2-19-16 Like Night and Day

³ O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. ⁴ Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. ⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:3-5 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Depression drags your soul into the grave

And whispers that this pit is all there is;

Here hope is gone, here darkness does enslave,

Here death does pierce your heart and claims as his.

It seems as if the Lord has turned away,

As if His anger’s robbed your faith and dream.

But turn around, my friend, please don’t dismay.

He’s never left your side; you’re still a team.

Reach out to Jesus! Life is in His hand;

His love is like the morning over night.

He holds you in His arms, the dark is banned.

God’s grace shines all the time; the future’s bright.

When darkest night of soul weighs down on you,

The dawn is certain: Christ will see you through.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: It is always the darkest before the dawn.

12-19-15 In Jesus’ Name

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:20 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

IN JESUS’ NAME

We give to God our every gratitude;

Without Him we would not be here today.

He gave His firstborn Son with rectitude

So we could be His children, too, and stay.

The sacrifice Christ made has set us free,

And now we live by faith for all He’s done.

It is through Christ we go; He is the key

To open Heaven’s door, then Home we run.

A prayer is ended thus: “In Jesus’ name,”

For He is now the source of our new life,

The living advocate of all acclaim,

The High Priest of our soul in glory rife.

Give thanks to God our Father for all things,

In Jesus’ name, in whom our hope now springs.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: When you give thanks to God in the name of Jesus, your heart stretches to hold more of the Holy Spirit.

11-26-15 Give Thanks

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

There’s always something to be grateful for

No matter what the circumstances are.

A hooligan may muscle through your door;

It’s better than the scourge next door by far.

Give thanks for every breath that’s given you;

God’s grace alone is reason to rejoice.

A heart of gratitude brings you into

A place where you can better hear God’s voice.

If you believe that things can’t get much worse,

You’re looking at the darkness, not the light.

Thank God that you have eyes to read this verse.

If blind thank God someone this poem recites.

In everything give thanks; this is God’s will.

It draws you closer to the Savior still.

6-25-15 Every Thing

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Give thanks unto the Lord for everything!

Without His grace then nothing would exist.

The fact that you’re alive is cause to sing!

Each time that you inhale, that air God’s kissed.

No matter what the scene, have gratitude.

Your bus breaks down in route? Meet someone new.

If you hate what you eat, thank God you’ve food.

If you drive off a cliff, enjoy the view.

With Jesus as your Savior you are blessed,

For home is where the Lord wants you to be.

Your very life is gratitude expressed,

So share the Word with everyone you see.

In every thing give thanks, this is God’s will

In Jesus Christ concerning you, fulfill.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #398

5-16-15 Unspeakable

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

Of all the gifts that God so freely gives,

There’s none to match the one on Calvary.

The sacrifice of Christ our heart relives,

And breaks it every time, too much to see.

He willingly went forth with you in mind;

His body torn and beaten horribly.

A crown of thorns upon His head was twined;

He bore it all for you so humbly.

Then, O, upon the cross they hung our Lord

Upon the cross that’s meant for you and me!

He took our sins upon His own accord

And suffered there – my Lord! – unspeakably.

God sacrificed His Son upon the cross,

A gift so great my tongue is at a loss.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #362

4-6-15 Submit

The forty years of wandering were through,

And Canaan lay beyond the Jordan’s banks;

The tribes want Joshua to lead them to

The land that they were promised with much thanks.

We spent our life just wandering in sin

Until we found salvation on the cross;

Will we’ve surrendered all to Jesus when

The moment comes when we must go across?

Submit all that you are now every day

And let Christ tell you what to say and do.

The moment that you cross could be today,

So act as if it is; To God be true.

Tell Jesus where He sends you, you will go,

And all that He commands do even so.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And they answered Joshua, saying,

All that thou commandest us we will do,

and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

Joshua 1:16 KJV

3-12-15 Raise in Praise

Let’s raise our voice in praise of God above

With mighty congregations full of joy!

As we give thanks our hearts are full of love

For all the awesome works our Lord employ!

O God, You implement Your perfect plan,

Your Holy voice creating everything

To manifest redeeming sinful man

Through Jesus Christ our Savior, Lord and King!

Your Grace is such that we do not deserve;

O God, how marvelous are all Your ways!

With all our hearts and minds we gladly serve

And offer our whole lives in humble praise!

Let’s sing and shout devotion to our God!

Let’s raise the roof of worship and applaud!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart;

I will show forth all thy marvelous works.

Psalm 9:1 KJV

12-17-14 Hands Up!

I lift my hands in praise, O Lord and King,

Surrendering my will to You above!

Your name’s exalted, let the whole world sing

Eternal hymns of  glory, thanks and love!

And while I live Your presence fills my heart,

Directing every word that I should say!

Your Holy Spirit’s here, it won’t depart!

Thank God for You, my Savior, every way!

To me You are the way, the truth, the life,

The perfect Lamb that gave Your life for me!

The world may try to blind me with its strife,

But You just touch my eyes and I can see!

I lift my hands in praise, O Lord and King!

Your name’s exalted, let the whole world sing!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thus will I bless thee while I live:

I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalm 63:4 KJV