God grants us an uncommon life to the degree we surrender our common one.
From Matthew 16:24-25: “Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it.'”
From Christian campus ministry founder, Bill Bright: “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God–no matter the circumstances.”
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Celebrating Jesus each and every day
Receiving our lasting, priceless gift of joy
Smiling faces, always with kind words spoken
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Child of God, leaping with joy
Messiah’s birth, sends great joy
Rejoicing, today rises up as God’s day
Praising our faithful, Almighty Lord with joy
Sending out His strength and hope, God’s justice reigns
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Fruit of the Spirit, brings joy
God’s love, proclaiming His joy
Fleeing life’s messy scene, sorrow and worry
Lasting an eternity, singing with joy
Restoring in us, His joy of Salvation
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Life’s trials, nothing but joy
Holy Spirit, shouts with joy
Waking all of the city on Easter morn
Singing praises of “Alleluia” with joy
Restoring hope, defeating death on the Cross
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Jesus, lasting source of joy
He’s Risen! Salvation’s joy
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From John 15:11: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
Originally published April, 2020.
From Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
Dotting I’s, crossing T’s
Life’s performance checklist
Nice life bestowed on thee
Knowing Father shall insist
Worshipping each Sunday
Dollars fill collection
Mirror says, “Good Christian”
Seeking Father’s affection
Feeling faith’s emptiness
Life’s perfection falls short
Redemption’s ticket waits
Striving for Father’s passport
Hearing at last, Word’s truth
New covenant shall rise
Hope’s mercy calls for faith
Fulfilling Father’s franchise
Receiving salvation
Despite life’s sinful walk
By grace, Savior redeems
Grasping Father’s faithful rock
Leaving life’s performance treadmill, the Gospel’s true road offers guidance through our Savior’s blessed grace–as we walk faithfully in His light into new life.
Standing outside door
Holy Son of Man
Knocking and waiting
Sharing Father’s grace plan
Conquering darkness
Timeless gift He brings
Coming to serve man
Soaring on eagle’s wings
Hearing now His voice
Sacred, divine love
Calling to repent
Witnessing from above
Opening thy door
Christ boldly walks in
Showing wounded hands
Forgiving every sin
This short poem is inspired from two different hymns: “Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak” and “I Love to Tell the Story.”
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Telling His true story
Jesus, His glory reigns
Unseen, heaven above
Breaking sinful chains
Hungering and thirsting
Weary, endless despair
Message of Salvation
Answering these prayers
Firm rock, speaking to thee
Living echoes of hope
Children, lost and alone
Faith walking life’s tightrope
Hidden depths, troubled sea
Precious wisdom fills thee
Hearing His glowing words
Loving hand calms the sea
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One of my favorite hymns is “Earth and All Stars” which we sang many times at my former church in Montana. Here is a link for the hymn:
Do you have a favorite hymn (an old favorite or a more current one)? Let’s have a discussion in the comments.
Originally published May, 2020.
From Isaiah 46:3-4: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”
Praising Father above
Faithful promises speak
In His hands, mercy proves
Forsake idol’s mystique
Looking to heavens high
Courage to face trials
In His hands, time stands still
Return from dark exile
Reciting Father’s Word
Wisdom from light-filled grace
In His hands, answers found
Holy, this divine place
Walking in righteous steps
Troubles fading away
In His hands, peace shall reign
Salvation comes today
Believing Father’s Son
Life no longer adrift
In His hands, refuge found
Faith rises from Christ’s gift
From Colossians 3:17: “ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
From Romans 3:21-22: “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction.”
Faith’s wayward journey
Bearing under sin
Without righteousness
Evil in sheepskin
Life’s unworthiness
Deceiving ourselves
Misery’s ruins
Man’s faith hides on shelves
Eternal darkness
Living without hope
God’s love sends Savior
He changes faith’s scope
Light born in stable
Proclaiming Good News
Father’s righteousness
Faith calls us to choose
Assurance in Christ
Believing in Him
Justified by faith
Salvation’s true hymn
From 1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
When facing painful trials, we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us. Remember that God orchestrated the greatest demonstration of love possible–His Son’s death on the cross.
From Romans 5:8-9: “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God.”
From Psalm 65:5: “By awesome deeds You answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.”
Headwaters on mountaintop
Watered from heavens above
Praises from valley below
Earth’s bounty fills with God’s love
Holy temple blooms with peace
Sky, earth, seas breathe with God’s grace
Light proclaims deliverance
Salvation for human race
Faithful river dries each tear
Troubled seas no longer toss
God answers as He promised
Hope fulfilled on darkest cross
Quietness covers each land
Eternity’s Son shall rise
Spirit opens morning sky
God answers with new franchise
From Psalm 65:9: “You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide the people with grain, for so You have prepared it.”
Because He lives, I can see tomorrow.
From Romans 10:9: “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Big Sky Buckeye 