitely charms!

Who is the one that pleases the SON?

He’s the one that ceases to do evil!

His heart is fair and he really does care

And in him there is no upheaval!

Who is the one that pleases the SPIRIT?

He’s the one that doesn’t reproach his neighbor!

He is not there to criticize or ever to judge!

He’s powered by love and never carries a grudge!

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”  Matthew 7:12

Walk Right and Sleep Good

“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”  Psalm 15:2

There is nothing better than living a clean honest life.  The cleaner a person is the happier they are.  They have family and friends that love them for what they are and their lives are filled with joy.  When they go to bed, sleep is sweet.

We can only be so clean by ourselves.  We can clean ourselves up and make ourselves pretty clean but without Christ we will never be pure clean!

What about the one that walks

And his steps are always sure?

With circumspect and discretion,

His life he will ensure! 

What about the righteous one

Of him what could be said?

He is virtuous and clean,

And never hangs his head!

What about the one

That never speaks a lie?

Others will trust in him

And on him they can rely!

So be careful in the steps you take

And live your life real clean.

Be careful of what you speak

And on JESUS always lean!

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”  Isaiah 1:16-20

A Trumpet and Clouds

“Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.”  Psalm 14:7

There is much heartache in this world.  Too often we stray from our Savior. It is never our intent to do so but just as the one lost sheep of Luke 15 there we are in a desert land.  Once again we have strayed and we are in need of our Shepard.   He is there ready to rescue!

Oh, but one day there will come the final rescue, the completion of our salvation!  When we meet JESUS in the clouds!

To many times I’m found in this place.

The land of the weary, the land of disgrace!

Despair and ruin is found in this terrain.

Captured by evil and caught in my shame!

As in times of the past, I’ll look for GOD’s grace;

Looking to JESUS to remove me from this place!

I long for the day of the sweet trumpet sound,

When complete salvation is all that is found!

There will be no more fainting and drifting away!

Happy with JESUS, never to stray!

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 

Defy their Jeers!

“Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.”  Psalm 14:6

Sometimes it seems as though the sly remarks and the degrading words never stop.     

Before my salvation I was never bothered by these so called intellects. But the very day I proclaimed JESUS CHRIST as Savior, the opposition came.  Not only from those that were my best friends, but also from many professing Christians.

There were cruel words about my stupidity and ignorance of God’s Word.  There were divisions drawn and separation from those I thought were friends and loved ones.

While these Sanballets continue in my life and always will, I will not allow them to take back the victories CHRIST has already won for me.  I will continue to present them with the Gospel and pray they will turn.   

You don’t have to be a scholar or a theologian to understand what the Bible says about salvation.  It’s simple!

All have sinned!  Romans 3:23

Death is the payment for sin!  Romans 6:23

GOD showed His love by sending His SON!  Romans 5:8

By one man (Adam) sin came and by one man (JESUS) it was forgiven! Romans 5:19

Confession is made!  Romans 10:9-10

With mocking words,

They have come.

Disrupting thoughts,

That makes you numb.

They try to obstruct

In every way,

With criticizing words,

They try to sway.

But never fear,

God’s gentle one. 

By God’s grace,

That battle is won!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:9-13

Do You Doubt?

“There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.” Psalm 14:5

Those that deny the existence of God are plagued with never ending questions about their journey. In the back of their mind there is always the question, ‘I wonder if’?

I would hate to have my future depend on a doubt and confusion! 

The existence of God is written in His creation; it is written in His Holy Word and in written in the hearts of those that have by faith trusted Him!  GOD does exist!  Where will you exist is the greater question!

In their heart they know He is there,

They just refuse to reason. 

God’s fingerprints are everywhere,

In each and every season!

You look below to the waters deep,

And you will find Him there!

Or stare into the clear blue sky,

And you know He is near!

When looking into the starry sky,

Where diamonds seem glisten,

There you’ll find the LORD above,

In His love, He will christen!

Please don’t deny His heart felt touch,

Absorb Him with full confirmation!

