WHO KNOWS THE TIME
Filed under: Christ's Second Coming | Tags: Christ, heaven, Last Days, resurrection of life, Satan, suffering
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Wars rage
Famines scourge the land
Leaving suffering, dying infants
Our world seems
Weakened by Satan’s plans
To destroy all innocent babes
Preying on the unprotected
He points to God
As the source of suffering
The originator of a failed government
He claims
It’s time to stand up for God
Reckon who’s right or wrong
Ignore the one who
Accuses the saints
Day and night
Walk with Jesus
Secure in knowing
He’s in charge
The time will come
Unknown to all
He’ll step out of heaven
Destined for earth
Accompanied by His holy angels
With His reward in hand
He calls His faithful home
The dead in Christ will rise first
Meeting Him in the air
Those who walk with Him
Are drawn up next
Destination heaven
Where no suffering
Illness nor death occur
And God will wipe all tears
From the eyes
Of those who suffered
We know not the time
But know it is near
For all the signs scream
Christ’s coming is soon
Even at the door
Prepare for the Lord
Humbly giving Him reign
He wants to take you home
NO OTHER SAVIOR
Filed under: Salvation | Tags: Jesus, Satan, Savior, sin, the Cross, the Father, the Spirit
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Draw close
Near to the Cross of Jesus
The Lamb of God
He is our salvation
Our deeds won’t do
To find favor with the Father
Jesus came to save
Our sins deface our beauty
We’re drawn toward sheer cliffs
Where Satan designs our destruction
Lay hold of the Rock–Jesus saves
The Spirit moves
On open hearts
We grasp our sin’s immense evil
Causing a heart change
We are repulsed
By our iniquity
And bow before Jesus
In repentance
Only Jesus’ sacrifice
Turns crimson sin
To pure white robes
Our iniquity cleansed
And virtue expanded
We gladly surrender
Our wills to God
“The Casting of Crowns” Is Published
Not only teens and young adults will enjoy reading my first book, as the protagonist is a young adult, but the adults I had read it before publication also loved it. The following is a blurb.
Carissa is a young, serious, college student. When the New World Order takes control of the college, banning her major, Christian Religious Studies, Carissa is stunned. The government is now controlled by the Pope and the United States President.
Some people are comfortable with this, believing the promises of world peace and harmonious religious unity. Carissa will not be pushed around. She joins a Bible study even though it is outlawed. Carissa, her housemate Sally, and Bible study leader Alex become champions in winning souls for Christ. Constant danger surrounds the Bible groups efforts.
Carissa falls in love with John, while she develops a growing relationship with Jesus.
She faces a daunting decision that will forever change her life. THE CASTING OF CROWNS points the reader, along with Carissa, to Bible truths, and prompts each to consider his or her everlasting destiny as the signs of the times point to the soon Second Coming of Christ.
THE CASTING OF CROWNS, in both paperback and ebook, is available online at Amazon and online at Barnes and Noble. Also, coming to a bookstore near you. 
CALLED TO HOLINESS
Filed under: Salvation | Tags: Calvary, compromise, deception, earthly wants, eternal life, God, holiness, idol, Jesus, relationship, righteousness, Satan's lies, sin, worship
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Receive freedom and liberty
Abide with God
Block Satan’s lies
He’ll deceive the mind
Constrict the body
Offer you the world
With a partial release
If you side with him
Shouldn’t I walk with Jesus
Some sense an easy way
Out of trouble
Ask Satan to give you
What you really want
Carnal pleasure that covers pain
Success for a lifetime
Fame you deserve
No matter the cost
What does Jesus require
Obedience, sacrifice, discipline
Not much of a life, you imagine
Turning aside
Departing from the Law
So what’s so wrong
With little sins, you reason
Most of us tell little lies
Desire what God has forbidden
Neglect the needy
Continue to swear
It’s no big deal, you say
Just camp on the fringe
Of the wicked a while
Have some fun
Explore heavenly pastures later
Nobody’s perfect
God will understand
But listen
God calls us to holiness
He created us
Loves us
And demands loyalty
We are to worship
Only Him
Not the idols of this world
God gifted us a heart
With a longing for Him
Only in relationship with God
Is there a ticket
To eternal life
Acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice
On Calvary
And in the transforming
Nature of His love
Lies our freedom from condemnation
By the law
For He presents us
Sin free before the Father
Because He has assigned us
His righteousness
A MEMORIAL
Filed under: Memorial Day | Tags: America, fallen soldier, freedom, war
Leave a Comment Sometimes war is a death sentence
For soldiers defending our country
With the honor and glory given them
By our country should they fall
These men and women
Regard not heavily
This likelihood
Many put their faith in God
To protect them
Soldiers groomed by training
Impressed by duty
Go to war to protect
Our way of life
Freedom
We bow our heads
Before God today
To honor our fallen
Soldiers who peered into the future
Saw our country preserved
The rights of our citizens intact
We say a solemn “Thank you”
To these American heroes
May they rest in the Lord
