Obedience is nothing without love

Being obedient
 to the laws, rules, commandments
of God
but disrespecting
and dishonoring Him
does not show
a true regard for Him.

It only shows
our selfishness,
our disdain for all
but ourselves

Love
should be
the why of our obedience
not mere obligation

Obedience is nothing
without Love,
Respect,
Honor,
Reverence.

Love
the greatest gift
given to us
by God
first at Creation
then at Redemption
when He sent His Son
to be our redeemer

We
so undeserving of
His love for us

Our heartfelt answer
of this undeserved,
unselfish love for us
should be
unreserved and overwhelming
gratitude.

Our love
for His love
shows itself
in our obedience
our respect
our reverence
our honor
our holy worship
to God.

(c) February 16, 2013

It's not me ... It's God

It’s not my right, but God’s right
It’s not about me, but about God

It’s not my laws, but God’s laws

It’s not my judgments against you, but God’s judgments against us all

It’s not about what I think is good and evil,
but what God knows is good and what God knows is evil --
God’s wisdom surpasses any and all.

It’s never about me, although we live like its about us --
We are in charge of us.

It’s about Him --
Him
 who created us
who sustains us
who protects us
who redeems us
who loves us
who desires a relationship with us
who guides us
who encourages us
who imparts wisdom unto us
so we will know right from wrong
and desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus
who showers us with blessings every day
who strengthens us in our struggles
who comforts us in our hours of sadness and remorse
who gives us answers
who shows us the way
but leaves the choice up to us

It is my choice how I live,
your choice how you live
We choose to be obedient to God
and His commands
or we live only for ourselves

However we choose,
good or evil,
with Jesus as our Lord and Savior
or Satan our enforcer
God reigns forever and ever

Satan will be terminated.
And all who
do not follow the Lord,
who refuse Him
and refute His words of wisdom
will be banished
to the deep dark trenches
in the bowels of the earth
Destined to a life of
total  and complete misery.

There is no prayer
to bring one back
from the grave of hell.
You live your life
You make your choices
You pay the price.

Jesus died for us.
He paid the ultimate price
to bring us
true freedom,

Hope.

Will you say yes

or will you say no

Will you live your life
looking unto Jesus

or will you only look inward
and determine
how you can fix
all your problems
yourself?

It’s a lifelong decision, commitment

Moment to moment,
you choose to allow God
to guide your steps
OR you choose to allow Satan
to rule.

(c) February 15, 2013 

The Path

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

“Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.” Proverbs 4:26

We travel the path
before us
The one established
at the beginning of creation
and became ours
when we accepted
God’s Son as Our Lord
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Master and King

We travel the road
of heartache and sadness
and anger
of love and joy
of life and death
The one destined
at the beginning of sin
and became ours
when God’s blessing turned
and Adam and Eve’s disobedience
became God’s curse on us all.

We travel the highways
and the byways
We come to forks
We consider
should we go left
or right
or straight ahead
or should we go back?

We decide.
If the path we are on
is that one where Jesus
is The Way, The Truth
and The Light
He will be with us
as we go
when we seek His guidance
for  every step.

We travel
We stay for a while
along the route
Then we move on
This is not our
permanent home
We are only sojourners,
a wayward people.
Our home is in Heaven.

We travel the path
We listen to His wisdom
imparted
We do His good will
We seek out others
to travel the road too

We are heading home.

(c) February 14, 2013

If you hear … when you hear, do not turn away

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Psalm 95:8

What God created
Man destroyed
When God expected obedience
Man rebelled
When God judged
Man cringed
Of the blessings God had bestowed --
To be fruitful and multiply,
To fulfill the earth and subdue it
To have dominion over all living things

Man was cursed
Our sorrow and pain was multiplied
Thorns and thistles were plentiful
upon the earth we toiled to bring food
Animals fought against all creatures
God had provided a beautiful and heavenly
place for us to live our lives --
The Garden of Eden
But our disobedience, our rebellion 

sent us away – out into the World
The world, where sin was rampant
where our fears got the better of us
where we fought and clamored and lusted
and laughed and stole
where we no longer heard God’s voice
where we no longer cared

God gave us life
and we chose death

And then,

God sent His son
God gave us a second chance
A chance to return to the Father
to be blessed
to  live with Him
forever

Do you hear His voice
perhaps it's so very quiet….

Listen!
Listen carefully
and if, when you hear His voice
calling you,
do not turn away.

(c) January 30, 2013

I wish

I wish I knew
I wish I might

I wish more than a few
to conquer the night

I wish the light
of God above
would portray to all such a sight
of His undying love

I wish what drives us
was communication
and dedication
commitment to be our best
when we are put to the test

I wish we all knew
of His love
I wish we didn’t stew
about  endless things we should be rid of

I wish the love He gave to me and you
We shared with another, even our beau

I wish I knew
why to argue
seems normal
when a kind word or two
could mend a quarrel

I wish I knew
why we complain
and bicker
why it just stays the same, rains and rains
and we continue to get sicker.

