Thursday, March 23, 2017

Our Call

Will I be silenced
  in my call to love?
Do I have license
  from somewhere above?

If people don't care
  as I think they should,
would it then be fair
  to not act so good?

If they ignore me,
  despite my good will,
or they abhor me
  as mentally ill.

If, in all of this,
  I'm hated and spurned,
I pray I'll not miss
  this lesson I've learned..

Christ was rejected,
  despised by all men,
still he subjected
  Himself for our sin.

He loved us despite
  our hatred for Him,
so we have no right
  to let our love dim.

We should love others
  as He has loved all..
Sisters and brothers,
  yes- this is our call.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Our Home Above

We thank Thee, gracious Father,
  for many a pleasant day,
for bird and flower, and joyous hour,
  for friends, and work, and play.
Of blessing and of mercy
  our life has had its share;
this world is not a wilderness,
  Thou hast made all things fair.

But fairer still, and sweeter,
  the things that are above;
we look and long to join the song
  in the land of light and love.
We trust the Word which tells us
  of that divine abode;
by faith we bring its glories nigh,
  while hope illumes the road.

So death has lost its terrors;
  how can we fear it now?
its face, once grim, now leads to Him
  at whose command we bow.
His presence makes us happy,
  His service is delight,
the many mansions gleam and glow,
  the saints our souls invite.

We welcome that departure
  which brings us to our Lord;
we hail with joy the blest employ
  those wondrous realms afford.
We call it home up yonder;
  down here we toil and strain
as in some mine's dark, danksome depths;
  there sunshine bright we gain.

To God, then, sound the timbrel!
  There's naught can do us harm;
our greatest foe has been laid low;
  what else can cause alarm?
For freedom and for victory
  our hearts give loud acclaim;
Whate'er befall, on Him we call;
from east to west, in Him we rest;
  all glory to His name!

James Mudge
(edited)

Forgive me Lord

Forgive me Lord for sins long past, and those for which I haven't asked. Forgive me when I neglect to pray; instead, desiring my own way...