LOVE HEALS
There have been songs about love since the beginning of time.
One thing they all have in common, even in the midst of ecstasy, is a sense of longing. Longing for permanence. In this information age we can actually see how rare permanence really is when it relates to love. That is, as long as we’re defining it ourselves. The human definition for love is based on instincts and experience, much like that of any animal. As long as we insist on this ill-based definition, what we assume to be love will never satisfy our mounting need for it.
But there is good news. The “brand-name” love does exist! And it has been freely given. Real love would be. True love is the only brand that satisfies. It is so powerful that it can heal rejection, broken hearts and dashed expectations. It is mercy and honest faithfulness with the entire heart, soul and strength. Its joys are worth giving up everything else for. Its eternal strength has no equal and no boundaries. Like the dew, it is fresh every morning. It heals every breech, stitches up every tear. It is sweetness in even the most bitter circumstances. Real love suffers long and continues to be kind. Love does not envy or put itself on exhibition. It isn’t conceited or rude, doesn’t seek to make its own point, can’t be provoked, entertains no evil thoughts, feels no joy in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believing, hoping, enduring. Love never fails. That is the love we all long for. Nothing less will satisfy. [1 Corinthians 13]
It may interest, even encourage you to know that this pure love is not possible to a human being in its natural state. There must be a transformation, a transition to another state. The part of the human being that has this capacity is our spirit and, in its “as-is” state, is at best a non-functioning demo of the real thing. The transformation that must take place is actually the installation of the full-function version. We are born with a body and a brain. The growth that occurs in those parts is phenomenal over the first 20 years of our physical life. During those years there are opportunities for the spirit to begin its growth, but more times than not they are completely over-shadowed by the aggressive dominance and appetites of the body and mind. Once the spirit is “born”, it grows to take the dominant role because that is the real you, the eternal you. And it is the real you because that “you” is connected and interlaced with its Creator, whose nature is (yes, you guessed it) pure love. [1John 4:16
After spending the first years of our life dominated by our body and mind, it is quite a transition to the dominance of the spirit. It can be a pretty messy and inconsistent process. The body and mind have faith only in themselves. After all, no matter how deplorable the track-record may be, that’s all they’ve ever depended on.
Our spirit, now alive and in view of the reality of the Creator, begins to exert its growing power on our physical and mental forces. Trusting more and more in what it sees, the spirit gains the confidence to overrule the urges of the body and mind. The goal of the spirit is to bring the whole being to a state of harmony with the Creator’s reality so it will have no dependency on “its own understanding, but in all things acknowledge” the Creator’s view as the real one and all else as thinly disguised attempts at self-power. [Proverbs 3:5,6]
LOVE HEALS is a personal discovery. Only God’s love, showered on us through Jesus (His Word made flesh), is indeed able to affect any change in the direction of human nature or history. We who believe are of all creatures most pitiable if knowledge of His unique kind of love does not cause a like and living fountain to spring from self-crucified, cross-bearing lives. If we cannot reproduce fruit like the fruit born in us, we are infertile and barren. But the moment we take our grasping fist from the hole dug to plant our life and determine to water all in range, the full extent off heaven’s power is released to win, to save, to comfort, to serve, and eternally heal.
John 7:38 – He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
For me, that discovery is the result of the influence of many lives who have consistently stood their posts at the turns in my path, pointing me to the Way, the Truth and the Life. Therefore…
These songs and their message are in honor of my family:
My wife: Nancy • Parents: Herchel & Loree • Grandparents: Bert & Bessie, Tom & Effie & the Morgans • Daughter: Reneé • Grandchildren: Nickolas, Rebecca & Clark • Brother: Duane • Uncles: Bill, Troy, Sephus, Newton • Pastors: Bert & Bessie Harrell, Leon & Lucille Quillon, Bill & Kathy Harrell, Timothy Bateson, Jack Hayford, Mike MacIntosh • Mentors: Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, JI Packer, JB Phillips, AW Tozer, GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, Chuck Smith, Beethoven, Brahms, Chuck Girard, Roby Duke, Ray Charles.
