At Thy Feet

Sitting at Thy feet to listen

Healing words I clearly hear

Mercy, grace, abundant pardon

Draw me ever near

 

Falling at Thy feet in anguish

Grief compels my bitter cry

Once again to draw me close

When I don’t know the why

 

Kneeling by Thy feet to wash them

Faith can see the brutal wound

By Thy nail prints, bleeding side

My life in Thine becomes perfumed

 

**********

 

Mary learned the importance of being at Jesus’ feet. Her focus was that Christ received all the attention. By her listening, prayer, and service, she pointed always to her Saviour. Let us learn to humbly live at His feet.

 

Psalms 86:1,5-6, 10-11, 15 

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. 

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 

Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. 

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 

A Bird in the Rain

 

 

He sat upon the tree limb

Singing a pretty song

His joy got my attention

I wondered if he’d been there long

 

How could he be so happy--

The rain was pouring down!

His feathers looked quite ragged

But I didn’t see a frown!

 

I listened even closer

While he whistled the refrain:

“God takes care of all His creatures--

Even birdies in the rain!”

 

 

So when your life is stormy

With God’s Word your life surround

For little birds sing on rainy days

And cats cannot be found

 

**********

 

Matthew 10:27-31

 

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Let's Have a Sandwich

I started to build a sandwich

With all the fixings I had

But without the bread on either side

My sandwich looked quite sad

 

But when I put one slice of bread

Beneath my stack of food

Then another one on top

It didn’t look so skewed

 

So it is with trusting prayer

I start with seeking God

Then ask Him for my present need

And end with praise and laud

 

This kind of prayer excites my heart

I hardly see my needs

For God surrounds them with His love--

His grace my fear exceeds

 

Based on Matthew 6:9-13

If I hold onto God and let Him control the issues of life, there really is nothing to fear.

Given Much

 

 

The King laid aside His garments

To be wrapped in swaddling clothes

A babe of flesh in a manger

Yet God who will face death’s throes

 

He grew in wisdom and stature--

So full of truth and grace

But soon He would know the horror

Of men who spit in His face

 

He preached throughout the nation

Healing the sick and lame

He touched the lowly sinners

Showing He would bear their shame

 

They hailed Him as the King--

Then crowned Him with Wreath of Thorn

They mocked and cursed His Name

 As with whips His flesh was torn

 

A hammer beat the rhythm

Of nails piercing hands and feet

Words are not enough to tell

God’s wrath on sin complete

 

But He who suffered cruel death

Came up from out the grave

Exalted—sitting on the Throne

With power the lost to save

 

O sinner, do you know the Lord?

Have you felt the Master’s touch?

Trust Him for He loves you so—

For you He has given much

 

**********

 

Isaiah 53

Matthew 27-28

Philippians 2:1-11

Luke 7:41-50

 

How much have we been forgiven? All.

How much did Jesus give? All.

How much faith should we give Jesus? All.

If we have been forgiven all, how much should we love in return?  With all.

As Sheep in the Midst of Wolves

Wolves can be found everywhere

Attacking body, soul, and mind

But my Gentle Shepherd loveth me

I can trust Him to lead and be kind

 

I shall not worry, I shall not want

Even when walking through the dark vale

Thou givest me strength in my weakness

In Thy Name shall I trust and prevail

 

I am comforted in Thy correction

I am surrounded with Thy tender care

You are always greater than problems

I will bring them to You in prayer

 

I will keep my gaze on my Shepherd

While wolves seem to howl in my ears

For Thy mercy endureth for ever

Thy goodness will comfort my fears

 

Psalms 23 with Matthew 10:16

Hold My Gaze Upon Calvary

 Hold my gaze upon Calvary

How dark the day! How stark my sin!

The sacrifice so high a cost

For Him to rescue one so lost

 

Hold my gaze upon Calvary

How bold the stripes! How deep the thorns!

They laid upon the King of kings

He still with grace salvation brings

 

Hold my gaze upon Calvary

How wide his arms! His searching eyes!

