A Spoken WORD

Happy...

2011-03-01T12:50:00.002-06:00

Psalm 2 (NRSV)

The one begotten of God

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
"Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us."

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord has them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
"I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, "You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

I Need You

2011-03-01T12:42:00.002-06:00

Psalm 131 (NRSV)

A child upon its mother's breast

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Light Shines in the Darkness

2011-02-05T16:43:00.001-06:00

Psalm 112:1-9 (NRSV)

Light shines in the darkness

Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Never Be Moved

2011-01-29T17:06:00.001-06:00

Psalm 15 (NRSV)

Abiding on God's holy hill

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Whom Shall I Fear?

2011-01-22T12:13:00.002-06:00

Psalm 27:1-6 (NRSV)

God is light and salvation

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh
my adversaries and foes
they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Wise Men Seek Him!

2011-01-08T01:00:00.000-06:00

Epiphany of Our Lord
Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

Christ revealed to the nations

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Jesus Came Down!

2011-01-01T13:00:00.002-06:00

The Name of Jesus
Luke 2:15-21 (NRSV)

The child is named Jesus

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

It's CHRISTmas Time!

2010-12-25T00:00:00.002-06:00

Merry CHRISTmas!

Nativity of Our Lord
Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

God with us

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Restore Me

2010-12-18T00:00:00.002-06:00

Saturday, Third Week in Advent

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NRSV)

Show the light of your countenance

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved. ...

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Lift Me Up...

2010-12-11T00:00:00.001-06:00

Saturday, Second Week in Advent

Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)

God lifts up those bowed down

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

BLESSED

2010-12-04T00:00:00.002-06:00

Saturday, First Week of Advent

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 72:1 7, 18 19 (NRSV)

The righteous shall flourish

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king's son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.

May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more. ...

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

So Glad...

2010-11-27T00:00:00.001-06:00

Psalm 122 (NRSV)

Gladness in God's house

I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"
Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem built as a city
that is bound firmly together.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
For there the thrones for judgment were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers."
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

PRAISE GOD!

2010-11-20T00:00:00.001-06:00

Psalm 145 (NRSV)

Praise God's faithfulness

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The KINGdom is Amongst You!

2010-11-14T20:42:00.002-06:00

Hidden in plain sight

I walk amongst you

You're looking

but you do not see

You're questing

but do not find.

Where is the kingdom

you ask

running to and fro

Chasing dreams

and figments

and imaginations

and falsehoods

never realizing

that kingdom seed

is already in the ground

and it is growing up

around your feet

The vultures know...

they hover in the sky above

waiting for you to

bruise the kingdom

with your dancing, drinking, and carousing

as you chase vain glory.

But, seed

goes to ground

to die and rise again

season after season.

The kingdom of God

is amongst you

come first in silence, night

womb, and death.

Come a second time

splitting the sky

in resurrection victory

with loud trumpet blast...

Where is the kingdom?

The KINGdom

is ME.

This Spoken WORD is inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 17:20-37 (NRSV)
The judgment coming

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them - it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left."

Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

2010-11-06T12:10:00.002-05:00

I guess I don't

understand

why I need your permission

to tell the good news

to those who need to hear it?

By what authority?

Should it be by your authority?

By that in Rome?

By priests and scribes and teachers?

Or can it simply be by

I AM'S AUTHORITY

May I proclaim good news

because he sent me

empowered me

equipped me

prepared me

and commissioned me

to read good news

preach good news

and BE good news

on this planet?

You can't even answer simple

questions

Why do you dare ask me

complex ones

I need no earthly authority

I am the only authority

that truly exists

I will not tell you

a thing!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 20:1-8 (NRSV)

Jesus' teaching authority

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

LISTEN

2010-10-30T00:00:00.002-05:00

He says we're deaf.
What did you say?
He says we're deaf.
What's that now?
He says we're deaf.
We cannot hear.
We do not listen.
How's that again?
Deaf, I say!
He says we're deaf
and dumb
and devils...
What now?
I cannot hear you!
Thus, I will not believe...
What's that?
Take my fingers out of my ears?!
HUMPH
what did you say?

