Sonnets To Love By

GPP 98: Persecution On Earth

2011-12-16T05:26:00.000-08:00

GPP 98: Persecution On Earth

O! You that are inclined to accept Christ,
Enthroning Him as the Lord of your life,
Are you willing to pay the mortal price—
The world’s hatred, persecution, and strife?
They killed the prophets, and Jesus Himself;
Rejecting God, men refuse to believe;
Content not only to seek pow’r and pelf*,
To stamp God out, they desire to achieve!
You’re apt to suffer in your earthly days,
If you stand firm as a child of the Lord;
Small cost indeed, compared to Jesus’ praise
And eternal life; great is your reward!
Hearts are hardened, after once rejecting—
They harbor hatred, self-pride protecting!

*pelf = money

Promise Made: Matthew 5:10-12 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 97L Ears That Don't Hear

2011-12-14T06:11:00.000-08:00

Some heard the good news that Jesus proclaimed,
But would not let their minds consider Him;
Their rebellious hearts His message defamed—
What knowledge they possessed, God took from
them!
Blest were those who heard the Savior with joy,
Drinking in His words, and eager for more;
When His teachings they began to employ,
Each new day’s wisdom added to their store!
So has it been since; so it is today:
Some ears are closed, and Jesus they reject,
Ne’er giving the Spirit chance them to sway,
Their Creator’s entreaties to inspect!
Some have ears that hear; hear they surely will;
Others’ ears are closed, and their chances nil!

Promise Made: Matthew 13:12 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Whoever has [ears that hear] will be given more, and he will have an abundance [of knowledge of truth]. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 86: Rewards Heaped

2011-12-12T04:38:00.000-08:00

To follow Jesus as Lord of your life;
Putting Him first with your body, mind, heart;
Often engenders great gut-wrenching strife,
If job, home, loved ones, you’re required to part!
Such were the apostles called on to leave;
They gave their very lives for Jesus’ sake,
And so should you, if in Him you believe,
Following whate’er path He tells you to take!
He asks and expects you to give your all;
When it’s done, rewards upon you are heaped,
Greater than you possessed before your call,
A hundred times more than you would have reaped!
You’ll be a child of God, co-heir with Christ,
Eternally living in Paradise!

Promise Made: Matthew 19:29 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘And everyone who has left homes or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 95: Sins Acknowledged

2011-12-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

David loved God and was loved in return,
But he committed sin, as do all men;
Within him guilt made his soul to burn,
Till repentance did God’s fellowship mend!
Like David, all saved offend God with sins,
And keep them secret a short or long time;
The Spirit plagues them on needles and pins,
Until they acknowledge to God their crime!
Sins of the saved are all pre-forgiven—
For none of them is there condemnation*,
But sin unconfessed, fellowship’s riven—
‘Tween God and child, a distant relation!
Constant communion between God and you
Requires complete frankness of sins you do!

*See Romans 8:1

Promise Made: Psalm 32:3-6 (David sings)—“When I kept silent [after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband], my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your [the Lord’s] hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone pray to you while you may be found. …” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 94: Worth Many Sparrows

2011-12-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

When Jesus sent the twelve to spread good news,
He warned they’d be hated because of Him;
Though victims they sure were of much abuse,
The heavenly Father took care of them!
Are sparrows not sold a penny for two,
Yet each falls only when the Father wills?
Of how much more worth to the Lord are you,
Who the entire world with His gospel fills?
The very hairs on your heads are numbered;
God watches over you closely intent;
Fear not pain or death if such encumbered—
Your souls shall live with Him fore’er content!
Take no extra funds or clothes when you go;
God provides for those who His message sow!

Promise Made: Matthew 10:29-31 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your heads are all numbered [the apostles, being instructed prior to their mission of preaching and healing in Israel). So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 93: Children Of God

2011-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

The saved in Christ are not as far from God
As ancient Israel, when just one man could
Draw nigh once each year, wearing clothes so odd,
Bells tinkled to warn, or kill him God would!
The Holy Spirit indwells each in Christ,
Thus God is close, in the believer’s mind,
Twenty-four seven, imparting advice
From inside, always strengthening and kind!
God adopts all who in His Son believe;
They have naught to fear, approaching His throne;
As sons and daughters, He does them receive,
Considering them children of His own!
Staying close to God, all their needs are met;
Drifting far away, the less help they get!

Promise Made: Hebrews 4:15-16—“For we [those who believe in Jesus as Lord] do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one [the Lord Jesus Christ] who has been tempted in every was just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us approach the throne of grace [meaning, believers’ prayers to and conversations with God] with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace [God’s gifts of blessing] to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)
[Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 92: The Holy Spirit's Help

2011-12-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

A new believer in Jesus as Lord
Knows not how to begin living anew;
God’s Spirit fast indwells*, his path to guard,
Like a conscience, showing him what to do!
The Spirit imposes guilt for misdeeds;
Urges to adopt new traits**, which spell love;
Intercedes with God for saints*** unknown needs;
Conveys unworded groans to Him above!
The Holy Spirit is Jesus in man,
Guiding him in living life that is new;
Without His aid, one is not born again,
Or he’s quenched Christ’s help his life to renew!
The Spirit-quenched saint is driftwood afloat,
Barely missing being classed as a goat!****

*See Romans 8:9
**See Galatians 5:22
***”saints” = Paul’s term for believers in Jesus
****See Matthew 25:33 and 41

Promise Made: Romans 8:26-27 (Paul writes)—
“… the [Holy] Spirit helps us [believers in Jesus as the Lord] in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he [the Lord God] who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 91: Changing Prioeutues

2011-11-30T04:35:00.000-08:00

All you who labor for gadgets and styles,
To stay abreast in this dollar-hungry maze,
Sinking deep in mire of credit-beguiles:
Trusting Jesus can free you from the craze!
Have you stood in line to buy a new fad,
Paying nothing down with plastic money,
Then learned a newer one was better had,
With endless payments on yours not funny?
Learn of Jesus—He changes your life’s goals,
Putting first things first! Drop out of the race;
Your earnings don’t have to pay others’ tolls;
Call upon Jesus, new life to embrace!
Satan has perverted the things of earth;
Loving this world steals a person’s true worth!

Promise Made: Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9

GPP 90: Staying Close To God

2011-11-28T04:02:00.000-08:00

Unswerving in hope of eternal life;
Based on trust in Christ Jesus’ faithfulness;
Keeping cleansed from sin in this mortal strife;
The saved stay near to God and holiness!
Armed with God’s Spirit and His seven fruits*,
The Christian can reduce committing sin—
His Internal Guide whispers intuits
In a still, small voice, heard only within!
Yes, the saved on earth do commit new sin,
Because the flesh toward evil is prone;
Confess they must, God’s fellowship to mend,
With confidence staying nearHis throne!
The Spirit is quick to quench if ignored;
Follow His advice, and His council’s roared!

*See Galatians 5:22

Promise Made: Hebrews 10:22-23—“let us [the saved; believers in Jesus] draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water [meaning, cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ, having confessed them]. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess [the promise of eternal life with Christ in heaven], for he who promised is faithful.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9

GPP 89: Already With God

2011-11-26T06:01:00.000-08:00

If you are truly saved, God thinks of you
As already dwelling with Him, even now,
Though years may pass ere your earth-life is
through,
And to live like Jesus, you don’t know how!
God sealed you as His, when you first believed;
In your mortal body His Spirit dwells,
Teaching you to walk as if undeceived,
Instilling traits* that aid sinful acts quell!
God knows no mortal can be sanctified**,
Until death frees his soul from evil flesh,
And Christ’s righteousness to it applied,
So an angel-like body God gives fresh***!
God considers all this already done,
When you accept Jesus Christ as His Son!

*traits = fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22
**sanctified = living without committing sin
***See 1 Corinthians 15:52

Promise Made: 1 Corinthians 6:11 (Paul writes)—
“…But you [believers in Jesus] were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified [adopted into the family of God] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 88: No Condemnation For The Saved

2011-11-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

God’s law brings eternal torment for sin,
Which ev’ry human has promptly incurred,
Is set at naught for those women and men
Who trust in Jesus, His creating Word*!
Once in God’s hand, no power in the world
Can any remove, nor condemnation
Re-threaten them ever to hell be hurled,
For the hand of God rules all creation!
In Christ is freedom and life forever;
Forgiveness of sin; love, joy, and sweet peace;
Come to Him while you breathe—after, never;
When earth-life ends, no chance Jesus to seize!
The people of earth in death’s darkness lay,
Till the light of Jesus pushed night away!

*John 1:1

Promise Made: Romans 8:1-2 (Paul writes)—
“Therefore, there is now [that is, after the first coming of Jesus] no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus [those saved by their belief in Jesus as Lord], because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 87: Jesus' Second Coming

2011-11-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

The eastern sky will so with glory fill,
That none on earth can skeptical remain;
Lord Jesus comes, His government instill;
Sin’s captives free; on David’s throne reign!
Non-believers have good reason to mourn,
Their rebellious lives naked before God,
Having refused ev’ry plea to be re-born;
Knowing it’s fore’er too late His paths trod!
Israel grieves to see Him, the Nazarene,
For well they know Jesus they crucified,
And through His grace that truth they’ve now seen:
It was at their hands their own Savior died!
Justice delayed is not justice denied—
True justice shall the Lord Jesus provide!

