Day passes, year ends; 2011 ... 2012

Day is done
many
a full year
comes to a close

We remember
what has passed
and make no sense
of events
that have fallen
our way

Glad tidings
have come as well
Do they not
deserve more

And what of
Tomorrow
many there are
But
do not look back
in dismay
but forward
and upward
in hope and thanksgiving

Live these days
Live them well
Remember
to whom
they ultimately belong
and live them with Him,
The Lord Jesus.

(c) December 31, 2011 

"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62

His Gift of Love

The gifts
under the tree
seem unnecessary

whether there is little
or much to give
and or receive
The gifts
are not important

If there is little,
we become desolate
If there is much,
we become proud and arrogant

We share and show
our love for another
but what have we to give
to Jesus?

Does He have need of material things --
toys or clothes or books
I think not.

It is love
and compassion
patience,
kindness,
comfort,
goodwill to another

He looks into our hearts
in the midst of wherever we are
He knows who we are
and what we are
He desires us to know Him.

There is no amount of good
we can ever do or achieve
to obtain the gift
of love
Jesus freely offers

We have only to accept
Accept, believe, obey, trust, love.

Love.
Trust.
Hold onto the promises.
Never forget,
Never let go.

Remember the baby
It is God
who chose to come
to earth
to be for me and you --
among us
to bring us new new life
to save us from our sins

Love Him
Trust Him
Never cease to remember
who He is,
the Mighty King
Jehovah Jirah,
Our All in All
Never lose sight of
His Glory,
of the Love
He has for you,
He has given us.

Do we owe Him any less?
Not as an obligation,
but of love.

Love and reverence,
Love and joy,
Love and trust.
He is worthy.
Trust Him.

There is nothing we can do
ourselves.
There is nothing we are
or can ever hope to be
without the Lord Jesus -
our lives are incomplete.
Without Him, we cannot
accomplish His purpose.

Remember
Always remember

It is His love for us
that is the true gift
of all
Our response
is our love for Him

Be it ever true,
full of faith
and hope,
but most especially,
full of love.

(c) December 21/22, 2011

Jesus is the Promised One

Real and certain
In days long past
it was a promise to come
In days future
it is a promise of His return
In days present
it is a promise fulfilled.
God's divine child
Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
He is
... the promise of Light
... the promise of Gladness
... the promise of Liberty
... the promise of Peace
... the promise of Extraordinary King
... the promise of Everlasting Reign

(c) December 17, 2011

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

IF ... then I

"Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 
He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart." - Psalm 15:1-2

If ...
you walk,
you obey,
then
I ...
I will be ALL that I AM
The Lord Your God

your Provider, your Shelter, your Overcomer, your Protector, your Friend, your Counselor, your Strength, your Teacher, your Friend and Confidante, your Deliverer, your Judge and King, your Compassion, your Comfort, your Door to New Life, your Hope, your Good Shepherd, your Peace, and more.

IF
you do not walk (with Me), and
do not obey (My commandments)
then
still
I ...
I will be ALL that I AM ...

Judgment
pronounced
The door to new life
closed.
The hope and peace you think you have
dashed in a second
Deep despair, overwhelming pain
as the fiery flames climb higher, surrounding you
penetrating your very being
This
your permanent home
as you face
Eternal Damnation

I AM the Lord God Almighty

(c) December 16, 2011 

Windows

Shadows peaking
Sunlight floods my soul
When I'm not looking
It's dark
Where do they go?
Death comes
stealing our dignity
Windows
Everywhere
I don't want to go
I don't want to stay
Life is easy compared to this
Life is full of moments
Death is full of pain.

Not always
But here, now
It is.
Windows
One way
I am the way
Jesus is the way
Windows
Reflections
Memories
Going away

(c) September 16, 1996

one week before my mother's death
(11:25 p.m. Sept. 23, 1996)

He came ... do you know Him?

