Friday, March 30, 2012

Easter Story

 
 
Twelve men left all and followed Him

Miracles they had seen

They watched Him heal all who were sick

Those with unclean spirits were made clean



But one follower named Judas Iscariot

Betrayed Him with a kiss

Handed Him over to the chief priests

To be scourged and put to death



He was mocked by those that held Him

Asking Him, “So, are You the Christ?”

“You wouldn’t believe Me if I told you,” He said

For they accused Him of speaking lies



“Are you the Son of God?” they stammered

He responded, “Yes, I am He”

Accusations of blasphemy filled the land

An act deserving the death penalty



They all condemned Him to be put to death

As they struck Him and spit in His face

Even one of His disciples whom He loved very much

Denied ever seeing His face



Carrying Him away; they delivered Him to Pilate

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate sneered

“You say rightly that I am a King,” Jesus said

“But My kingdom is not from here.”



Jesus, the Christ, and Barabbas, a murderer

Stood before the multitude

By custom one prisoner could be released

The one whom the people choose



“Away with this Man; release to us Barabbas,”

Insistently the people cried

“Then what shall I do with Jesus, the Christ?”

They shouted, “Let Him be crucified.”



A purple robe they placed on His body

A crown of thorns twisted on His head

“Hail, King of the Jews,” they mocked

As blood streamed from His head



His back took brutal beatings

His head they struck with a rod

Spitting into His face they scorned

“Save Yourself if You’re the Son of God!”



He didn’t fight back to prove who He was

For He knew His hour had arrived

To fulfill the very purpose for why He had come

For a lost people He would have to die



As they drove the cold nails in His hands and feet

His body exposed for all to view

Jesus cried, “Father, forgive them”

“For they know not what they do.”



Blasphemous words echoed throughout

Gross darkness encamped the land

And with His last breath He shouted aloud

“Father, I commit My spirit into Your hands.”



On the third day since His burial

An angel descended from Heaven

The earth quaked; the stone rolled away

The tomb was empty, for Jesus had risen



Two women mourned nearby the tomb

For they thought His body had been stole

The angel approached them and declared

“Rejoice, for He has arose!”



Quickly they fled to tell the disciples

Their hearts filled with great joy and fear

Some of them rejoiced while others doubted

And then in their midst Jesus appeared



They fell at His feet and worshipped

As He blessed them with His hands

“Go into all the world and tell them of Me,

I won’t be back ‘til it’s reached every land.”



“Remember you're not of this world

If you've received Me as your Lord

Be not like the world; keep from all evil

So that you may receive the final reward.”



“It’s time for Me to leave now,

You must carry out My ministry

I give you the authority to be My hands and feet

With My name you’ll set many free.”



“For it won’t be long before I return

For those who live for Me

They are who I will take as My bride

To Heaven for eternity.”



“Keep watch for the hour is so near

Be prepared to meet Me again

For in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye

As I am now, I will appear again.”



"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Secret Place

 
 
Pour upon me

Your anointing

Fill me up

to overflowing

Flood my soul

with Your presence

A healing touch

straight from Heaven



Your presence

is so amazing

Your love, oh Lord

is unchanging

You put life within me

once again

Your faithfulness

never ends



The veil’s been torn

I can enter in

to that secret

and holy place

 
I want to be

where Your presence dwells

Where I can see You

face to face

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Satisfied Life



Temptations are an appeal to meet righteous needs in an unrighteous way." ~ Bill Thrasher

This is so true, isn't it? For peace, we turn to substance. For acceptance, we compromise our convictions. For love, we turn to ungodly relationships. For contentment, we lust after riches.  Our needs are real and God given, but He is the only One who can provide that which will truly satisfy. It pays to seek Him for every area of our lives.
 
Father, we don't want to be hasty in our decisions or careless in our actions. We don't want to give ourselves over to temptation for a temporary fix, but want to walk in wisdom and do things Your way - the only way that will bring true satisfaction. Help us to slow down, evaluate our life through Your eyes, and soften our ears to hear Your voice...

(Psalm 16:11, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 2:12-13, Matthew 6:33, 1 Timothy 6:6, Proverbs 28:20, Psalm 37:11, Proverbs 20:1)