Desires of The Heart...
It's Missions Emphasis time again at our church.  Once a year we focus on, and think about the missionaries we support and the work that they do.  We remind ourselves that the job of missions (and evangelism) is not just up to those who dedicate their lives on foreign fields, but it is also up to us here at home to remember to pray for them and to give to support them.  I know that sometimes we tend to forget that even in the most remote parts of the world, it still costs money to operate and survive.  But, here's the thing...it's not just missionaries that need our prayers and support.  What about our own home churches?  I heard a question that really stuck with me recently.."if everyone in your church gave just like you do, what kind of church would you have?  Would the staff get paid on time? Would the electric bill and all the other expenses be taken care of?"  You could take that thought beyond just giving to the areas of service and praying for the ministry and its leadership!  There is a basic law of the universe, that God has created, that basically says, "you can not reap before you sow".  I know that some will say..."just like a Baptist, always talking about money".  But the fact of the matter is that it has never really been about money...the real issue for every Christian is.....

Desires of the Heart

What is your heart’s desire

What is it that you crave

Is it a closer walk with Him

Who has the power to save

Is it life that’s more abundant

With blessings multiplied

Or is it temporal things you chase

Like fortune fame and pride

Do you long for things that cannot last

And lose sight of what cannot fail

For whatever your heart desires most

Is surely the most telling tale

Do you hope for joy in sorrow

And a peace you can’t explain

Do you look to Him for answers

To find sunshine through the rain

You see all the glittering treasures here

Are fleeting dreams at best

And only what’s done for the Kingdom

Will pass the eternal test

So it’s left to us to make a choice

What dividends we’ll reap

To keep the things we cannot lose

We must give what we cannot keep

For money time and energy

Invested for the Lord

A hundred million years from now

Will still be yielding great reward

Matt 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ps 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

God has made some wonderful and powerful promises to us in His Word, unfortunately most of us are far too easily distracted from what is truly important by what is so clearly temporary.  If we will only “delight” ourselves in the Lord, then our desires will be right and God delights to give us those desires.

A Vapor...
I don't know about anyone else, but for me it is hard to believe it is 2012 already...I suppose that it is a part of getting older, but with each new year I am more and more aware of how fast the time really flies.  I can look back over my life and see different points in time that seem to flow together.  I can remember moments from my childhood that somehow seamlessly become high school days.  And then in a blink I am married to my best friend and  we are starting a family.  And now almost miraculously my three little ones are all young adults and I wonder where the time went.  So my point is simply this...we are only given one shot at life this side of eternity so we best make the most of it, because life really is just.....

A Vapor

Life is but a vapor

Here but a moment then it's past

Yet we spend so very much of it 

On things that will not last

We spend time on the cars we drive

Or the houses we live in

But have no time at all to spend

On the neighbor we might win

We spend time working on our jobs

Or the hobbies that we have

And of course a little time in church

So our conscience we might salve

We spend time with our families

A very good thing indeed

But alas we have no time we say

For the stranger who is in need

Help me Lord to understand

That life is more than time

For to spend my life on just myself

Would be the highest crime

James 4:14   Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

The brevity of life is a fact we are all very familiar with.  Yet somehow the fact in our heads is disconnected from the desires of our hearts.  How much more fulfilled and joyful our lives would be if we could live each “today” as if tomorrow we would meet our Maker, because we do not know which “today” it will be true.

Merry Christmas...
I haven't posted for a few weeks...to be honest I wasn't even sure anyone would notice.  I know that God has given me these poems to be shared and that is the purpose for this site, but sometimes I wonder if it is making a difference or being a blessing to anyone at all.  But with Christmas right around the corner, I really wanted to share these two poems today as my way of wishing anyone who visits a very Merry Christmas.  Because when it comes right down to it, it's not about me but it's about the only thing that ultimately matters. The biggest, most important thing that has ever happened in the history of the world is....

