Walking with Jesus

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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

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From Isaiah 57:19:  “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”

No Ordinary Cross

From Romans 3:23-25:  “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith.”

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His Resurrection awakens a new pathway

Christ’s blood, painting it blazing white

Our Father remolds life, from a new clay

 

Pharisees claiming to be servants of God

Viewing our Lord as not worthy, a sinner

Walking with sinners makes Him a fraud

 

Son of Man, unblemished Lamb of God

No one but Jesus, can walk to the Cross

Humbled Christians kneel, totally flawed

 

Jesus’ blood ransomed for sinners, you and me

This executioner’s tool, a cruel criminal’s Cross

Darkest sins, all nailed to this old, rugged tree

 

Watching from a short distance, the Cross stands

God pours out His love through His faithful Son

Exchanging darkness for light, from His hands

 

Walking faithfully with Christ, never alone

Keeping the Cross, always front and center

Our Savior’s suffering, faith’s cornerstone

 

On an Easter morn, Christ defeats death

Leaving a darkened tomb empty, Alleluia!

Salvation and peace, with every breath

 

Moving closer to the Cross, forgiveness rings

Accepting Christ as Lord, filled with His mercy

Making a new covenant with Jesus, hearts sing

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From John 15:10-11:  “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Redeeming Spirit

From Isaiah 12:2:  “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.”

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To a world filling with harsh darkness

Our Heavenly Father wakens trust

God’s love conquers, crushing this starkness

Sending our Redeemer, always just

 

Jesus, the Messiah, walks the land

His Spirit deepens our mind and soul

We experience God, close at hand

Blood shed on a Cross, paying our toll

 

With every footprint Jesus makes

Walking forward, His bright light beckons

We follow with faith, make no mistake

Through our adversity, faith checks in

 

Enemy lurks, bringing temptation

Walking with Jesus, freed like a bird

In alignment with Him . . . Salvation!

Faithful “doers” of God’s Holy Word

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From Psalm 3:3-4:  “But you, O Lord are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.  I cry aloud to the Lord, and He answers me from His Holy hill.”

Jesus Comes Near

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Life’s wilderness breathes–this dark, lonely place

Falling away with sin, feeling disgraced

Searching for hope’s light, weary of darkness

Shame and guilt unmask tracks, never erased

 

Coming to this place, filled with prickly thorns

Plowing straight through, left bloody and battered

Searching for new hope, never forgotten

This harsh life’s future, forever shattered

 

Ominous clouds loom over horizon

Lightning strikes, temple curtain torn in two

Searching for a fresh start, to be reborn

Plodding into darkness, absent of clues

 

Deserving life’s worst, approaching the Pit

End of time arrives, stop and surrender

Searching for God’s Grace, feeling forsaken

Heavens brighten up, with newfound splendor

 

Stumbling steps make haste, Eternity waits

From bloody Cross, hope springs from empty tomb

Searching and accepting, come near this Cross

Salvation through Christ, our Father’s heirloom

 

Jesus beckons, come forward, taking knee

Bring sin’s burdens to the Cross, forever free

From Titus 2:11-13:  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives hat are self-controlled, upright,and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

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Hallelujah!

From Luke 2:1-7:  “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” 

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Hallelujah!

Angels sing, from heavens above

Glory forever, to a newborn King

Praising Emmanuel, as they sing

 

Hallelujah!

Virgin Mary, mother to this Son

Jesus will be His blessed name

This world, never to be the same

 

Hallelujah!

Born in a bustling hamlet, Bethlehem

Chiseled in history, forever renowned

Baby in a manger, shepherds found

 

Hallelujah!

God with us, in flawless human form

Walking in our steps, we will trust

Witnessing a Cross, our Savior must

 

Hallelujah!

God lifts the veil of His great plan

His Son will bear our bloody sins

Forever, God’s flock will say “Amen”

 

Hallelujah!

All bow, take a bended knee

Praise our Savior in prayer

Darkness leaves, Jesus cares

 

Hallelujah!

God’s divine, sacrificial plan

Jesus comes in person, to save

He overpowers sin and the grave

 

Hallelujah!

Birth of this blessed, Holy child

Peace and joy, we will follow Him

His righteousness, a lasting hymn

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Living to Give

Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:14:  “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Christ comes to the world

Bringing God’s love to us

 

Jesus sets the bar high

Higher than we can reach

 

Christ delivers two true teachings

To a sinful, unsaved world

 

Love your God, the Father

Love others more than yourself

 

Jesus does more than preach

He teaches us God’s truth

 

His hands heal the sick

Later pierced with sharpened nails

 

He raises up the dead

Just as He will rise

 

Christ, the Messiah, brings hope

He is Savior to mankind

 

Wearing a crown of thorns

Humbles himself on the Cross

 

Rising from a dark tomb

Christ forever defeats our sins

 

Christ serves His Holy Father

His sacrifice continues to give

 

He lives

The Resurrection lives

Eternal life lives

 

Respond to Christ in prayer

Humble, grateful—on our knees

Honor and praise Jesus Christ

Our eternal Savior and protector

His love lights the way

Accepting Jesus as our Savior

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Man from Galilee

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Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Born on a cloudless, starry night

No rooms available at the inn

A feed box becomes His bed

 

Holy Spirit brings forth this child

Virgin Mary becomes His loving mother

Humble beginning for Christ the King

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Nation of Israel burdened by hopelessness

Oppressed under cruel, harsh Roman rule

Waiting for their God fulfilling Messiah

 

Little do the people really know

God has arrived in their midst

Bringing a way to eternal Salvation

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Mary and Joseph care for Immanuel

Angels of God watch over all

Providing wise counsel through Joseph’s dream

 

Sending the family to Egypt’s safety

Avoiding Herod’s bloody and inhumane wrath

Fulfilling Scripture, God calls His Son

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Returning home from the Egyptian lands

A dutiful boy becomes a Nazarene

Learning the worthy trade of carpentry

 

At twelve, He visits Jerusalem’s temple

Amazing all with His Godly perspectives

Spending time in His Father’s House

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Baptized by John at the Jordan

Spending forty days and nights alone

Tempted by the evil one’s craftiness

 

Facing temptations like any of us

Overcoming and banishing each of them

Materialism, hedonism, and egoism mean nothing

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

This Nazarene man moves to Galilee

Beginning His ministry with a purpose

Calling out to twelve imperfect men

 

Take up your cross, follow Me!

God’s Word becomes bread of life

Disciples now fish for lost people

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Reaching out to forsaken, sinful people

Performing miracles, left and then right

Preaching the Sermon on the Mount

 

Turning simple water into wedding wine

Healing the sick and the lame

All signs of His glory with God

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Feeding the 5,000 seems truly impossible

Walking on water before Peter’s eyes

Few can imagine His ultimate fate

 

Eyes and ears closed and unaware

This man called Jesus brings light

On Resurrection Day, fulfilling God’s promise

 

The world now knows Jesus Christ!

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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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Warren Wiersbe Quote

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When we are young, change is a treat, but as we grow older, change becomes a threat.  But when Jesus Christ is in control of your life, you need never fear change.

From Matthew 6:34:  “So, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

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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