Choose His Path

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We have a clear path to choose

Anything else, we definitely lose

 

A godless enemy brings emptiness

He prowls and waits, eager to strike

His path only leads to unhappiness

Our lives feel like a bursting dike

 

We see the good life in front of us

But the light comes with false hopes

Glamour and riches without the fuss

Darkness clouds over life’s periscope

 

Gloomy doom brings promises, so empty

A champion bears our guilt and shame

There is a better way, filled with plenty

Life truly means more than just a game

 

The Light of Salvation chases away the dark

Christ bears our wounds at a bloody cross

The enemy slithers away, gone is his spark

Jesus’ Holy righteousness reaches across

 

Our loving Father sacrifices His only Son

His shed blood atones for our sinful ways

An empty tomb declares, Christ has won

Accept me and follow, He proudly says

 

We have a clear path to choose

Anything else, we definitely lose

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Jim Cymbala Quote

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The challenge before us is to have faith in God, and the hardest part of faith is waiting.

From 1 Corinthians 16:13-14:  “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.”

Passionate Faith

From Isaiah 40:31:  “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

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God’s caring faith fills our nearly empty hearts

God loves us with His passion, our lives restart

 

With passion more intense than any previous storm

Flashes of fire, a burning flame—we become reborn

 

God sends unconditional passion, a zest for life

Passion means more than just love without strife

 

Recharge those spiritual batteries, putting God first

Fuels growing faith, Jesus rises to quench our thirst

 

God seeks a prayer-filled linking, He really does

Strengthening us with His Spirit from high above

 

To God and Jesus, sustaining a life-long commitment

Witnessing amazing things, filling us with contentment

 

Through our faith, Christ resides in our hearts

Counting our blessings, bringing love to impart

 

Passion-filled emotions—being true to the call of our Lord

Igniting fires of action, a passionate life comes on board

 

Now with our eternal love firmly rooted in Jesus’ love

Life’s experiences become richer and deeper because

 

Our loving, caring Father loves each of His offspring

Passionate about Jesus, we will joyfully, forever sing

 

Experiencing with God, a more passionate faith

Personifying into a more passionate life to make

 

Passionate Faith

Passionate Life

Passionate Joy

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From Psalm 92:4:  “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

Christ Prevails

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From 1 Peter 2:24:  “He himself bore our sins in His body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”

Chosen and precious in God’s sight

To believers, Christ’s Spirit brings Salvation

Jesus Christ turns darkness into light

 

Our faith’s chosen and precious cornerstone

Christ comes forward to redeem us

We can live by His bread alone

 

Jesus becomes our Holy, High Priest

Believe and never put to shame

God’s own Son takes His seat

 

Nonbelievers reject God’s Holy, chosen one

Christ prevails to become our Rock

Salvation goes through God’s Holy Son

 

Christ suffers mightily for His flock

Yet, He never commits any sin

Following God’s steps around the clock

 

Christ never waivers, He follows through

Entrusting Himself to His Heavenly Father

Bearing our sins, Resurrection’s glorious view

 

Our lives feel threatened with gloom

Jesus never ceases caring for us

Standing by, Christ prevents our doom

 

Jesus at our side, always a friend

Loving us with passion and intensity

Our opportunity for Salvation, God sends

 

Christ, the Good Shepherd, beckons us

No longer gone astray and lost

Christ’s body and blood heal us

 

The old, rugged cross stands tall

Freeing us from our endless sins

Washing us white, Salvation calls all

 

Living in bondage, forever in sin

Emancipation by Christ, paying the ransom

Accepting Christ, brings all believers in

From Luke 24:6:  “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

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Learning, God’s Way

From 1 Thessalonians 4:1:  “Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.”

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God blesses us with opportunities to learn

Viewing our sinful ways, brings Him concern

Our Lord assembles His flock to learn His law

Witnessing our errant behavior with many flaws

 

We are encouraged to learn about God’s Word

Humbling ourselves, embracing faith now stirred

God creates each of us with simple, blessed minds

Acquiring wisdom from His Word, we gladly find

 

Wayward hearts and lost souls run to seek God

Taking time to learn His righteousness, all nod

Pursuing life’s errant ways, lost will be one’s fate

Our heavenly Father gathers many on this date

 

Our Lord delivers honest and equal justice for all

Learning to contribute good for others, is our call

God possesses sovereignty over all things

Conveying His message, truth will ring

 

We learn about Christ, His righteous ways

Staying with us to the end of our long day

Christ brings forward promises to be kind

Praying each day for mercy from His mind

 

Christ teaches at the temple, seeing God’s way

Bringing forward His Father’s Words, to say

Christ learns obedience, His Father knows

Taking our sins to a bloody Cross, He goes

 