Looking for the straying sheep

He never slumbers, never sleeps

 

Hold my gaze upon Calvary

How sweet His love! How strong His wrath!

Move me to learn to hate my sin

Let His love conquer all within

Abba, Father

 

 

A name declared

A home prepared

Abba, Father

 

One who leads

Who meets each need

Abba, Father

 

One who hears

Comforts, cheers

Abba, Father

 

He loves, forgives

For others lives

Abba, Father

 

A gentle Guide

Walks by our side

Abba, Father

 

All-seeing eyes

With words so wise

Abba, Father

 

Rewarding right

Sin flees His sight

Abba, Father

 

 

This is my Praise

Eternal days

Abba, Father

 

**********

 

Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,

Abba, Father. 

 

 

John 17:25-26  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 

 

This is the Confidence

 

 

There’s a Refuge from the wicked darts

Assurance through the test

A Place of peace and safety

Where my mind can find some rest

 

A Knowledge of the Promises

A Trust in God above

Who watches for His children

Enfolds them in His love

 

Yes, Prayer will walk the Pathway

Left by wounded, bloodied feet

In the fear of the Lord to seek His Will

He our Confidence Complete

 

*****

 

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:

 and his children shall have a place of refuge.

 

1John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,

if we ask any thing according to his will,

he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

A People Near to Him

 

A People Near to Him

 

The Heaven of heavens cannot hold all His love

So how can a human heart?

It’s broken and wounded—outcast by sin

A terrible place to start!

 

But Great Power belongs to the Lord our God

He speaks and His Word it is done

He maketh a way for each one who will come

Through the blood of His Precious Son

 

He lifts the lowly to heights above

Where majesty surrounds His Throne

He never stops working on their behalf

His enjoys His children—His own!

 

Let us be the people near unto Him

With hearts open wide to His care

Fearing the Lord—in His mercy we hope

Praise ye the Lord everywhere!

 

******

 

 

The People Near to God

Psalms 147-148

 

The people God wanted near described

1.      The people near to God were outcasts

2.      The people near to God were broken

3.      The people near to God were wounded

4.      The people near to God needed to be built

5.      The people near to God needed to be lifted up

The people near to God delivered

1.      Fear the Lord—see sin and recognize your problem

2.      Hope in the mercy of God—receive Jesus’ payment for sin

The people near to God discipled

1.      God’s commands

2.      God’s comforts

The people near to God determined

1.      To enjoy God’s presence

2.      To praise God’s person

What Seest Thou?

Have you ever really noticed how humble is the Light?
Each morning softly seeping until Darkness slips from sight
It cheerfully awakens us to All Things big and small
It gives direction to our path so that we need never fall

Faith trusts the Invisible and sees clearly


But it is not so with the Dark.  Dark is proud and mean
His black cloak covers everything, leaves all but him unseen
He stirs the fearful Whispers and tells his dirty lies
All that was familiar is now wrapped in his disguise

Fear focuses on the visible and stumbles blindly


Do not stand in the darkness of your own understanding!

"... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.". I John 1:5

Prov. 3:5-6, Epe. 5:8, Ps. 119:130, Is. 9:2; 42:16

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
 I John  1:7-9

The Resurrection was done in the quiet morning hours with no fanfare.

Believe and Receive

Truth changes me when I believe...
Love reaches me when I receive...

Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Matthew 1:21
....thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Romans 3:20-26
Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the  justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

I John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

I Cor. 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 10:9, 13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Truth!

You can tell the truth without love, but you cannot love without telling the truth.

"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"
I Cor. 13:6

The Bible word for the highest form of love is charity. Charity is described in detail in
I Corinthians 13.

True charity starts with loving God--trusting His Way. This love for God is possible because He first loved us.

I John 4:9-10
In this was manifested the love  of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Hearin is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin.

In my own power I cannot truly love. I will be selfish even with my "good deeds". Love is received only when I have accepted the free forgiveness of sin through Christ's shed blood at Calvary. Faith in the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus changes my heart.

Then, in the strength of God's grace, charity reaches out to others--under the umbrella of Truth. Jesus is the Truth, the Life, the Way.

