steadfast

Steadfast is my heart o God
As I fix my eyes on you
Through every test and trial, Lord,
To me, you have been true.
You’ve guided through confusion
You’ve led me every step
With patience, care and tenderness
You brought me from the depths.
So I sing with joy, for you’ve redeemed
This sinner from the grave.
You’ve change my nature, changed my name
No longer to death a slave
With joy I serve you Lord, my King,
My Master and my Guide
I trust you hand to keep me safe
From the trials on every side.
Guard my heart, keep my thoughts fast
As I fix my gaze on you
With confidence and trust may I
Trust what you plan to do.
My heart is steadfast, Lord, it is
Steadfast with trust for my King.
The One who redeemed, the One who gave life
The One who caused my heart to sing.

surrounded by a cloud

“Curse God and just die” was what Job’s wife said.
“Your God is unloving.  He’s left you for dead.
The trials in your life are too much to bear.
Forsake God in anger, for his ways are not fair.”

“A child when I’m this old?”  Sara did not believe
That her body could ever a baby conceive.
She wondered why God such a promise would give
And through Hagar presented an alternative.

“In a foreign land, I’m alone without an heir
And my husband is dead, my life’s one of despair.”
Mara said “Call me bitter. My life’s over and done.
The Almighty’s afflicted.  Hope for me? No, there’s none.”

“Take my words to the heathen. Tell them to repent.”
Jonah heard from the Lord, but he had no intent
To obey.  So he ran and was swallowed up whole,
As he learned the Almighty still had the control.

These examples are given to us, may we learn
To trust in our Savior; His will not to spurn.
He’s almighty, He’s sovereign, and He guides our steps fast;
We will see the way clearly when our steps are past.

With a heart as empty as her womb on that day
Hannah pleaded in faith, God His power to display.
“If You grant me a son, I will give Him to You.
Set apart for Your service, Lord, to this I’ll be true.”

Favorite son, but yet hated by his brothers he was
Sold to slave traders, taken, without any cause.
“You did it for evil, but God worked though your plan”
Joseph said, years later, as a humble, caring man.

“The walls are now broken, your city’s burned down”
The words Nehemiah heard as he fell on the ground
“Oh, my covenant God, have mercy, and hear
We, your servants return and we worship in fear.”

Jesus prayed in the garden, as his friends slept on by
“Please Father, take this cup from me, lest I die.
But not my will. I’ll trust through injustice and pain
May Your glory through my life and my actions reign.”

May I always reme mber the examples I’m given
Those who trusted the will of their Father in heaven.
Let me learn, too, from all those who doubted and feared,
Let me run, not grow weary, and in trust persevere.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

Joseph

Tears streaming from his face, he said
“I’ve chosen to forgive.
You intended for me evil
But through this I’ve learned to live
A life trusting in my Savior.
I’ve learned His ways are best.
Through the dungeon, through the prison,
through the trials – I’ve been blessed.
I rejoice in what you’ve done to me
How I wish you understood -
You intended this for evil, friends,
But God meant it for my good.”

for Charissa

“Pray for me please, I’m sick” were the words that I read
From my friend whom the doctors declared nearly dead.
Painful tests, piling bills,
Shrinking clothes, countless pills,
How she longed for the day when this nightmare would end

She prayed to her Master for healing from pain;
She prayed for new health like the spring flow’rs that came.
New blossoms, new buds,
New petals, new love,
But for her, just new trials… that seemed always the same.

Her faith sometimes faltered but she found it grew deep
As she trusted that God her pathways would keep,
Pressing forward in faith,
Though in pain every day,
Firm and rooted she was, though at night she would weep.

“My God, you’ve forsaken me? Or at least so it feels
As I struggle to swallow and eat daily meals.
You provide the birds bread;
Can you feed me instead?”
Her heart cried to her Master; overflowed with appeals.

In the silence between sobs, she heard a reply:
“My grace is sufficient, sweet daughter, don’t cry,
Lean hard, press fast,
The night soon is past.
I’ve promised you blessings, and I will not deny.”

“The blessings might take a strange form to you though,
Through trials, through pain and through testings you’ll know
That I’m good.  Do not fear
For my presence is near.
You can rest in my arms though the raging winds blow.”

Though no sudden improvements, she found a sweet rest
As her Jesus, her Savior, held her firm through this test.
She wiped away tears,
And resigned all her fears,
As she learned that the will of her Father was best.