I wish I knew
I wish I might

I wish for love
and delight

I wish for forgiveness
I wish for love
I wish for quiet days
and honest answers

I wish I knew
for you
I wish I might
make it right

I wish.  

(c) January 27, 2013 

... and so He rested

Our day is 24 hours
God’s day is however long or short He desires

It is not us who determines or decides

It is God
and God alone

The earth
a planet empty of all but water
a planet surrounded in darkness

God brought light,
He spoke and it was so
The light of Day
separated
the eternal darkness of Night

God separated the waters one from another
and in the midst
God formed an open expanse,
a firmament --
that and that above
Heaven
and of all below,
amid the waters,

Dry Ground

The Earth
and The Seas
filled with grasses and trees
fruits, animals and birds,
fish of every kind

God said,
“Let there be lights.”
Lights in the heavens
to be for signs and seasons,
days and years,
for  light upon the earth
and God made the Sun
to rule the Day, and
the Moon to rule the Night
and also the stars.

God created humans --
from the dust of the ground
He breathed life into mankind
in His image, His likeness,
male and female
and He blessed us
Be fruitful and multiply,
Fill the earth and subdue it
Have dominion over the fish,
the birds, every living thing
that moves on the earth.

God was pleased.

He saw everything
He had made
and it was very good

and so He rested. 

(c) January 23-25, 2013

Can you stand before your Maker?

Do you run
Did you do wrong
Has God called you on the carpet  and you hang your head low
Have the consequences of your actions driven you away
from The One whose aim is to save you from your sins
Are you safe
Has the separation created made you better
Are you justified
Are you free
Has your fear tightened its grip
Do you continue to rebel

Have you considered returning
Have you said I’m sorry Lord
Have you asked for forgiveness
Have you asked the Lord to show you the way back to Him
Do you want to return
Do you want to be complete, one with Him, at peace

Can you stand before your Maker --
Can you hear His voice wherever you are --
Can you say Here I am Lord
Can you face His chastisement

Will you stand before The Lord
Will  you hear His voice
Will you answer
Will you be healed

Will you return

Will you?

The day begins again

The day
begins again
Light invades the darkness
of the night before
We awake
to a newness
God’s wonder to behold.

Much may be
the same
as countless days
before
But do we
wallow
in past miseries
or do we
greet the day --
The Lord’s
created day --
full of hope
and love
full of compassion
and joy
full of praise
and worship

Do we greet the day
this new day
abiding in the Lord,
studying, listening
in the quiet
to His Word
of wise instruction
Do we greet the day
every new day
that comes
with admiration  for
The King of Kings
seeking His best
for our best
in every way

Or
Do we instead
become
disgruntled
dissatisfied
irritated
angered
in the new day
as in a previous day
and miss
the wonders
God has given us?

 (c) January 22, 2013

Mission sent

God sends
one
and more before
to
pave the way
for He to come

Jesus is He
He who comes
He who is
The Way

He too sends
sends us all

a mission to go
and share
the gospel
to baptize
and teach
how to live

a mission to go
and reach out
to the
poor and desolate
the lost

a mission to go
and to be
as He

and onward,
as we go,
The Lord our God
will be with us
forever and always.

(c) January 21, 2013 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." -- Matthew 28:19-20

"Let there be Light"

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”  -- Genesis 1:3-4

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  --John 1:5

Morning Light
but not the sun
separated
the grand expanse
of the deep abyss
of nothingness

All was chaos
what was
could not be
distinguished
It was without form

With the Light
that came into being –

(not created light)
there was Life.

Birth
Freedom
Freedom to praise The Almighty

Chaos gives way
and of the darkness
Light is revealed

Morning Light
Jesus is the Light
He is The Son
He is Life

It is His Light
that shines
upon the souls
of mankind
bringing them
out of the darkness
of sin
and into a
new life.

(c) January 20, 2013

The Beginning

In the beginning
There was God
There is God
He was in the beginning
He is the beginningand He created

 and thus begins Our own beginning
The moment
of our birth

 and throughout
that moment of time
we live and we die

 And IF we become
acquainted with
God, The Holy One,
we are reborn

 and
begin again.

(c) January 17, 2013

Farewell again my friend

They were here
They are now gone
We are angry, distraught
They who were here
and we who remain

 The family of unity
of many years past
a business yes
but people joined together
for a like-minded purpose

 Friends we became
Gone

 Led out the door
one by one ….

 yet,
we go on.