Promise Made: Revelation 1:7 (John writes)—“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced [crucified] him, and all the people of earth will mourn because of him. So will it be! Amen.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 86: When Dying Is Gain

2011-11-20T04:28:00.000-08:00

To those persons who in Jesus believe,
A most comforting promise has been made—
All their dead bodies will the Lord retrieve,
Formed new, undying, and to Him conveyed!
They’ll join Him in the clouds*, never to part;
With joy and perfect peace, they unfazed face
Great perils in this world—sword, fire and dart—
That others marvel they die with such grace!
Precious to the Lord are deaths of His saints**,
Leaving this vale of tears with happy smiles;
From their lips bystanders hear no complaints,
Even toward him whose own hand defiles!
To die in Christ is of far greater worth,
Than to live on Satan’s perverted earth!

*1 Thessalonians 4:17
**Philippians 1:21

Promise Made: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (Paul writes)—“For the Lord himself will come from heaven, with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 85: Jesus, The Crucified, Rules

2011-11-18T05:37:00.000-08:00

“It is finished!” Jesus cried from the cross,
Meaning, His redemption plan was complete—
Satan’s death-grip on men was fore’er lost;
Jesus’ resurrection sealed the defeat!
Now, Christ Jesus ascended to glory,
Retrieving the throne He’d owned before time,
Successful in planting the gospel story,
His mission accomplished uncommon fine!
Welcomed by heaven’s hosts with joy and praise,
He was enthroned on the right hand of God;
Took control of all things, in all their ways,
His scepter everlasting, and His rod!
Honor and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ,
Who brought men salvation at such a price!

Promise Made: Acts 1:10-11 (Luke writes)—
“They [about 120 disciples of Jesus] were looking intently up into the sky [having seen Christ Jesus ascending out of sight] as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white [angels] stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 84: Boldly Approaching God

2011-11-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

God doesn’t give Christians all that they ask;
Several conditions must first be met—
God’s sovereign will must include the task,
And “in Jesus’ name” askers not forget!
But He hears ev’ry plea disciples make,
Responding “yes” to some, “no” to others,
Or sends better than pled for mercy’s sake,
And some askers, no answer uncovers!
Like children beseeching their human dads,
Christians call God “Abba”*, boldly pleading
The Almighty for worthy gifts and fads;
He from gold the chaff constantly weeding!
The heavenly Father knows how to give
That which His children need for them to live!

“Abba” = “Daddy”

Promise Made: 1 John 5:14-15—“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we ask of him.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 83: God Is Attentive

2011-11-14T05:16:00.000-08:00

Who are “the righteous” of God anyway?
Those who believe that Jesus was His Son,
Whose blood, shed for the sins of all, did pay;
He rules the world, and will see justice done!
He conquered death, rising after three days,
His healed body alive, seen by His friends;
He ascended to heaven under their gaze,
Promising each new life, that never ends!
The righteous all still sin, which He forgives,
But they try not to, and mourn when they do;
Inside each one His Holy Spirit lives,
Whispering which acts are right, which bring rue!
Their prayers are heard, and their pathways blest,
For God watches, and helps them choose what’s
best!

Promise Made: 1 Peter 3:12—“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 82: So Great A Faith

2011-11-12T04:46:00.000-08:00

To receive from God “whatever you ask”
Requires faith in Jesus as Lord so strong
That one who has it can face any task,
Certain of success, that nothing will go wrong!
His belief in God and life eternal,
Is greater to him than his life on earth;
He lives to thwart the devil infernal,
His mind set on Christ, to Him be of worth!
So few Christians today possess such trust
That, though miracles come, most are unseen—
Bread to one starving, one life-saving crust;
Cancers healed, though doctors had quit the scene!
Paul had enough faith, for he raised the dead*,
He of all things put Jesus Christ ahead!

*Acts 20:10-12

Promise Made: Matthew 21:22 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:0)

GPP 81: You Must Open The Door

2011-11-10T05:10:00.000-08:00

To receive, find, or let Jesus come in,
A person must first open his heart’s door;
Though Christ is eager your new life begin,
He waits until His mercy you implore!
Jesus wants each and all great gifts receive;
He gave up glory to come die as man,
That with free will some would in Him believe,
Unbought, unforced, trusting His offered hand!
Your trust brings new life now of joy and peace,
Continued after death, everlasting;
He gives awesome gifts to your righteous pleas,
His love through you to others outcasting!
These gifts are yours only because you trust,
When you freely come, not because you must!

Promise Made: Matthew 7:7-11 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. Which of you, when his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven to those who ask him?’ “
(NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 80: Prayer Tops Technology

2011-11-08T05:48:00.000-08:00

Before the internet was invented;
Or orbiting satellites circled earth;
Or moving pictures, wireless presented;
Man prayed; God heard; and a virgin gave birth!
Top that, you dollar-craving techno-race!
All your rivals would go to early tombs,
If your gadgets could read thoughts across space,
Or conceive real babes in make-believe wombs!
Jonah prayed, from inside a diving whale;
God heard, and had him cast safely ashore;
His prayer was free, not even on sale;
No shipping charge for God’s answer, what’s more!
God’s mercies are free to those who believe;
Free, too, for you, if Jesus you believe!

Promise Mace: Psalm 65:2,5 (David sings)—“O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. … You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness. O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 70: Choose Jesus While You Mat

2011-11-06T05:06:00.000-08:00

A person born will most certainly die,
But the Bible says all will live again;
Then why live on in torment, and not on high,
If choosing Jesus now, dying is gain*?
It’s easy to believe you live by chance—
That nature made you and will take you back;
Enjoy to the hilt this brief selfish dance,
For after one round, soon all will be black!
But God made you to live forevermore,
Giving you just this life Jesus to choose,
Thus to live joyous inside heaven’s door;
Ignore Him, and future happiness lose!
Choose to live in bliss today, while you breathe,
For when you don’t, endless years you will
grieve!

*Philippians 1:21

Promise Made: Romans 8:38-39 (Paul writes)—
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 78: Whosoever Will

2011-11-04T05:39:00.000-07:00

Before creation God had the whole list
Of persons to be conceived during time;
He knew those who would the gospel resist,
And those who would accept new life sublime!
The latter knows the Good Shepherd’s kind voice,
And comes to Jesus, trusting what is heard;
The former are so mired in sin by choice,
Miracles won’t convince, nor truthful word!
Yet, all can be saved who on The Name call*—
The name Jesus, who is the Lord and Christ;
“Whosoever will”, salvation for all
Who call upon Jesus’ name, the one price!
God foreknew who’d be saved, and who’d be
lost,
Yet, the will of each determines his cost!

*Joel 2:32; Romans 10:9

Promise Made: John 6:37 (Jesus speaks)—“ ‘All [persons] that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 77: Jesus Always At Your Side

2011-11-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

He walked on water three and a half miles;
He fed five thousand on a brown sack lunch;
He cast out demons who knew His wiles;
He healed ten lepers in a single bunch!
He restored the sight of one blind from birth;
He changed barrels of water to choice wine;
The message He taught swept through all earth;
He raised the dead and healed the dying!
He was killed but came back live the third day;
He rose beyond space wearing no space suit;
He rules on God’s throne and has all the say;
He helps believers in producing fruit!
Who wouldn’t want Him ever near beside?
He’ll go with any along for the ride!

Promise Made: Matthew 28:20b (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 76: Jesus Attends His Own

2011-10-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

So George isn’t coming, nor Gloomy Gus;
Neither is Mary Sue, or Blasingame—
So what? Jesus promised to be with us,
If even two or three meet in His name!
If believers use His name, what is asked
Is given; when they meet, He is present;
When few or many gather, His work tasked,
Those are blessed, strengthened, and made more
pleasant!
Jesus’ name penetrates the strongest wall;
Climbs the highest mount; rules the wildest sea;
Rides the farest star; stills the stormy squall;
Breaks the hardest heart; saves the lost and me!
All we humans should praise His holy name,
For saving us from death, from sin, from shame!

Promise Made: Matthew 18:20 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with
them.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 75: God, An Ever-Present Help

2011-10-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

If a child of God remains in His will,
Though harm, even human death, on him falls,
He has naught to fear, for God’s with him still—
Life and safety in heaven quickly calls!
What is death, but the door to Paradise?
One with greater things for God left to do
Has divine protection, safe and precise—
No wound can prevent success to ensue!
From the moment of belief, such is true:
To die is gain, but Christ wants him to live*,
For producing fruit, ‘til earth-life is thrpugh;
Winning lost souls; new life to many give!
Believers have refuge in Christ the Lord;
Instant protection is their first reward!

*John 17:15

Promise Made: Psalm 46:1,7—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. … The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 74: Holy As Christ

2011-10-27T05:34:00.000-07:00

Some were chosen by God, Christ to receive,
Before creation, ere life had begun;
Yet, any who will in Jesus believe
Is assured of salvation by the Son*!
On believers are wondrous gifts bestowed;
Some rob themselves of the riches they own,
By quenching the Spirit; or seeds unsowed;
Or asking not for promised blessings shown!
Not in the flesh is holiness e’er achieved,
But in heaven will each saved righteous be,
Made so by Christ—His righteousness received—
That all who dwell there are holy as He!
In heaven, no sin is allowed by God;
Therefore, no flesh the streets of gold will trod!

*John 6:37-40

Promise Made: Ephesians 1:3-4 (Paul writes)—
“Praises be to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him [the Lord Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 73: One Gate Only

2011-10-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

Many routes to heaven are hawked on earth
That beguile multitudes to lose their way;
The devil’s highways abound; there is no dearth;
His cohorts love leading poor souls astray!
God’s paradise has but a single gate;
All others are contrived by Satan’s thieves;
Only through Jesus does heaven await,
And those who enter, in the Son believes!
Even Oprah has invented a trap
Supposed to lead folks to the Promised Land;
The misled pay millions for her claptrap ,
That does naught but lead into Satan’s hand!
The Bible and Jesus show the true way;
All else is man-made, seeking to betray!