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

SCRIPTURE

John 8:39-47 (NRSV)

True children of Abraham

They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does." They said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."

INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

2010-10-23T07:53:00.001-05:00

Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)

Mary's song

And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Have Mercy On Me!

2010-10-16T11:29:00.002-05:00

Jesus!

Son!

Son of!

Son of David!

Have mercy upon me!

Teacher!

Let me see!

Let me see again!

Let me...

Son!

Son of!

Son of David!

Teacher!

Have mercy upon me!

Take heart...

Get up...

He is calling...

He is calling YOU

What do you want?

From the Son?

From the Son of?

From the Son of David?

From your Teacher?

Have mercy...

I want to see again...

From David?

From David's Son?

From David's Son of?

From the The Son of David?

From the Teacher?

Have mercy...

Make me see!

I am blind...

Help me see!

Have mercy upon me...

GO, your faith

GO, your faith has

GO, your faith has allowed you to see

GO with what you hoped for

GO with the evidence of what

no one could see...

GO!

With Son,

With Son of

With Son of David

Had mercy upon me...

With Son,

With Son of

With Son of GOD

Had mercy upon me...

With Son

With Son of GOD

With Son of Eternity

With Son of Love

Had mercy upon me...

I will follow you

Along

The Way.

Son

Son of David

Son of God

Teacher

Son of Eternity

Son of Love

Have Mercy upon me...

FOREVER.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
A man who would not be silenced

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

I CHOOSE...

2010-10-09T11:07:00.003-05:00

Lord,

If you choose

You can make

Me well again.

My heart hurts

For it is filled

With pains and longings and fears

Too deep to explain

They cause me to hate

So many people

For no reason

At all--

Except for the way

You made them…

Lord,

If you choose

You can heal my

Sin-sickness.

It is rotting inside

Of me

Slowly

And silently

Killing me

Day by day

Yet,

No one knows it

But us.

Lord,

If you choose

You can deliver me

From the cankers in my mouth

That cause me to spew

Hate and evil

To speak ill

Against a brother

Or sister

To tell a lie

Or to blaspheme

Your good name

Lord,

If you choose

You can heal my hands

And feet

Which rebel against your

Will

And Word

Which I use to

Do all manner of things

That I know I should not do…

Lord,

If you choose,

You can heal ME.

I bow low before you

Hoping,

Dreaming,

& Praying

That one day

you will…

CHILD, I WILL…

BE MADE CLEAN.

Amen!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 5:12-16 (NRSV)
A leper healed

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them." But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The Cry of My Heart

2010-10-02T11:10:00.002-05:00

Lord, I am waiting
patiently
I think...

I really want to trust you
I know that you have a good plan
in theory I know that your timing is perfect

But, sometimes...
worry
fret
and anxiety
attempt to befriend me
They hold my hand tightly
and beckon me to follow them down a dark path
that I know will lead to my destruction.

At times like these
I call for you
I shout for you
I whimper for you...
Sometimes no sound emerges at all
but I know that you still hear me
for you can hear
the cry of my heart.

As I cry out
you fill me with peace
you surround me with Spirit
You increase my faith

As I look out over the path of my life
Trust summons me and
Delight dances
And I realize that i can patiently wait
for you to lead me
in the way that I should go.

Lord, I'm waiting
Patiently...

Please take my hand &
lead me home...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Psalm 37:1-9 (NRSV)

Commit your way to the Lord

Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret - it leads only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Eternity Unleashed...

2010-09-25T08:44:00.003-05:00

Welcome little one
your smile reflects light
The Light
of The One who made you!
Your mouth
shares Jesus' smile
Your hands
open wide to friends
and enemies alike
to share Jesus' hug
Your gentle ways
and quickness to forgive
echo The Love of eternity
and grace unbound
Welcome little one
greatest among wo/men
for in your innocence
you love God &
you love neighbor
with wild abandon
You will even run to the stranger
For you are not afraid
You are not afraid...
It would never occur to you
to betray the Savior;
You only wanted to play
to bounce on his knee
Get thrown in the air
SOARING
With arms outstretched
as He blessed you.
Running away
Giggling
to share the good news
about The One who loves...
with wild abandon.
Welcome little one
bearer of Christ
Immortal one
Eternity unleashed.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 9:43b-48 (NRSV)

Welcoming little ones

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

20 BUCKS...

2010-09-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

It really annoys me
When you talk about
Giving to the church
It annoys me further
When you speak
Of the tithe
Nobody actually tithes,
Right?