The Miracle of Christmas

Love far beyond measure

To comprehend it, I can not

How a soul so unworthy

God sees without spot

The demonstration of God’s love

Of His mercy and grace

Was found in a lowly manger

In a baby’s tiny face

I’d like to have a time machine

To travel back through the ages

And talk to Mary and Joseph

From the Bible’s pages

Just what did they think

Did it feel very odd

To see the child’s shining face

And know they were looking at God

Did they fully understand

As they raised their little one

That the boy that they cared for

Was Messiah, God the Son

Oh the miracle of Christmas

From that time till this

Is that God gave us himself

So that heaven we would not miss

It’s much more than a season

Or a time of year or day

It’s the spirit of eternal love

Living in our hearts always

Luke 2:19 ... But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

It is clear from scripture that both Mary and Joseph knew and understood that the child they raised was the Messiah.  Did you ever stop to wonder at how strange that must have been for them?  Just how much or how clearly did they understand?  What was going through their minds that time when they thought they had lost Him, only to find Him in the temple, “about His Father’s business”.  They were just normal folks trying to do the right things as they cared for the Son of God.  Wow!?!

Merry Christmas

(A response to the politically correct)

Jesus Christ is Christmas

It’s the celebration of His birth

Strip away all of the tinsel

And you’ll find what Christmas is worth

The Baby born in a manger

Is Jehovah in human form

The same is the Man upon the cross

Whose body was beaten and torn

The world wants to take away Christmas

And replace it with holiday cheer

But it’s only the real meaning of Christmas

That allows for us to be near

To the God of all the ages

His presence we could never obtain

Except for the true meaning of Christmas

No lasting treasure could we ever gain

So as long as there’s breath in my body

And as long as my voice can be heard

I’ll repeat the phrase “Merry Christmas”

With all the meaning that’s found in God’s Word

Matt 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-21

Instead of printing these two passages here, I would encourage you to take your Bible and read them for yourself.  One of my favorite family traditions was started when our kids were very small.  Before we open the first gift, we read the Christmas story.  As they have gotten older we have begun to share by each reading a portion.  It draws us together as a family and reminds us that Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree but rather the gift on the tree that was born in that simple manger.

Just a Glimpse....
I heard a phrase a few years ago that has really stuck with me.  It says that "we need to have eternal eyes", basically it means that we should live our lives with a view of heaven in mind.  The trouble is that we tend to get "earthbound" in our thinking.  So much all around us can be distracting, even some things that are really good things.  God has given us so much in this life for our enjoyment, but it must be kept in balance with the reality that as a Christian, this world is not our home.  It would be so much easier to keep our focus if we could get....

Just a Glimpse

Just a glimpse of Glory Lord

I’m longing now to see

More and more I find myself

Homesick to be free

From the bondage of this world

And the struggles all around

For I am not at home here

My soul yearns for higher ground

I’m a citizen of a Heaven

And I surely realize

That this life is just a journey

Always looking for the prize

But so many things seduce us here

Lord help me to release

All the things that hold me here

That I may know real peace

Because at times I feel too much at home

In this place that’s not my home

When I’m really just a pilgrim here

And my journey is not done

So just a glimpse of Glory Lord

Will help me on my way

May my affections be on things above

Until that glorious day

When the curtain will be lifted

And not a glimpse but fully shown

We’ll be at home in Glory then

And know as we are known

Col 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

I have often said, and I firmly believe, that if we could ever once get a clear view of the eternal, it would totally transform our thoughts and our actions.  I wonder why God doesn’t give us that ability.  But then where would be the faith in that?  

Freedom...
With Veterans Day just past, this poem came to mind.  Freedom is probably one of my favorite words in the English language because it carries such depth of meaning.  My heart felt gratitude is stirred every time I see one of our countries finest in uniform.  I always try to make it a point to let them know that I appreciate their service.  But real freedom goes so much deeper than that.  Real freedom is something that only Christ can make available to us.  Unfortunately there are so many Christians that never learn to experience this freedom to its fullest, because of the choices they make.  I can't imagine anything more precious or valuable.  More than my gratitude for our service men and women, I am so grateful for my freedom from the penalty of sin.  I am grateful that I can have the freedom from the power of sin, as I yield daily to the Holy Spirit.  And I am most grateful that one day I will have freedom from the very presence of sin!  I can't think of anything we are more in need of than real, true, lasting....