Promise Made: John 10:9a-10 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved… The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they [all men and women] may have life and have it to the full.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 72: Christ Jesus Perfects

2011-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

A person re-born wants like Jesus live,
To live as righteous in the Savior’s eye;
Just two things to that effort can he give:
His most steadfast will pow’r must he supply,
Plus his entire self for Christ to direct!
Self-effort will not Christ-like persons make;
Such must let God’s Spirit mistakes correct,
Guiding actions to do, which not to take!
Christ is patient, mending broken beings;
He gives each many chances to succeed—
Forgives errors, thus from guilt full freeing;
He completes what’s lacking, so none has need!
Flesh cannot live righteous by self alone;
Strength from Christ Jesus lets one to go on!

Promise Made: 1 Peter 5:10 (Peter writes)—“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you whole, strong, firm and steadfast.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 71: The Lord Strengthens

2011-10-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Spiritual warfare rages earth for souls—
Trying to thwart God, Satan roams the world,
Duping men and women to live in roles
Sure to land them in hell, where he’ll be hurled!
God’s own Son died, in place of fallen flesh,
Redeeming any who in Him believed;
Giving them new lives in which to start fresh,
The guilt of past plus new sins full relieved!
God’s Spirit indwells, to guide each aright;
Lord Christ Jesus orchestrates world events,
Aiding the saved to live in paths of light,
Avoiding ways the evil one presents!
But most choose to stay in the devil’s grip;
For the few righteous, glorious the trip!

Promise Made: 1 Thessalonians 3:3 (Paul writes)—
“But the Lord [Christ Jesus] is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you against the evil one [Satan, the devil].” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 70: Christ Jesus Is Able

2011-10-19T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of Christ Jesus is at work
Within each believer, to guide him through
This life: Which path to take, and which to shirk,
He shows, in earth’s maze and hullabaloo!
What He does is so less than He’s able,
Flesh cannot imagine all He can do,
Not e’en in wonders of myth and fable,
The greatest but children at skip-to-my-lou!
None can match our Lord in pow’r and might;
With voice alone, He made the universe;
When all earth’s armies assemble to fight*,
He roars from Zion**—their troops perish first!
He was before time, and after will be;
For ever and ever, Christ Jesus He!

*Joel 3:9
**Joel 3:16

Promise Made: Ephesians 3:20 (Paul writes)—
“Now to him [Christ Jesus] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever. Amen.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 69: Blameless In The Lord

2011-10-17T04:07:00.000-07:00

Jesus the man died, but arose Lord Christ,
Ruler of all earth and the universe;
He’s coming back in pow’r, His might suffice
To reign the nations, heaven to rehearse!
The righteous expect His return with zest,
Having gifts to live as He commanded—
The Holy Spirit, their new lives to bless;
Things asked for in His name always handed!
These will keep them strong, living in His love,
Co-heirs—the Kingdom of God inherit;
They’ll meet Him in the air, far, far above
Those who rebelled, and new life don’t merit!
God, who called all to belief in His Son,
Is faithful and will surely get it done!

Promise Made: 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (Paul writes)—“Therefore you [the saved] do not lack any spiritual gift [the Holy Spirit, prayer] as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed [to be seen by all on earth]. He [Christ] will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be found blameless [saved[ on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Second Coming]. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 68: Hope In The Lors

2011-10-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

Don’t you know the good news? Have you not
heard?
Jesus is Lord, God of all earth and sky;
He shows Himself in nature and the Word*;
Hope in Him; on eagle’s wings you will fly!
God grows not weary in His love for you—
When you run, He will not let you grow tired,
And walking, He lets not your strength undo;
In perils of life, you’ll never get mired!
The universe He created just for man,
Whom He wants to become sons forever;
He understands you; will do all He can
To re-make you, fit to dwell with Him e’er!
Thinking of God’s greatness, I almost burst;
To live without Jesus, I dare not durst!

*Psalm 19

Promise Made: Isaiah 40:28-31—“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. … but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not grow faint.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 67: God, My Refuge

2011-10-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

Though now my strength ebbs, the Lord upholds
me;
If my heart fails, His heart He fast provides.
When my body is sown where none can see,
He takes my living soul to His blest side!
The unfaithful may prosper here below,
While I must content with rags and leavings;
But riches disolve when owners’ breaths go;
True wealth that lasts awaits those believing!
How good it is to be near God and bliss!
The Sovereign Lord gives strength and refuge;
If you think this life is all that there is,
You’ll be chagrinned by torment’s deluge!
Justice delayed is not justice denied;
Judgment awaits all on the other side!

Promise Made: Psalm 73:26-28—“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you [God] will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell all of your deeds.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 66: Bearing Fruit In Love

2011-10-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

Is the Lord calling you to bear Him fruit?
The Spirit calls some in a still, small voice,
An urge within to be the Lord’s conduit—
To spread His call to others that’re His choice!
God’s fruit is chosen folk, not heard His plea;
They know His voice, and will go where He leads,
Telling that Jesus died, so all could be free;
Fruit bearing fruit, until the whole world heeds!
Your part is to bear fruit, that when you ask
The Father for whatever you might need,
Which increases the fruit born in your task,
The Lord freely gives that for which you plead!
When Christians are united with brothers,
Attracted to Christ are unsaved others!

Promise Made: John 15:15-17 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘I no longer call you [the apostles] servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from the Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love one another.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 65L Praying For Faith

2011-10-09T04:16:00.000-07:00

“Dear Lord Jesus, I believe God sent you,
And that you are His one and only Son;
You died in my place, my life to renew;
God raised you from death; now, the world you run!
See, Lord, I have faith; let me heal the sick,
E’en as you did; or is my faith too small?
Maybe I could make a snake of a stick,
Or walk on water, as you, and not fall!
Two thousand years pass; does my faith grow less,
Or my reason for asking this pow’r wrong?
Prayers of righteous men still effect to bless;
Miracles still occur after so long!
Despite time’s passage and Satan’s world sway.
There are some with faith enough yet today!”

Promise Made: John 14:12-13a (Jesus speaks)
“ ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than this, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name…’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 64: Putting The Lord First

2011-10-07T04:56:00.000-07:00

What a world for the wholly committed!
For them, Jesus comes first in ev’rything;
Whatever projects, Bible-permitted,
They undertake, they know success will bring!
Each dollar invested returns millions!
Such a man might easily own whole earth;
He does not buy swankier pavilions,
But gives it away to those with no worth!
Commitment means more than cursory love;
It requires all one’s body, mind and soul:
Of all he has, the Lord is ranked above—
Spouse and family, possessions, the whole!
It is easy to say, “My Lord comes first”;
But to put Him there, few scarcely durst!

Promise Made: Proverbs 16:3 (Solomon writes)
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 63: Saved, Not Yet Sanctified

2011-10-05T04:32:00.000-07:00

You are saved by faith—in Jesus, belief
That He is Lord; for your sins He died;
Was raised from death; rules the world , the Chief—
But then comes the hard part: To be sanctified!
Little by little, bit by struggling bit,
You should turn from life in sync with the world,
And begin living as Jesus sees fit—
Your old lifestyle in the garbage-heap hurled!
You’ll never perfect the change on this earth,
While in the flesh, but your Lord is willing
To add the rest, making you heaven-worth,
When you get there, your will-power filling!
No flesh but Jesus e’er lived sanctified;
Only in heaven, will His mark be tied!

Promise Made: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (Paul writes)—“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body, be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you [Lord Jesus Christ] is faithful, and he will do it.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 62: Attackers Of Israel: Beware!:

2011-10-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

Beware, ye nations of Islam: Beware!
Yahweh* is watching; He knows what ye do!
He will not permit your ceaseless warfare
Against Israel—judgment is overdue!
You, and all nations desiring your oil,
Who send armies to aid your genocides,
Will perish; God will cause such a turmoil,
That friends kill friends**, until no one survives!
The Jews’ long penance is well nigh ended—
The Day of the Lord*** is coming, unknown,
But coming it is; gods who pretended
Will die as well; Yahweh’s God, on His own!
He pours out grace upon all Jews worldwide;
They accept Jesus, mourning theocide****!

*Yahweh = “He is” (God)
**Armageddon (Zechariah 14:12-15)
***Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:11-18)
****Zechariah 12:10-13

Promise Made: Psalm 10:16—“The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 61: Living As Jesus Taught

2011-10-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

The Holy Spirit dwells in believers;
In a still, small voice, He guides their actions;
If heeded, they become gospel transceivers,
Broadcasting the good news to all factions!
In them, seven precious traits He instills:
Peace, patience, kindness, love, and self-control,
Gentleness, and joy*; the Christian who’s filled
With these shows how to live as Jesus told!
What style of living did Jesus come to teach?
Just opposite to what men want to do—
Love, not hate; joy, with what’s within your reach;
Self-control, not anger; patient and true!
Each new trait comes hard, uprooting an old;
Heed the Spirit, whatever you are told!

