Which One Are You?

 

To the temple of God came one day

Two very different men, to pray

One stood tall in his self-righteousness

The other his sin did confess.

One arrogantly puffed up his chest

The other smote upon his breast

One looked up toward the heavenly skies

The other lifted not his eyes.

One thanked God for the bad he was not

The other God's forgiveness sought.

One would have heaven’s access denied

But the other left justified.

The pharisee trusted his good deed

The publican saw his own need

Search your heart and this question ask too,

Which one of these people are you?

 

Luke 18: 10-14

Poem About Joseph

 Poem about Joseph

Chains, fetters, and the dungeon dark

Brought Joseph’s young life down low,

God was with him all the way

His rich blessings to bestow.

He never left nor forsook him

He was at work the whole time

The slave became second ruler

Through God’s miracle sublime.

Joseph—whose feet with fetters hurt,

Was wrongly in iron laid.

He waited patiently on his God

With faith that could not be swayed.

And God used him to deliver

His family from starvation

He prepared him for leadership

And became their salvation.

At Thy Throne, O God

At Thy Throne, O God

 

At Thy throne, O my Lord

Temptations lose their pow’r,

When Satan as a lion

Seeks my soul to devour;

I run to my safe Refuge

In the depths of Thy Word,

Where every foe is repelled

And every plea with Thee heard

 

At Thy throne, O my Lord

I find heav’nly strength indeed!

Where Thy strength lifts up my soul

And Thy grace meets my need.

And in Thy presence in prayer

I find my shoulders relieved

As the burden falls away

Peace fills my heart that once grieved.

 

H. R

 

The God We Serve

The God We Serve

 

He Who clothes the lily of the field

Is our help and guarding shield,

He Who feeds the lions of the plains

Still today our soul sustains,

He Who calls all the stars by their name

Does not change but is the same,

He Who will never leave nor forsake

In our lives makes no mistake,

He Who see the smallest sparrow fall

Hears our lowest, weakest call,

He Who sees each trial that we face,

Gladly awaits with His grace,

He Who bade the raging waters cease,

Will our joy yet more increase,

He Who fashioned us within the womb

For our souls conquered the tomb,

He Who directs the paths of our feet

Will not lead us to defeat,

He Who paints the colorful sunrise

Is not taken by surprise,

He Who let men pierce His holy hands

The whole universe commands,

He Who remembers we are but dust,

Asks us only in Him trust,

He Who designed the earth with His breath

Will deliver us from death,

He Who withheld the wrath we deserve

Is the God we love and serve.

 

H.R May 2, 2021.

 

 

Glorious Peace Now I Have Within

Glorious Peace Now I Have Within

 

O, What wondrous joy in my heart

That the Lord God should impart

Salvation for all who believe

So freely we may receive!

Death on the cross His Son endured

Eternal life is secured—

For all who believe on His name

Pardon is won for the same

 

New strength I have to face each day,

New grace to follow the way,

Reliant on my Savior’s pow’r

Resting in His grace each hour,

O, how blessed it is to know

That my Savior loves me so

Though seven times a just man fall

He will arise after all

 

Glorious peace now I have within

Bright, abundant hope’s been giv’n

Once I wandered lost and astray

But now light to show the way

Saved from depths of hell I can’t know

To God’s prepared home I go

Once a slave to sin and despair

But now child of God—His heir.

 

H.R

7-17-20

 

Thy Will Be Done

 Thy Will Be Done

 

My God and Father! while I stray
Far from my home in life’s rough way,
Oh! teach me from my heart to say,
“Thy will be done!” “Thy will be done!”

[2. Though dark my path, and sad my lot
Let me be still, and murmur not
But breathe the prayer, divinely taught
Thy will be done (repeat)]

[3. What tho’ in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved, no longer nigh
Submissive still would I reply
Thy will be done (repeat)]

4. If Thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize, it ne’er was mine;
I only yield Thee what was Thine;
“Thy will be done!” (repeat)

[5. Should pining sickness waste away
My life in premature decay
My Father – still I strive to say
Thy will be done (repeat)]

6. If but my fainting heart be blest
With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God! to Thee I leave the rest--
“Thy will be done!” (repeat)

7. Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away
All now that makes it hard to say,
“Thy will be done!” (repeat)

8. Then when on earth I breathe no more
The prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
“Thy will be done!” (repeat)

Charlotte Elliot

In the Secret of His Presence

 Lyrics

Ellen Lakshmi Goreh (1853-?)

Music:

George Coles Stebbins (1846-1945)

 

 

	In the secret of His presence   How my soul delights to hide! Oh, how precious are the lessons   Which I learn at Jesus’ side! Earthly cares can never vex me,   Neither trials lay me low; For when Satan comes to tempt me,   To the secret place I go.
2	When my soul is faint and thirsty,   ’Neath the shadow of His wing There is cool and pleasant shelter,   And a fresh and crystal spring; And my Savior rests beside me,   As we hold communion sweet; If I tried, I could not utter   What He says when thus we meet.
3	Only this I know: I tell Him   All my doubts and griefs and fears; Oh, how patiently He listens!   And my drooping soul He cheers; Do you think He ne’er reproves me?   What a false friend He would be, If He never, never told me   Of the sins which He must see.
4	Would you like to know that sweetness   Of the secret of the Lord? Go and hide beneath His shadow;   This shall then be your reward; And whene’er you leave the silence   Of that happy meeting-place, By the Spirit bear the image   Of the Master in your face.

Abiding in the Almighty

Abiding in the Almighty

 

Abiding in the shadow of the Almighty

Safe and Secure, what harm can come to me?

Though ten thousand at my right hand may fall--

It is my Lord that delivers from perils all

 

I shall not be afraid of the terror by night

Nor dismay at the wicked’s woeful might

Upon the lion and adder I tread

And man hath no pow’r o’er the soul to cause me dread?

 

I fear not the arrow that flieth swift by day,

Nor the destruction wasting at noonday

His truth my shield and my buckler shall be

In His wings I trust, and His feathers cover me.

 

In the secret place of the Most High I dwell

God ruleth over heaven and hell,

 And in His hand my destiny’s secure

Clothed in His Son’s righteousness I stand pure.

 

-Heather Rausch

March 16^th, 2016—revised October 26^th, 2020

Psalm 91