Fighting for Harmony

United in purpose, in thoughts and decisions,
I beg you to be of one mind.
Let harmony flow so there are no divisions;
the church should be ever aligned.

Why criticize your brother's motive or action?
Why try to make him appear small?
His life does not need to meet your satisfaction
or precepts you've nailed to the wall.

Why, who made you judge and a jury demanding
your brother meets laws of your own?
One day we will all face true judgement when standing
before mighty God at his throne.

Agree to pursue what makes peace with your brother,
encouraging words are a start!
The worldly ones with no thought for another
are those who split churches apart.​

A gossip shares secrets with those undiscerning;
avoid such a blowhard as friend.
Without any fuel raging fires stop burning;
no gossip brings tensions an end.

If any believer or brother has wronged you,
confront him to work issues out.
If he will not listen take others along to
be witnesses, ending all doubt.

Submit to your leaders whose only ambition
is keeping their eye on your soul.
With joy let them lead you with not one condition;
it profits you not, on the whole.

I urge you to honor the leaders who guide you,
their work is exceedingly hard.
Advising, instructing, for walking beside you --
esteem them with highest regard.

      Christ For All Seasons

Winter would be cold and drab

Without God’s love to know ,

He keeps a glow of sunshine

In your heart , where ever you go .

And spring is unpredictable ,

It may be cold or fair ,

But Jesus’ love is constant ,

You can find it everywhere .

In summer when it’s parched and hot ,

The sun can take its toll ,

Yet you can find a spring

Of living water for your soul .

In fall when leaves have fallen

Everything is stark and bare  ,

But the riches of God’s word

Is within reach for you to share .

Our Father never leaves us ,

We can always find Him near ,

With His presence there is comfort

Any season of the year . 

       A Crushed Rose

O, beautiful rose , please tell me ,

For I would like to know ,

Why I must crush your petals

That the sweet perfume may flow ,

O , life that  is clothed in beauty

Perhaps like that wonderful rose

You will need to be crushed by  suffering

If the radiance of  your life must glow

A life that is crushed by sorrow

Can feel for another’s grief ,

And send out that fragrance of love

That will bring some heart relief ,

O , do not repine at your testing

When called to pass under the rod ;

For your life the sweeter will be

If blessed by the hand of God

Then let us rejoice when He sendeth

Some sorrow or hardship that tries

And be glad to be crushed as a rose leaf

That a sweeter perfume may arise.

    I Meet God in the Morning

The earth is the Lord’s

    and the fullness thereof ,

It speaks of His greatness ,

    it sings of His love ,

And each day at dawning

    I lift my heart high

And raise up my eyes

    to the infinite sky …

I see the dew glisten

    in crystal-like splendor

While God ,with a touch

    that is gentle and tender ,

Wraps up the night

     and softly tucks it away

And hangs out the sun

     to herald a new day ,

A day yet unblemished

     by what’s gone before ,

A chance to begin

     and start over once more ,

And all I need do

     is to silently pray ,

God , help me and guide me

     and go with me today

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

God’s gifts put man’s dreams to shame .

The Art of Brotherly Love

Develop a healthy and robust community,
one that is centered around God -- alone.
When treating each other with honor and dignity,
you'll reap the harvest you richly have sown.

In peace through the Spirit; together in unity;
make every effort to live in this way.
​If one of you errors and sins with impunity,
​gently pursue them without a delay.

Choose truth over pretense and speak with sincerity;
we are Christ's body, connected as one.
When we favor lying instead of integrity,
we cheat ourselves when its all said and done.

Speak gently to women of years soft and motherly,
treat the old men as the father you knew.
Engage with young men in a manner that's brotherly,
maidens as if they were sisters to you.

Do not look away, hoping problems will disappear,
deal with them openly out in the light;
assuming the issue's so small to act cavalier,
​thinking it surely will turn out alright.

You cannot ignore those whose lives are promiscuous,
flippant to God's ways or rude to their friends.
Their greed and their drunkenness can't be continuous,
with love and firmness it all has to end.

When coming together, be clothed in humility;
God shuns the proud -- gives the humbled his grace.
Turn rumor and gossip around to civility;
speak in their absence as you would their face.

We must bear the "burden" of being considerate;
empathy's easier shared with one heart.
Devotion to family is often deliberate;
​practice makes perfect since love is an art.

The Revival

The Revival

Unfold! Unfold! Take in His light,

Who makes thy cares more short than night.
The joys which with His day-star rise
He deals to all but drowsy eyes;

And, what the men of this world miss
Some drops and dews of future bliss.
Hark! How His winds have changd their note!
And with warm whispers call thee out;

The frosts are past, the storms are gone,
And backward life at last comes on.
The lofty groves in express joys
Reply unto the his voice;

And here in dust and dirt, O here
The lilies of His love appear!

The Thrush Still Sings

No matter what disaster brings,
The sun still shines, the thrush still sings;
The mountain stream still tumbles by;
The wolf still wails its mournful cry.
The wind still waves the prairie grass;
The moon still makes its nightly pass.
The flowers bloom; the earth renews
In brilliant reds and pinks and blues.
The sea still swells its foaming tides,
While 'neath the waves the whale still glides.
The deer still walks the forest glade;
The oak and elm still spread their shade.
The snow still falls on mountain slope;
The heart still fills with love and hope.
The ocean still erupts with waves;
The blood of Jesus Christ still saves.
No matter what disaster brings,
Almighty God, supreme, still reigns!