*Galatians 5:22-23

Promise Made: 2 Peter 1:5-8—“For this very reason [to escape corruption in the world caused by evil desires, as Peter had written in the preceding verse], make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge [by study of the Bible]; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

Comment: These seven character traits are listed with slightly difference names in Galatians 5:22-23. They are called “fruits of the Spirit”, because the Holy Spirit, indwelling each believer, tries to guide the Christian’s thoughts and actions from inside his mind, speaking to him like his conscience would (but the Christian’s conscience is perverted by the world, so he should not follow conscience). Every Christian still possesses the sinful flesh he had before he was saved; therefore, every Christian still commits sin. If he trains himself or herself to follow these seven traits, he will be less likely to sin, but he or she will never reach that goal while living on earth.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 60: God's Plan For You

2011-09-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

For each child of God, He has made a plan,
That will count for much and achieve success;
The child knows it not, nor launch it he can,
Unless he trusts in Jesus, the path to bless!
Israel lived like on a roller-coaster—
Asking idols for rain in spring-season,
Then beseeching God dry crops to bolster,
In the fall, when drought restored their reason!
You must righteous remain both spring and fall,
Never switching from Jesus to the world;
You will find Him then whenever you call,
And into torment you’ll never be hurled!
Hope will keep you singing all your days,
And your future will remain filled with praise!

Promise Made: Jeremiah 29:11—“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 59: Mankind's Terrors Controlled

2011-09-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

All mankind ought to praise the Lord of Lords,
Without whom terror would be free to rage;
Earth’s safe haven should so o’erwhelm all bards
That God be the topic of ev’ry page!
Where else in the Cosmos could man survive?
If chance made Earth, why is there no other?
Here are all things man needs to stay alive,
Put here by the Lord, and not another!
Here are food, water, air, plus heat and light;
Not one star, planet, or moon has the same;
God came down, healed many, displayed His might;
Gave eternal life, for trusting His name!
To praise Lord Jesus, words are not designed;
Mankind would not be, if God’s love declined!

Promise Made: Psalm 10:17-18 (David Sings)
“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 58: Christ Completes

2011-09-25T05:23:00.000-07:00

If ever you call upon Jesus’ name,
He’ll come to you, and never cast you out;
New life begun, Jesus will complete same,
Till in heav’n you’re sanctified beyond doubt!
Just call upon Jesus, and you’ll be saved*—
That is, justified—to heaven you’ll go;
But true belief wants change to life depraved—
Desire to live righteous on earth below!
You will say, I’m no sinner, nor depraved;
Yet, not choosing Jesus is greater sin
Of all, keeping more folk from being saved;
Your worldly pursuits have evils within*!
Your life may be good, and not pursue vice,
But without Jesus, it will not suffice!

*1 John 2:15-17

Promise Made: Philippians 1:4-6 (Paul writes)
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he [Christ Jesus] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 57: Unity In Truth

2011-09-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

Jesus prayed more for unity between
His disciples than anything other,
But scads of church brands clutter the earth’s
scene,
Each claiming truer truth than another!
Mature believers are scarce as hens’ teeth;
Infants abound, Bible wisdom lacking;
Burping babes, resting on Christ’s promised keep,
Their lives unchanged, sit on grace’s backing!
Growth can come, for whom the Bible searches,
And heed God’s Spirit, if yet unquenched;
There’d not be so many brand-name churches,
Had born-agains not from the Bible flinched!
While here on earth, Christ desires us to grow,
Speaking the truth in love, and Bible know!

Promise Made: Ephesians 4:14-15 (Paul writes)
“Then [when believers have matured into unity] we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up in him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 56: Radiant Faces

2011-09-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

When Moses communed with God face-to-face,
His countenance grew so bright with glory,
He wore a veil before the Jewish race—
Its radiance detracted from his story!
Many Christians today live so nigh to God,
Their faces shine ever more illumined,
Revealing how close to the Lord they trod,
Showing others that with God they’ve communed!
Would that all believers’ faces so shined,
For non-believers could see Christ in them;
Scoffers and skeptics would be more inclined
To want what they’ve found in following Him!
Doubters of the Lord think their lives are free,
But they know not freedom till Christ they see!

Promise Made: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (Paul writes)—“Now the Lord [Christ Jesus] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 55:L Hope, Joy, Peace

2011-09-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Success is yours, if you’ve hope, joy, and peace,
No matter what else comes to you in life;
Many live and die, not gaining one of these,
So burdened with great cares and constant strife!
But all are commonplace for believers,
For they come as matter-of-fact add-ons,
To new undying body receivers,
The raised-from-the-dead that Christ Jesus owns!
God’s Spirit indwells each one’s living frame,
Keeping the Lord near to each’s present heart,
Counseling and preventing evil blame—
And all free for trusting on your part!
Trust in Jesus—all this you can expect;
Don’t, and who knows what will your life collect?

Promise Made: Romans 15:13 (Paul writes)—“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him [Jesus] so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 54: God's Ubfailing Love

2011-09-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

If any mortal knew the love of God,
It was Moses, who knew Him face-to-face—
For forty years, God showed him where to trod,
And fed Israel with manna through His grace!
By day, a cloud shaded them from the sun;
At night, a pillar of fire let them see;
God stayed with them, until the trek was done;
Unfailing love’s also for you and me!
Who would not sing for joy, with love like that?
Where on earth can such ceaseless care be found?
In following Jesus, is where it’s at—
Watchcare now, and later, you’re heaven-bound!
Sing for joy, the rest of your mortal days;
Afterlife, live fore’er, giving Him praise!

Promise Made: Psalm 90:14 (Moses sings)
“Satisfy us in the morning with your [Lord God’s] unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 52L Gifts From Christ

2011-09-15T04:29:00.000-07:00

A professed believer may think he’s saved,
And yet remain lost: Failure to repent—
He makes no change in life, still sin-enslaved—
His lost condition he failed to relent!
Christ gives the Bible for knowledge and pow’r,
His life to change; the Spirit for a guide,
Since sinful flesh tempts him worse by the hour—
If Bible unread, wisdom can’t abide!
Prayer—talking with God—is given, too;
But, if unused, how can he live aright?
In ev’ry act of life God gives the cue—
To do, or not to do: He guides him right!
Believing includes more than saying so;
One’s heart’s desires must love for Jesus show!

Scripture Comment: 1 Samuel 16:7—“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Promise Made: 2 Peter 3-4 (Peter writes)—“His [Jesus] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness [righteousness] through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and godliness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 52: Bodies Arise

2011-09-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

How can you enjoy this life while knowing
Each day subtracts part of your dwindling store;
Which, when gone, means kaput*, no more going,
Your body lies in blackness evermore!
Such the atheist, for whom no God lives;
Death and the grave being the final end:
Just one chance at mark-making, nature gives;
Body to dust; no soul, heaven to send!
But belief in Jesus alters aspects;
He will not leave your body in the grave—
It will rise all new, and Jesus perfects—
And for your soul, at death, heaven will save!
Nothingness is not all, as some expect:
It’s lasting torment, if Christ you reject!

*kaput = finished; no more

Promise Made: Psalm 16:9-10 (David sings)—
“Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because you [Lord Jesus Christ] will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One [Jesus] see decay.” (NIV) (Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 51: Wondrous Heaven

2011-09-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

No eye has seen, neither hath mind conceived,
The wonders of heaven God has in store
For those who in Jesus as Lord believed,
Co-heirs with Christ, that live forevermore!
No tears, lest God Himself wipe them away;
No night, for the light of Christ e’er pervades;
No grief: death no more; God’s justice holds sway;
Sorrow for missing loved ones fades away!
To have a body that never grows old,
And belong to the family of God;
Learning secrets of His word never told:
That’s the promised glory for which I’ve trod!
Pride in self causes many to lose this,
For loving earth so much, Jesus they miss!

Promise Made: Isaiah 25:8b-9—“The Sovereign Lord will wipe away tears from all the faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him, let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’ “(NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 50: No Greater Love

2011-09-09T05:02:00.000-07:00

Barrett penned how much she loved Browning;
Some other humans may have loved e’en more,
But Jesus got nailed instead of crowning,
When God came down, mankind’s life to restore!
Man condemned to death, everlasting night;
Just one thing—God’s death—all’s death could
amend;
Most gods would choose to remain out of sight,
In glory, ruling, safe from evil men!
Jesus chose to give His life for mankind;
As a man He died, but as Christ arose;
Gave us all a chance, long new life to find;
Bringing the grave’s dominion to a close!
I must reciprocate a love that great,
And believe in Jesus to seal my fate!

Promise Made: John 15:13 (Jesus speaks)—
“ ‘Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 49: Immensity From Nothing

2011-09-07T04:34:00.000-07:00

Ancient Job knew of God’s redemption plan,
Yet no scripture or prophet had e’er been;
His faith in Jesus shows that untaught man
Has no excuse his Creator offend!
The starry skies declare God’s great glory;
Day after day the sun portrays His care*;
No one on earth fails to hear His story—
Nature pours forth speech, yet no words are there!
God launched the Cosmos from absolute void;
All that’s seen and unseen by men today—
Something from nothing—skeptics can’t avoid
A Supreme Being this world did display!
Is there one so dull that in nature sees
Chance its source and men its higher species?

*Psalm 19

Promise Made: Job 19:25—“I know that my Redeemer lives and in the end he will stand upon the earth.” (NIV) (Material for the poem taken from Psalm 19:1-6 and Romans 1:20)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 48: Your Body Re-Made

2011-09-05T04:01:00.000-07:00

Not just my soul, which I don’t know, nor see,
But my body, that I have worn since birth,
However and wherever scattered be,
Found and re-made by God’s Spirit on earth!
How this can be, my poor brain cannot know;
I but know the same Spirit lives in me—
He that raised Christ from the dead long ago;
As it was with Him, with me it shall be!
So, too, for all who in Jesus believe;
For among the blessings He does bestow,
The same Holy Spirit you will receive,
To dwell in you, and counsel as you go!
How sweet to know my future is secure,
My body will live forever; that is sure!

