To serve a neighbor, let self be forsaken,
Give eyes to see, to needs awaken;
You sent your Son, your love abounds,
Your grace descends, your care surrounds;
Why do I then so hesitate,
God, move me — help me not be late.
Show us the future of our hope
Lord, let my mind and soul rest in you, be refreshed in the Spirit, be renewed in the strength of Christ.
Father, reach for your children who are weak, who struggle with doubts, sin, or offenses, who lose sight of the way, who are overwhelmed by the power of the enemy, who feel alone in their faith.
God of spirits, make us holy and devout, infuse us with a sense of your presence, sweep away all resistance in our mind, show us the future of our hope.
I’ve Said It
I trust you — There! I’ve said it!
The future — how I dread it!
I know not what’s ahead
Beyond my daily bread.
I need you — How I feel it!
The devil mustn’t steal it!
He says you’re not for real,
He’d rob me of my zeal.
I love you — I need to say it!
For yours, I cannot weigh it!
Your reign is why I pray,
To come the final day.
Come back
by Jerry Elder
In 1979 (yes, I know that was a while back) my freshman year in college, I had a Hispanic friend, Enrique, who went to a store to purchase a few things. When leaving the store, he heard the words “COME BACK”! So he turned around went back to the counter and stood there.
The lady was checking out another customer and did not acknowledge him. So he turned around and was walking toward the door when he heard those words again, “COME BACK”!
Again, he turned around, walked back to the counter, and stood there while she checked out another customer. The lady notices him there and then asks him, “Can I help you”? Continue reading “Come back”
Be Near Us
Be near us, God of me and mine,
Show yourself as Lord sublime,
Protect, defend, and bless this day,
Uphold our hands upon your Way.
Outline of Christianity in 10 Ws
If you like alliteration, this is the outline for you. Ten — count ’em — ten Ws to form upon your lips and wave your hands over. You can supply a ton of Bible texts for each point. This is a good summary of the whole of the Faith.
- The Will — God willed man’s existence and salvation from eternity.
- The Word — God became man in the person of Jesus Christ.
- The Wound — Jesus was wounded for our transgressions.
- The Well — Life and power spring from the Holy Spirit.
- The Way — The Bible reveals God’s plan, purchased people, and practice of righteousness.
- The Work — Eternal salvation is the objective of every effort by God’s people.
- The War — Conflict with evil powers is at the heart of faithfulness.
- The World — Saints are in, but not of, and sent to, the world.
- The Worship — God seeks people who worship in spirit and truth.
- The Worth — Heaven is worth giving up life, limb, and luxury.
UPDATE: I’ve reordered a couple of these, to reflect a more logical progression. I flipped nos. 3 and 4 and nos. 9 and 10.
Careless with the gospel
Put my mind behind the eyes of my neighbor, dear God, that I might see from his perspective and have insight in how to speak to him and reach him for eternal salvation.
At the same time, let me be, to a point, careless with the gospel, seeking to share it at every moment, with every person, regardless of their station in life.
Give me compassion for all. Increase my love for your creation and for your word.
Move us forward in our own walk with you and in service to our fellow man.
In all, O Lord, may you be glorified in us.
Glorify the Saints Abroad
Save them, Lord, from sin and shame,
Save them for your glorious name,
Save them from the devil’s snare,
Save them in Christ from hell’s despair.
Sanctify the brethren’s hands,
Sanctify their godly plans,
Sanctify and on them press
Your merciful love and holiness.
She wasn’t that way when I married her!
Many marriage partners become frustrated with the way their spouse has turned out. One husband approached Dr. Howard Hendricks with a list of gripes about his wife. Hendricks “consoled” the guy with his Columbo-type tactics. He told the man he was surprised that a man of his intelligence would marry a woman with so many blatant faults. The man quickly defended his prenuptial decision by declaring, “She wasn’t that way when I married her!”
Hendricks retorted, “Then I guess it means you made her that way.”
The fault we often pin on our spouse can frequently be—at least partially—ours.
Impatient for the Perfect Form
Heal me, make me whole at once,
Raise my eyes to righteousness,
And show me my full share of grace.
Upon the power in Jesus’ path,
Launch forward my small faith and hope,
To touch the needy with times of peace.