Give up your fight with JEHOVAH,

And make Him your sure foundation!

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:” Isaiah 45:5

Nothing Worse than a Know it All

“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.”  Psalm 14:4

There is a big difference in thinking you are right and knowing you are right.  What you depend on for your conclusions is a matter of life and death, and Heaven and Hell.  The knowledge GOD has spoken through His everlasting Word will forever outweigh any knowledge any of us have ever received on our own!  

No matter what man tells you, you can know for sure!  It’s in The Book!

I thought I was smart and knew all things,

Until the day I met JESUS!

On that day I saw who I was

And all of my knowledge fell to pieces!

I went to my knees and cried out to GOD

Please help me I can’t do this alone.

He heard my cry and now I see!

All the knowledge I had I disown!

True knowledge is light, written in GOD’ Book

It out shines every thought we have!

So if you look in the Word you will observe

The knowledge of CHRIST is our salve!

“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ~ The Apostle Paul

Please Come Home

“They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  Psalm 14:3

Only God knows the way He felt as He looked over His creation, and saw the dreadful state it was in.  I can only imagine in my heart a small part of what He must have felt!

When I watch over my own children and see their trouble I hurt for them.  I have cried for them and wanted to help when I knew I couldn’t.  I have seen their stubbornness and their desire to do things on their own, when I knew there is a better way.  I stand back and watch and this can be a miserable place to be.

Awful feelings and persistent sorrow,

Came to the Father that awful day. 

When He looked out and saw not one,

He knew the price He would have to pay!

All His children have went astray,

None are in the place they ought to be. 

Brokenhearted, His tears were flowing,

Down His face for you and me!

Oh my friend how GOD loves you!

How could this ever come to be?

He sees your pain and feels your suffering.

He wants to take the sin and set you free!

“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.” John 3:16

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”  1 John 4:14

What Does GOD See?

“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”  Psalm 14:2

Watching our children can be a wonderful experience but it can also be a most miserable site for us to see!  Sadness comes when we see them making mistakes that will surly hinder their success.  As we watch them we hope and pray they will come to their senses and straighten things out before it’s too late.

GOD is no different in His care for us!  What does He see when He looks down from Heaven at us?  Is He pleased?  Is He sad?  Every day we must ask ourselves how we are making the LORD feel!  How do you feel when you see your children understanding and seeking to do right? If you are like me you find yourself overwhelmed with joy.  That is what GOD wants to feel like!

               

GOD looked down from Glory

To see all the children of men.

Hoping to find even just one,

That hadn’t fallen into sin.

He thought perhaps He would find

One that could possibly understand.

The love He has for all of them

Was free and not a command!

While GOD is out seeking you

Do you go run and hid?

He wants for you to seek for Him

When you meet He will provide!

He’ll provide you with all the peace

And love your heart can take within.

He’ll replace all the worry and hate

And free you from your sin!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

That’s a Fool

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth! good.”  Psalm 14:1

Not much can be said about the fool other than he is so caught up in himself that he can’t see what is around him!  Love waits at the door of the fool!  CHRIST changes a corrupt heart into a righteous one!

I was a fool for the first twenty five years of my life!  I was shown the Light but refuse and decided to keep living in darkness.  GOD sent people alone the way to help me but I shrugged them off as religious nuts.  That’s a fool!  The very ones that tried to help me I mocked and made up untrue stories about them. That’s a fool!  I joked about their GOD to others and made fun of those that trusted Him. That’s a fool!   I traded peace for misery. That’s a fool!  I chose fetters and chains instead of freedom and hope. That’s a fool!  I thought I could wait to make a decision for CHRIST as if He was going to patiently wait for me.  That’s a fool!  I thought I could do good things to make my way to GOD and that also is a fool!

The opposite of being a fool is to have wisdom.  You don’t learn wisdom it is a gift to those that trust GOD!  Man may acquire a limited amount of wisdom over the years but the wise have said in their heart, there is a GOD and trust His SON!

