Perfect Love

15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because He first loved us.

20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. 1 John 4

Hate the sin

Love the sinner

Sinner, sinner

Of whom I am the worst

But for Jesus Christ

Lover of my soul

~

I confess

Jesus is the Son

God is in me

And I am in God

I am learning of God’s love

For He is love

~

I am in love

And I am in God

God is love

God is in me

This is love

Perfected in me

That I may be confident,

I, a sinner

For I confess Jesus

God is in me

And I am in God

~

Where is there fear

In perfect love?

Perfect love drives out fear.

Fear is punishment

Fear is imperfect love

And yet I am confident,

I, a sinner

For I confess Jesus

And God is in me

And I am in God

God is love

~

I am in love

With the LORD

He commands I love

My brother

I will not despise him

I will not cast him aside

Because if I do

I am liar, I am not in love

With the sinner, my brother

~

But I confess Jesus

God is in me

I am in God

God is love

Love is in me

I am in love

I am confident,

I, a sinner

Of whom I am the worst

I love the LORD

He commands I love my brother

My brother, the sinner

Of whom I am the worst

Perfect love drives out fear

I am not afraid of my brother, the sinner

~

I love you LORD

I love you, my brother

No matter the sin

For I am the worst of the sinners

~

~

Thought: How can I expect the unbeliever to believe as I do? I cannot and I do not expect it. I am not afraid of it. I only long and pray that God one day brings the unbeliever to Himself, and after that, the Spirit will work as He sees fit in my brother’s life. Who am I to stand as judge against my brother? I am not to judge him but to love him, as God has commanded. If I was able to come to God exactly as I was and was accepted by Him, then that is true of my brother too.

~

James 2, “8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” ^a you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” ^b also said, “You shall not murder.” ^c If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 4, “4You adulterous people, ^a don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ^b ? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” 

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister ^d or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Matthew 22, “34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ^c 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ^d 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

How Do I Feel This Christmas?

JOHN 1: 9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 16Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and ^b is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

How do I feel

This Christmas?

I don’t feel cheerful

But not quite blue

Sometimes I’m friendly

Sometimes grumpy too

Mostly I’m tired

When I should be thinking

Of You

.

Remember 

The star in the sky

Remember

The angels singing

On high

Remember

The Virgin Mary

She gives birth to You

I can’t remember

Cause I didn’t see

But You remember

Please remember for me

.

Show me the angel

Announcing glad tiding of joy

Show me the shepherds

Standing in awe 

Listening to heaven’s song

Show me the three kings

As they bow down before

The child king

Show me the joy of 

You coming down to set us free

.

Please remember for me

Cause I didn’t see

Sweet Virgin Mary 

Holding You close to herself

Remember Joseph

Who did all he could

To keep You safe

Obeying every angel

That came in his dreams

.

So how do I feel

This Christmas?

When I think of You

I’m cheerful

Even when I’m blue

When people aren’t friendly

Help me not get angry

Although I’m tired

I’ll think of You

Sweet Jesus, my Savior

Help me think of You

~

~

LUKE 1: 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called ^b the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

~

MATTHEW 1:  18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about ^d : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet ^e did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, ^f because he will save his people from their sins.”

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” ^g (which means “God with us”).

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

~

 LUKE 2:  8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

~

MATTHEW 2: 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”. . . 

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Come Home

All I can say is

Hurry, hurry

All I can hope is

Hurry, Lord

All I can say is

Come on home

All I can hope is

To come home

.

Shall we come home

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit come on home

Shall I come home

To You?

.

All I can say is

Lead on Lead on

All I can hope is

I please You as the day goes on

All I can say is

Lead me home

All I can hope is

Your feet come home

.

Shall we come home 

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit Lead me on

Shall You come home

To me?

.

When’s the Day going to end?

When’s this eternal night going to end?

When’s my suffering going to end?

When’s my complacency going to end?

When’s Your Day going to end?

.

When’s Your Night slumber going to end?

When’s Your patience going to end?

When’s Your judgement going to end?

.

Shall we come home

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit come on home

Shall I come home

To You?

~

~

2 PETER 3

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. ^a

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. ^b That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15a Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation,

JOHN 14

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ^a ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know ^b my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15“If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be ^c in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Kind and Compassionate

1Corinthians 13:

 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Kindness is a tricky thing

And compassion not always clear

You want to help those around you,

Especially those you hold dear,

But the hoarders have come and went

And left very little behind

And now there are limits everywhere

And now you can’t help everyone

Even those you hold oh so dear

And the anger fills your heart to pieces

And you need someone to blame

.

And here I am, setting the limits

Here I am trying to be kind

Here I am, setting the limits

And you need someone to blame

So blame me, I guess, blame me

Not the hoarders who’ve come and went

Not the panic in everyone’s hearts

Not the pandemic ripping the world apart

Just blame me

Although the limits are there 

Giving everyone a chance to have

But you are so angry, you can’t be kind

You can’t have compassion on your dear neighbor–

Please, blame me

.

And I just want to be angry back

I just want to scream and say, “Now, now

“Be fair, children!”

