And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
Author: joethewaller
The Almighty
You are the truth in a time of confusion
You, the reality in the illusion
Strength and supply for the weak and the weary
Steadfast in wisdom with every query
Faithful and flawless, you are the defender
Fixed as the victor, you never surrender
Perfect in holiness, pure in your vision
Power and glory demanding submission
Reigning in sov’reignty, rivaled by no one
Revelation of the heaven you open
Gracious and merciful, ever forgiving
God: ever light, ever love, ever living
Though Man May Die
The scalpel in my Father’s hand
Doth fill my soul with hope and dread:
Hope for the good that he hath planned;
Dread for the loss of what is dead.
Afflicted with a fearful faith,
The foreign and familiar fused-
The actions of the holy wraith
Obscured by actions unexcused.
Yet I am not accused by God,
Despite the sins I still commit.
I fall before the meas’ring rod,
But, by his grace, he doth remit.
His right hand of omnipotence
No longer waits with wrath for me:
The God-man, breathing holiness,
Bore holes and wrath upon the tree.
Now he upholds with righteous arm
The souls now saved from Sodom’s fate.
He works his purpose through each harm
As for his work we watch and wait.
So banish now these fleshly fears
And fear the holy God most high.
His work, though wrought with many tears,
Brings life to man though man may die.
Providence
God has not forgotten
God is not away
He is near the broken
As they weep and pray
God has not forsaken
Those he came to save
His – the stormy ocean
Providence – the wave
Sov’reignty and goodness
Unified in thee
You alone are righteous
Perfect trinity
Trust in his provision
Well beloved ward
Holy disposition
Of the risen Lord
Memories and Doubts
Though a host of thoughts and feelings filled him, he closed his eyes, slowed his breathing, and remembered. Continue reading
Victory
All you who fear the Lord of all
Have nothing in this world to dread.
Although in time your face may fall,
Eternity will crown your head.
Remember what our God has said,
That evil will not win the day,
For God in Christ for justice bled
And took the weight of law away.
Redeemed, we walk the narrow way
Through valleys cold and forests dark.
Onward we march into the fray
Approaching death, the final ark.
And, as we on this road embark
And set our eyes upon the Son,
We pass the souls who bear the mark
Who from the light of love do run.
These journeys we have just begun,
Yet, shortly, they will be complete.
The wicked, then, will be undone;
The righteous, then, their Savior meet.
All kneel before the judgment seat.
All bow before the Lord’s decree.
All evil he will there defeat.
His glory all mankind will see.
So do not fear the enemy,
Nor worry when he seems to win,
For God will have the victory
And he will make an end of sin.
The Voice of Temptation
Bask in your infatuation
Nevermind your mutilation
Spit on Christ’s propitiation
Carry on with sin
Take the saving cord; unwind it
Other souls will surely find it
Jesus surely wouldn’t mind it
Let the devil win
Seek ye first your own desiring
Think not of the Lord’s perspiring
Nor of hell’s eternal firing
Run away again
Surely God was only joking
Gorge without a fear of choking
At the beast we go a poking
Let the games begin
Discontentment
“The grass is always greener…”
So they say
So it seems
“If I could only get there…”
Wand’ring mind
Wishful dreams
“My troubles would be over…”
Hopeful claim
Happy lie
“My life would be far better…”
Boastful joke
Bitter sigh
“If God would only bless me…”
Foolish talk
Fallen heart
“I’d give him all the glory…”
Downward gaze
Devil’s dart
“So clearly can my eyes see…”
Captive soul
Cursing breath
“No chance of idolatry…”
Grasp for prize
Grip your death
The Joy of Being a Part of the Wedding
When the disciples of John the Baptist noticed that people were leaving John to follow Jesus and to be baptized by his disciples, they came to their teacher to express their concerns. Rather than responding with a plan to grow his numbers back up or with a fear of losing his voice among the people, John spoke these words:
Questions
Is God still good when I have been so wrong?
Or when I’m wronged, does love still win the day?
I read that he’s been with me all along,
But can it be when pain and sorrow stay?
Or might it be that his exalted might
Is meant not to pluck out but to uphold?
And could it be my eyes so weak of sight
Cannot perceive his plan of ages old?
Could he be working all things for my good
Although it seems that he is nowhere near?
Is this my furnace, this my cross of wood,
That shows me through my death that God is here?
How can I then bemoan the fiercest throes,
The holy forging, sanctifying blows?
as i learn to walk 