I John 4:11
" Beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

Love and forgiveness for others is only possible once I recognize my own need for love and forgiveness.  I claim God's promised love to me and want others to share the same joy.

The Christmas angels told of this joy to the shepherds: a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord

Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Epe. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

I John 5:16

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."

This verse can be somewhat confusing. Some things to remember:

1. A person is born of God when they acknowledge that they are a sinner that deserves punishment then believe that Jesus took that punishment with His shed blood, was buried, and rose again to atone for those sins. They call on the name of the Lord to save them. This is an individual decision--no one can believe for another person. (John 3, Ro. 10:8-10)

2. Sin is to "miss the mark" or fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23)

3. Christ hit the "mark" and glorified God for us (Ro. 5:8)

4. We, in Jesus, no longer "miss the mark"! (Ro. 8:1-2, John 15) This does not mean that we never transgress or disobey, but that we should " follow after" our Saviour. (Phil. 2:12-21, Heb. 12:1-4)

5. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God

    (John 3:16)

6. He made Himself responsible for our keeping. The name "Jesus" means "Jehovah will save". He is the only safety or refuge, our success and victory, our Comforter and Avenger. (John 10:27-29, Psalm 23)

7. The Wicked One cannot touch Him 

   (I John 4:4, 5:1-4)

8. Frantic fear does not come from God--it is a tool of Satan to distract us from God's character. (II Tim. 1:7)

Other helpful verses:

Ps. 31:14-24

Ps. 33:8-22

Ps. 32:7

I John 2:25-26

Phil. 3:13-15

Ps. 119

I John 1:9

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Morning Glory!

Be Still...and Go!

Be still...
   Trusting Jesus who loves in all seasons
        and changes not
   Hoping with patience and joy as He
      Performs His work in His time
   Loving Him--my heart drawn to conform
      To the beauty of Christ

He that came...
   Not to be ministered unto
      But to minister
   Not to condemn the world
       But to seek and save the lost
   Not to be a Slave Driver
      But to become our Dearest Friend

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Matt. 28:18-20. 

He hath dealt bountifully!

The Children's Chorus

Hosanna!
Perfect praise forms the childrens cry
Heart's door open, to self we die
For safety and victory on You we depend
Saviour, Avenger, Our Helper and Friend

Blessed!
"Happy the people whose God is the Lord!"
Let each tongue sing out with one accord
You are the Great Shepherd, God's Holy Light
What Joy! We each are precious in Your sight!

Hosanna in the Highest!
Once again we raise your Praise
For Calvary Love and Saving Grace
Humbly kneeling at Mercy's throne
That others Your Glorious Name be shown

"Praise ye the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.". Ps. 135:3

Perfect Salvation!

Just because salvation is possible does not mean that everyone receives it--it must be a personal choice--I choose Jesus.

Meditation on Psalm 143

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a Faithful Father

Always doing what is best for your children

I am a Wayward Child

Prone to listen to the roar of the Adversary

He roars

My inborn sinfulness

My broken helplessness

My bitter hopelessness

And I sink in

My own dark selfishness

 The Adversary provokes me sore

His frightful roaring is true

But only partly so

And a partial "truth" is a total lie

Your Perfect Truth is found in Jesus

Your Holy Spirit draws my gaze to see

His Cross and Empty Tomb

For my cleansing His blood and death

Conquers sin's hurt and doom

The Resurrected Spotless Lamb

By faith I have received

 Resting in Your Faithful Word

I will never live deceived!

 You have erased my shamefulness!

You replaced it with Your comeliness!

You have banished my fearfulness!

You give confidence in Your Worthiness!

O LORD, You are Worthy!

Of my trust!

Of my service!

Of my deepest love!

Teach me the Way of Thy lovingkindness

Strengthen me to proclaim the Greatness of Thy Goodness

Chasten me to keep the Path of Uprightness

Let Your Victory be noised abroad!

 You have bruised the head of the Adversary

 And there is no place found for him!

May you always receive

The Glory!

The Honor!

The Majesty!

 For Your Precious Name's Sake!

Amen!