Month: February 2020

Wise Words on Right Perspective

In his closing contribution to the
book of Proverbs, Solomon records
the riches of righteousness and
the fatal danger of foolishness.
False witnesses and friends,
the corrupt and the righteous,
the foolish and the wise,
the slothful and the diligent,
the deceitful and the dependable
– Solomon has something to say
to each! God’s wisdom gives
a proper perspective of things
and guidance in choosing the
right response to life’s situations.

Lord, thanks for Proverbs 25-29
where Solomon shared riches of
uprightness & danger of foolishness.
Help us to have right perspectives
so that we’ll make the right choices.
Help us to Be Good Friends;
Help us to Be Obedient to Yr Laws;
Help us to Be Teachable.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Be Good Friends:
Lord, impress upon me that
the wounds of honest words that
hurt from a friend can be trusted…
Creature comforts bring joy to the
heart, and the pleasantness of one’s
friends springs from the earnest
counsel that is given. I will not
forsake my friends (Prov 27: 6,9-10)
Lord, I want to be the kind of
friend I would want to have.
Help me to be vulnerable,
willing to share my weaknesses
and struggles with my friends.
Help me to be honest, speaking
the truth, even if it is unpleasant.
Help me to affirm and expressing
the good things I see in them.
Help me to encourage & be present
with friends in their struggles. Amen.

Lord, we will Obey your laws:-
Better a poor man whose walk
is blameless than a rich man
whose ways are perverse…
If anyone turns a deaf ear to
the law, even his prayers are
detestable. Whoever causes
the upright to go astray in an
evil way, he himself will fall into
his own pit; but the blameless
will inherit good (Prov 28:6,9,10).
Lord, teach me Your Word so that
I understand every time I read it.
Give me insight into Your ways
so that they become part of me.
Speak to my heart if my thoughts
words or actions gets off the mark.
Help me to walk life of integrity and
Keep me on the right path so that
my prayers are not detestable to You
so that I’ll inherit a good life. Amen.

Lord, we will be Teachable:
He who remains stiff-necked
after many rebukes will suddenly
be destroyed without remedy…
Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint;
but happy is he who keeps
the law (Proverbs 29:1 & 18).
Lord, help us not be stiff-necked
for making the same mistakes
over & over and refusing to learn
for it is an invitation to disaster.
Help us instead to be teachable,
to know God’s ways and keep
Your rules, for where there’s
ignorance, sin runs wild. Amen.

I’d Rather Have Jesus

This poem written in 1922 by
Rhea Miller, was left on a piano
in the Shea home by Bev Shea
who wanted her son to find it
and change the course of his life.
The words, I’d rather have Jesus
moved George so much and
spoke to him about his aims in life.
He sat down at the piano and
began singing them with a tune
that seemed to fit the words.
George’s life direction did change
He was offered a popular music
career with NBC, but a few years
later chose to become associated
with evangelist Billy Graham and
sang this hymn around the world.

Lord Jesus, I rather have You:
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
‘If anyone would come after Me,
he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow Me.
For whoever wants to save
his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will find it.
What good will it be for a man
if he gains the whole world,
yet forfeits his soul? Or what
can a man give in exchange
for his soul? (Matt 16:24-26).

Father God, forgive us when we
seek after temporal things to meet
the deep yearnings of our heart.
Your plan was to send Your Son,
to give us a life that is not empty
or imprisoned by sin’s chains.
Lord Jesus, thanks for Yr sacrificial
death to save us from our sins.
Nothing on earth deserves our
allegiance more than our Saviour.
Holy Spirit, Remind us to be always
grateful to Jesus for His love. Amen

Lord, we are created in Christ for
good works which God prepared
for each of us to live purposefully.
Grant us grace to find out and do
the heavenly things that You God
wants us to do while still on earth.
Grant us the attitude of Apostle
Paul who considers everything
rubbish that he may know Christ.
And Grant us resolve to truly say:
I’d rather have Jesus for I’d rather
be true to His holy name. Amen.

Lord, I know this hymn is about
dedication and commitment
for to follow after Jesus is costly.
Grant me the fervent will to
be able to sing from my heart,
and truly mean it, the words of
the hymn: I’d Rather Have Jesus.
Grant me the grace to obey
Your word for apart from You
I can really do nothing. Amen.

Lord, I’d rather have Jesus
than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful
to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus
than world-wide fame;
I’d rather be true
to His holy name.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today. Amen.

Love Lifted Me !! 

Background: Love Lifted Me
was written in 1912 Connecticut.
James Rowe wrote the lyrics and
Howard Smith wrote the melody.
According to Rowe’s daughter:
I can see my father striding up and
down humming a bar or two, and
Howard playing it & jotting it down.
Rowe and Smith wrote the hymn
based on the passage Peter
walking on the water, becoming
afraid, and crying out to the Lord
to save him as he was sinking.