Her friends watched in amazement at the joy that she found,
For no longer was her gaze just down at the ground.
Through the dark stormy night,
God became her delight,
And through her life, God’s glory did greatly abound.

please pray for my friend Charissa.  For updates on her health, follow her blog “Darkness into Light”.  Thanks.

mercy

I have seen the Lord and I’m undone
as I fall before the throne
overwhelmed not in fear or dread
but for the mercy I’ve been shown
I’m amazed the sovereign holy Judge
would love a wretch like me
and in my placed condemned
would send His Son to Calvary.

How could he love me so?
I’ll never understand such grace
displayed to one like me
I’ll forever be amazed.
at such mercy undeserved
such favor He bestows
in kindness He granted me life
this wretched sinner He chose.

psalm 139

You search me. You know me. You know when I rise
or when I sit down. My ways I can’t hide
from You, God. You see everything that I do
and each place I go and each thought I subdue.

You protect me and keep me – such wonderful news!
I can’t run from your presence, You know all I do.
This truth gives me comfort and quiets my heart
For I know through each test You will never depart.

Through the valleys of darkness, my God, You are there
In the depths of the sea or the heights of the air
You will lead me, and guide me. Your love holds me fast
your protection o’er all my days is unsurpassed.

Your hand created me, formed me and gave to me life
Now you keep me, protect me and guard me from strife
Your thoughts are so wonderful – vast like the sea
I’m amazed the Almighty knows and cares about me!

God of Justice, defend me – avenge your holy name
guard me from the wicked. Keep your glory as my aim
Please search me, and know me, purify me I pray
Lead me in your paths, lest I go astray.

redeemed

Close your eyes and sleep tonight

And dream some peaceful dreams.

For while you rest in slumber blessed

My love bursts at the seams.

For God has moved, His Spirit proved

The thoughts with which I fight

Are but a temporary rut

And last but for the night.

The pain I felt, with which I dealt,

(And which I struggle still)

Is only slight when viewed in light–

No mountain, but a hill.

For souls have changed, hearts rearranged,

And sins are in the past.

When at the tree of Calvary

One cries out “free at last.”

The hurt I feel I must appeal

To Jesus and his blood.

For under grace I’m free to face

Emotions like a flood.

The scars will heal, and here’s the deal:

It’s worth it in the end.

As more I learn, I start to yearn

To love you more, my friend.

I see the sin committed then

Through angry, jealous eyes,

But also through another view

Which now I realize.

It breaks my heart to even start

To think about the pain

You carry from the sin you’ve done

When seeking worldly gain.

But as I grow, I truly know

That what was hopeless seemed

Is now reborn this blessed morn.

Through Him you are redeemed!

written by Ted Riley 12/14/09

sufficient

The Bible is full of treasures untold
it gives light to the paths that are dark
and guidance to the steps we’re to take
it’s the transcript of God’s heart.

Offering prudence to the simple,
knowledge and guidance to the young
When we lack understanding, we know
it will guide our steps and our tongues.

It keeps us safe through treacherous paths
like a compass on life’s stormy seas
it gives knowledge and insight for all that we need
both now and for eternity.

When comfort is nowhere to be found
The Bible consoles the heart
when friends don’t know the right words to say
the truths of God’s word won’t depart.

If we seek God with all of our hearts,
He guides our steps from sin
When we confess His precepts are true
we rejoice at the grace we’ve been giv’n.

The Bible gives clarity to all that we see
and counsels our hearts every day.
when our souls are weary with sorrow and cares
His words of comfort take all fears away.

The fear of the Lord is where knowledge starts
don’t despise the wisdom of God
sometimes it comes through great blessing
and sometimes through a discipline’s rod.

Hebrews 11

Assured of what we cannot see, convinced, we hold it fast.
Faith is the way we understand the things our mind can’t grasp.

We understand the world was made by God, though we weren’t there
and that He formed all that we see from just His words and air.

By faith, Abel gave to God a sacrifice deemed right.
Though Cain gave gifts as well to God, his pride became his plight.

Enoch, by faith lived for his God and never did he die
but was taken up in a chariot to meet God in the sky.

Without faith, it’s not possible to bring true praise to God
for you must believe that He rewards those whom He calls His sons.

Noah, had faith, that God would do, the things he could not see
and through a boat of gopher wood, his family was redeemed.

By Faith, our father Abraham, followed to a new land
trusting the God of sovereign grace to make known His plan.

He followed through the wilderness, into a foreign place
trusting the inheritance that was promised to His race.