Freedom

If I be lifted up

I will draw all men to me

Jesus speaking of his death

The truth that sets us free

Real freedom is in Christ

Free to love and to serve

Free to be different

If you’ve got the nerve

Free to escape

The bondage of sin

Free to have victory

Over the old man within

Free to avoid

The scars and the shame

Freedom to call

On the power in His name

“Give me freedom or give me death”

One man once bravely said

We make the choice between the two

By the path we choose to tread

John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

I Cor. 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

When I was young, I wanted “freedom” more than I wanted just about any other thing.  Freedom to “do my own thing”, to make my own rules.  I thought, as I’m sure many do (especially in the teenage years), that having that sort of freedom was the key to happiness.  But the older I get and the more I grow in grace, the more I understand that real freedom, that produces genuine happiness and joy, is in yielding “my own thing” in order to do “His thing”.  There is a freedom in the will of God that cannot be understood or experienced any other way.

The Battle ...
The book of Proverbs is probably my favorite in the OT because of it's variety of practical advise, and because it is so rich with nuggets of wisdom.  One of the passages that stands out to me most, and that I often reflect on is in the 23rd chapter and verse 7 where it says that... "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he"..... Interesting that it doesn't say "as he thinks in his mind".  Although every thought begins in the mind, it is the thoughts that we allow to sink into our hearts that determine the type of person that we become.  The good news is that we get to choose those thoughts.  Parents will often tell their children, "you can be anything you set your mind to"!  And that is so true, but that isn't just for children.  If you don't like where you are in life, change your mind...you will be amazed at what can happen when the right thoughts (infused with the truth of the Word) work their way into your heart!  The devil knows this is true and tries to use it against us.  That is why God has given us all of the equipment we need to face...

The Battle

There is a battle raging

A war for all of time

So fierce the attack of the enemy

It’s the battle for the mind

Deception and delusion

Are the weapons of his choice

And a dulling of our hearing

So that we don’t hear the voice

Of the One who is Commander

The Captain of the Host

The only One who knows what’s best

The One who loves us most

The opposition questions

Has God really said

Or is that really the interpretation

When in the Book we’ve read

He lays the traps to snare us

To destroy us if he can

And he makes no real distinction

Whether woman child or man

But the thing that still amazes

Is our foolishness and pride

For we often go into battle

With our armour laid aside

And wonder why we falter

When temptation comes along

Though we’ve been given everything we need

To stand firm resolved and strong

So take note my friend and understand

This battle won’t be done

Until one day we stand in Heaven

And the final victory is won

Eph. 6:11-17   Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Here in these 6 verses the Apostle Paul gives us a way to connect the principle of Proverbs 23:7 to the practical of everyday living.  This is an amazing passage to me, not just because of the truth it conveys, but the fact that we as believers so often do not take full advantage of it.  Our Captain has provided for us every protection and weapon that we need to be victorious overcomers in the spiritual warfare that we face every day.  Yet, all too often I find myself going into my day without one or all of these firmly applied.  What about you?

Cowboy Kind of Man...
This poem still makes me smile every time I re-visit it.  It is one that is a little more fun than it is deep, but there is some real meaning if you look and listen closely.  All of us had dreams of what and who we wanted to be when we were kids.  Unfortunately, too often we forget how to dream as we get older.  Maybe our childhood dreams were totally unrealistic, but that energy and imagination is the stuff that can push us to doing great things for the Lord and for those we love.  For me, I just wanted to be a .....

Cowboy Kind of Man 

I dreamed of bein' a cowboy 
When I was just a child
But I grew up where the concrete grows
And not the west when it was wild
John Wayne and Gary Cooper
And Jimmy Stewert these
Were the kinds of men I hoped someday
that I'd grow up to be
men of courage and of honor
and a style that was all there own
Men not afraid to stand for right
even when they stood alone
But I'm all grown now and I wear wingtips
Instead of cowboy boots
And I carry around a ball point pen
Instead of a gun that shoots
But I think cowboy is an attitude
A way of lookin' at things
A certain way of dealin' with
Whatever this life brings
So maybe I don't ride a horse
Or rope or throw or brand
But it's deep inside not the work you do
That makes a cowboy kind of  a man

 I Cor. 13:11  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

It’s one thing to “put away childish things”, it is quite another to let your dreams of childhood die entirely.  I believe we need those childhood dreams to keep us young at heart and keep us striving to be the very best we can be.  Do you dream of doing great things? Do you dream of making a difference? Be a person that honors God.... and never stop dreaming!

