Be Strong! (A Poem)

        Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift,
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it.
‘Tis God’s gift.
        Be strong!
Say not the days are evil-who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce-o shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely,
In God’s name.
        Be Strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
- Maltbie D. Babcock

Daily Communion With God

Mark 1:35 NKJV

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

If I don't set aside time to pray and spend a moment of communion with God then I'm not set right. My morning is disrupted, uneven, compromised and a victory for the world. You can call it a "habit", a "routine", but it must be done. The essence of the day or shall I say elements of the day does not change-a day is a day. But how I interact with it and how I see God weaved throughout makes all the difference. Communion with God brings out the notion that life is a gift, it's no longer a routine, a necessity, an expected outcome as I/we go through it. So, I want to, and more importantly need to connect with God before my day begins and then be open to recognize evidence of His love throughout my day. - JSS

The King Of Glory

Psalm 24 NKJV
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

For They Know Not (What They Do) (Lyrics)

V. 1 
Father, forgive them
For they know not
What they do.
For if they knew
The Savior,
Then they would
Follow You.
But sin has left
Them blinded
Where only pride
Comes through.
So, Father
Forgive them
For they know not
What they do.

Instrumental

V. 2 
I came to give
Them water
For their dry
And thirsty souls.
Sheep without
A shepherd,
Lost and far
From home.
Yes, sin has left
Them blinded
Where only pride
Comes through.
So, Father
Forgive them
For they know not
What they do.

Instrumental

V. 3 
Father, forgive us
For we know
Not what we do.
For if we knew
The Savior,
Then we would
Follow You.
But sin has left
Us blinded
Where only pride
Comes through.

Ending
So, Father
Forgive us,
For we know not
What we do.
Yes, Father
Forgive us,
For we know not
What we do.

- JSS

Son, Savior, Lord

Isaiah 9:6 NIV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will  be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:8-20 NIV
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

From Belief To Miracles

Mark 16:15-18 NIV
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Miracles should follow those who place their trust in Jesus. The internal belief gives evidence externally throughout a person's life. - JSS

Proven Wisdom

Wisdom is not proven right by argument or debate. Wisdom is proven over time... Through the ages the wisdom found in God's Word has been tested and proven true. It is critical that you measure everything you hear against the scriptures. Trends in psychology and philosophy come and go, but God's Word is timeless. -  Taken from Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, pg. 324. Used with permission.

Luke 7:35 NIV
But wisdom is proved right by all her children.

Pride

Proverbs 29:23 NKJV
A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

The seed of unwarranted anger is pride. We look within ourselves and construct campaigns of destruction and emotional legions set for war. We feel we have been unjustly attacked, we have been wronged and we must retaliate, strike back and gain victory no matter the cost. At the same time our fortress is being reinforced. No one must penetrate our sanctuary. We live with the illusion that we are secure, impregnable, that we can’t be hurt if our defense is strong enough. Pride has its hold and will not let go. It comfortably sits on its throne while the war rages on. - JSS

Known But Not Glorified

Romans 1:21 NIV
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

A person can know God, even believe that He exists but if he/she does not acknowledge Him from the heart he/she is not a believer. If you truly love something or someone you will not have a problem expressing your love. It is impossible to contain it and do not consider your love a shameful thing. Honor and loyalty give a rightful place. God just doesn’t want to be known or believed that He exists for even the demons and Satan himself acknowledge Him. He wants a heart that is totally devoted to Him: one that is not ashamed, willing to declare before the whole world that He is the one true God. May His name be exalted within us and pour from us to bring light to this darkened world. - JSS

The Aroma Of Christ

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

Am I spreading “everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him?” Am I the aroma of Christ: a sweet, familiar and pervasive smell in people’s lives? Am I “Christ” in the room? Do people experience the full knowledge of Jesus when we as Christians stand in their presence? – JSS

Am I the “aroma of Christ” when I am or appear to be alone? With the Trinity present, if we are His children, are we ever alone? - JSS

My life is a continuous benediction to Him! - JSS

Praying Three Times

Last week I read about Daniel praying three times a day with/to God. This action showed the closeness he had with God and his ability to call on God on a continuous basis. This prayer discipline prompted me to do the same. I decided last week to devote some time to prayer three times a day. A theme for the week would be chosen and prayed for starting every Sunday. I believe that by devoting such times toward prayer, God will honor my prayers and draw me to an ever-increasing realization that there are greater concerns/needs outside of my own. I began by praying for the unborn and by extending it over a week I began to get a deeper understanding of what to pray for. I wasn’t going to accept surface prayers or express “generalities of concern”. I’ve had to rely on the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to receive guidance in this.

This week the focus is our nation. The nation is going through a lot of changes and seems to be more unstable than ever. I pray that God will guide me to properly petition for the nation’s needs. A great nation needs and can only exist with a great God. May God honor all who come to Him humbly and with thanks-giving. - JSS

Power Of The Tongue

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Words spoken in deep love or deep hate set things in motion within the human heart that can never be reversed. – Frederick Buechner

Matthew 5:22 NKJV

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Isaiah 50:4 NKJV

“The Lord God has given Me

The tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak

A word in season to him who is weary." 

Lead Me Gently Home, Father (Lyrics)

V. 1
Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently home,
When life’s toils are ended
And parting days have come;
Sin no more shall tempt me,
Ne’er from Thee I’ll roam,
If Thou’lt only lead me, Father,
Lead me gently home.

Refrain
Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently
Lest I fall upon the wayside,
Lead me gently home.

V. 2
Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently home,
In life’s darkest hours, Father,
When life’s troubles come;
Keep my feet from wand’ring,
Lest from Thee I roam,
Lest I fall upon the wayside,
Lead me gently home.

Refrain
Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently
Lest I fall upon the wayside,
Lead me gently home.

Words & Music by Will L. Thompson, 1879
This hymn is in the Public Domain

I Am No Longer My Own

Lord, I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you. Exalted for you or brought low by you. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. Amen. – John Wesley

No one can hinder God from carrying out His plans for your life. – Taken from Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. Used with permission.

Many people want to direct God, instead of resigning themselves to be directed by him; to show him a way, instead of passively following where he leads. 
– Madam Guyon

Whom do you serve,

God or man?

One gives life;

The other, barely stand. - JSS

Take Jesus With You

When you leave your home of safety and security and face the world, take Jesus with you. He not only wants to dwell in your abode of comfort but he wants to reside in your heart: that place where the world ridicules, brings about pain and doesn't quite understand. Your heart needs Jesus, a comforter, a friend, a Savior. And so does the world. So, take Jesus with you. Carry Him in your heart as well as in your home. The world will never be the same! - JSS

Jesus Is Lord!

1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV84
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:10-11 NKJV
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord!
Hallelujah and Hosanna to the Highest,
Jesus is Lord! - JSS

1 John 4:2-3 NKJV
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.

John 20:28 NIV84
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

A Broken Man (Lyrics)

V. 1
Lord, I’ve tasted

That sweet bitterness

And Lord, I’ve wanted

What the world

Wants to give.

But I’m tired of runnin’,

I wish to make a stand,

On my knees,

A broken man.

Instrumental

V. 2
I remember
What my momma
Used to say,
“Turn to Jesus,
And He’ll never,
Go away.”
So, here I am trusting,
At the cross I stand,
On my knees,
A broken man.

Instrumental bridge

V. 3
Father, heal me.
Take all my
Guilt and shame.
Turn my life over,
To bring glory
To Your name.
Please, lead me
To Heaven,
From Your altar 
I’ll stand,
On my knees,
A broken man.
Yes, on my knees,
A broken man.

- JSS