Dear friends, Happy New Year! – may it be full of wonder, filled with song, a prosperous
new year of hope and courageous faith in the Lord! By God’s grace I survived a second
Christmas without my dearest friend Evelyn, but I am looking forward to 2012. This is a
poetry wrap up of 2011 with a few poems and a link or two – the latest and the newest
(first poem of 2012!) are included at the end. Please enjoy - Love in Christ alone, JEFF
CHRISTMAS LOVE
On the very first Christmas
God sent to the world His Son
And kept the prophet’s promise
A mighty Savior would come
On that cold and starry night
A Cry of life would pierce the dark
And fill the earth with Heaven’s Light
Who seeks to save the darkest heart
On the first Christmas morn
Some two-thousand years ago
Eternity’s Master Planner was born
So all who will beieve would know
God gave His Son to live and die
Hope of everlasting peace was given
Though the world would rather forget His Time
Christmas Love is always alive and well in Heaven
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WELCOME HOME
Hope comes from the Lord
True joy is found in Him alone
Love waits for me in heaven
My heart longs to be at home
Peace comes from the Lord
True life is found in Him alone
Friends wait for me in heaven
My mind longs to feel at home
Faith comes from the Lord
Treasure is found in Him alone
Comfort waits for me in heaven
My soul longs to know I’m home
Purpose comes from the Lord
Freedom is found in Him alone
Jesus waits for me in heaven
I long to hear Welcome Home
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CRAZY FOR CHRIST
I’ve seen my share of crazy
Standing proud without a clue
Choosing darkness over light
Unaware of me or you
I’ve seen my share of crazy
Standing firm against the wind
Chasing shadows in the light
Not concerned about their sin
I’ve seen my share of crazy
Standing up to share the Truth
Shining light into the darkness
Unwilling to silence being new
Yes, I’ve seen my share of crazy
Standing with the saints in light
Singing songs to God in heaven
Willing to be crazy for Christ
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The Just Shall Live By Faith
Habakkuk 2:4
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-habakkuk-2-4.htm
LIVE BY FAITH
Look ahead
Yesterday must fade
Look ahead my friend
Live today by faith
The just live by faith
True Life is not positive thinking
God knows your real desire today
Choose to have a heart of freedom
Look ahead
Tomorrow won’t wait
Look ahead my friend
Live today by faith
The righteous live by faith
Truth is not a game of positive lying
Christ has shown us the way to God
Choose by faith to embrace His Cross
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Habakkuk
[Hābăk'kuk] – love’s embrace or he that embraces. The eighth of the Minor Prophets whose parentage, birthplace and era are unrecorded (Hab. 1:1; 3:1).The Man Who Caressed the People
Although he is not much more than a mere name to us, we know that Habakkuk was a prophet of Judah and of the tribe of Levi and of the temple singers (Hab. 3:19). He is also referred to as a prophet and the last prophet before the destruction of Jerusalem (Hab. 3:11). Rabbinical tradition makes him the son of the Shunammite woman whom Elisha restored to life (2 Kings 4:16). Habakkuk prophesied the coming of the Babylonians upon Judah. This invasion took place in 606 b.c. and also in 597 b.c. and 586 b.c. “In your days” (Hab. 1:5), would indicate that he prophesied scarcely a generation before the first invasion.
In his prophecy Habakkuk was true to his name, which means “strong embrace of God,” for he caressed and comforted the people as one would embrace a weeping child until its tears are dried. A modern writer suggests that his name may have contributed somewhat to the unpopularity of the prophet. “His name is against him; its coarse gutterals, falling upon the modern ears with a forbidden ring, and creating a prejudice from the beginning.”
From the book Habakkuk wrote, we gather that he was the questioning prophet. He wants to know “Why?” and “How?” Answers were granted him. Why does God permit the destruction of His own people by a hand so cruel and unclean? The prophet waited patiently for an answer, and it came. The ungodly shall pass; the just shall live by faith.
Then we have a chant of derision against the Chaldeans raised by their victims – a fivefold woe:
I. Their insatiable greed.
II. Their overreaching ambition.
III. Their cruel tyranny.
IV. Their shameful treatment of conquered people.
V. Their brutal idolatry.
Then there is Habakkuk’s great message of faith which gave Paul a hint of the most precious truth of the Gospel (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) and aided the Reformation under Martin Luther, the charter of evangelical liberty.