Sarah knew, though she was old, that she’d receive a son
and though impossible, it came to pass that Isaac was the one.

So from this man, and from his wife, a nation then was born
and from it came our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.

By faith, they died, still trusting that they would receive from Him
the things He said, though their sight to see was very dim.

Pilgrims they were, seeking a place where they would be with God
knowing this was not their place, though its where their feet must trod.

When tested, Abraham, though in His hand he held a large, sharp knife,
trusted in the holy One who could bring his son back to life.

Then Isaac, through his lineage, brought many blessings too
though Esau gave his blessing up for just a pot of stew.

Moses’ parents kept him safe; in God they kept their faith.
For three months, he was hidden, of the king they weren’t afraid.

He grew up and rejected to be called a son of the king,
He knew his inheritance was sure, but not thought Pharaoh’s ring.

He gave up pleasure and a life of sin, so that he would be pure
and pleasing to God, knowing through Him, great treasure was in store.

He led the people, far away, from Egypt’s slavery
though in the wilderness, their trust faltered, for they did not feel free.

They wandered and they grumbled, and they forgot His ways
the mighty works that He had done, His evidences of grace.

When they were faithless, God remained to them the Faithful One
and promised a Redeemer, who would one day for sure come.

At Jericho, faith reigned supreme, as walls to rubble fell,
as once again, God proved His strength, to those who knew it well.

Even Rahab, through her faith, saw God do mighty things
despite her past, she trusted God, and by it was redeemed.

There’s not sufficient time to tell, of all who had great faith.
Like Gideon, Barak, David and Samuel, of God they weren’t ashamed.

Strength out of weakness, praise in death, rejoicing through much pain,
Mocking and flogging and stoning and death, because Christ was their gain.

Afflicted and destitute were they , rejected by this world
but better far is what’s to come, through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Ezekiel 16

Abandoned straight from birth you were
Left alone to die
Hated and rejected no one
Listened your cries.
Your heritage and lineage is
From the unredeemed.
No one had compassion; you were
Helpless and unclean.

Then I passed by and saw you there
Writhing in your blood
No one washed or cared for you
Or dared your soul to love.
But my soul had compassion;
Wanted not to see you die
“Live” I said, “grow and be
I’ll make you now, child, mine.”

I made you flourish like a tree
You grew up proud and strong
But naked still you were, and had
No place where you belonged.
When I passed by again and saw,
I came and covered up
Your nakedness, and then declared
A covenant of love.

I bathed you, made you clean, and then
I covered up your shame;
Gave robes of silk and linen, and
Beauty became your fame.
You grew as royalty although
From birth you were so poor.
Favor was bestowed on you
Through God, your redeeming Lord.

But you trusted in your beauty and you
Chose to be a whore.
Though everything to you I gave
Your heart desired more.
You took the good gifts that I gave
Made idols out of them.
I fed you, but you hungered still
For approval and love from men.

Did you forget, my child, I found you
Wallowing in blood?
Did you forget your nakedness?
Did you forget my love?
In spite of all I’ve done, you left;
Rejected all my care
For that of men. My child, you must
Listen and beware.

This path you’re on will bring your death.
Destruction’s sure to come.
Woe to you, for you chose to turn
From the Redeeming One.
Through sin, you’ll find no joy or life
Your heart will always long
For more. It can’t be satisfied
Apart form Me, your God.

How sick your heart, your ways despised
For all that you’ve done wrong.
You’ve turned to lovers for payment
And rejected your true Lover’s song.
So, prostitute, now listen:
Your nakedness will be known.
Rejected by all you’ve chosen to love
You’ll find yourself alone.

I’ll judge you as the whore you are
And it will be severe.
My wrath and jealousy will come
And you’ll learn Me to fear.
Remember your heritage?  It’s what you’ve become.
You’re living as the unredeemed;
Forgotten that I am He who gave you life;
Forgotten my love, so it seems.

My child, please listen, and turn from your ways
Repent of the deeds you have done.
Forget not my mercy, forget not my grace,
Forget not the covenant of love.
See your actions for what they truly are
Injustice against the Holy God
Look to me, remember the great things I’ve done
Find merciful grace from my rod.

Do not forget, my child, I found you
Wallowing in blood.
Do not forget your nakedness.
Do not forget my love.
In spite of all you’ve done, I came,
Pursued you with my grace.
So, return to me, your Redeemer God
Return to your Lover’s embrace.