Lord Jesus, Your Love Lifted Me:
Peter said: Lord,if it’s You, command
me to come to You on the water.
So He said: Come. And when Peter
came out of the boat and walked on
the water to go to Jesus. But when
he saw the wind was boisterous,
he was afraid and, beginning to
sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus reached out
His hand and caught him. ‘You
of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did
you doubt? (Matthew 14:28-31).

Lord, remember singing this
hymn in my late teens and young
adult years. And now as going
through the challenges in life,
the hymnal song just rise
from the deep of my heart.
Only Your love Lord gives lasting
peace and reigns in our heart.
For You God remains in control,
even in the storms of life. Amen.

Lord God commanded His love
towards us that while we were
still sinners Jesus died for us.
That’s the love that lifted us.
Love especially the final verse:
Souls in danger look above
Jesus completely saves –
What hope and assurance!!
Love lifted me, Love lifted me
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Thank U Lord. Amen

Lord, All my heart to You I give,
ever to You I’ll cling
In Your blessèd presence live,
ever Your praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true,
merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too,
to You belongs.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Amen.

Softly & Tenderly Jesus is Calling

Will Thomson regularly went to New
York City to sell the secular songs
he had written. He made so much
money from his compositions that
he was called millionaire songwriter.
But Thomson began to concentrate
on hymn writing and set up his
own firm for publishing hymnals.
And two million copies of his
gospel quartet books were sold.
Around 1880, when Thompson
was 33 years old, he wrote this
invitational hymn: Softly & Tenderly.

Lord, we will come to You:
Then Jesus said: Come to me, all
of you who are weary & carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me
teach you, because I am humble
and gentle at heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy to bear, and the burden
I give you is light (Matt 11:28-30).

Lord, thank You for loving us so
much and desires all man will come
to him; for it is He who will truly
give us Rest from our weariness.
Jesus is never tired of waiting
and watching out for us, telling
us: Come home and find Peace.
The Lord has led me many times
in singing, “Softly and Tenderly.”
For I can always come to Him
and recieve His abundant mercy.
And no matter what my life holds,
I can say Jesus is calling. Amen.

Lord, this hymn prompt us to come
back to You after wandering around.
You are so merciful Lord to receive
us back as Your children. It doesn’t
matter what our sins may be, You
always wants us back. And You will
cleanse us & make us white as snow.
And when we walk back to You,
You will welcome us with open arms.
No matter how far we go, You
tenderly tell us we’ve not gone
too far to come back home. Amen.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals
He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry
when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger
and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Seek First the Kingdom of God

Karen Lafferty: I was raised in a
Christian home, but like many young
people I wanted to drift & discover
life. I was working as a nightclub
entertainer in New Orleans when a
friend visited me & got me on track.
After that I began to write Christian
songs. It was back in 1971. I quit my
entertainment job and was trying to
support myself with teaching guitar
lessons to three students! When
my savings were all gone and I had
no money to make car payments,
I became discouraged & confused.
One evening I went to a Bible study
and we talked about Matthew 6:33.
I was tremendously encouraged
and challenged by the words.
So I went home, wrote the tune,
recorded it on a tape recorder.
I taught the song at church the next
week and it caught on right away.

Lord, we’ll Seek Your Kingdom First:
Therefore do not worry…For after
all these things the Gentiles seek.
For your Heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness,
and all these things will be
added to you (Matt 6:31-33). Amen.

Lord, while we love You, it is not
easy to give up things of this world.
Help us to genuinely seek first the
kingdom of God by surrendering
all that is required to be yielded.
Help us seek You First that God is
the Priority of all things in our life.
Help us to relinquish our selfish
worldly ambitions to You today.
Help us that we may give our all
to God and live by Him always.
Help us to commit to give You our
all & take You at Your Word. Amen.

Lord, U know & care for our needs.
And U desire Your children to ASK.
Help us to Ask so that we be given,
Seek so that we we shall find,
Knock and the door be open to us.
Help us to start each day Seeking
God and You will direct our path.
Help us to have Faith that You will
fulfill Your promises in our lives.
Help us Put You Above all else!!
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be
added onto you, Alleu, alleuia.
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word,
That proceeds from the
mouth of God, Alleu, Alleuia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be
opened onto you. Alleu, Alleuia.

Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him

Cecil Alexander (1818-1895) was
the wife of a parish minister in an
impoverished area of North Ireland.
She loved the people. From one
house to another she went. She
especially loved children and most
of her hymns were written for them.
“Jesus Calls Us” was one of the
few hymns she wrote for adults.
She wrote the hymn to accompany
a sermon her husband was preaching
about the calling of Peter & Andrew
by Jesus on the shores of Galilee.