Promise Made: Romans 8:11 (Paul writes)—“But if the Spirit of him [God] who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 47: God's Refuge

2011-09-03T05:20:00.000-07:00

God has refuge for ev’ry believer;
When troubles loom, His Spirit’s there ever,
The evil one’s darts to timely sever,
Thus deliver them from the deceiver!
Not so for the lost, the poor wretched souls,
Who ignore Jesus, facing tests alone;
The spears imbarb, with no shield but their own;
Tempests rage, and open thunder rolls!
The devil enslaves all souls that he may,
Like a lion, seeking any to devour;
Men need God’s Spirit- guard ev’ry hour,
Protecting them from becoming his prey!
But even the saved must seek God’s refuge,
Lest unprotected they face the deluge!

Promise Made: Psalm 37:39-40 (David sings)—
“The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 46: Mankind's Date With God's Wrath

2011-09-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Ye apostate mankind! Thy fate is sealed!
Long hath God sought your repentance in vain;
You’re grape in His winepress, thy blood congealed,
Presser Christ’s snow-white robe blood-red with
stain!
Thy nations are weakened as ne’er before—
Giant tsunami, asteroid strike, earthquake—
Mountains leveled; unburied bodies of gore;
Vultures unnumbered on the dead feasts make!
Not all; those souls who in Jesus believe
Have God’s promises from wrath to be spared;
Safe in the arms of Jesus Christ they cleave,
Eternal life with Him in safety shared!
Most of mankind have a date with God’s wrath,
For spurning Him for their own selfish craft!

Promise Made: Isaiah 54:10—“ ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love to you [spiritual Israel—believing Jews plus believing Gentiles] will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 45: Man Ignores His Treasure-Trove

2011-08-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

Who is like the Lord Jesus Christ to man?
No mortal mind can grasp His immensity,
For He is God, whose one pregnant breath can
Launch space in its pre-planned propensity!
Its billions of monstrous wonders but serve
Mankind, made in His image, who exist
On speck-earth; all else occurs to preserve
The race, in each brief life-span, to subsist!
All this wondrous expanding universe,
That worldly science but partly understands,
God made, for man to freely safely traverse;
To respond to His love, while each yet stands!
Why does tunnel-minded man God ignore,
His treasure-trove, his own affairs explore?

Promise Made: Psalm 103:8-12 (David sings)—
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions [sins] from us.” (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 44: Benefits From The Lord

2011-08-28T05:02:00.000-07:00

Ye who love Jesus, praise His holy name;
His benefits unto you are many—
For your sins, He Himself took all the blame,
So that you’ve become as clean as any!
The Lord crowns you with love and compassion,
Healing your body of all diseases,
Satisfies desires in tender fashion,
And renews your strength oft as it eases!
Non-lovers, too, ought to offer Him praises,
For rain falls on the just and the unjust;
You can choose Him any one of your days
And be full blessed, if in Jesus you trust!
So praise His holy name, all ye of earth,
Who bestows upon mankind all this worth!

Promise Made: Psalm 103:1-5 (David sings)—
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit [hell] and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (NIV) [Bracket added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 43: God Reads Your Heart

2011-08-26T04:12:00.000-07:00

If belief in Jesus Christ you profess,
Making it public, kith* and kin to please;
Or to smooth the path to career’s success;
Or thinking to insure your less disease;
Or ungrieving over sins of the past;
Or not vowing former life-style reverse,
And keep putting worldly things first, God last;
Or the Bible not gleaning, truths rehearse;
Or doubting Jesus was raised from the dead,
Is living in heaven and will return;
Then, my friend, you’re still lost, and ought to
dread
That your lack of faith the Lord can discern!
Though you fill a pew till your backside smarts,
It won’t save you; He knows what’s in our
hearts!

*kith = friends

Promise Made: 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)—“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height [in choosing David to be anointed king over Israel], for I have rejected him [Eliab, David’s older brother]. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at, Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 42: Christians Sun, Too

2011-08-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

If in Jesus Christ is Lord, you do believe;
That He was raised from the dead, and still lives;
Then guilt for all your sins, He will relieve—
Your past and future sins both He forgives!
O yes, dear friend, those “born again” still sin,
Though trying to control their same old flesh;
It e’er retains evil desires within;
The body, unlike the will, can’t refresh!
E’en so, true belief brings true salvation;
Rejection brings sure death and long torment!
Why blindly choose eternal damnation,
When life eternal from Jesus is sent?
Do you falsely think your lifestyle the best,
When in Jesus only you can be blest?

Promise Made: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (Paul writes)
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.”

Comment: Every Christian, or church member, sins, and knows he or she sins, after accepting Jesus as Lord of his life. He or she is not made perfect simply by accepting Jesus. It is not fair or accurate to call church members “hypocrites” because others see imperfections in them. They know they are not sinless No church has a single member, including the preacher, who does not continue to commit sin. What, then, is the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian? The difference is in the will or desire: The Christian is earnestly trying to avoid committing sin, and he or she has God’s Holy Spirit indwelling, trying to teach him or her love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control; the non-Christian is embracing sin as a lifestyle, has no Holy Spirit, and sees no need to make a change.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 41: Jesus Is Returning

2011-08-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

Astronauts in womb-like suits drift in space,
Attached by tethers to the mother-ship,
But tetherless Jesus ascended apace
To heaven, crowning redemption’s trip!
Not a myth, nor dead, He’s alive today,
Managing the affairs of earth and space;
Things occur just as the Bible does say;
The future, too, which Satan can’t erase!
Christ is coming back, this time in full might;
Israel accepts Him as their Lord and King;
Earth’s evil falls before His holy Right;
Peace and justice for all, does His rule bring!
The disciples watched Jesus’ first ascent;
The whole world will watch His Second descent!

Promise Made: Acts 1:9—“After he [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their [the disciples, about 120 men and women] very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white [angels from heaven] stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ “ (NIV) [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 40: More Than Conquerers

2011-08-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

We are more than conquerors through the Lord,
For He gives power and wisdom to win;
Such are not from us, or our own accord,
But furnished by Christ in war against sin!
The Holy Spirit, unseen by the foe,
Supplies the words and tells us what to do;
Ever on alert, ahead He does go;
Strength He heightens, and courage does renew!
God is the victor, whatever we face;
His saved ones will never suffer defeat—
Righteousness the breastplate their hearts encase,
And with belts of truth their wisdom replete!
Through the Spirit only does such might come;
By the letter of the Law, death’s the sum!

Promise Made: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (Paul writes)
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 39: The Least Will Be Greatest

2011-08-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

The humblest here will be the greatest there,
Contrary to standards men value most;
He who here wrests and holds the higher share
Is esteemed and served by the larger host!
Humility reigns supreme in God’s sphere,
Whose Son came to serve, not be served any;
He made men, but they were His masters here—
His life was given ransom for many!
His apostles argued, Who would be great?,
As He prepared to die, day upon day;
Who will serve the others, early and late?
To humbly serve—that is the Kingdom way!
Jesus showed them how to live and to serve;
The apostles should their Leader observe!

Promise Made: Matthew 20:25-28—“Jesus called them [the apostles, who were arguing with each other] together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles [all non-Jewish peoples] lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you [believers, who are members of the Kingdom of God]. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

2011-08-15T04:48:00.001-07:00

GPP 38: Free Indeed

Satan has locked world culture in deceit,
And all who pursue it are slaves of sin;
Hell’s jaws are open wide for their receipt,
As daily they pour to torment within!
They heard of Jesus, whom they rejected,
Believing instead the lies of the world;
With distrusting Bible they’re injected;
At disciples of Christ, insults are hurled!
Their need: To accept Jesus’ true teaching,
To see how world culture is so corrupt;
To give them new life, Jesus is reaching,
Their headlong rush to hell to interrupt!
The Son wants you from sin’s grip to be freed;
If He sets you free, you are free indeed!

Promise Made: John 8:34-36—“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son [referring to a believer in Jesus, who is adopted into the family of God as a brother to Jesus] belongs to it forever. So if the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 37: A Living Hope

2011-08-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

A living hope comes to one born again—
Hope of being raised like Christ from the dead;
Hope of new life, undying, with no pain;
Hope of no more grief, and no tears are shed!
How sweet would this life be, with hope so grand!
You may not know: It could belong to you!
Whosoever with Jesus Christ will stand
Inherits these and other blessings, too!
Most “hopes” are at best “maybes” and “mights”,
But these are ensured by God Almighty,
Creator of matter, man, heat, and light,
King of Kings, Who keepeth all things tidy!
Believe in Jesus; these hopes come to you,
Cheering this life, and the life to ensue!

Promise Made: 1 Peter 1:3-5 (Peter writes)—
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth with a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

2011-08-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

GPP 37: A Living Hope

A living hope comes to one born again—
Hope of being raised like Christ from the dead;
Hope of new life, undying, with no pain;
Hope of no more grief, and no tears are shed!
How sweet would this life be, with hope so grand!
You may not know: It could belong to you!
Whosoever with Jesus Christ will stand
Inherits these and other blessings, too!
Most “hopes” are at best “maybes” and “mights”,
But these are ensured by God Almighty,
Creator of matter, man, heat, and light,
King of Kings, Who keepeth all things tidy!
Believe in Jesus; these hopes come to you,
Cheering this life, and the life to ensue!

Promise Made: 1 Peter 1:3-5 (Peter writes)—
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth with a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 36: Complete Joy In Christ

2011-08-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

I ask a riddle: What makes joy complete?
The lives we live are hard and full of strife;
Our joy comes in dribs and drabs, non-replete;
No matter the toil, total joy eludes life!
It need not be, lest stiff-necked’s what you are;
So many things that can make life worthwhile
Come to you free, when Jesus is your star,
And you mean to follow Him ev’ry mile!
Your joy is complete, when Jesus loves you,
And He loves all who obey His commands;
Let the Spirit guide in all that you do,
And in the Savior’s love, take all your stands!
The Spirit’s advice is trustworthy, too,
But conscience, like the world, flounders untrue!