The Road...

This poem was written as my oldest daughter was moving out of our home.  It is a challenge to myself as well as to all three of my children, who are all now young adults.  I can remember being where they are now, in my late teens and early twenties, and thinking that there was plenty of time to become the man I wanted to be.  But what I didn't fully understand at the time, and what I believe many young people fail to grasp, is that every choice that is made is shaping the future.  In a very real sense we get to decide what the future will look like.  It is simply a destination along....

The Road

The road you're on

Is the path you choose

The way you go

Whether win or lose

It’s the road of life

That takes you there

To your destination

And it's only fair

That you should know

Many years from now

There's no mistake

And no surprise how

You got to that place

Because it's on the way

Along the very road

You are on today

So look ahead

Ten years or more

Along the road you’re on

What lies in store

Do you like what you see

Do your dreams live there

Are you happy with life

In that place where

Your road has led

From the choices you make

What about your children

They too are at stake

It's really quite simple

Not much more to say

Your whole future is determined

By the road you choose today

Eph 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.


How much of our lives do we live on purpose and how much do we live simply in reaction to what is going on around us?  How much time do we spend really thinking through and praying over the choices we make?  I don't mean the really big ones like who will we marry or what state we will live in etc., but I am talking about the day to day choices...those all too often soft little choices...that mold our character and therefore our lives and futures.  It is true that God is a God of second chances, but there are no "do overs".  As Christians, we must be wise with the time we are given and make the most of our opportunities for the Lord!

Strongholds ...
I was reminded of this poem this past week when my pastor preached a message about strongholds.  I think that most Christians today are really clueless as to just how real the spiritual battle is that is going on around us.  Proverbs says that "...as a man thinketh in his heart so is he".  From this one small statement in scripture we can understand just how powerful our thoughts truly are.  It may not be the "big" sins that are your struggle, but what about in the area of being critical, or envious, or judgemental?  Where are your thoughts taking you?  Are you giving Satan a chance to build ...

     Strongholds

                Every thought’s a soldier

            In the battle for the mind

            And we decide the victor

            By the ones we give our time

            The warfare may be spiritual

            But it’s as real as any war

            Though some may ask the question

            Then what’s the battle for

            The battle is for strongholds

            Whether right or wrong

            The more we run into them

            The more we make them strong

            If we yield our thoughts to Satan

            Then our minds he can control

            And the strongholds will be his

            Though he may not have our soul

            But if Jesus is commander

            Of the thoughts that wage the war

            Then the strongholds will be righteous

            And we’ll be conquerors evermore

              

          II Cor. 10:4-5   For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The concept of spiritual strongholds is important to understand.  It follows the principle of spiritual warfare.  If the devil can work his way into your life in some small area, he will build a stronghold there and begin the process of enlarging the size of that stronghold until he has your entire life in bondage.  In a war it is important to defend your territory.  Never give Satan an inch or he will take much more than a mile.

(If this is your first visit to my blog, please check out the Welcome page in the archive section)

Lost in the Middle...
I know many people that are going through some really tough stuff these days.  Whether it's the economy or some physical struggle or a relationship that is not going well.   It's just part of living in a fallen world.  This poem was written at a time when I felt like I had to look up to see bottom.  Days on end crying out for answers and for God to just make it stop.  But I can honestly tell you that during that time was some of the most intimate times with my God and some of the greatest spiritual growth of my life.  However at the time I just felt....

Lost In the Middle

Lost in the middle

Of the story of my life

Looking back as much as forward

And too often asking why

Searching for the answers

When no answers can be found

A gentle voice says Trust Me

My grace is all around

The times you thought I’d left you

I was closer than you knew

And the pain I have allowed because

I know what’s best for you

The trials and the struggles

They are only for your good

With each test you have responded

Just as I knew you would

It’s never more than you can handle

And there is a grand design

To make you more like Me my child

Because I love you and you’re mine

You see I’m smoothing out rough edges

For My glory I’m molding you

With a bigger picture in My mind

Someday you’ll see it too

But for now there’s peace in knowing

I’ll always give you what you need

And my grace is all sufficient

Have no fear and rest in Me

1Co 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2Co 12:9

 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

It has been said that “the trials of life will either make you bitter or make you better”.  The difference is where you put your focus during those times.  God doesn’t test us so that He can see what we are made of, but rather so that we can see what we are made of. 