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ONE NAME
Christ and Christ alone
He lived and died for me
Christ and Christ alone
His truth made me free
Christ and Christ alone
His love conforms my art
Christ and Christ alone
No other keeps my heart
Christ and Christ alone
Not His human mom or dad
Christ and Christ alone
Only Jesus makes me glad
Christ and Christ alone
He lives today to save my soul
One name is worthy of praise
Jesus Christ and Christ alone
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FIRST LOVE
First love … before you judge another. Love first, don’t make
others pass your test. Love first, before you hurt a sister or a
brother. Love first, let the Lord handle the rest. It’s easier to say
than do, attracting others to the Cross, but live and learn to love
each other and soon you will be imitating God. Love first, the
choice is all your own. Treat others as you’d like to be and you’ll
never walk alone. Love first, God will show you how. Love first,
grace and mercy won’t be far behind. Love first, Jesus proved it
can be done. If you really want to know true freedom…first love.
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“It’s time to return and strengthen yourself, yet again, in the Lord your God.”
LOOK UP
When life knocks you down
Look up
When pain makes you frown
Look up
The sun will still be shining
Look up
Rest in God’s perfect timing
When yesterday is haunting
Look up
When tomorrow is daunting
Look up
The Son still holds your place
Look up
Live in God’s grace for today
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“A Very Present Help”
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read 1 Samuel 30:1–6
David had reached the point in life where some people think of taking their own lives. He was so far down the ladder of despair that he’d reached the bottom rung. The last stop. The place where you either jump off into oblivion or you cry out to God for His forgiveness. For rescue. The wonderful thing is that we do have that choice, because God never gives up on His children.
David made the right choice. “David was greatly distressed . . . But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
Now you’re talking, David. That’s the way to endure the Slough of Despond. The pits may seem bottomless, but there’s hope above. Reach up! Help is there.
For the first time in months, David looks up, and he says, “Oh, God, help me.” And He does. He always will. He is “a very present help” when needed.
Dark days call for right thinking and vertical focus. That’s what David learns at this moment in his life. He finds that the test isn’t designed to throw him on his back and suck him under, it’s designed to bring him to his knees so he will look up.
Perhaps you have known the joys and ecstasies of walking with Christ, but in a moment of despondency, you’ve opted for the wrong fork in the road, and you’re now living in the wrong camp . . . you’re living in the “carnal corral.” In the words of the prophet, you’ve been like those who “sow the wind and . . . reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).
But, like David, you’ve gotten tired of feeling displaced. The disillusionment has bred distrust, and the depression is killing you.
Reach up. Come home. The Father is waiting at the door, ready to forgive and willing to restore. It’s time to return and strengthen yourself, yet again, in the Lord your God.
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll,
Great Days with the Great Lives
http://vyrso.com/product/11414/great-days-with-the-great-lives
http://insight.org
Today’s Verse
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
— Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
From beginning to end, our God is there! What is there for us to fear? What can happen that can change this one undeniable reality? We belong to the God who is always there, who always cares for us, and who will always work to bring us salvation! No matter what happens to us tomorrow, or the next day, or the one after that, our destiny lies with the God who stretches from beginning to end and who secures for us life that never ends.
My Prayer…
Father God, thank you for the blessings of this past year. Please guide me as I seek to use your blessings in the coming year. Inspire my confidence about your future for me and fill me with joy because of your salvation. For all that has been good, holy, and gracious, I give you thanks and praise. For all the ways I’ve sinned, failed, or stumbled, I ask for your forgiveness. And for tomorrow, and another new day and another new year, I await with anticipation and gladness for I know that I will see them come or I will be at home with you where days and years no longer matter. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today’s Verse are written by Phil Ware.
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ROMANS 8:38-39 (NLT)
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
FROM MY HEART TO YOURS
From My heart to yours
I give you My love
Lean on Me for support
When you don’t have enough
From My heart to yours
I leave you My peace
Depend on Me for more
When troubles won’t cease
From My heart to yours
I offer you My joy
Celebrate life
Make a joyful noise
From My heart to yours
I’ve opened My truth
Take it and live
Before death visits you
Life is short
I designed it that way
Put your faith in the Lord
And don’t forget to pray
From your heart to Mine
I will hear when you call
Nothing can seperate us
When My heart is yours
Jeffrey Pollock
December2011
http://bible.cc/joshua/1-9.htm
COURAGEOUS
Step out in FAITH
On new years day
Walk in TRUTH
That will not change
Step up to LOVE
That came from above
Walk in NEW LIFE
Trusting in the Lord Jesus
Step up to HEAVEN
In Two-Thousand-Twelve
Walk in PEACE
Where all things work well
Step out in FAITH
Each and every new day
Walk in the STRENGTH
That never fades
JEFF
2012
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Never rely on what you think you know.
Remember the Lord in everything you do,
and he will show you the right way.
(http://www.biblestudytools.com/gnt/proverbs/passage.aspx?q=proverbs+3:5-6)
http://www.insight.org/library/insight-for-today/incapable-of-comprehending.html
O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. MICAH 6:8 http://nlt.scripturetext.com/micah/6.htm
