Grafted in and Grateful

Take us Lord, where You are
We want to be with You
Beyond the clouds, the moon & stars
Your voice comes shining through

From above the planets and galaxies
High atop the firmament
From the place You’ve prepared for us to go
After Your second decent

So, we wait for you Lord
Anticipating…Life beyond this earth
Where we will see You face to face
And our souls take on new birth

Our worn out bodies, flesh and bone
Replaced with a new name and image
In the likeness of You Lord, we try to imagine
But our minds cannot envisage

Lions sleeping with the lambs
Your peace…You promised to bring
For that day Lord, our hearts long
To praise You and to sing

Of Your goodness and Your mercy
Kindness, gentleness and love
We wait with anticipation
For The Heavens to open up

Raising the dead “In Christ” and “To Self”
We will meet you in the air
Revenge is Yours and by The Sword of Your Mouth
All will be made right and fair

Satan and his minions will be defeated
Trampled under Your foot
Forever banished in the lake of fire
The door to Hades… You lock and close shut

And the evil will burn in the lake of fire
Throughout all eternity
And we will forget their names and faces
Yes, You will erase them from our memory

So, we wait with anticipation Lord
For You to come again
An inheritance in Heaven
Yes, “ALL” believers will win

To You Lord, a day is like a thousand years
And a thousand years, is like a day
But it seems so long ago that You ascended, Lord
And so many have fallen away

Help believers to witness to the souls You have “called”
Help us reach the fallen who will listen and obey
And wait with anticipation Lord
For You on that Coming Day

When the Trumpet sounds and the sleeping rise
We will meet You again in the air
Yes, we are waiting with anticipation Lord
For the Bridegroom of our love affair

My advocate, my mentor, my counselor
The Holy Spirit of Truth
Help me always to discern your voice
Help me to be living proof

Of how You will captivate our minds
Keeping evil voices at bay
When we yield control of our thoughts
Over to You each and every day

“My sheep they know me and hear my voice
They follow wherever I lead”
The words of Jesus spoken of the captive
That he had come from glory to set free

Refuse to let “any other” voice
Tie you up in knots
Those voices vie for control of your mind
Speaking of truths…that really are NOT

Of the Father, or of the Son
Or of The Holy Spirit of Truth
So we must learn to discern, which of those voices
We should only be listening to…

Don’t run in circles
Trying to obey
The various voices
Trying to direct your life

The result is fragmented
Frustrated living
That only causes
Hardship and strife

But walk closely with The Holy Spirit
Enjoying His companionship
He will take control over your thoughts
So you don’t stumble, fall, or slip

Yes, Jesus, my advocate, my counselor,
Is the only voice of truth
He walks before me, behind and alongside me
Lighting the way for me to follow through

So won’t you accept Jesus into your heart
He will do the same thing for you
He will be your advocate, your mentor, your counselor
Always speaking from the voice of truth

He is a beacon of hope
For the storms of life
A light in the pitch black
Darkness of night

He is the outstretched hand
Of the closest friend
As the waters rise over your head
And then…

You finally realize
He offers Saving Grace
And you responded too often
With a slap in His face

Yet His arms are still extended
Lifting your head above
The treacherous water
So, you take hold of

His hand and He pulls you
To safe, dry, land
But you’re exhausted now
And can hardly stand

To look at the hands
That rescued you
Scarred by the nails
Driven in by me and you

And others like us
Who’ve had no regard
For the life He lived
That was way too hard

For reprehensible man
To replicate
For deplorable woman
To emulate

But He is The Good Shepherd
We are his to throw away…or keep
He said, “For my Father has given them to me
And I lay down my life for the sheep”

He said, “My sheep they know me and
They hear my voice”
But he gave everyone free will
Yes, He gave us all a choice

And all He ever demanded
Was that we love as He did
For the greatest love ever shown
Laid down His life for His friends

Yes, He is a beacon of hope
For every circumstance in life
He is the light in the pitch black
Darkness of night

So, in your final hours
On who’s light will you depend?
My Beacon of Hope is Jesus
He is my light, my life, my friend

Today’s post entitled,”True Friends” was inspired by the Sermon Notes on “Thinking Through Your Friendships” by Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor First Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA., along with my own scripture reading from the Book of John, Chapters 14 through 16 (NIV).

Sharing trials
Bearing each other’s burden’s
True friends stay close
In times of trouble

Sharing their heart in both
Joy and Sorrow
True friends are always
There on the double

We need true friends we can trust
NOT to share a confidence
Don’t associate with those
Given to change

The counsel of a true friend
Is one you can trust
Because they are
NOT unsettled in their ways

But don’t be a companion
Of the “self-indulgent”
They are only interested in
Satisfying themselves

And don’t keep company
With immoral people
Who might lure you
Into sin yourself

True friendships require transparency
Letting the other person know
Just exactly
“who you really are”

If we try to cover up
And always appear perfect
We limit the relationship
…By Far

Friends admit when they’re wrong
They carry out their commitments
Seeking forgiveness, not excuses
For their behavior

Be thankful, be thoughtful
Be tolerant of flaws
Freely grant forgiveness
As did your Savior

God designed us to live in relationships
And…true friends
Are a very important part
Of His plan

But don’t associate with anyone
Who says “there is no God”
For that is the ultimate
Fall of any man

Spend time together
Talk to each other
Laugh and cry together
If you must

But selfishness, manipulation
Jealousy and covetousness
Will destroy any true friendship
Of trust

And remember, our God
Has given His chosen… good counsel
From The Holy Spirit
That lives within (John 14:15 NIV)