I mean…

I give out of my abundance
What you deserve
The doors of MY church
Stay open
We pay our staff
And the heat is on
We even do BIG EXTRAS
Like caring for the homeless
And visiting the sick

So, why are you getting
On me about my 3%?
3% of my income is a
RATHER LARGE SUM
If I do say so myself

I see you commending that
Stupid little widow;
She put two pennies in the plate!

Every week I put her entire monthly salary
In this plate
And you have never once told me
GOOD JOB!

Out of my abundance
I share what you deserve and
what I think you really need
And 20 bucks a week
Ought to do it.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Mark 12:41-44 (NRSV)
A widow's offering

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

REAL LOVE...

2010-09-11T06:19:00.002-05:00

I have been tended
by many hirelings
They said they loved me
but when the going got tough
They got going
shoving me into the mouth
of the wolf
on the way out of the door
They had no claim on me
no investment
no care
Just hirelings...
talking a good talk
but failing to walk a good walk
when I needed them most
Thank God
for the Good Shepherd
who never left me
never forsook me
Never thrust me
into the mouth of a
ravenous beast
to save his own hide
Instead, he protected me
valiant
courageous
brave
unto death...
Now I know who loves me
The one who chose to die
rather than let me go
Now that's real love
That's my Shepherd.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

John 10:11-21 (NRSV)
Jesus, the good shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away - and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?" Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

GET OUT!

2010-09-04T14:42:00.003-05:00

Welcome!
Welcome!
Come on in...
I welcome you as Christ.
Yes, you may have some water
Here it is
clean
and out of the tap too.
What did you say?
Food too?
Well, I hadn't planned to feed you,
but, I welcome you as Christ,
so, let's see what I can do
Here's noodles, butter, and bread
its the best I have
for the likes of you
What did you say?
Oh no you didn't!
My bed...
you want to sleep in my bed?
Now this is getting ridiculous...
You know,
you're not actually Christ, right?
Not a prophet
Not a...
well, not a...
well, I guess did say I would welcome you as Christ
But, this is getting ridiculous...
You want to share my family
my stuff
my home
my food
my water
my bed?
What did that Jesus say?
Lose my life
to find it...
I like my life,
thank you very much
and I'm sure I don't want to lose it
And carry a cross?
that's just not my thing
Can I write you a check?
How much?
What!?
Too much! Too much!
What's in it for me?
What's the reward?
I just can't get with this...
Lord,
GET OUT!

This spoken WORD is inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 10:34-42 (NRSV)

The cost of discipleship

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

RIGHT HAND MAN...

2010-08-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

You've certainly made a mistake, Lord
This cannot be my seat
I was supposed to be in the place of honor
Remember, I did right by you
when others did not
People should be chanting my name--
I mean our names--
I mean your name
And I should be sitting right next to you
Taking what I deserve
for being such a faithful follower
Where you go
I will follow
Unless you go where I do not
want to go
Or I'm uncomfortable going
Or if the journey
costs me too much
In that case,
I will sit on my throne
at your right hand
and oversee things
until you return
Yeah, Man,
You can count on me
to be
right where I want...
I mean,
YOU want
me to be
At your right hand.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Matthew 20:20-28 (NRSV)
A request for seats of honor

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

When you enjoy the music of Evidence322, you can here more by visiting his website located at

http://www.reverbnation.com/godblessobjeezy#/evidence322

SABBATH BLASPHEME

2010-08-21T10:24:00.003-05:00

Did he just say
He's Lord of the Sabbath?
LORD...
SABBATH...
Blaspheme!
He has no idea
who he is talking to
messing with
upsetting
status quo
at times like these.
We should wash his mouth
with soap
And beat his back
until it bleeds
Working on the sabbath
Picking on the sabbath
EATING on the sabbath
well, of course eating...
hunger...
David...
He compares himself
to our David?
Who does he think he is?
Greater than David?
Indeed!
Eating, I mean picking, I mean working
I mean...
LOVING
on the Sabbath
Indeed!

