"Oh Come, Angel Band"

"Oh Come, Angel Band"

My latest sun is sinking fast,
My race is nearly run;
My strongest trials now are past,
My triumph is begun. 

Oh, come, angel band,
Come and around me stand;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home.

I know I'm near the holy ranks
Of friends and kindred dear—
I hear the waves on Jordan's banks,
The crossing must be near. 
I've almost reached my heav'nly home,
My spirit loudly sings;
Thy holy ones, behold, they come!
I hear the noise of wings. 
Oh, bear my longing heart to Him,
Who bled and died for me;
Whose blood now cleanses from all sin,
And gives me victory.

The Great Man

How big is the ocean?

How tall is the sail?
How big is the clipper?
How tall is the tale?

How big is the great man?
How tall is his pride?
How big is his ego
that flows from inside?

How loud is his boasting?
How loud is his horn?
How loud is his bragging,
yet quiet, our scorn?

How many, a promise?
How many times said?
How many believe him?
How many mislead?

Oh, where hides the shyness
and where hides the man -
when big man is lessened
as when he began?

How short is the thistle
and shorter, the thorn -
but great is the torment
when foot's skin is torn?

Transparent, his actions,
transparent, each thought -
and God does not 'know' him
because he was bought;

First by the minute,
Then by a smell -
of fire and brimstone,
by Devil in hell.

Exposed is the thistle.
Exposed is the gloom.
He's naked as baby
right out of the womb.

How fake were his pledges?
How fake was his stride?
How fake was his swagger
before he had died?

Does God see the motive?
Does God look within?
Does God judge the great man
when God knows his sin?

Beware of the ego.
Beware of the pride.
Beware of temptations
in life's fleeting ride.

Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Work He Did

Long ago in joy He spoke,
the world began and daylight broke.
In splendor work from dust and moil,
we began from God's great toil.
The choice He gave to Adam - “Stay.”
Yet sin enticed, he walked away.
His heart now hurt and grief arose,
His Spirit pained, yet love He chose.
As births began, stain of sin spread far
And all were covered by thick black “tar”
As darkness spread throughout our land,
our lives became like desert sand.
And lost to Him, our death assured,
as Satan, sin, and world obscured
the truth of God, His love, His joy -
our darkened hearts the enemy’s toy.

But love is strong and cannot lose
The Son to earth, yes death to choose.
He bought us back from fire and wrath
while showing us a righteous path.
In victory He lived and died
and lives again as we decide
to choose His death in place of ours
which break the wicked barring powers.
And gives new life that cannot fade
of "diamonds", "gold" and precious "jade".
This King, this God with love so strong,
He broke through time to right the wrong.
He calls us back to Him in love
this gentle, humble heavenly dove.

Yet fierce against His enemy,
crushing death and sin for me.
By scourge of flesh and blood that flowed
and nail scarred hands that carried the load,
This Lamb of God with righteous blood
that spilled on me and opened the flood,
of truth and joy and life and love
and caused my mind to see above
His light, His love, His holiness
and gracious, awesome, gentleness.
He touched my life and brought me home
and sealed my heart to never roam.

Forever now with Him I am,
Yes, Jesus Christ my great I AM!
The King, the Prince, the Lord who won
and conquered all - His work now done.
He leaves with us this tale to tell
of love so strong it conquered hell.
For me, a worthless lump of clay (?!),
My hope for all - I bow and pray.

Job 38:6-7; Matthew 11:29; Luke 24:7; John 14:27

Don't Put The Broom Away

Jesus taught many times in parables
When he was on the earth below.
Earthly stories with Godly themes
Helps teach us what we should know.

Jesus told a parable about a lady
Who lost a coin she wanted to keep.
She searched diligently for the coin.
She took a broom and began to sweep.

She swept and swept as she searched,
And that coin was eventually found.
She went and told all her neighbors,
And they were rejoicing all around.

Christians, lost souls are everywhere.
Let us diligently seek them everyday.
Let us tell them the Gospel story.
Let us not put the broom away!

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

We read of a place that's called heaven,

It's made for the pure and the free;
These truths in God's word He has given,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

In heaven no drooping nor pining,
No wishing for elsewhere to be;
God's light is forever, there shining,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

The Call Divine

All of life is hurried, we're in haste, 
To put it all together we do strive,
If but a moment’s restfulness to taste,
We work much like a bee does on his hive.

We stroll each day down twisting turns of fate, 
Our schedule staying two steps in the lead; 
It seems we're never early, only late,
There is a hope that one day we'll succeed.

Never satisfied with fortunes boons, 
We press against the prickly thorns of time;
This life a desert, just beyond its doons,
Eternal winds are rustling the chimes.

Wise is the soul that hears the call divine, 
“Seek not thy will or way but only Mine.”

My Lord Keeps Record

What a wonderful beautiful picture I held
Of a place without sorrow or fear
And I'm going to live in that city one day
For my days are all numbered down here

My Lord keeps a record 
Of the moments I'm living down here
Yes, He knows all about me
All my troubles my sorrows my shame

I living each moment through the mercies
Of God's love and grace
Someday He will call me
To the wonderful beautiful promised place

Now I walk to be doing the will of my lord
As I travel this wearisome land
So I will not be ashamed of my record 
When I stand at my savior

My Lord keeps a record 
Of the moments I'm living down here
Yes, He knows all about me
All my troubles my sorrows my shame