Promise made: John 15:10-11 (Jesus speaking)—
“ ‘If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Roman 10:9)

GPP 35: Peace With God

2011-08-10T04:55:00.000-07:00

A wall between God and the human race
Stands impregnable, the result of sin;
All souls face spiritual death, but God’s grace
Bestowed, gave Jesus, victory to win!
God’s Son died, the one way to break the wall;
That whoever believed was born again,
Given new life through faith, the wall will fall—
God sees Christ in them, not their own sin’s stain!
None has peace with God, if unborn anew;
Belief in Jesus gives one that new life,
But reject Him—the wall blocks God’s view;
Those born but once are still in sin and strife!
Mister Non-believer! Tear down that wall!
Receive God’s Son Jesus! On His name call!

Promise made: Ephesians 2:14-15 (Paul writes)—
“For he [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two [one person’s natural body and the same person’s ‘born again’ new body] one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law [Mosaic plus any man-made law for salvation] with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create for himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16]

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 34: Peace And Hope

2011-08-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

Do any live on the earth that do not yearn
God does exist, and His grace brings them glory?
But God is; the fact that cools such a burn
Can be one’s faith in Jesus Christ’s story!
When one believes Jesus Lord, and alive,
Running the world today from God’s great throne,
One has peace of mind, and in life does thrive,
For grace comes through faith—one becomes God’s
own!
God pours grace upon believers in Christ;
His Son Jesus is the key to God’s heart;
Trust Jesus, and you’ll heaven’s gates incise;
Grace does hope of eternal life impart!
Living life without Jesus is not wise,
When faith through grace yields peace and no
surprise!

Promise Made: Romans 5:1-2 (Paul writes)—“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 33: King Without End

2011-08-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

From the Mount of Olives He ascending,
The risen Jesus, the Christ, in public view;
In pow’r returning, likewise descending;
Bodies and souls rejoin; long lives ensue!
God’s trumpet sounds forth; Christ’s shepherd’s
voice calls;
The angels find dead believers’ remains;
Into each new body, Jesus installs
Its still-living soul, which He now retains!
Saved persons on earth, who’s yet alive,
Change in a flash, rise up, with all, unite;
Christ, the Groom; all the hosts of saved, His Bride;
Lead angel armies toward earth, with might!
No mild Jesus this, facing evil men—
He makes war, judges, and reigns without end!

Promise Made: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (Paul writes)—“For the Lord [Christ Jesus] himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” [Brackets added]

“For Jesus so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 32: Grave Holds No Body

2011-08-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

When the trumpet sounds, and Christ comes again,
On earth some Christians will be living still;
The dead in Christ shall rise, and lead the train;
Heaven’s hosts and the saved the sky will fill!
In the twinkling of an eye, live ones change,
Their rising bodies become lasting new;
Remains of saved dead come forth from crypts
strange,
Their bodies restored, everlasting, too!
That happy meeting ‘twixt Savior and saint,
When each dead in Christ retrieves his own soul,
Begs for master artist to lasting paint—
Christ leading His armies—on timeless scroll!
O death! Where is your sting, the wage of sin?
You could not hold sinless Jesus therein!

Promise Made: 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (Paul writes)—“Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep [meaning, die], but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true. ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.“ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 31: Chosen By God

2011-08-02T04:24:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of wonders done in public view
Should have convinced Jews Jesus was the Christ,
For what mortal could such miracles do;
That He was divine, should they not suffice?
Some believed by hearing His words alone,
Not seeing Him one miracle perform;
They were chosen by God to be His own,
In mercy, before they were even born!
Were the others doomed by God to be lost,
Before their conceptions did their lives begin?
No soul is condemned to pay such great cost,
Unless they have denied Jesus God did send!
God, in mercy, the saved pre-elected;
By free will, the lost Jesus rejected!

Promise Made: John 10:24-28—“The Jews gathered around him [Jesus, in the temple] saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 30: New Bodies Forever

2011-07-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

Heaven will not admit one in the flesh;
All men must die, as did Jesus that day;
The Spirit, who raised Him, will raise you fresh—
New, immortal, as Christ and angels stay!
Here, if the Holy Spirit lives in you,
And your mortal body inhales its last,
Your soul—your being—flies to Jesus true—
New body, too, at the last trumpet’s blast!
But, if in Jesus you do not believe,
No Holy Spirit dwells in mortal you,
For hell your soul and new body take leave,
And eternal torment is all you’re due!
Call on Jesus’ name; He won’t cast you out;
The Spirit is yours then, without a doubt!

Promise Made: Romans 8:11 (Paul writes)—“And if the Spirit of him [God] who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.” [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 29: God Indwelling

2011-07-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

Among the treasures that Jesus imparts
To those that love Him and in Him believe—
God, the Holy Spirit, indwells their hearts.
Exposing Satan’s snares, meant to deceive!
Counselor and guide to the “born again”*,
His truths and advice unheard without;
Truer than a conscience is His refrain,
Steering this vain world with never a doubt!
He explains Scriptures, conveying them clear,
That children of God His message discern;
Without His aid, the Bible’s meanings veer,
For worldly minds spiritual language spurn!
The Spirit is God within Christ’s truster,
To counsel him how to righteous muster!

*”born again* = “new life” in Christ

Promise made: John 14:15-17 (Jesus speaking)
“ ‘If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit of God]. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.’ “ (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 28: Saved Completely

2011-07-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

When Jesus saves you, He completely saves;
No believer should fear his soul’s at risk;
For Christ in salvation two pathways paves—
Both accomplished for each soul in a whisk!
When in Him as the Messiah* you trust,
He makes you full cleansed from sin by His blood;
You’re saved from hell, but go non-trusters must;
That’s the first pavement He provides from mud!
Freed from hell, next, to heav’n you want to go,
So He covers your sins with snow-white robes;
You’re admitted there, on Jesus’ say-so,
Your filthy rags under His sinless clothes!
You can’t earn or buy either one of these,
But if you believe, they’re free as the breeze!

*Messiah = the Son of God

Promise Made: Hebrews 7:25—“Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” [Bracket added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 27: Amazing Faith

2011-07-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

If you find it hard, Jesus to accept,
Consider Joseph, engaged to a maid,
Whose innocence she had vowed would be kept,
But failed for all whose eyes on her were laid!
An angel assured Joseph she was pure,
But what proved to him the angel was real?
What evidence showed Mary’s fealty sure?
Custom required she her vagina seal!
He could have had her stoned, but he did none;
He could have married, then divorced at once,
But good Joseph went on as planned; became one;
His faith an exemplar for man’s whole bunch!
Would you know an angel who came to you?
Joseph knew, and accepted his words as true!

Promise Made: Matthew 1:21 (An angel speaking to Joseph)—“ ‘She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ “ {Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in you heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 26: Grace Lavished On Mankind

2011-07-22T04:28:00.000-07:00

God, through His Son Jesus, lavished His grace
Upon mankind, with neither stint nor count,
Redeeming all from hell’s eternal embrace,
And forgiving sins through Christ’s bloody fount!
Jesus shed His blood on Golgotha’s tree,
That those who believed His words were of God,
Would from condemnation fore’er be free,
And sins forgiv’n as if righteous paths trod!
Had Jesus not come, all were dead at birth;
Hopeless would we live, and as hopeless die;
Darkness veiled men all, and darkness all earth;
Womb to grave; to judgment; to hell to fry!
How wise Jesus was, in His words and acts—
Not one single gaffe, to distort the facts!

Promise Made: Ephesians 1:7-8 (Paul writing)—“In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 25: The Only Way

2011-07-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

God hates sin: It’s offensive to Him;
“The wages of sin is death!” He decreed;
The whole human race has sinned—all of them;
When this life ends, hell must for each succeed!
Unless one’s sins are forgiven by God,
Each of us will live fore’er, and e’er burn;
Jesus alone can cleanse the lives we trod—
Belief in Him will one’s pathway turn!
There is no other way, despite falsehood;
Confess Jesus Lord, and raised from the dead,
Then, all your sins are forgiven for good,
And you will escape the fate sinners dread!
Let not the world convince you otherwise;
Satan controls the world, and feeds its lies!

Promise Made: Acts 10:43 (Peter speaking)—“ ‘All the prophets testify about him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 24: Your Needs Supplied

2011-07-18T04:45:00.000-07:00

Absent God’s will, not even sparrows die;
What hazards then must His own children fear?
If the needs of birds He fails not supply
How much less likely His workers down here?
If God knows how many hairs on your head,
Do you think He’s unaware your needs?
Then why be afraid, or why do you dread?
Be fearless, in the doing of good deeds!
For clothes or food, waste no time in pursuit
When more vital goals languish untended;
Success in serving God’s measured in fruit—
Salvation of souls, saved and attended!
Your Maker knows the basics you require;
Trust in Him to furnish what you desire!

Promise Made: Matthew 10:29-31 (Jesus speaking
“ ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your
head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth many sparrows.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 23:: Wise Choice

2011-07-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

A life built on Jesus’ words is like a house
Whose foundation is anchored in bed-rock—
Raging storms seek occupants’ lives to douse,
But it stands firm and safe, their fury mock!
In trusting Jesus, life lasts forever;
Death and the grave end not its brief sojourn;
What a cruel joke, if this vain endeavor
Were all that men had in which to yearn!
Abortion ends some ere they’re e’en begun,
And the longest-lived dies famished for more;
The best there is for men is trust the Son;
Rejecting Him is but locking the door!
This life is but dream, before we arise,
To separate the foolish from the wise!

