Saturday, December 23, 2017

This God-Child


Hundreds of years before
The story was foretold
The humble entrance
The holy King born
Glorious to behold

For unto us was born
The Savior of mankind
This precious God-child
The one wise men find

He lived among us
The Way, the Life, the Truth
Pointing to the Father
Come for me and for you

God delighted in Him      
In Him He was well-pleased
Christ became the sacrifice
He bore our disease

Our sin and sickness
He took upon the cross
His death resembled defeat
He looked as if He lost

But in three days this God-child
Rose again
Now to reign
Now we can be
Forever changed
Because this God-child
Came



Thursday, November 30, 2017

A Fly's Story



I am a fly upon the cross
I saw him suffer, I saw his loss
I witnessed his courage
His sweat, his tears, his love
This God-man from this earth and from above

His agony was palpable
His pain beyond measure
They cruelly mocked him
His robe was their treasure

I heard him cry out
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Surely this man was innocent - he died for you.

I am a fly upon the cross
I saw him die, I saw his loss
Three days later, I traveled to his grave
He was not there, the stone had rolled away

I am a fly with a story
Of Jesus the Lord of Glory

He is the Way, the Truth, the Life
All who follow gain His sight

He is the Savior of Mankind
But who am I?
I'm just a fly

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Thanksgiving

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 106:1
It is God’s perfect will for us to give Him thanks.  When we do this, we align ourselves with His purposes.  We have so much to thank God for.  Foremost on this list is the fact that He sent Jesus to die in our place.  His sacrifice bought our salvation and with it untold blessings besides. 
I am reminded of the time that Jesus prayed for ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). 
 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”  And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
All ten were told to go to the priests to be ceremonially declared clean.   As they went, they were cleansed from their leprosy but only one returned to give thanks.  It’s possible that when he returned, he was not only cleansed of his disease, he was healed from the debilitating effects of it, which means that if he had lost fingers or toes or any other body part these were restored. 
At the very least, the man’s thankful return to Jesus enabled him to know the Savior in a deeper way then the other nine.
When we give thanks from a genuinely grateful heart, God blesses us in ways He wouldn’t have if we remained silent.

Let’s not just celebrate Thanksgiving one day of the year, let’s make thanksgiving our lifestyle.Thank

Monday, October 9, 2017

Becoming Thankful and Joyful

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.  Philippians 2:14-16

Our attitude determines our altitude.  This is so true.  When we take the position, throughout the day, of being thankful and joyful, our lives shine.  The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  When we are thankful and joyful, we possess the wherewithal to overcome little and large circumstances.

A cheerful heart is also good medicine according to Proverbs.  It is healthy to have a joyful heart.

When we avoid grumbling and complaining and learn to praise our God throughout the day, we become winsome witnesses of the gospel.  No one wants to take advice from someone that is depressed and always complaining.  In Philippians, it says that when we cease from complaining and arguing, we shine like the stars in the sky.  Unbelievers will take notice of us.

Let’s make it our ambition to be thankful and joyful and let’s let our praise resound each day.  With this attitude, we will rise, we will shine, and we will become winsome witnesses in a world that is warped, crooked and hungry for the truth.


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

What Can One Life Do?

What can one life do?
In a world that unwittingly hungers for truth.
A people void of understanding
Reach out to God with aching
Their empty, hollow sighs
Are heard by the Author of the skies

Are you poised for battle?
Ready to pray?
Are you full of compassion?
Willing to share God’s love and truth today?
Preach the gospel story
Give Jesus the glory

Your one life can make a difference
Ushering many others into His Presence



Monday, August 21, 2017

The Surfer



The surfer glides over arduous waters
She rides the wave
With God’s help we too can often skim over
The troublesome times that come
We are overcomers, and Christ is the
Ultimate Conqueror over all that tries to defeat us

But, if the waters engulf us,
Jesus is only a whisper away
He will lend us His strong arm
And bring us to safety

We see that some trials are completely under our feet
While others require us to endure
Yet victory is sure

In the waiting, our character is formed
Like the sand inside the oyster that births a pearl
Our lives give glory to God no matter the circumstances
As we stay faithful to Him

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Tongues and the Infilling of the Holy Spirit



And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  Romans 8:11

God wants us alive unto Him. He wants to quicken our bodies. His desire is that His life flows through us.
A significant way that we are empowered this way is through praying in tongues. When we pray in the Spirit we become more sensitive to the Spirit's promptings. We become conduits for the Lord to bless others through his power. Praying in tongues also opens the door for us to flow in the gifts of the Spirit.

Again and again in the book of acts, tongues is shown as the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit for believers.  The Bible says that when we pray in tongues we edify ourselves. In the Greek, the word “edify” means to charge like a battery.  The Holy Spirit is called our Helper, and when we pray in tongues He helps us.

If you have this gift, speak in tongues often. But do it privately. Do not draw attention to yourself.  If you don't have this gift, ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit. The only prerequisite to receive is that you must be born again. Confess to the Lord any known sin you may have. Understand that you cannot earn this gift; it is freely given.

Come before Him now and receive. He loves you and wants only what's best for you.

Monday, July 24, 2017

The Door



The gift is free
Far as the eye can see
The promise land for eternity

Come believe
Come receive

You cannot buy your way in the door
Your best behavior can’t earn you a pass
Trust in Jesus He’s the Door
His forgiveness will last

Yes, we have all fallen short
Our sins to numerous to measure
Christ’s body was torn
Saving souls is His pleasure

He paid the ultimate price
His life as a ransom
So we could have new life
His act was not random

He did the Father’s will
Prophesied centuries before
He did the Father’s will
So we could open the Door

Come believe
Come receive
Let salvation be yours
Full and free



Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Praise for Our Creator



Flourishing grass of green
Sea of deep blue
Air streams churn the surface
And white foam crashes against the rocky shore
White birds with orange beaks
Dive beneath the water’s surface for a catch

Peace floods my soul
As I feast on Your creation
Your world ministers to me
And I respond with praise