(c) January 16, 2013

We must remember again and again

Every day we forget
we must remember again
Not as a must do
out of obligation
But a must do
out of love
Only love is worthy
Only love keeps
remembrances alive

Who is worthy
Who is loved

We remember

Memories lie within us
and no matter
where we are
where we go
memories remain
love remains

God's Word
His love
His grace
His salvation
His judgment
is worthy of remembering
Day after day

To move forward
we must remember
always

God loved us all
Loves us still
Gave His Son
His only begotten Son
So we, whoever,
believe in Him
would not die in
our self-made world
but have a new life,
a new quality of living,
a life redeemed.

God loved us all
Loves us still
Sent His Son
into the world
of untold sin
not to condemn
but to save

To save from
forever damnation

We must remember
again and again

If we do not remember
we have forgotten
and if we forget,
we are lost
and if we are lost,
who is there to find us?

(c) January 14, 2013

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." - John 3:16-21 NKJV

If (Since), then why?

If (Since) I profess to have complete faith in God,
Why do I become so concerned,
so consumed with questions
when life takes a sharp turn?

If my security is found solely in the Lord,
Why is the amount of my paycheck so important?

If it is as I claim it is,
Why do I allow news reports and newspaper articles
to grow my fear
instead of God’s Holy Word
to bring calm?

If I believe the Father God is creator
of that that is – human, plant, animal
Why do I act like something else is stronger

and more powerful? 

If I have accepted His Love, His Grace,
His Holiness,
If I am complete in Him
and ALL He is,
Why do I continue to falter along His path?
Why do I say no to His guiding?
Why do I still consider myself self-sufficient?

Why indeed?!

(c) January 12, 2013

Jesus has been there

No matter how low,
how poor,
how deprived
we are,
Jesus has been there.

He understands
our dismal surroundings
our lack of food
and sometimes shelter
He knows
of our struggles
to put food on the table
to pay bills

He sees
our dreams
and yes, even our nightmares

He desires
love and hope
for us all.

No matter how much pain
we bear,
Our Lord has been there
He continues to be there  --
walking, talking, guiding
He knows you
He knows me
He understands
how things can get the best of us.

He knows you.

But do you know Him?

Do you know
He was born to die
to set us free from sin?

Do you know
He holds every answer
to every question
we may have?

Do you know
He loves you and me
so much He died for us?

Our Lord,
our precious Lord
was crucified.

Any pain
we are dealt --
emotional, mental, physical –
cannot compete
with the pain undergone
by our Lord Jesus
and He did it all
out of Love

Love for you
Love for me
Love for all of mankind

It was because
of His great love
for you and me
that He went to the cross,
and died.

It was because
of His great love
for you and me
that death was not
the end.

It was because
of His great love
for you and me
that after 3 days
in the grave,
He arose.

It was because
of His great love
for you and me
He lives forever.

He offers us

Hope
Love
Peace
Joy
a future
a relationship
Salvation
Freedom

No matter where
we are now
or have been before ....
Jesus has been there
and
He can be with you now.

(c) January 10, 2013

He wakens me

“The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak . A word in season to him who is weary. He wakens me morning by morning. He wakens my ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord God has opened my ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.” – Isaiah 50:4-5

He wakens me
Every morning He wakens me
not from sleep
to  do the day’s tasks of drudgery
But rather
He wakens me
to  His call
His call of obedience

We who ware His
are complete in Him
We look forward to what
the Lord will bring us
that day.

He wakens me
before the world of
living and doing
invades my space,
before the phone rings
or the baby cries
and I am off on this or that mission.

He reminds me
that what I speak
be as what Jesus
would speak --
in  love,
filled with blessings,
not curses,
not cruel, mindless comments
that only pain another.

He reminds me
that what I hear
come from what is
True and Good
and trustworthy.

Jesus, my Lord,
is He
He is the True One
The Good One
He is faithful
and trustworthy

The Lord wakens me
morning by morning

His wakening
renews me
rejuvenates me
energizes me
through His Holy Word
My prayers
The silence

The Still Small Voice of God
booms loud
as we are wakened anew
morning by morning.

(c) January 4, 2013

The next step ... don't look back

Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

The next step

Where does it lead?

Where will it lead?

Will you look back at all your fears
and failures and anxious moments
and carry them on
into this new year
or
will  you remember
the blessings,
see how God has enabled
you to do things
we, in all likelihood,
would not have been able
to do otherwise.

Do we hear
the Lord say, Follow Me
and go, taking that next step
to seeking greater understanding
or do we hear,
find excuses ….

look back and say
I will Lord, I want to Lord, BUT….
first let me do this and this and that --
whatever we may find to hinder us
from following
in the footsteps of Him

Christians too find excuses --
any reason we come up with
that keeps us away from
following and obeying
The One to whom
we gave our whole heart
and soul and mind.