I hear everyone’s story

Everyone has a reason–

They are the exception

These limits, you are the exception,

But if everyone’s the exception

No one is

Just please, please, please

Be fair

I just want to be angry back

I want to tell you how foolish you are

But I cannot say a word, standing here, trapped by you

I can only try to be sympathetic

Try to get you through the line with as little tantrum as possible

I am trapped by you, don’t you see, child?

You just make me angry

.

But can I really blame you?

There were hoarders who came and went

And panic is in our hearts

And a pandemic is tearing the world apart

And kindness is a tricky thing

And compassion is not always clear

I just wish we could both say we’re sorry

Forgive, as Jesus forgives

And just keep trying through this life

Try the best to be kind with what we are given

And compassionate with everyone we meet

Because Jesus is on His heavenly throne

He sees, He hears, He knows

Let’s turn to Him in prayer,

To Him who sits on the judgement seat

For Him to be compassionate

For Him to be kind

For Him to come soon

~

Dear Lord, this has been a stressful couple of weeks for me.  It has been hard not to take personally when people who are stressed get angry at me for telling them they can’t buy more than they want, even if it is for someone else in need.  It is hard for me not to pass judgement on others when they very vocally express that they don’t care about others they only care about themselves.  It makes me very angry.  But that is not the way You want us to behave, and I know these are stressful times for everyone.  Please forgive the anger that came in my heart for those people, and thank You that they are not the majority of those You send for me to serve.  And please forgive them their angry attitudes.  Just please help us to get through this.  Help us as a country to get through this.  Let Your good will be done in this time, and help us to keep faith and trust in You.  Thank You for being in control.  Amen.

~

 

Psalm 119:

1Joyful are people of integrity,

who follow the instructions of the LORD.

2Joyful are those who obey his laws

and search for him with all their hearts.

3They do not compromise with evil,

and they walk only in his paths.

4You have charged us

to keep your commandments carefully.

5Oh, that my actions would consistently

reflect your decrees!

6Then I will not be ashamed

when I compare my life with your commands.

7As I learn your righteous regulations,

I will thank you by living as I should!

8I will obey your decrees.

Please don’t give up on me!

 

Ephesians 4:

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

1Corinthians 13:

 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Colossians 3:

12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Love Thankfully

 

Fathers

Sisters

Mothers

Brothers

Here is the day

We gather to say

A special ‘thank you’

Although tomorrow

I’m still angry with you

 

This is the day 

When we gather to pray

Although we never pray ever

We’ll say the words together

This is the day

When we smile with shining teeth

Although we are dying

Inside we are fighting

 

What good is the turkey

If our bellies are never full?

What good is the family

If hatred is in our hearts?

What good is the prayer

If God doesn’t exist?

What exactly are we thankful for?

What if this day didn’t exist?

 

And although my spirit is choking

On the blood of the world

Still the Spirit is insisting

I’m the Lord’s little girl

And I want to forgive all 

The hurt done to me

Lord God please forgive me

Lord God please help me

To be thankful

To be grateful

For all You’ve given me

 

The life rushes back

To burn in my cheeks

And I see the life in us

We aren’t only breathing dust

In God we trust

In God we trust

 

It isn’t just a holiday

It isn’t just today

We aren’t fighting to be fake

We aren’t dying to stay awake

Yes all seems bleak around us

And sometimes we are choking inside

But God is with us

God is for us

It is God who helps us

To forgive

And I am thankful

 

Philippians 4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

John 15

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes a so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other.

 

 

1 John 2

1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5But if anyone obeys his word, love for God a is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister b is still in the darkness. 10Anyone who loves their brother and sister c lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

12I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

13I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

14I write to you, dear children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

Spirit of Fear

Romans 8: “12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The darkness

The Monster

The anger

The danger

The hatred

The laziness–

I know your face

I know your name

Spirit of Fear

In me you have no place

God’s child

 

Spirit of Strength

Jesus, Savior and King

Please help me

I am plagued

By the demon of fear

And I have never

Ever broken free of the chains.

Perhaps if I did

I’d think I was self reliant

And I know that is wrong.

But it is hurting me.

 

I need Your help

Spirit of Courage

Spirit of Strength

Please help me LORD

Fight for me

Against this demon

The Spirit of Fear.

The fearful me

Hides in the shadows

Wears every ugly

And self righteous mask.

But I cannot stand

On this sinking sand

Come Father Come!

Encourage me.

 

Come Savior Come!

Remind me of grace

How You’ve paid the price

To redeem me

From the Spirit of Fear.

LORD I still shiver in my cage.

Fight for me, Christ!

Fight for me.

 

Come Spirit Come!

Spirit of God, Come!

You who raised my Savior

You who taught me the gospel

You who lights the Children on fire–

Come Spirit Come!

Anoint me!

For I am very much afraid

And I need You!

 

I need You.

Meditation Verses

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

 

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Corinthians 12:7b-10

So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Peter 1:5-9

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Meditation Songs

 

 

The Faithful

I met a young man the other day

Who’s heart was big and his mind bigger

But the world had crushed him

His lack of comradeship  bruised him

And all the sorrows he’d faced

That had in the end made him so bitter

Had blinded him to his need

Helped him believe in a lie

.