Promise Made: Matthew 7:24-27 (Jesus speaking)
“ ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall—it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rains came, the winds blew. the streams rose, and the winds blew against that house and it fell with a crash.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 22: Nothing Denied

2011-07-14T04:36:00.000-07:00

The child of God in fellowship with Him
Knows and obeys His Word in ev’ry way—
Slow to commit sins; quick to confess them;
And communing with Him throughout the day!
Whate’er he asks for in faith believing,
He will receive; he shall find what he seeks;
Any closed door will open relieving;
And people will listen whene’er he speaks!
Of course, this perfect one on earth is rare,
But it could be true if a righteous soul
Kept all God’s commands in this world of care;
Only Jesus fulfilled that sinless role!
With new bodies in heav’n will the saved be,
As perfect there as on earth was He!

Promise Made: Matthew 7:7 (Jesus speaking)—
“ ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 21: Worry Not

2011-07-12T04:29:00.000-07:00

Would you like to live your life without care,
Knowing that your God won’t fail to provide
All your needs—food, drink, and the clothes you
wear?
Then, trust in Jesus; in His love abide!
Does your neighbor have more of this world’s
things,
And you are behind in owning the best?
Put first God’s kingdom, and the joy it brings;
Leave spending and getting to all the rest!
Those without God value this world so much,
Racing all the Joneses, deep in debt,
Charging to buy trinkets, gadgets, and such,
Robbing God of His tithe, by their neglect!
God knows His children require basic needs;
He supplies, so they’re free for greater deeds!

Promise Made: Matthew 6:31-33 (Jesus speaking)
“ ‘So do not worry, saying, What will we eat?, or,
What will we drink?, or, What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 20: Safest Place For Treasure

2011-07-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

For the saved, treasures in heaven accrue,
From good works done after they believe;
Good deeds by the lost are of no value—
They must accept Christ, rewards to receive!
Good and bad deeds are recorded for each;
Sins, of the saved, if confessed, are erased,
As if shed blood of Jesus were a bleach;
Treasures are saved only for the engraced!
If, in heaven, you wish to store treasure,
Jesus as Savior you must first accept;
Then He will bless you beyond all measure,
And guarantee your rewards safely kept!
‘Midst scrambling for more in this present strife,
Have you stored treasure for your afterlife?

Promise Made: Matthew 6:19-21 (Jesus speaking)—“ ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 19: Truth Sets You Free

2011-07-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

People today are like the Jews of old,
Who pretended belief in Jesus Christ,
But to perverted paths retained their hold,
Instead of following His true advice!
“We’re not slaves!” both groups claim, neck-deep
in sin,
Clinging for dear life to this world’s embrace,
Absorbed in trinkets developed by men,
With no free time to consider God’s grace!
The real disciple follows Christ’s teaching,
Then he knows the truth, and it makes him free—
Free from the world’s deceitful claws reaching
To keep him enslaved in pursuits unfree!
To be in Christ is to be free indeed;
Truth is found in no other God or creed!

Promise Made: John 8:31b-32 (Jesus speaking)—
“ ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 18> Bread Of Life

2011-07-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

It is not God’s will that any should die,
But that all will see Jesus and believe,
For those that do shall dwell with Him on high,
And not in torment with those who deceive!
Trusting in Jesus is like eating bread,
From which you’ll never grow hungry again;
Or drinking water, then thirst never dread—
Like sustenance which will ever sustain!
Believe; fear not the grave—it will not last;
You will be raised up, undying, and new
Your afterlife dwarfing the meager past;
Eternal life’s no myth, but certain true!
Lead me to the bread and water of Christ;
I would be filled with that which will suffice!

Promise Made: John 6:40 (Jesus speaking)—“ ‘For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 17: Walking In Light

2011-07-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

Behind every tree on mankind’s pathway
Lurks an evil trap designed to ensnare
The lightless soul entranced by its display,
And none is there to warn, or cry, “Beware!”
Then Jesus came to men, with life, and light,
Teaching them to expect the hidden snares;
To avoid the pitfalls, by living right;
Exposing the falsehoods in this world’s wares!
Christ installs His Spirit in believers,
An inner guide that lights the righteous way;
Clearly revealing Satan’s deceivers;
Furnishing light that keeps darkness at bay!
The devil succeeds when shrouded in night;
He’s helpless in the glare of Jesus’ light!

Promise Made: John 8:12—“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 16: Children Of God

2011-07-02T04:50:00.000-07:00

As if eternal life were not enough,
You also are adopted as God’s child,
For Jesus does His believers engulf,
And God sees not you but His Son so mild!
How splendid are the gifts on them bestowed!
Their faith in Jesus the one needed key,
They receive more—Paradise their abode;
Bodies undying, and no sadness see!
Christ among them; saints all around;
No war, and no crime; no worry or fear,
Only kindness and love throughout abound;
God Himself wipes away ev’ry tear!
Born of flesh, and Holy Spirit divine,
Riches of glory can be yours and mine!

Promise Made: Galatians 3:26 (Pau; writes)—“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

GPP 15: Grief Now, Joy Then

2011-06-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

If mankind ever had reason for joy,
It was when God dwelt in flesh as a man;
He abstained His divine power employ,
Yet lived sinless, a feat that none other can!
Jesus, God’s earthly name, for all sins atoned,
By shedding His blood for us on the cross,
Thus paying the debt ev’ry one owned,
And restoring the life that sin had cost!
O’ercoming death, God tarried forty days,
Removing all doubt that He lived again;
Then He rose to heav’n to run the world’s ways,
And there’ll be no end to His royal reign!
The trumpet will sound, and so will His voice;
He’ll return to earth; His saved will rejoice!

Promise Made: John 16:19-22 (NIV)—“Jesus saw that they [His apostles] wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, ‘Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while, you will see me? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain, because her time has come, but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you. Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise 14: To Live With God

2011-06-28T04:02:00.000-07:00

Jesus gave to mankind a precious right:
The right to live forever in God’s care,
To have brand-new life, when this one takes flight,
And an undying strong new body to wear!
This happy pow’r cannot be earned or bought;
It’s given only to those who believe
That Jesus was God’s Messiah who brought
Redemption to the race that sin deceived!
This gift is still available today,
But you must open the door to your heart,
For into none will Jesus force His way,
Respecting your free will, the choice impart!
To have new life, you must be born again,
By asking Jesus in your life to reign!

Promise Made: John 1:11-13 (NIV)—“He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through [by] him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that [His people] which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband’s will, but born of God.” [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise 13: Christ's Gentler Yoke

2011-06-26T04:34:00.000-07:00

He only is the ‘master of his fate,
And captain of his soul’* who knows the Son,
Choosing Him Lord at the earliest date,
Before his walk on this earth is done!
To make no choice is foolhardy indeed,
For ‘no choice’ is to choose the prince of sin;
Man must invite Jesus, for Him to heed;
If the door is not opened, He won’t come in!
Once in Jesus, no one can be cast out;
No fear’s left in life, not even the end;
Life will go on—of that, there is no doubt;
No trouble; no tears; and nothing to mend!
With no more delay, the wise will choose Christ,
For life speeds apace, and’s gone in a trice!

*Invictus, by W. E. Henley

Promise Made: Matthew 11L28-30 (Jesus speaking)—“ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise 12: Rewards Enemy-Lovers

2011-06-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

No militant Jewish fighter was He—
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God—
As His people thought Messiah would be,
Misled by those charged God’s righteous
paths trod!
Prophets had told: Not by pow’r or by
might,
But by God’s Spirit*, will the world be
won
From the darkness of death into life’s light;
The Messiah: Jesus, God’s beloved Son!
So Jesus taught: Your enemies, as well,
Should be loved, for great will be your reward—
Loving acts may save them from fiery hell,
If coming from you, mistreated so hard!
The Father is kind to haters of Him,
Thus His children should to haters of them!

*From Zechariah 4:6

Promise Made (Jesus speaking): Luke 6:35-36—
“ ‘But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.’ “ (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God;s Precious Promise11: Goodbye, Graves

2011-06-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

Too often have we gathered at the graves
Of kith and kin*, grieving, saying “Goodbye”,
Forgetting that God souls not only saves,
But gives all new bodies that will not die!
God never intended death for mankind,
But Adam incurred the penalty of sin,
And all his offspring offended in kind;
Jesus conquered death, defeating it for men!
No remains are too hard for God to find;
Each of us will live again forever;
Two worlds will be, peopled by all mankind;
No graves required in either place, ever!
Since Jesus came forth, and is living now,
He promised the same fate to us endow!

*kith and kin = friends and relatives

Promise Made: 1 Corinthians 15:51-55—“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep [die], but we will be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortal. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true. Death has been swallowed up in victory. ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise10: Grace

2011-06-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

God wanted mankind to live without sin,
So they could dwell righteous with Him always;
But as He foreknew, not one among men
Could resist temptation for all his days!
God then proffered undeserved mercy, grace,
To all those with faith, belief, in His Son,
That from death redeemed a few of the race,
And to heaven these repenters could come!
So salvation is through faith, by God’s grace;
It cannot be earned, and no one can boast;
By repenting one’s past life, sins erase;
Living for Jesus; loving Him the most!
First, redemption; then, salvation, giv’n free;
Such wondrous gifts God offers you and me!

