Unto the King Eternal: December 2011

Unto the King Eternal

The love of our king radiantly outshines a love that's maternal,
His love knows no bounds, it's freeing and everlasting, a love that's eternal.

So love and live for the King eternal,
Grab hold of life in Jesus and let go of the temporal, the infernal.

Live life in humility, don’t stress the lack of bliss,
place your trust in Jesus, all else is lacking, and frankly quite amiss,

And though we are earthly bound, and heaven seems far away,
Keep your eyes turned on Jesus, in his service with a smile. Don’t deviate from his purpose, don’t let your determination sway.

We can't see beyond to the answer with the problem right there in our face,
Look away to the answer, and let trust in God be your base.

Can you live life his way, not your own that's the test,
It's hard to give up control when the urge to snatch it back seems to pester and fest,
But if we are faithful, leave control in his hands, one day we'll look back to see our life at it's best.

With the view from down here it's impossible to see all that's there in our path,
From his view from on high in eternity he sees the road we travel from beginning to end,
And those determined to be a hindrance to his guiding hand will find it impossible to avoid his wrath.

Yes I'll forever live in Jesus and for him, the King eternal,
Not just a physical life passed to me from mother, the maternal,
But born anew through the Spirit of God with submission and trust in Jesus my King,
For a life that's peacefully abundantly fulfilling with Jesus forever to those external flowing from His Spirit within, a love that's internal.

God's Renovation Project

While I consider the expanse and the fine detail of your creation
I can’t help but be in awe of the honor of your gracious invitation.
Yes I accept your gracious offer, and am truly amazed as I stand here on the threshold viewing the splendor of your yet unfinished but awesome renovation.

It starts in our heart, his wonder to unfold,
And will end with all creation a beauty to behold.

Out with the old and in with the new, an amazing renovation that can not be bought.
It’s better than imagined, beyond all expectation, this heavenly renovation is more than we sought.

The old? Murky muddy waters were swamping me with misuse and distrust,
Dirty desires and abuse were up there with the feeling of loneliness and like I would bust,

Feeling despised and even hated, and a sense of despair and regret,
Being cold and alone in the darkness of my sin and my guilt a thing I’d like to forget,

it is my complete undoing and has me at the end of my rope,
yes there’s a thought.., but ending my life would destroy all hope.

But wait, there’s more…

He’s offered the new and it’s free of charge except for the release of all that goes with the old.
The decision should be easy, no need to be bold, Just open your heart and release your hold.

It sounded so good I was free to admit,
But when it came time to release my hold it was hard to commit.

I’ll just do the work myself, and without a design,
Let’s start with this shelf that’s dirty, and out of align.

God’s handiwork is good and I like his design,
But he takes too long and my work will look just fine.

But when I looked at the vastness of the project at hand,
My work was cut out from the leaky roof to the foundation of sand,

The walls were unstable, the floorboards loose and unsteady,
The doors and windows were broken, so I throw up my hands in surrender already.

Lord I’ve tried this and failed, I can’t pass the test.
So I give you my heart and all of the rest.

So make me anew I said with decision,
And rip out the old at your own discretion.

So I gave him free reign of this huge renovation
I might even lend a hand in joy and jubilation.

God said with a smile as he turned to me,
“How about this closet, will you give me the key?”

With a loving heart that could melt me, and his hand on my shoulder,
He said still smiling, “the weight of all this is that of a bolder.”

He said, “I’ve shown you just a little of what I can do,
But the choice isn’t mine, it’s all up to you.”

His love was melting me like a figurine made of wax,
And without all that weight I began to relax.

“Please don’t get too comfortable.” he said again with a smile,
“There’s work yet to be done can you go the mile?”

by Jim Wilday.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Long ago Birth in a Bethlehem Stable

Jesus our Savior and righteous king, was born long ago in a Bethlehem stable,
Born both to die, and to live in majesty forever, and our sin from us he came to sever.
Greater than any skilled surgeon he cuts to the heart, to bring healing and wholeness and not just a new start, but God’s love and forgiveness within us to enable.

The angels gathered round to watch in awe, as God, born of man in that earthly stable,
Come to break the power of sin and death,
and reveal God’s spirit in man with a heavenly breath.
A story foretold in part by the prophets of old, proved to be so much more than a forgotten fable.

Mary did you know that the child you bore, laying comfortably swaddled in that rickety manger, would for us bare God’s wrath and his righteous anger?

Were you amazed as the lowly Shepherd’s from a nearby field shared their exciting story?
Of the message from God sent by angles while the field around them shone in heavenly glory?

Did you know that his hands would heal the sick and the blind?
That his words would bring freedom to all who believe and evil spirits would bind?

Did you know that the words of his mouth would raise the dead?
That with five loaves and two fish, five thousand hungry disciples would be filled and fed?

Did you know that your creator born there from your womb?
That he, your son was soon to bare God’s wrath and your horrible doom?

Did you know he would suffer and die and until the third day,
His body wrapped and prepared for the grave, in a rich man’s tomb would lay?
Or that you with his friends and followers in fear would be clustered away?

Did you know he would rise up with the sun on that glorious third morn?
Or that a new covenant with God and heavenly kingdom were soon to be born?

I’m sure it’s a lot to imagine while giving birth in a Bethlehem stable,
But that awesome story will likely be shared in heaven around the marriage feast table.

Heaven and earth are to be remade and joined by him in the final hour, and we'll be formed anew in heavenly flesh much like God joined with earthly flesh in Mary's womb, and was born long ago in a Bethlehem stable.

By Jim Wilday

It seems quite interesting when you think about it that God would choose a stable for the birth place of the Lamb of God while both shepherds and royalty came to worship. I believe God was making a statement about his Son. Even royalty in a threesome reminds of the Holy Trinity, Father Son and Holy Spirit represented there in that manger in little baby Jesus.

But only God could remake the Creator into a child, and the Shepherd into the Sacrificial Lamb. No wonder the angels were watching in awe to see the omnipresent and Almighty God step down from on high to take on the limitations and vulnerability of human flesh to complete a task that only God himself could possibly complete.

As Max Lucado put it...
Ponder the achievement of God. He doesn't condone our sin, nor does He compromise His standard. He doesn't ignore our rebellion, nor does He relax His demands. Rather than dismiss our sin, He assumes our sin and, incredibly, sentences Himself. God's holiness is honored. Our sin is punished...and we are redeemed. God does what we cannot do so we can be what we dare not dream; perfect before God.
[In The Grip of Grace] Max Lucado
Copyright [Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996]
Used by permission