Know Your Stress Signals

K.Y.S.S. is how my pastor put it today. Sometimes we ignore what our bodies are telling us. We constantly need to recharge our physical and spiritual batteries. If we constantly ignore this integral part of our lives, we will crash and burn. We cannot help others if we don't help ourselves. It is like going into battle without any preparation or rest. We are liable to get ourselves wounded or even killed. Prepare yourselves and be vigilant about it. Be like David and dwell on the precepts that are in Psalms and Proverbs. The text for today's sermon was John 20:19-23.

Come Forth

Arise, My Son, come forth,
King of Kings, Man of great worth.
Death did not keep You down,
Savior, resurrected with great renown.

The stone rolled away,
Resurrection, this is the day.
For once was dead,
Now on the throne, Creation's head.

Seeking Him, here He did lay,
But now He is risen, no dismay.
Alive and well, 
Power over death and Hell.

Prepare the Way

Christ came down the road,
Knowing the heavy load.
For had He not made a way,
We would forever be astray.

Rejoice, for He has come,
He brought to life the numb.
For the King of Life is here,
And He will always be near.

We have rejoiced then,
But have we forgotten our sin?
Who would pay the price?
Who would make the sacrifice?

My Savior, paid the debt,
Have you recognized that yet?
His life upon that cross,
New life came, when His was lost.

We cannot forget the life given,
Because we have been forgiven.
For a life lost, eternal life to gain,
Would you suffer that pain?

Know You More

I have only scratched the surface,
This gift of great purchase.
Your words offer so much more,
Than I have seen before.

The mystery of Your vast glory,
And in Your Word, Your great story.
For I long to know You more,
And see what You have in store.

Knowing You more, I do believe,
When I ask I shall receive.
Knowing everything amounts to nothing,
Giving everything, You gave me something.

What Is It Going Take?

Tragedy is a part of life,
So is the pain and the strife.
We can't let those things hold us down,
And cause us to be consumed and drown.

For the storms of life may come strong,
And we may be hurt and feel wronged.
Christ felt the hurt and the pain,
And He died our eternal life to gain.

Your hurt may be deep and lasting,
And the rain pours and the winds blasting.
He sees the hurt and know your need,
Because He endured the pain and did bleed.

I am calling out to the hurting and lost,
I proclaim a message and a gift at no cost.
He loved the sinners and knew their need,
So I ask in earnest and pray that you heed.

Is It Well With You?

Is it well with high and crashing swell?
Is He there when you are down and fail?
The pain so deep and seems to have no cure,
Is the place you are standing sure?

For life has many storms and pains,
But with life in Christ, your soul gains.
Lay the burdens down at the cross,
To gain what by sin was lost.

My soul sings the praise of my Savior,
For a new life and a new behavior.
Let the things of this mortal life go,
And have eternal life. I know.

My heart hurts for those in pain,
I want them to know of what I have gained.
For Christ has died our souls to save,
And rise above the power of the grave.

Trust Him

I know it is hard to trust,
But it needs to be discussed.
We need to put away this distrust,
For our lives it is a must.

He was hated and betrayed,
But He still on the cross He laid.
For life cannot be lived without trust,
For with Him our lives will not be a bust.

Lay aside the things that hurt,
And know that He will never desert.
For trust in Him alone,
For your sins, He will atone.

Listen Long And Hard

Listen long and hard,
And your heart guard.
For there will be a day,
That Jesus calls us away.

The Savior calls out to you,
What will you do?
For the end will come some day,
Will you be the one to the rocks pray?

God loved us all in our wretched state,
But our sin He does hate.
He could have left us behind,
But He chose not to leave us blind.

Listen to the life that set the example,
And evidence in His Word is ample.
Life in Him is the best,
And He will enter at your request.

An Ebenezer Raised

This is a poem in honor of my Grandmother Jinright that passed on Christmas Day of this year. She did well to bring up my father when he was young. He served The Lord with gladness as it says in psalms. He did it until he returned home to be with The Lord. I will this ebenezer remember until I go home to be with my Lord.

She left behind a great deal,
And You with Your Spirit fill.
She wanted You to be known,
And all Your glory shown.

She cared for others,
Her Christian sisters and brothers.
Your message in her was clear,
Speaking loud for everyone to hear.

The days of the past I remember,
A bright light from a glowing ember.
She taught me so much,
Of You and all that You touch.

I will remember her as she was,
And what her testimony left behind does.
For she did Your work well,
And did sin's darkness dispel.

She entered into Your gates with praise,
And will do so for the rest of her days.
She has been made new,
And she looks forward to spending eternity with You.

Center Stage

This life is not my production,
And I need Your interruption.
I want You at the center,
And all blessings to enter.

This life was written to praise,
Forever and all my days.
Left to my own devices, it's a mess,
I want Your headlines on this press.

I step away from the bright light,
And in Your presence, I delight.
For Your words are always new,
And I seek Your will to do.

Drifting

The shipwreck has happened to me,
On the world's rough sea.
I would be adrift if it were not for You,
I would still be lost at sea not knowing what to do.

I saw the waves crashing upon the sea,
And then I saw You reaching your hand out for me.
I will not let the waves overwhelm,
I will let You command my ship's helm.

Life's seas might be rough,
But now I know that my God is enough.
You will keep my soul afloat,
And You guide my boat.