The Counselor, The Spirit of Truth (John 14:17 NIV)
Whom The Father sent in His name
Will teach us all things (John 14:26 NIV)
And be “Our True Friend”

But the world cannot accept Him
Because it does NOT know Him (John 14:17 NIV)
But He lives with YOU and ME
Inside our hearts

Yes, Jesus is IN the Father (John 14:20 NIV)
And “We” are IN Jesus
He loves us and we will
NEVER BE APART…

“As The Father has loved me
So have I loved You
Remain in my love”
Jesus said… (John 15:9 NIV)

“And love each other
As I have loved you”… (John 15:12 NIV)
With the love that
Laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13 NIV)

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger
Every day is a gift from God
Ending the day in anger and resentment
Brings the morning sun up in a fog

Valleys can lead to much higher mountains
But a critical spirit…keeps everyone down
Sometimes it is best to sleep on your response
Before ever uttering a sound

And some comments are not worthy of a response
Often said just to “pull your string”
You can end a quarrel…stop it dead in its tracks
BY NOT SAYING ANYTHING!

So don’t let the sun go down on your anger
Don’t bring the morning sun up in a fog
Accept the treasure of the morning sun
It is a beautiful gift from God

Don’t wake up with leftover anger and strife
Each day is the beginning of the rest of your life
You can create a new day filled with grace and peace
Where His perfect love (through “YOU”) is released

Release your faith with expectancy
Get in the right frame of mind
Honor God with your life
And His Blessings will override

Any doubt… or thoughts of defeat
Because He is moved more by our faith
And where would we be…had we not believed
We could reap of His Goodness and Grace

You know God has surprises in store for those
Who stay in control of their mind
And He will make things happen…all in “Due Season”
Yes… all in “His Perfect Good Time”

So don’t lose expectancy or settle where you are
The best part of your life…is to come
You must believe… so you can receive
“FAVOR” from “THE HOLY ONE”

Yes, Jesus is concerned about all of our needs
But He is moved more by our faith
Bring every thought captive into His Presence
Anxiety shrinks… shrivels away

BECAUSE WE ARE THE “CROWN OF HIS CREATION”
GIVEN THE REMARKABLE CAPABILITY
TO CHOOSE THE FOCAL POINT OF OUR MINDS
YES, HE GAVE US THE UNIQUE ABILITY

To untangle confusion
Unmask judgmental thoughts
Basking…
In His unconditional love

He will guard and keep us
in constant peace
When we
FOCUS OUR MINDS UP ABOVE

Where random, unworthy, unsettling thoughts
Are replaced with FAITH, HOPE and LOVE
Releasing your faith with expectancy
Sends an Olive Branch in from THE DOVE!

When the storms of life roll in
When I cannot find a friend
Help me to remember then
To Trust You Anyway

When the nights are long and cold
When sleep won’t come, I’m all alone
I sing Your praises loud and bold
I Trust You Anyway

All the times down on my knees
Your love surrounds and sets me free
From sin and darkness…no need to plead
I Trust You Anyway

Every time that I’ve been broken
For the times I’ve been ashamed
When my world comes crashing down
I Trust You Anyway

In the morning when I rise
Help me see through loving eyes
Even if caught by surprise
I Trust You Anyway

You planned my days so long ago
To sew your seed and make it grow
Poetic justice… I claim it’s so
I Trust You Still Today

Verse and rhyme can help the blind to see
Life lessons You’ve taught to me
But even if they disagree
I Trust You Anyway

You are The One who knows my heart
A deep longing for You… I strive to impart
To friends and family when the doubting starts
To Trust You Anyway

Help me Lord Jesus to believe in my mind
What I already know in my heart
And to stop giving in to Satan’s attempts
To separate and keep me apart

From You Lord, You love me and gave Your life for me
Dying for all of my sins
So I would not have to battle Satan’s wicked schemes
By myself, ever again

Because Satan bombards our mind and our judgement
Making us doubt what we already know
He is extremely convincing, making us believe
That his wicked lies are actually so

But we must never forget The Omniscient One
Offers us complete control over our mind
Renewing thoughts and emotions, if we only Trust Him
Keeping our actions from sinful decline

Remember there is no need to harbor “Worry” or “Guilt”
Those thoughts have long been washed away
Cling tightly to The Father’s hand
And He will guide you so you can say…

“I claim my heart knowledge, for my head
There is no longer doubt in my mind
My mind will receive it,’cause my heart believes it
Yes, this gift…His precious gift is mine”

Be happy for the people
That pass you by
Because you are NOT invisible
In God’s eye’s

Play your role
Even when it’s not the lead
Pushing others forward
Moves you toward your destiny

Appreciate God’s Grace
In the lives of others
Don’t try to compete
Or be jealous of one another

Accept your role
Be content where you are
God sees what you are doing
That is invaluable by far

And above, over what you think
You are NOT invisible
You are NOT a
Weak link

So be happy for those
Who may rise higher than you
Help them to shine and
You’ll find security too

In who you are
Who God made You to be
Invaluable NOT invisible
In the grand scheme of things

Serve others in the background
Where there is no limelight
Use your gifts to promote another
Strive to do what is right

And you will find you’ll be content
In the role you play
You’ll be Invaluable NOT Invisible
Learning along the way

To be happy for those
Who rise higher than you
As you carry them faithfully
In whatever you do

God blessing them
Doesn’t mean He can’t bless you
You are Invaluable NOT Invisible
Yes, God sees You!