We claim not enough time
to pray, to have a personal Bible study,
to meditate, to call another, to write
letters, to visit the home bound and
the sick in the hospitals.

Too much on our plate,
in our lives,
when time with our Lord Jesus
takes second place
to the world we live in.

Need we be reminded –

Jesus told us we would live in the world,
but we were not to be of the world,
as the world.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” – 1 John 2:15

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the Light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:5b-7

All excuses are rejections
and All is sin
against Him
to whom we claim allegiance

If we’re looking to 

the next step
in the New Year
Look forward and upward,
to Jesus
The Light of the World
….
Respond willingly
Follow His leading
Obey His calling
 …

Do not look back!

(c) January 2, 2013

2013!

a new year
a new day
but so much old
remains
Can’t forget
Won’t forget
Woe it is
Let’s not remember
the sorrows always
behind us
It’s a New Day
A New Morning
A New Beginning
Every Day.
Let’s live victoriously
in Christ
with Christ
for Christ,
whose very life was given for ours.

(c) January 1, 2013 

You once lived in a world of darkness…. but then you found The Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as children of Light.” – Ephesians 5:8

You once lived in the world of darkness
You once followed the path of selfish living
and believed you alone were in control of all that went on in your life
your travels, your job and work place environment
your home life
your recreational pursuits
your political and personal agendas
All was at your fingertips
If someone came against you
You let them know
You fought back
You told them who was boss in no uncertain terms
No one was going to mess with you
and get away with it.
No one was going to deceive you.
You had it all together. You were just where you wanted to be.

You once lived in the world of darkness
You once listened to every teaching and believed them all
You were lost, lonely,
your life seemed futile, non-existent
You once believed if you didn't feel, couldn't feel,
your life would be better.

 You once lived in the world of darkness

But then the Voice of God reached you
and at your lowest point,
you gave your life – heart and soul
to The One True God
who offered you
unconditional love.

You once lived in the world of darkness,
but then you found the Light --
through the shed blood of Jesus Christ
you were offered salvation.

You ADMITTED you were and are a sinner
You deserved to die

You BELIEVED God sent Himself to earth
in the form of a tiny babe – He is Jesus Christ,
born of the Virgin Mary

You BELIEVED too, Jesus is the Son of God
The Holy Spirit

You BELIEVED Christ lived among us,
and for our sins, He went to the cross at Calvary,
where he suffered and bled and died

You BELIEVED Christ rose again after 3 days.

You ACCEPTED His death for your own.

The Lord has redeemed you -
and you have received eternal life.

You once lived in the world of darkness
But now you are Light – God’s Light
in the midst of the darkness

Do not return to the Darkness

Jesus is the True Light
He is stronger and mightier
than the darkness that hangs heavy
Live in the Light

”If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”- 1 John 1:7

Remember His unconditional love.

Remember your love for Him.
Remember your faith, be it ever so small,
remember ….
and stay in The Light of Jesus.

(c) December 31, 2012/ January 1, 2013

A prayer of guidance

Oh Lord
Dear Lord
I seek guidance for another
Another who knows You
has ventured forth with You,
believing in You,
but has since
drawn away from
what is true,
unsure and afraid.
Another who has fallen backward,
allowing the ‘world’
to step inside his (her) space
and so consume him
there is no power within
to fight back.
He moves about
in darkness
unable to find the
light switch
of eternal hope
he desperately needs.

Oh Lord
I plead
do not hide Your face
from another

Enable him (her), I plead,
to hear Your lovingkindness
in the morning
when he awakes
and in the evening
as his eyes close.

Enable him Lord
to know the way
he should walk -
the path of honesty,
patience, goodness,
faithfulness, self-control,
the path of love.

Deliver him Lord
from his enemies …
the enemies of selfishness,
of anger, impurity,
jealousy, disputing,
envy; the enemies of
physical pain,
mental anguish.

Enable him Lord
to seek You alone
for his shelter
from the storms
that brew

Only You Lord
can be all of what
he needs.
It cannot be found
in confused thinking
that we alone can fix.
We cannot.
We are indeed lost
without the Almighty One
in our lives day by day,
moment by moment.

Teach him (her) Lord
to do Your will
Lead him away from
the land of sin
and to the land of
uprightness,
encouraged daily
by fellow believers.
Hearts one with His
who we commune.

Lead him (her) O Lord
away from the loneliness,
the coldness
and the emptiness
that lurks in the recesses of our mind,
destroying us,
separating us
from You Christ Jesus.

Enable him (her) to desire
spending time reading
Your Holy Book and
meditating on things
important to You.
Enable him to pray O Lord.

Revive him O Lord.
For Your righteousness’ sake,
bring his soul out of trouble,
cut off his enemies,
destroy all that afflicts his (her) soul.

Enable him to remember …
“Jesus loves me”
…for the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.

(c) December 29, 2012