Today's Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6:1-5 (NRSV)

Picking grain on the sabbath

One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

When you enjoy the music of God's Urban Disciples, you can hear more from them by visiting

http://www.reverbnation.com/godblessobjeezy#/godsurbandisciples

THUNDER SPEAKS

2010-08-14T08:45:00.003-05:00

Lightening flashes
before the thunder rolls
grumbling about the second
coming
of The Son of Man
If you hear the thunder first
be wary
Your enemy is trying
to trick you
into believing
the lie...
Look for the streak across the sky
then listen for the thunder
and in those days
do not shrink back
turn back
go back
for anything...
For NO-thing is worth
failing to follow
The Son of God.
The lightening flashes
cutting across the sky
in a great blast of light
As thunder declares in living color
I AM
the way
I AM
the truth
I AM
the life...
Follow me.

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 24:15-27 (NRSV)

The desolating sacrilege

Matthew 24:15-27 (NRSV)
"So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!' - do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

To hear more from Vision visit his website at

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/index/tatemusicgroup#tab=show_bills

UNEVEN TRADE...(I Want More)

2010-07-31T12:04:00.003-05:00

Lord, you tell me to be unafraid
to sell all that I have
and to give it to the poor
You're talkin' kinda crazy
Advising me to fill my purse
with love, joy, and peace
You know I can't spend peace
at the mall
How on earth am I going to eat
wear clothes and
go to school?
I'm trying to do good
and better myself
Sure the moths can't eat love
but I can't pay the bills with it either
Can I?
You say to be on guard
You're coming soon
Be ready
Always ready
But, look at the earth
Things are changing...
And I don't want to be the last
to purchase my ticket
as the train pulls out the station
It's hard to be ready
when I have so much to do
It's hard to stay focused on you
when my television tells me Wyclef
is trying to rule Haiti
And the Pakistanis
are learning how Noah felt
It's hard to stay steadfastly devoted
only to you
When so much needs doin' elsewhere
You are offering me an uneven trade...
Give my all...
for what?
A treasure in heaven
I can't even see
and the promise of
I'm not even sure what
And an empty purse
with NO-thing inside
And a generally good feeling
I cannot eat
I guess I'm confused Lord
Cause I want more...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

SCRIPTURE

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 19
Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)

The treasure of the kingdom

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."'

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

MUSIC MINISTRY

Today's music ministry comes to us from OBJ, a young brother I met on Twitter. When you like what you hear, you can check out more of his music @ http://www.reverbnation.com/godblessobjeezy

SURELY YOU JEST...

2010-07-31T08:13:00.001-05:00

Surely you jest Lord
I can't give that up
That cost 2 weeks paycheck and
I stood in line 2 hours
waiting for that thing

I can't give up my shoes
my jewelry
my car
my house

You don't know what you're asking...
that cologne
that shirt
those jeans
they make me cool in the eyes of others

What will I do without visible signs
of my status in this world
How will people know that I'm so much
better than they are
If they can't see my stuff?

Now stop playin'
You can't have my purse
Not my phone
I've got 10 texts to send
in the next 2 minutes
Not my laptop
I've got to skype my "friends" and
I've got 100 emails to answer
and that latest video on YouTube?
I've got to embed that on my blog
by morning.

What?!
My TV?!
Do you know that has surround sound?
3D?
plays TV, movies, and music?
My stainless steal fridge
It's going to impress those whom I love
and who only love me because...

Well, WHY DOES everyone love me?
Is it because of my stuff?
I'm shocked!
I'm grieving...
I do want treasure in heaven,
but also here on earth
GOODBYE!

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Mark 10:17-22 (NRSV)

Treasure in heaven

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

WHO THEN IS THIS?