Producer: Roby Duke
Arrangers: Roby Duke & Nick Manson
Track recording: Michael Lord Studios, Seattle, Michael Lord engineer
Vocals & overdub recording: Red Door Studios, Seattle, Roby Duke Engineer
Mixed At: Michael Lord Studios, Seattle & Crossroads Studios, Santa Ana
Mastered by: Digiprep, Hollywood
Keyboards: Nick Manson
Drums: Ben Smith
Bass: Doug Barnett, Gary Shelton (Safe)
Saxophones: Andy Suzuki
Hammond B3: Gary Verrill, Nick Manson (Simple Answer)
Guitars: Roby Duke, Rod Cook
Percussion: Roby Duke
Lead vocals: Terry Clark
Background vocals: Nancy Clark, Roby Duke, Terry Clark
Art direction: John Shaffer
Photos & tinting: Virginia Dixon
Songs:
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
Daybreak
Everlasting
John 3:16
Love Heals
Oh What Love Can Do
Simple Answer
Come Holy Spirit
Safe
That’s Why I Can Sing
Every Step
LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS
Elisha Hoffman 1839-1929 & Anthony Showalter 1858-1924
This “connection” with the Creator’s reality is not just some kind of mind trip or ecstasy reached by physical depravation or elevated consciousness. This “interlacing” with the Creator is not a state of mind. No matter whose dream-pipe you smoke or how many astral planes you can travel on, the conception of a new spirit is not something you will produce with a technique or ritual. This is a personal thing, but not on the level of the senses, even imaginary ones. This regeneration is done BY someone, outside of our tactile world; done TO us in an unseen, unknown part of us that we have no means to enter on our own.
That someone is our Creator who thought and spoke and formed us into existence. He is by all rights our Father and desires to be acknowledged and embraced as Abba. The life and love that He freely offers us is described, by Himself in human language, as simply knowing Him and being one with Him.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Love is the nature and spirit of our Creator-Father. You definitely want to be abiding under His wings, enjoying His love and indwelling Presence. He will do anything to preserve the purity and intimacy of His relationship with His Children.
Count on Him to be the most nurturing, protective Father you can have. Bank forever on it.
What a fellowship!
What a joy divine!
What a blessedness!
What a peace is mine!
Leaning on the everlasting Arms
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms
DAYBREAK
tc 6/24/97
Discovery… the dawning of illumination… unexpected adventure… spontaneous creativity. If you like the sound of those words, you’ll love spending the day with Jesus! Walking through the day with Him is never boring and always challenging. Every day is squeezing through narrow passages into limitless open expanses where you can breathe freely and deeply again. Complete exertion, complete rest.
REV 22:16,17 “I, Jesus, have sent My messenger to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Somewhere there are clouds always rolling by
That’s where we get the rain
Most of those clouds seemed to be in my sky
‘Till you lit up my day
All my life I thought I had to figure out
How to live my life
Now I know what happiness is all about
It’s just walking in your light
You’re the daybreak
You’re the sunrise
You’re the song I wake up to
You’re the clear blue sky above the shadows
I think I’ll just spend the day with you
Everyday there’s a reason to wake up
Though the night is long
Everyday again I will bring it up
You’re the sunshine in my song
Why should I worry
Why should I fret
The reason it’s sunny
How could I forget
EVERLASTING
w&m Roby Duke
The only reference we humans have for “everlasting” is where our perception ends. “From everlasting to everlasting” really means: beyond the vanishing point, in both directions, past and future. One of Jesus’ names is Everlasting Father. He was, is and will forever be the I AM, the One who gathers and holds everything together.
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him… (NIV)
Shower of blessings
Constant presence of mercy
Strength whenever we call
You deliver us when we falter
So humbly we adore you
Standing altered
Our hearts are waiting for you
Everlasting
Creator of the world
We bow before you
Everlasting
Father, we give praise
Unto your name
Tower of refuge
A mighty wall of salvation
King of all you survey
Beautiful for all situations
The hope and joy of the whole earth
All creation rejoice
We sing unto you
JOHN 3:16
tc 4/30/96
This love is enormous! God’s love for the whole world. But it is to one child at a time. Love gives. The measure of the love is the gift. God wrapped His life up in what was most valuable to Him and gave it… to us… to rescue and heal what He had lost. You and me!
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only Son
So whoever believed
They would never die
But they would have eternal life
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only Son
So whoever believed
They would never die
But they would have eternal
His gift is life eternal
We can have eternal life (You can..)
And this is eternal life
To know God your Father
This is eternal life
To know His own Son
To know His own Son
LOVE HEALS
tc 10/96
Healing… a very interesting subject. Our Creator has built healing into every cell of living matter. He has also shown us the key that releases it. Growing up in a spiritually charged environ-ment would provide an awareness of the Creator’s prerogative to heal human illness and even raise humans from the dead. But how does He activate it? What turns it on?
Love is the fountain. Love heals!
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 41:17,18 “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Broken & weak
Pressed down by fear & pain
Rest now at Jesus’ feet
Hearing His voice
Washes your fears away
Feel His strong hand
Lift you up
Now you can stand
Now you believe love heals
Alone & tired
Harried by tyrany
Hear Jesus’ call, come to Me
Rest for your soul
Peace for eternity
All you have had
All the good and all the bad
Now just receive, love heals
Everyday new life is born
But all earthly flowers fade
There is a light that never grows dim
It’s shining on us by God’s grace
There’s only one
Source of this healing love
A Fountain that flows pure and sweet
This Well has a name
Life ever springing up
Filling our hearts
With the courage for the dark
Tenderly His love heals
OH WHAT LOVE CAN DO
tc 10/11/96
The most powerful deterrent to the full enjoyment of life is the twisted perception that it is about me. About me being happy, me getting healthy and fulfilled, me having the good life. Trying to get life is the very thing that blocks it! To truly enjoy life we must give it.