It’s the lie we so willingly believe

As sinners we are never to blame

It’s always the family that never listens

My unappreciative job

It’s the fact that no one notices me

Or my personality

And so I’m never offered love

That’s why I am the way I am

And you can’t blame me

Until my life changes I’ll be miserable

If only

If only

If only

.

My heart bled for this young man

Who thought the answer was to get a wife

He was so lonely, so hurting

So blinded by the lie

But I knew the truth

I knew what he needed

He needed to confess his sins to Jesus

And let God take the reins

Let God take over

Let God take care of him

He needed the LORD

.

But did I speak?

Did I say a word of truth?

No, I was too afraid

I was afraid of how silly it would sound

I was afraid of what others might think

And how could I pretend to know

What God wanted to do?

But I knew it, I knew

God wanted me to speak

And when the opportunity left

When he walked away

I felt the shame fill me

I am not part of the faithful

.

So now I pray for him, this young man

And pray that the next Child will not be afraid

Will not be selfish and keep the truth away

Will not keep away the joy found in the LORD that day

I pray that God will forgive me

Will help me to be faithful to Him

For He forgives

And He is Faithful

And He is my Father

And I want to share Him with others

Let them know this joy of the LORD

I want to share Him

I hope you do too

.

LORD God in Your mercy

Bring this son of yours home

LORD God in Your mercy

Teach me the way of the Faithful

~

“16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”~ John 3

26“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^b 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 10

“11Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

12if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

13if we are faithless,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.” ~2 Timothy 2

Proverbs: Spirit of Wisdom

“1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. 4Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”~Proverbs 4

It is not enough

To merely hear it

It is not enough

To merely listen

Take hold of the words

Make them actions

Take hold of it

Make it yours

.

Wisdom’s ways

Are just around the corner

Understanding

In the pages I read

And I wander

All the time

Forgetting to drink from

Still waters

.

I cry out

“LORD please!

In Your infinite wisdom

Grant it to me.”

“Oh, Jesus!

Have mercy on me!

In Your Great Love

Water me.”

And His Spirit of Truth

His Spirit of Love

His Spirit of Wisdom

Washes over me

.

To those who obey

The Word of the Father

Wisdom will be granted

To those who remain

In His Love

Assurance of faith is rewarded

‘Keep My commands

Love one another’

Is not so scary a prospect

And the Spirit is there

To help

.

We reap what we sow

So let it be love

And wisdom will come too

Only ask

~

Psalm 119:168

I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

Luke 11:

11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks forf a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 15:

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

James 1:

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Galatians 6:

8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Proverbs: Love your Neighbor Part 1

‘27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.’ ~Proverbs 3

Ask it

Seek it

Find it now

Wisdom demands it

Will you show it now?

.

There is no greater love than this

To love your God

To love your neighbor

As yourself

Love one another

Don’t ignore

Each other

Now

.

Plans are on the table

Desire is in your heart

And then the voice is calling you

“Please! Please!”

You angrily turn away

The desire for you is too great

And the voice is calling you

“Please! Please!”

So you must

Because it is right

.

Do the good

You ought to

Do the good

In your power

.

And all around you

People vie for attention

Demanding things of you

Respect, honor,

Help me! Help!

And you don’t want to be bothered

.

Give each what they’re due

Especially the chosen few

.

Love each

God gave you love that is new

Love each

Especially the chosen few

.

Do you ever ask God for help?

Do you ever seek Him?

Does He ever not answer?

Then do you the same for one another

Do you the same for your brother

.

Ask it

Seek it

Find it now

Wisdom demands it

Will you show it now?

~

Luke 11:

9“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks forf a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Romans 13:7

“Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.”

Galatians 6:10

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.”

Deuteronomy 24:15

“You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you.”

Luke11:

“5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”

James 4

“17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

“13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

Proverbs: Wisdom Is Part 2

“13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” ~Proverbs 3

Oh to be the apple of His eye

The child of the Living God—

To fear the Lord

To seek after His righteousness

To cling to my Father

In every way

Every day

.

Oh that I would fear my God

And gain Wisdom!

All around me is death and hatred

Paths of uncertainty and violence

There is no peace

There is no love

Although we seek it with all our hearts

Our hearts remain darkened against it

And I am just the same

Oh that I would fear God

And gain Wisdom!

.

For to fear God

Is to know God

And to know God is to know Christ

And Eternal Life

The world becomes void when compared to His beauty!

I put my trust in the One the Father sent

And I am not condemned

But loved

His path is not hateful

But peaceful and loving

Although full of the truth of the Living God

To know Christ

Is to fear God

Is to have Wisdom

.

There is Life in Wisdom’s right hand

Riches and honor in her left

Behold the Lion of Judah—

The slaughtered Lamb is worthy

Of all our praises!

.

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

Proverbs 22:4

The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 119:165

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God.

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 17:8

For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

John 17:21

that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:23

I in them and You in Me–that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

John 17:25

Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

Philippians 3:8

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:10

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,