A fool is a wicked one,

That doesn’t have a clue.

He thinks himself as mighty,

But if he only knew!

He is but a weakling,

With no power at all. 

Without the hope of victory,

One day he’ll see his fall!

His wicked heart tells him,

There is not a GOD at all.

But in the end, he will see,

On bended knees, he’ll crawl!

All the works he does,

Are all of which is vain. 

Repulsive acts of corruption,

From which he has no shame!

He lives a lie and in a dream,

That never will come true.

His life is full of counterfeit love,

He still remains, the fool!

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:19-21

Jubilation

“I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”  Psalm 13:6

The power of GOD’s love is stronger than anything the believer will ever be faced with! 

Hate is crushed by His immense love!  Terror turns to security and fear vanishes as if it never existed.  Sorrow changes to joy and agony becomes contentment. 

GOD’s power of true love is able to make the darkest day become our brightest moment, for eternity! 

 I was sad and brokenhearted,

Tortured by the things I faced. 

Then one day I met JESUS,

And all my sorrows, He erased. 

I was there in utter sorrow,

On the day He did appear.

Oh what joy and Jubilation!   

Set forever without fear!  

All my days of downright failure,

They have now been set aside.

I’ll cling to You, oh my SAVIOR!

Knowing You are, at my side!

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” John 14:1-4

The First Day

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” Psalm 10:5

There has never been a day that has brought me more joy than the day I put my trust in the SAVIOR!  Only your own experience with CHRIST can explain what I am feeling!  I got what I never deserved!

There is only one day that will ever compete with the day of my salvation and that is the day when I meet JESUS in the clouds!  Even that most excellent day would not have been possible if it hadn’t been for the first day of my eternally life!

How does one express happiness

Which overcomes the soul?

When thinking of the day he lived,

When CHRIST had made him whole! 

I do not know the words to express,

The joy I feel within. 

I understand this one thing.

That day my life did begin!

From that day I have faced trials.

I wished I’d never had.

But knowing Jesus was at side,

For this I’m eternally glad!

I know my future He has given.

No one can take away.

I look for Him in the clouds.

And for that day, I pray!

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” 1 Peter 1:8

Raising the Vessel from the Bottom

“Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.”  Psalm 13:4

It seem as though most of our lives we are surrounded by trouble.  There is a lie that says, once we are saved, troubles will end.  We still have troubles, they don’t leave.  As a matter of fact we will take on some new ones. 

We can as believers rejoice in the fact while troubles don’t disappear, neither does our SAVIOR!  There is no power capable to harm us.  We are kept by the blood of JESUS!  CHRIST is our refuge and strength, we shall not be moved!

I’m deep in the waters, I can’t stay afloat. 

This vessel is sinking as I reach out with hope. 

Please send me a life raft or something to hold. 

This sea is raging; I’m starting to get cold. 

I can’t last much longer, my strength is weak. 

The waters are raging, and now it looks bleak.

Currently I am covered, it’s over my head. 

I know I am dying, soon I’ll be dead.

But I’m not worried as I go through this maze.

Tomorrow is coming, my vessel You’ll raise!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:35-39

The Sweetness of Weakness

“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;” Psalm 13:3

Frailty is the character of my being. 

Without help, this is how I’m seen. 

On my own the battle is never won.

When I fail, I will always run.  

I’m weaker now than ever before.

My eyes are heavy and my heart is sore.

If this tempest gains more power,

I could die before the next hour.

This is why I cry unto Thee!

This is why I make my plea!

By Your power, You can set me free.

And no longer will my frailty be.

Our own weakness is turned to strength when we trust GOD to do the things we are unable to do.  Weakness brings victory; it allows us to see our need for help!

Had I not known weakness I would have never seen my need for Christ!  My life would have been filled with defeat and end in misery.  But because of CHRIST the victory is mine!

When in my battle and in a brawl,

The battle is over when on JESUS I call!

So don’t be a fool and end in defeat!

Call upon Jesus!  Victory is sweet!

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”  Psalm 18:28