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BOUND FOR GLORY
Filed under: Salvation | Tags: Christ, Christianity, God's plan, helper
Leave a Comment 
Christ is my Redeemer
I come to Him when tears won’t flow
He always listens
Lifting my soul
I sense his response
It infuses my mind
He touches my heart
Healing me
I reach out to others, unafraid
I know this transformation
Is part of His plan
He sees in me
A helper in kind
To those who’ve lost their way
He’s given me rare gifts
Of patience and kindness
When someone stumbles
And doom seems sure
I go to Him
For strength and guidance
As many other Christians do
For our work is specific
Bringing others to Life in Christ
A safe place on rough seas
For our Captain is the Lord Jesus
On this ship bound for glory
Our election sure
We praise His name
THE GREATEST LOVE
Filed under: Easter | Tags: death, Easter, God's love, Resurrection, Satan, sin, the Cross
Comments (1) Christ was born to save mankind
From the eternal death we all deserve
He looked beyond our sin-tainted selves
All of humanity’s failed attempts
To keep God’s law
Christ offered Himself
The Lamb of God
To be spit upon
Railed against
Scourged nearly to death
Tried like a criminal
Although He is purer than gold
The people jeered Him
They were of mob mentality
Who didn’t know what they were doing
They had allowed Satan to take control
Crucify Him! Crucify Him! they cried
They set Him on the road to Calvary
No human would be acceptable
As a sacrifice before the Father
Christ bore all sin
He felt the scourge of God
As He hung on the cross
Till His breath expired
Christ was laid in the tomb
By a devoted follower
His tomb was sealed
With a heavy stone
Put under centurion guard
Our King of Kings
Could not be held
By the bonds of death
He rose on the third day
Jesus Christ has conquered sin
He’s vanquished death
Defeated Satan
Christ has given us newness of life
If we would but accept it
BLESSED BY GOD
Filed under: God's Blessings | Tags: abide in Christ, blessings, children of God, God's love, love, Ten Commandments
Comments (2) 
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God” (1 Jn 3:1) We are able to receive God’s spiritual blessings only if we show love for one another and try to please God by obeying His Ten Commandments.
As children of God we are prompted by Christ to abide in Him, that we may have a fruitful life and inherit eternal life.
God gives us rewards–material and spiritual along the way, even though we still have to struggle through difficult times in our life’s journey.
God loves everyone, but his deepest blessings are contingent on our obedience to Him and our love for each other.
One may observe blessings going to the wicked as well. These are not God-sent, though, and they are merely riches or opportunities for the wicked to increase their riches and their wicked ways. And riches are not known to bring happiness or spiritual blessings. “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked” (Prov 10:6).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). God has gone all out in demonstrating His love for us. Jesus died on the cruel Cross for all of us. We are all precious to Him. He bids all to come to Him, confess our sins, accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and follow Him.
In communing with Jesus daily, He teaches us to love fully. None will be saved who don’t extend love to each other. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren” (1 Jn 3:14).
As children of God we try to lean toward pleasing God, but because of our fallen natures inherited from Adam and Eve, we are not strong enough on our own to avoid all sin. Christ instructs us to abide in Him. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
God longs to bless us. His command for us to love one another is not a hard thing. A life lived in love for others allows for rich relationships and great satisfaction and joy.
God will allow us to mature in spiritual health and happiness if we obey His Commandments.
As children of God, we are immensely loved by God. When we please God consistently and abide in Christ, we demonstrate to Him that we want to spend eternity with Him.
—Quotes from Scripture taken from NKJV— Read more »
RANDOM FACES
Filed under: Compassion | Tags: Christ, Christianity, homeless, humility, ministry
Leave a Comment Random faces in the crowd
Seek not Christ
Nor venture where He is found
Worn expressions
Ragged clothes
Drape these people
Drenched in hopelessness
The forlorn among us
No longer thirst
To belong to society
Who knows how to reach them?
A humble group
Led by the Spirit of God
Seeking not fame nor recognition
But fine with working in the shadows
Bringing the light of Christ
To the broken souls of men and women
Patiently seeking a positive response
Laboring as Jesus did
Not thinking of self
But investing in the lives
Of those who’ve forgotten
How to be whole
Praying
Laboring
Seeking a breakthrough
Only possible while reflecting Christ
For He alone can offer wholeness
To a broken soul
PROCLAIMING CHRIST’S BIRTH — Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord; In the manger born a king, While adoring angels sing, “Peace on earth, to men goodwill;” Bid the trembling soul be still, Christ on earth has come to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail! the Sun of Righteousness! Life and light to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Lyrics from Luke 2:14 and Charles Wesley, 1739