He came.
God came.
He saw
all we are
and came.
It was promised,
foretold,
years and years
and years before.
a baby
would be born
lying in a manger;
son of Man
son of God
to search out the lost
to bring renewed hope
to save us from damnation
for eternal, everlasting, glorious
life.

He came.
God came.
Himself,
as a child, a babe,
in the midst of
sinfulness,
weakness,
wretchedness,
misery.
He came
and lived among us.

God
creator of all that is
and is to come
and has already been
He Is
The I AM

No one,
no, not one
is greater than He

He came.
God came
as Himself
as an infant
born of the Virgin Mary
Holy,
divine,
without blemish.

His name is Jesus Christ.

A miracle of life
and love
for all of humanity
proclaimed
anew
year after year after year
At Christmas.
When His followers --
those who believe in Him,
those who trust in Him,
those who obey His commandments,
those whose heart is focused on Him --
Celebrate
His birth.

Christmas is the season
we celebrate
the birth of our King
and give gifts
that bring glory to Him.

Christian is the name
His followers
came to be known by
(Acts 11:26)
Christianity
embodies Christ
as the God-head
and His followers
as the church

Jesus is not Santa Claus
Christianity is not Islam
Is not Buddhist
Is not Jehovah's Witness

Christianity is not living a "good life"
Is not "being good"
Is not a feeling
Is not "I hope so."

Christianity is knowing
It is true and factual,
It is based on faith alone
On The One and Only
Jesus Christ.

Do you know Jesus?
Are you one of His followers?
Do you admit you are a sinner?
Do you believe in Him as the Son of God?
Do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

(c) December 14, 2011

We are at odds

We wait for His birth
We wait again
Season after season
time and time again
the waiting is near
yet so far away

The Christ has come
The babe is born
to manhood He grows
to teach and instruct
to make ready
to give His life
to be the sacrificial lamb
to love
and love again

We wait for His return
and remember
His life
His death
His rebirth

He lives
in me, in you
our hearts
sing with joy

In this season of love
we wait
for His coming again
when all things
will be made new.

(c) December 4, 2011

For "He, who sat on the throne said, 'Behold I make all things new.' " -- Revelation 21:5

Look up, Look up ... to Jesus

Look up
Look up
wherever you area
The Lord has come
is coming again

He seeks you
at every turn
every corner
every roadblock

He understands your pain
surrounds you with
love and compassion
is everywhere
you go
everywhere
you are

Look up
Look up
into the heavens high
The Lord has come
will soon return

This is the season -- Christmas
A time of Love
We remember the reason --
God the Father
came as flesh -- one of us,
a human being
His Son
Our Lord
Jesus Christ

Look up
Look up
wherever you are
in dark of night
and dark of day
Star-studded sky
brightly shine
One pointing the way.

Look up
Look up
wherever you are
Do not delay
There is no time
The Lord is coming
The Lord has come

The Lord is here --
in your midst,
all around,
within your heart

He beckons still
to those lost
and forlorn
Don't despair

Look up
Look up
It is Time.

(c) December 3, 2011

"Redemption Draweth Nigh" by Ernie Haase 

Only One

Between The Beginning
and The End,
The Alpha and The Omega,
there are many roads
to travel
but
Only One True Path
to follow
to set us free
from sin
to make us whole
and complete.

The path
that leads
to our salvation,
Jesus Christ,
The Son of God
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Lord
and Master
and King
to our eternal home
in the heavens most high.

Only One Path
Only One Life --
We are many
but He,
The Lord,
is One
and
it is His Life
with whom
we pattern our life.

Only One Savior
Jesus!

The God of the universe
created you,
formed you
from dust,
loved you
unto death

and He -- as flesh --
Jesus,
The begotten Son of God,
came
into the world of mankind
to show ...
"whoever believes in Him 
should not perish 
but have 
everlasting life.
For God the Father 
did not send His Son 
into the world to condemn
the world, 
but
that the world 
through Him 
might be saved." 
(John 3:16-17)

Only One
Path
One Life
One Problem -- SIN
One Solution
One Truth
One Savior

(c) December 1, 2011