I have the very thing that my spouse needs, not just as a static life-long thing, but as each day comes along. That’s why our Creator, who is orchestrating every detail of our lives, has brought us together. My life is activated as I pour what I have been given into the lives He has placed me with.
If I can focus upon the Giver and the distribution of His gifts, I will never have to ask, “Am I getting what I need?” That is the Philip-pians 2:12 “working out” process. To know Him, I must observe Him giving Himself through me, investing His never-too-busy, never-distracted, never-self-engrossed, never-failing love.
Is a smile too much? Is a tender touch too much? Is a note or a phone call too much? Then I’m sure dying on the cross would have been out of the question.
Want life? Want it abundantly? Pressed down and overflowing? Give it away!
Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Samuel 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Matthew 10:8b Freely you have received, freely give.
The lonely may not seem to be
People all around
Never stopping, always working
‘Till they’re on the ground
With one look
With one touch
With a note or a phone call
Oh what love can do
When a heart is broken
Oh what love can do
All alone we can turn to stone
Oh what love can do
Some people seem to be traveling
Through this life alone
Never reaching, always searching
For a friend, for a home
With one look
With one touch
With a note or a phone call
The miracle that love can do
Comes washing down like a water fall
The miracle that love can do
Is bringing them home like a mother’s call
SIMPLE ANSWER
tc 10/12/96
It’s just too simple! The reality of our Creator is beyond our comprehension and yet He has made entry into and participation in His reality humiliatingly simple. That’s the problem. Our mind wants to boast, “I have figured it out!” “I have set it all in order.” “I have accomplished uncovering the deep mysteries of God!” Oh yea?
Matthew 11:25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
We hear Jesus call us to “Repent! The kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Repentance is just a long word for turning. Turning from my own nature’s way. He also calls us to “Come to Me…” I turn from my way to His way. We would like that to be complicated but it’s not. Just because it is hard doesn’t mean it is beyond us, especially when He is right here to put His strength behind my decision. I can try to side-step the simplicity by citing my up-bringing or the conditions I live in or the breaks I haven’t gotten, but it doesn’t matter what the excuse may be, He has confronted and overcome every obstacle that we can face. So it doesn’t matter what the question is, the answer is Jesus.
That doesn’t just mean the answer can be found if you search in His teachings enough or study about Him hard enough or say enough prayers. Our hunger to know more of Him will demand we do all that and more. But knowing Him opens our eyes to see that He doesn’t just have the answer… He is the answer, He is the cure, He is the salvation, He is the security, He is the wisdom, He is the provision, He is the plumb-line, He is the way, He is our home.
Psalm 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
There’s a million questions
But only one Answer
There’s a million deceptions
But only one Savior
There’s a million infections
But only one cure
There’s a million connections
But only one way to be sure
There’s a simple answer to every question
It’s Jesus, It’s Jesus
There’s only one real Revelation
It’s Jesus, It’s Jesus
Take Him by the hand
He will understand
Don’t try to figure it out
Don’t start to fear and doubt
Just do what He commands
There’s a million decisions
But only One Wise
There’s a million provisions
But only One provides
There’s a million corrections
But one Cornerstone
There’s a million directions
But only one way to get Home
COME HOLY SPIRIT
tc 5/97
A good strong dose of reality always results in the same request: HELP! Well, help has been provided in abundance.
John 14:16-20 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Luke 11:9-13 “And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
1Corinthians 2:11,12 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Come, Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit
Let your holy rain begin
Come, Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit
Fill our hungry hearts again
You’re the one
The only one we need
Send your power
And set us free
SAFE
tc 11/27/96
There are many kinds of danger. The most terrible are homicide of the soul and theft of divine life. Safety is more about protection from anxiety and space to breathe freely. We can only exhale if we inhale. We must have a source of substance and strength. We can choose to draw from our own strength and suffer the painful consequences or we can move into the “shadow of the Almighty” and just commute from there.
We don’t have much problem imagining the “filling-station” concept. We can even picture re-fueling in flight. If you’ve got kids, it’s drive-thru fueling. But how about a permanent, on-board supply that never runs dry. Now, that’s not so easy to picture. Jesus described exactly that. Inhaling and exhaling simultaneously… That would take at least two people wouldn’t it? Oh! You mean one with no resources at all (vacuum) and One with all the resources? Hum…
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and under-neath are the everlasting arms
Isaiah 43:2-3 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
Psalm 91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under foot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.
