There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.
From Matthew 10:39: “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it.”
Vance Havner (1901-1986) was an American pastor and Christian author. During his many years of service to the Lord, he preached throughout America.
Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem. America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation. The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.
From Jeremiah 6:14: “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”
Praying for peace in our city
Loving Jesus takes center stage
Welcoming peace into all hearts
Hearing love of God over rage
Listening to cries of anguish
Walking with Jesus protects all
Showing empathy for neighbors
Sharing His peace at every call
Stepping forward with trusting words
Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care
Saying “peace, peace” with conviction
Lifting hands high, love fills the air
Standing and feeding His lost flock
Replacing discord, Jesus comes
Proclaiming a new dawn today
Following Grace-filled, beating drum
From Isaiah 57:19: “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”
Originally published June, 2020.
Whenever anyone turns from sin and trusts in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation, God in His mercy makes that person alive with Christ.
From Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
From Psalm 118:19: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.”
Glorious morning light
Blessings from Father’s heart
Angelic voices praise
Calling out faith’s fresh start
Tomb forever empty
Raising Messiah’s love
Hallelujah’s sing out
Praising heavens above
Risen Savior conquers
Draining river of sin
New covenant flowing
Uplifting quest begins
Divine plans now fulfilled
Spreading faith’s greatest news
Darkness vanquished at last
Breathing from mercy’s view
Bridge built to Heaven’s gate
Fulfilling gift of grace
Good Shepherd holds its key
Seeing at last, His face
From John 10:9: “[Jesus speaking] I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”
Heaven is something we inherit. We are undeserving, therefore we do not earn heaven; it is a gift provided by the One who went before us.
From Psalm 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His deeds.”
From John 17:25-26: “Righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made Your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them and I in them.”
With every waking hour
Reading from faith’s Good Book
Guided by Jesus Christ
Spirit waits by quiet brook
Righteous steps lead to God
Praying for mercy’s light
Gathered by Jesus Christ
Faith growing, now taking flight
Journey of faith goes forth
Approaching grace-filled curve
Propelled by Jesus Christ
Goodness awaits those who serve
Endless lessons of faith
Teaching fills precious space
Mentored by Jesus Christ
Hope speaks, “Let’s finish this race”
Given tasks to complete
Hearing One lasting voice
Promised by Jesus Christ
Faith always trusting His choice
From 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”
The only one qualified to throw a stone . . . didn’t.
From John 8:4-7: “They said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?’ They said this to test Him, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'”
From Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Sinking in despair
Worries adding up
Christ calls us forward
Grace shall be enough
Fearing tomorrow
Worries might return
Christ speaking with truth
Hold His righteous hand
Searching for freedom
Worries seek backdoor
Christ shall strengthen faith
Hope waits to mature
Praying each morning
Worries bundled up
Christ bearing them all
Darkness transformed now
Finding blessed love
Worries now swept free
Christ’s mercy takes flight
Rising to God’s way
From Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Because the Christian has the Lord Himself dwelling within, the potential for inner strength is unlimited. Only the indwelling, empowering Christ can give someone that much confidence.
From Psalm 107:9: “For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.”
From Isaiah 9:2: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
Facing each new trial
Fearing defeat once more
Source of strength found in Christ
Witnessing His open door
Darkness shrinking away
Mercy’s light shining in
Source of hope found in Christ
Faith’s renewal now begins
Hearing His trusted Word
Walking truth’s righteous road
Source of hope found in Christ
Lessoning life’s heavy load
Bloodied cross flows with tears
Empty tomb sharing light
Source of joy found in Christ
Enemy’s lies taking flight
Accepting morning’s grace
Forgiving every sin
Source of love found in Christ
Believing what’s felt within
From Joel 3:16: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”
Big Sky Buckeye 