Lord, we purpose to Follow You:
One day as Jesus was walking along
the shore of the Sea of Galilee,
he saw two brothers – Simon, also
called Peter, and Andrew -throwing
a net into the water, for they fished
for a living. Jesus called out to them:
Come follow me, and I will show
you how to fish for people. They
immediately left their nets and
followed Him (Matthew 4:18-20).

Lord, You call us to turn away from
our own selfish interests, to take up
our cross and to follow after You.
Grant us grace to trust You even if
the path is difficult to see, or heading
in a direction we will not choose.
Help us see with eyes of faith rather
than from our human point of view.
Teach us to follow without fear for
You are with us, leading the way.
Grant us grace to say “Yes” when
You come calling “follow me”. Amen

Lord, You are always making
this challenge to us: “Follow Me.”
But to follow You will also mean
bearing the cross and being willing
to die to our own ambitions, our
own strengths & make way for God
to work thro us. But in gratitude of
all that You Lord had done for us,
make us hear Your call to follow You.
Grant us grace to give our hearts
in obedience, so that we serve
and love Thee best of all. Amen.

Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice sound
Saying, “Christian, follow me.”
In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares & pleasures,
Christian, love me more than these.
Jesus calls us– by Thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear Thy call;
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve & love Thee best of all. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vir9cxM1FGs

Wise Words for Leaders

The final 11 chapters of Proverbs
contain sound counsel for those
in positions of authority. The key
hangs on Prov 21:2: Every way
of a man is right in his own eyes;
but the Lord weighs the hearts.
Today’s reading contains wise
counsel for anyone in a position
of responsibility, including parents.
Leaders need to know God’s
precepts if they are to direct their
charges into God’s honouring
paths of conduct and character.

Dear Lord, we recognise that You
put us in positions of authority. And
thanks for Prov 22-24 which give
pointers on how to live successfully.
Lead us to Ask You for Wisdom.
Lead us to Seek Wise Counsel.
Lead us to Listen to the Wise.
Lord, Grant us Wisdom & Grant us
Courage for the living of these days.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Listen to the Wise:
Listen to the words of the wise;
Apply your heart to my instructions.
For it is good to keep these sayings
deep within yourself, always ready
on your lips. I am teaching you
today, so that your trust may
be in the Lord (Prov 22:17-19).
Lord, You desire to teach us in
Your ways just as a loving earthly
father instructs his own children.
Plant Your truth deep within me
so that Your name and Your
precepts will always be on my lips.
And as we apply our heart and
mind to Your Word, bring us Lord
into a deep trust in You. Amen.

Lord, we ask for Your Wisdom:
Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to words of
knowledge (Proverbs 23:12).
Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and
understanding (Prov 23:12-23).
Lord, give us wisdom so that we’ll
lead a life of peace and blessing.
Give us wisdom that brings
guidance, security and confidence.
Grant us wisdom to save us from
evil & help us make right decisions.
And help us to live with discipline
and good understanding. Amen.

Lord, we will Seek Wise Counsel:
Thro wisdom a house is built and
by understanding it’s established…
A man of knowledge increases
strength; for by wise counsel you
can wage war, and in abundance of
counsellors there is victory & safety.
Prepare your work outside & get
your fields ready; and afterwords
build your house (Prov 24:3-6,27).
Lord, help us find good advisors
before making major decisions.
Help us carry out work in proper
order for it’s possible to lose
everything despite hard work if
the timing is wrong or resources
to carry it out are not in place.
Help us develop wisdom that brings
security and confidence. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7_GLCRLkIkttl

Wise Words for Wise Decisions

The purpose of Proverbs is to teach
people how to apply wisdom to daily
life & to provide moral instruction.
The varied statements of common
sense in today’s reading are
descriptions of the perils facing
both the wise and the unwise;
as well as value judgments upon
things which appear to be good
and things which are good.
Through it all, Solomon sees God
at work in the hearts and affairs
of people, helping them to avoid
flattery and falsehood and to
display obedient behavior instead.

Dear Lord, thank You for Prov 18-21
that help us Make Wise Decisions
in life and be obedient to You.
Help us Encourage Others by giving
the right words to Edify the listener.
Help us to Overlook Wrongs,
forgive others & resolve conflicts
with grace and measured words.
Help us Do What’s Just and Right
so that in our decisions we please
You and reflect Your character.
For we are Yours forever! Amen.