Step forward and accept our Lord and Savior

Learning a new way, praise God’s selfless favor

God’s Word encourages us to listen and learn

Calling out to sinners, all of us stop and turn

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Thirsty for Living Water

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Like deer at a flowing stream

I wake thirsty from a dream

Tears feed me, night and day

“Where is your God?” people say

 

My spirit is cast down low

God’s faithful, trusty love, He shows

Nightly, Psalms sing to my heart

Praying for my life to restart

 

My flesh cries out in thirst

God’s love will always arrive first

In the middle of dry land

His love extends from His hand

 

Sometimes life brings bitterness to drink

Thirsty like parched land, I think

The Gospel brings forward good news

Living water quenches, like morning dew

 

The Enemy taunts me once more

“Where is your God?” he implores

He has left and forsaken you

Your tiny life should be through

 

Glory of God fills the streams

Desert sands become pools, no dream

Grass thickens across the vast plains

Springs arise, thirst never to wane

 

Jesus, the Lamb, shepherds me now

Providing living water, kneel and bow

Come, take this water of life

Receiving God’s grace, without any strife

 

Waking in the darkness of night

Thirsty for God’s message of might

Making water flow from a stone

Split open by God’s blessed tone

 

The Enemy’s spirit no longer swarms

Thirst for righteousness, defeats any storms

All who thirst, seek God’s altar

Holy Spirit’s living water, never falters

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Vance Havner Quote

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Faith in God will not get for you everything you want, but it will get for you what God wants you to have.  The unbeliever does not need what he wants; the Christian should want only what he needs.

From Proverbs 16:9:  “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Haiku Series #18 (With God)

Future

 Live in the present

Always look to the future—

God’s amazing Grace

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Grace

 God’s Grace arrives—yes

Accept His unselfish gift—

Thanks be to our Lord

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Faith

 Stand strong with the Lord

Take His shield of amazing faith—

Trust Him every day

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Silent in Darkness

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Sitting in darkness

Feeling so lonesome

Dealing with sadness

Silence still fearsome

 

Waking at night

Harsh dreams exist

Silent images in sight

Dark visions persist

 

Feeling infinitely restless

Nearly every day

This mind will confess

Nothing but gray

 

What voices speak

To a lonely heart

No one to greet

Needing a restart

 

This world filled

With eerie muteness

No longer a thrill

Never a kindness

 

Who hears at all?

Silence sadly grows

Landing with a fall

No embers glow

 

Forget this life

So long ago

No more strife

Waiting to go

 

Too much “stuff”

To deal with

Darkness is enough

This life drifts

 

Special love lost

Many years ago

A ring is tossed

Away it goes

 

Empty, shattered heart

Now freezing cold

Alone in the dark

No longer bold

 

My Lord, my God

Bring light to bear

Be an awesome God

Help one to care

 

In total blackness

Of a lost night

Words of brightness

Feeling so right

 

God’s truthful voice

Speaks loud and clear

Brings a perfect choice

No longer in fear

 

Cutting the quietness

Like a warm knife

God brings sunniness

Saves another life

 

Falling to knees

Now in prayer

Sad emotions flee

This soul cares

 

Kneeling at the Cross

Laying down sins

Repentance, now costs

Accept Christ within

 

Beholding Christ’s Salvation

Help to break out

Heart fills with elation

Lighting a shout

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Experiencing Contentment

Living in Christ brings believers true and faithful contentment.  Apostle Paul writes much about experiencing content with our faith and remaining true to God’s calling.  His writings inspire this poem.

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Encourage others as God encourages each of us

Be forgiving toward others, adding to life’s plus

 

Give thanks for all of Father’s grace

Be His prayer warrior at every place

 

Allow Christ to shine through in all we do

Be filled with the Spirit, faithful and true

 

Hold dear to our hearts, all that is good

Be thankful to God, as we always should

 

Fiery ordeals and daily trials will always challenge all

Be an eyewitness to Christ’s sufferings, never to fall

 

God is sovereign and forever in control of it all

Be aware, all things work together, forever tall

 

When God’s glory is finally revealed on that day

Be shouting with amazing grace, sing as we may

 

We bring nothing into this world we live

Be content with little, the rest God gives

 

The love of money brings evil times

Be taking nothing, not even a dime

 

Bring together godliness with contentment

Be willing to follow every Commandment

 

Despite our weaknesses, Christ dwells within thee

Be content with calamities and hardships we see

 

God’s Grace is sufficient for everyone

Be thankful for the sacrifice of His Son

 

Christ resides in our hearts, He yearns to save

Be strengthened with blood and body He gave

 

Always rely on God’s strength and mighty clout

Be content, following His Word, never in doubt

 

Love of Christ surpasses all that we ever see

Be grateful and shower blessings, take a knee

How does God’s Word bring you contentment?  Does a special verse of Scripture sing out to you?