Promise Made: Ephesians 2:8-9—“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and that not from yourselves, for it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no man can boast.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise9: Sins Forgiven

2011-06-18T04:52:00.000-07:00

Confessing your sins causes small regret,
When selective and living as before,
But that is no way God’s forgiveness get,
And the Spirit’s nagging you still ignore!
Unless all your sins to God are rehearsed;
True repentance weighing heavy your mind;
And righteous living from Scripture researched;
Doing all these, you will forgiveness find!
If stiff-necked pride precludes bending your knee,
As stubborn Israel the Messiah refused,
Heaven will stay deaf to your mercy plea;
In hell you’ll be tormented and abused!
Confessing sins is a small price to pay
For tearless unending celestial day!

Promise Made: 1 John 1:9—“If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise8: Joyful Reception

2011-06-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

The bells of heav’n peal in joy and delight,
And God’s trumpets blast, announcing new birth,
When one who is lost comes in from the night,
Believing Jesus Lord of heaven and earth!
A saved soul is a “brand snatched from the fire”;
One less hitch in God’s noble endeavor,
A partial fulfillment of His desire—
To dwell with those of His image ever!
God is not willing for any to die;
He’s the most joyful when one’s born again,
Who joins the Lord’s happy host in the sky,
Leaving a vacant seat on Satan’s train!
His name shall be found written in the Book
Of those that live, when the Lord’s angels look!

Promise Made: Luke 15:3-7—“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in open country [where they will be safest] and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyously puts it on his shoulder and goes home. Then he calls to his friends and neighbors and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise7: Heard By God

2011-06-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

He who believes Jesus in faith is blessed:
Whatever he asks God for is given,
If, for him to have it, the Lord deems it best;
For by God the world’s affairs are driven!
The faithful’s pray’r wings direct to God’s ear,
Who knows all thoughts even before they’re
thought;
But pray’rs of the faithless God does not hear,
Save their grief for evil sin they’ve wrought!
Even so, most pleas lifted are unfit,
“According to God’s will” ‘s so high a bar;
His will’s so much above man’s highest wit,
That few mortal wants rise as high by far!
Yet, the saved’ wants are heard and within
reach;
No such “horn of plenty” can th’ lost beseech!

Promise Made: 1 John 5:14b-15—“If we ask [God] anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we ask of him.” (Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise6: Dwellings Forever

2011-06-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

Life, as conceived by God, is not this wisp,
Which buffets breathers wearing mortal flesh,
But immortal saints, dressed fore’er in crisp,
Risen-Jesus-like bodies, always fresh!
God has prepared dwellings for believers,
To live with Him forever on Zion’s mount,
The number of earth-days left His breathers
Depends on fruits to win in each account!
Non-believers shall live forever, as well,
In eternal bodies subject to pain;
Instead of heaven, they’re assigned to hell,
Where, with Satan, torment they must sustain!
While you breathe, you must choose Jesus, or
not;
When your last breath is drawn, fixed is your lot!

Promise Made: John 14:2-3 (Jesus speaking)—“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Roman 10:9)

God's Precious Promise5: Agape Love

2011-06-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

The love of God for created mankind
Looms over any that mortals construe,
Nor mortal pen inscribe for mortal mind,
And all the evils of Satan subdue!
No sooner had Adam stood than he fell,
And his offspring that followed did the same—
Thus God’s beloved condemned to suffer hell;
Not one man or woman escape the shame!
But God so loved mankind, He became man,
Humbling Himself to live as one of them;
Tempted sore, by mortal strength, He did stand;
Scapegoat for men’s sins, they crucified Him!
God redeemed mankind, paying all sin-debt,
That believers eternal life shall get!

Promise Made: John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

For Salvation: Romans 10:9—“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

God's Precious Promise4: Perfect Peace

2011-06-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

The peace from this world is at best but brief,
And cannot extend beyond the present,
Before falling victim to any thief,
Giving way to worry far less pleasant!
But when to Jesus our hearts are given,
We’re kept safe in His hand forevermore;
Nothing against us can e’er be driven
In this life or the next, on heaven’s shore!
Peace of Jesus shields believers from fret;
Illumines the black night brought by the grave;
Shows the endless perfect life coming yet;
And frees from cares that in the flesh enslave!
Jesus’ peace can’t be bought, earned, or
swindled;
It’s given when true belief is kindled!

Promise Made: John 15:27—“ ‘Peace I leave with you [Jesus speaking]; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise3: Eternal life

2011-06-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

We count birthdays to mark our years since birth,
As if their climb adds wealth to our account,
When, in fact, each means one less year on earth,
Subtracting treasure from our fleshly fount!
But Jesus says all of us who believe
In Him will be saved from death to new life,
That we can everlasting new life achieve
In heaven, where there are no tears or strife!
Lasting life is bestowed only through grace,
To those with faith in Jesus as Savior;
So none can boast, “! earned life in this place”;
Grace is God’s gift: Unmerited favor!
Jesus of Nazareth was “God with us”*;
Eternal life results when Him we trust!

*”God with us” = Immanuel (See Isaiah 7:14)

Promise Made: John 6:10—“ ‘For my Father’s will [Jesus speaking] is that everyone who looks at me and believes shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up [resurrect him] on the last day.’ “ [Brackets added]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise2: Mercy Guaranteed

2011-06-04T04:54:00.000-07:00

If the people of God have lost their way,
And His face is turned from them for a time,
His mercy upon them He will display,
If they return to Him, His face will shine!
They must humble themselves and seek His face;
Pray, repent, and turn from their wicked ways;
He will hear from heaven and pour out grace,
Forgive them, heal their land, and bless their days!
God will not desert His penitent child,
Nor earnest pleas for forgiveness ignore;
His repenting prodigal’s not exiled,
But finds his Father ready to restore!
Human flesh is weak, prone to sin and stray;
God’s mercy is quick, sin’s taint to belay!

Promise Made: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14—“ ‘When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ “

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That it you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God's Precious Promise: All Things Good

2011-06-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

Do you want all things that affect your life
To work together for good overall,
Even if it’s filled with cruel stress and strife,
And you’re puzzled how to deal with it all?
God, who manages all things in this world,
Will surely make good things happen for you,
Though Satan’s falsehoods nonstop at you’re
hurled,
And ev’ry friend ridicules what you do!
God has a purpose for each one to fill;
If you love Him, He’ll show you yours to do,
And assist you your mission to fulfill—
Then, nothing but good will work out for you!
Joseph began life from deep in a pit,
But he loved God, who royally crowned it!

Promise Made: Romans 8:28—“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Example: Genesis 37:23-24; 45:4-14

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Israel: From Abraham To Eternity (MP 98)

2011-05-31T05:46:00.000-07:00

Many Christian theologians wrongly believe today that God has cast off Israel, that the Church has been chosen by Him and will inherit all the unkept promises and unfulfilled prophecies made to His Chosen People. If they are correct, they face an embarrassing problem—to explain away God’s failure with His “firstborn son”, as the Bible calls Israel. A careful examination of the promises and prophecies about Israel in the Bible, together with an unshakable faith in the power of Almighty God, added to modern secular history combine to prove that the apostle Paul was correct in writing that God has not cast away Israel in Romans 11. Events of history, past and future, will gloriously confirm that nothing is too difficult for God. God has not finished with Israel. In fact, He has only begun. The crucifixion of Jesus in 32 A.D. ended the first of three stages of His dealings with them. We have been in stage two since then; God is using His Church to draw out a remnant of Gentiles to His Kingdom; physical Israel has morphed into spiritual Israel which contains Jews and non-Jews. Stage three, after Christ’s Second Coming, will see the new Israel fulfill every promise made by God.

In 70 A.D. Rome left physical Israel homeless, almost extinct, and scattered throughout the world. In 2011 A.D. they have a small fraction of their Promised Land, clinging precariously to existence surrounded by enemies. The future of physical Israel, indeed, is grim, but their final destiny is glorious. Christ will pour out grace on physical Israel, and many will accept Him. As God promised in Exodus 19, spiritual Israel will be a holy nation of priests for Jesus Christ to the world, and they will occupy the whole land that God promised, from the Nile River to the Euphrates River.

The serious Bible student will gain new insights by a careful study of the following scriptures, for they contain prophecies, some already partially fulfilled, revealed by God that show how wayward Israel will become the people He planned for them to be.

1. God promises that Israelites will never disappear from the earth: JEREMIAH 30:10-11

2. By allowing Canaanites to remain in conquered Canaan against His will,, God destroyed the nation Israel in 70 A.D. and scattered the homeless survivors to other nations: NUMBERS 33:50-56

3. God promises nation Israel will reject the Messiah when He comes: ISRAEL 6:9-10

4. God reveals His everlasting covenant of salvation by grace through faith: JEREMIAH 31:31-34

5. God promises a remnant of nation Israel will receive salvation: JEREMIAH 31:7-9

6. God promises nation Israel will be restored to the land, given grace, and accept Jesus: EZEKIEL 36:24-36

7. God promises to call out a remnant of Gentiles for salvation: Hosea 1:2-11

8. God promises that Israel will furnish evangelists for Jesus Christ during the great tribulation: REVELATION 7:1-8

9. God promises to remove nation Israel’s spiritual dullness after the Second Coming: ZECHARIAH 12:10-13

10. God promises Israel will send Christian evangelists to the whole world during the millenial reign of Christ: ZECHARIAH 14:8

11. God promises worldwide revival during the millenial reign of Christ: ZECHARIAH 14:16

12. God promises that His Church will draw out a people from among Gentiles from the time of the crucifixion of Christ (32 A.D,) until His Second Coming (unknown date beyond 2011 A.D.): ACTS 15:14 combined with Romans 11

13. God reveals the last war on earth will occur after Satan us freed from captivity (Revelation 20:3): EZEKIEL 38

Dr. William J. B. Crittenden