“You know what you get when you squeeze an orange?.....
you get what’s on the inside!"  It’s just the same with people, when we get squeezed, what comes out is what was on the inside already”

(If this is your first visit to my blog, please check out the Welcome page in the archive section)

Right on Time...
I had a friend, a best friend actually, that I loved to spend time with.  Mark was the kind of guy, that no matter what we were doing; whether we were playing basketball or snow skiing or just hanging out, somehow the conversation would always end up on the Word or the Savior or some other Theological subject, and I loved it!  The Impact that he had on my life in the short time that we got to spend together is amazing to me. I still miss him to this day.  He passed away over 14 years ago, but when he died I made a promise that I would always be there for his family if there was ever even the smallest thing I could do for them. This past year his oldest daughter got married and I had the opportunity and the privilege of singing at the wedding. I also wrote this poem for the occasion.  It was interesting to see how God worked in her life as she waited for just the right guy.  Proving once again that God is never late, never early, but always....

Right on Time 

God is always right on time

Like a symphony He moves

Never early and never late

His sovereignty He proves

So often we don’t understand

Just how the pieces fit

The melody and harmony

Our lives are His instrument

He orchestrates each circumstance

Mixing tones both dark and bright

He blends the chords together                 

So that it all comes out just right

He will bring someone into our lives

While another will disappear

It’s all a part of His grand design

Though the reasons aren’t always clear

May we always recognize

That our God is in control

And in submitting to His perfect will

We find peace to rule our soul 

*For Jill*

Ec 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  

Everything in our lives both good and bad, whether we realize it or not or whether we understand it or not, is in the hands of our God and is always right on time.  Funny how we often think that God's timing is off somehow.  Sort of like Mary and Martha when Lazarus died in John chapter 11.  They were just sure that Jesus was 4 days late, but Jesus had a higher motive than just raising Lazarus from the dead.  He was about to put on display His awesome power and glory.  I truly believe that we would witness more of His power and glory in our own lives if we could trust Him completely and submit to His sovereignty.  We all have our plans and schedules, but we must be flexible when things don't go according to plan and trust that our Lord knows exactly what He is doing and He is always right on time.

(If this is your first visit to my blog, please check out the Welcome page in the archive section)

Times of Prayer...

I heard an awesome message today on the topic of prayer and before the morning services were over the following poem was on paper.  I could hardly wait to post it.  I have to admit I love that feeling when God lays something on my heart like that and it almost writes itself.  In the busyness of the world we live in today it has never been more important or more needed for us as Christians to spend time alone with God.  

Times of Prayer

I feel such weakness

In times of prayer

Distractions within and without

Confront me there

My flesh tries to conquer

The time seems so brief

My mind tends to wander

While my spirit seeks release

God has bidden me to come

Bringing my troubles and care

He Himself has promised

To meet me there

So why then such struggle

When the reward is so sweet

Is my heart so unruly

That it resists such retreat

If I could really see Christ

In all of His glory

And remember His grace

And the power of His story

I should be compelled

To more intensely pursue

My times in prayer

And my devotion renew

Luke 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Notice that in the verse above, the disciple did not ask Jesus to teach them "how" to pray or "what" to pray, but rather "teach us TO pray".  As Believers, we all know how important it is to pray.  Not just meaningless rituals but to really pray and connect with our Creator.  We all know that there is great blessing and increased faith the more we pray.  Why then is it so difficult for us to spend quantity and quality time in prayer?  I don't know of anyone who believes they spend too much time in prayer.  If we are to have an impact on our world and for the Kingdom, it will not happen without prayer.  Is there any more important aspect of the Christian life than prayer?  And yet is there any more neglected aspect of the Christian life than prayer?  Prayer is our opportunity to talk friend to friend with the Creator of the universe...the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Stop and think about the enormity of that for just a second.  Unfortunately I think that all too often we mistakenly think that prayer was designed so that we could change or effect the mind of God...when the truth is that prayer was designed so that God could more easily change us.... As the saying goes.."little prayer, little power..more prayer, more power..much prayer much power"

(If this is your first visit to my blog, please check out the Welcome page in the archive section)