Lord, we will Edify & Encourage:
What a shame, what folly, to give
advice before listening to the facts!
Words satisfy the soul as food
satisfies the stomach; the right
words on a person’s lips bring
satisfaction. Those who love to talk
will experience the consequences,
for the tongue can kill or nourish
life (Proverbs 18:13 & 20-21).
Lord, keep me from jumping into
conclusions & be involved in folly.
Give me the right words to speak,
words that will satisfy the soul.
Let my words encourage and not
discourage those who hear them.
Help my tongue to nourish life and
not to kill it. Help me to encourage
others to be encouragers. Amen.

Lord, help us Overlook Wrongs:
People with good sense restrain
their anger; they earn esteem by
overlooking wrongs…Cease listening
to instruction, and you will stray
from knowledge (Prov 19:11, 27).
Lord, help me to forgive others
in light of the unconditional love
I have found in You. When others
wrong me, help me remember
the times you reached down and
covered my wrongs with Your mercy.
Help me see past my anger and
resolve disagreement with grace.
Help me to measure my words and
actions before I speak or act. Amen.

Lord, help us Do What’s Right:
Every way of a man is right
in his own eyes; but the Lord
weighs the hearts … The Lord
is more pleased when we do
what is just and right than when
we give sacrifice (Psalm 21:2-3).
Lord, in all the decisions and
choices that I face each day,
help me to walk in obedience
to You and thus walk in integrity.
Empower me by Your Spirit to
do what is just and right so that
I am living a life that pleases You
and reflects Your character. Amen.

Our God Like Refiner’s Fire

Brian Doerksen was inspired on
his song Refiner’s Fire while he
was on his way back to work in
church from a lunch break at home.
He had a God encounter, felt like an
electric current and heard audibly:
Purify my heart, let me be as gold…
And it was gone and started again.
When he reached church, he
quickly looked up the concordance
to help find the passages related
to refiner’s fire and gold, took the
guitar and wrote the rest of the
song in one sitting. Brian said the
song was purely the initiative of
God and he was just His instrument.

Lord, Purify My Heart:
Who can endure the day of
His coming? And who can
stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire…
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier
of silver; He will purify the sons
of Levi, and purge them as gold
and silver, That they may offer
to the Lord an offering in
righteousness (Malachi 3:2-3).

Lord, who can stand when
You appear? At Your presence
my knee shall bow and tongue
proclaim Your majestic name.
My hungry heart cries out for You;
for no earthly substitute will do.
Refiner’s Fire, come near to me
Your unveiled glory, let me see.
A heart like yours, my one desire.
Do Your work, Refiner’s Fire. Amen.

Lord, Your holy fire burns within
and purges every secret sin.
Your life in me ignites the fire
that fulfils my heart’s desire.
The Spirit’s work, my life made new
transformed within, ablaze with You.
A heart like Yours, my one desire.
Do Your work, Refiner’s Fire.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, Purify my heart
Let me be as gold & precious silver.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will. Amen.

Our God: The Ancient of Days

In 1886, the city of Albany, New York
was celebrating its bicentennial.
Episcopal bishop William Doanne
wrote the hymn for the occasion,
and Albert Jeffery who was in charge
of music at the recently completed
All Saints Cathedral wrote the music.
That new cathedral was the setting
for the hymn’s introduction, and
Bishop Doane himself conducted
the singing. It was a memorable day
in Albany as it celebrated its own
“ancient days.” But the hymn draws
our attention further back, to the
majesty of the triune God, who
existed before all time began.

Lord, we worship as You Reign:
Daniel had a dream as he lie in bed…
I watched as thrones were put in
place and the Ancient One sat down
to judge. His clothing was as white
as snow, his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne & a river of
fire was flowing from His presence…
O Son of Man, You will come with
clouds of heaven. In the presence
of the Ancient of Days, You will be
given dominion and… a kingdom,
so that people of every nation…
will worship U (Dan 7:1, 9-10, 13-14)

Lord Jesus, I Praise You for taking
on human form to accomplish light,
life and liberation. All people will
eventually worship You someday.
Today, I worship You for You are
my health and salvation. I choose
to worship You for I know You keep
Your promises of lovingkindness.
In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

O Heavenly Father, who has always
cared, provided and protected Your
children in all the ages, to You in
reverent awe our hearts are bowed.
O Lord Jesus, our Saviour and
Prince of Peace; to You we owe
with gratitude for blessed assurance
and the peace that still prevails.
O Holy Spirit, our Comforter
and Enabler, to You we owe the quickening power that gives peace and increase in all that we do. Amen.

Ancient of Days, who sittest
throned in glory,
To Thee all knees are bent,
all voices prayed;
Thy love has blessed the wide
world’s wondrous story
With light and life since
Eden’s dawning day.
O Triune God, with heart
and voice adoring,
Praise we the goodness
that doth crown our days;
Pray we that Thou will
hear us still imploring
Thy love and favour,
kept to us always.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5m04UJ6BCrI