John 4:13-14 “Whoever drinks… of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe in the refuge He gives us
Safe, safe
No matter what danger comes
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Blessed in the arms of Jesus
Blessed with the life He is in us
Blessed, blessed
Great is His faithfulness
Blessed in the arms of Jesus
Blessed in the arms of Jesus
Looking on His face we gather
‘Round the Throne of our Redeemer
Throwing down our crowns we bow before Him
Nothing in this world can sever
Us from His love, we’re forever
Safe in the everlasting arms
Filled in the arms of Jesus
Filled for His fullness is in us
Filled, filled
Looking into His face
Filled in the arms of Jesus
Filled in the arms of Jesus
THAT’S WHY I CAN SING
tc 1/18/97
We’ve heard it said, “Talk is cheap.” That may the case with most talk, because most talk is just talk. But there is a category of talk that is very valuable. The most powerful words are those from personal knowledge and experience. When we hear those words they paint a picture that gives us the opportunity to taste that experience. If that happens we are no longer satisfied with empty stories and ideas. We are compelled to be one of those people whose words are full of substance. We may watch other people and hear their testimonies but the proof, the real confidence is in the personal “pudding”. Once we have been in a hopeless situation and seen our Father’s faithfulness and power to bring us through, then we know. Then we see. And then we can sing because we have seen beyond ourselves. Though we can not explain, even our feeble attempts charge the air with real life. Each layer of proof strengthens the bulwark against despair, then the trusting soul begins to rest and sing.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understand-ing. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Mark 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ”Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Though I walk through the shadows
And through the valley of night
Nothing can harm me
There are Arms that hold me tight
When my strength begins to falter
And my hope is wearing thin
I trust in Jesus and I lean on Him
That’s why I can sing of God’s goodness
And I can stand on His Word
For He is my strength and He is my song
That’s why I sing of God’s goodness
And I stand on His Word
For He is my strength and my song
When it seems I’ve lost the battle
And there’s nothing more I can do
That’s when I remember
You have always seen us through
When the thing we hold as treasure
So quickly fades from view
I remember all our treasure, it’s all safe with You
That’s why we can sing of God’s goodness
And we can stand on His Word
For He is our strength and He’s our song
That’s why we sing of God’s goodness
And we stand on His Word
For He is our strength and our song
EVERY STEP
tc 3/18/97
Sheep aren’t known for their intelligence or sharp instincts. In fact if a lamb begins to chronically stray from the safety of the shepherd’s care its leg will be broken. While its leg heals it is carried everywhere on the shepherd’s shoulders and fed by his own hand. The intimate bonding that takes place during that healing period insures that that lamb will never stray again. Cruelty? I think we’d better ask the lamb. It would be wise though, to ask after the healing is complete rather than during.
Isaiah 53:6a All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.
If we judge God’s actions based on our present comfort we will never know the joy of knowing and worshiping Him “in the beauty of holiness” (1Chronicles 16:29)
Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 8:19-22 Then a certain scribe came and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 16:24-25 “If any one will come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.”
John 10:3-5 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they will hear My voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 6:67-68 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Standing at another threshold
Hearing your voice call me to Your side
There’s no other voice I’ll follow
My Shepherd, You’re the place that I abide
There’s no reason I should tarry
Yesterday’s gone I must carry on
Though I don’t know ‘bout to tomorrow
I know that we are headed straight for Home
Where else can I drink Living Water?
Where else can I hear words of Life?
How else can I know for sure I’m traveling Your way?
Unless I go, unless I follow every step You take?
Knowing there’s no other doorway
Makes it clearer how to make a choice
Mostly in the secret still place
I wait and work until I hear your voice
How can I be down and fearful
Thinking I’m the one that needs to know?
Why should I wonder why and worry
Knowing that My Shepherd loves me so?
WHILE IT IS STILL TODAY
Our Creator has given us a great power, the power of choice. It is a simple kind of power but the results are very profound. Before the installation of a fully function-ing spirit, our choices were almost random with little more in view than personal satisfaction. But now…
Ephesians 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
Ephesians 4:15-32 But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ–from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effec-tive working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk in the futility of your mind, being alienated from the life of God. But that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”- do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
The first question is:
Do you choose this new life?
The correct answer is:
YES!
The next question is:
Do you understand that it will not happen by just trying hard in your own strength? That you will have to find out His way and choose it every time?
The correct answer is:
YES!
The next question is:
Will you come to Him… are you coming to Him now… today… everyday… at every Y in the road… at every decision… every provocation… learning His ways… letting His ways overrule yours… following Him?…
That is the battle. Don’t fall for the whispering temptations and discouragements. Your rest, your happiness, your eternity is in Jesus and no where else. Be of good courage, He has overcome the world! He will complete the good work He began! Finish well by taking every step with Him. If you get off track, call out to Him quickly! He’s right there.