2010-07-24T09:32:00.002-05:00

Who then is this?
Who sleeps as the storm rages
While we're bailing water out of the boat
And desperately trimming sails...

Who then is this?
Who doesn't care that we're in trouble
Doesn't notice that we are perishing
And snoozes whilst we are in danger...

Who then is this?
Who is slow to awaken
As the storms are raging in my life
And who doesn't run to my aid when I need him...

Who then is this?
Who when I shake him to wake him
Looks around blearily
and then rubs his eyes muttering, "QUIET!"

Who then is this?
Who causes the winds and the waves to obey him
Who asks us, "Where is your faith?"
and inspires both fear and amazement...

WHO THEN IS THIS?

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 8:22-25 (NRSV)
Jesus' disciples cry out for safety

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Today's video is slow to get started, but it's good. Just get through the first 55 seconds! Trust me! :-)

GOOD SOIL

2010-07-16T21:01:00.003-05:00

Lord
I want to be good soil
Soil where your word takes root
And grows…

So often
I have let your word
Get choked, eaten, or trampled
Under the feet of those who do not understand.

I want to be good soil
I want your word to be in me
Fruit which multiplies
Hundreds and thousands fold and
Into the lives of others.

I want to be good soil
Doing your will
Walking in your ways
Knowing your secrets
Building your kingdom

May I perceive,
May I understand,
And may I believe…

Lord,
Make me good soil.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 8:4-10 (NRSV)
Jesus speaks in parables

When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"

Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that
'looking they may not perceive,
and listening they may not understand.'

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

For God So Loved the World

2010-07-10T21:38:00.001-05:00

SCRIPTURE

John 3:16-21 (NRSV)
God's son saves the world

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

DEVOTION

A beloved reader once asked me, “How can we be sure that if today was the last day we would open our eyes here that we would open them in the presence of God in heaven? I've always felt that you had to be a minister or always in the church in order to go to heaven. What if I don't attend Bible study or Sunday school class or even church…Am I going to heaven? I’m scared.”

Today, I want to provide some GOOD NEWS to this reader—and the many others—who have ever wrestled with the fear that you won’t get into heaven.

I want to say this in plain language. Our scripture reading for today tells us exactly how we get into heaven. It says that God gave his son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life!

To put it another way, we are delivered, rescued, and saved from our sins by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus.

Now, I want all of us to notice something here. There is nothing in the above sentence that says anything about humans doing any work to attain our salvation! This is because salvation is a free gift given to us by God--and God alone.

I hope that this knowledge takes a huge burden off of all of us! There is no one who has ever lived on the earth besides Jesus who was good, smart, strong, wise, or holy enough to deserve heaven!

It does not matter if we are pastors, ministers, evangelists, bishops, Sunday School teachers, Deacons, or church mothers, neither does it matter whether you go to church every Sunday and Bible Study every Wednesday; NONE OF US is good enough to get into heaven on the merits of our own works, because all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!

So, if being good and working hard doesn’t get us into heaven, what does? The answer is simple my friends! We get into heaven by putting our hope in Christ!

Romans 10:9 puts it this way, “If you say with your mouth that you believe in Jesus and really truly believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead—YOU ARE SAVED!”

There is no hocus-pocus. There are no magic words. There are no special tests or tasks and you don’t pledge and you aren’t hazed. All that you have to do to become an heir to God’s kingdom is to put all of your hope in Jesus!

Now, I can hear some of you saying, “It can’t be that easy!” I can hear others of you saying, “That’s good for other people, but I’m too messed up. I’m too sinful. I’ve messed up too big for God to care about me.”

But, I am here to tell you that all of the above is a lie. God knows all about you. God has seen all of your mistakes and God still loves you. God still cares about you. And God still wants to spend eternity in your presence.

There is nothing—absolutely nothing--that you can ever do to ever make God stop loving you and there is no mistake so big that God cannot forgive it!

SALVATION IS SIMPLE, MY FRIENDS…and I want to apologize on behalf of all of us “church folks” who have made it complicated in your life. I am sorry, please forgive us.

Here’s the bottom line in clear, plain English--God loves. God gave. God saves. It’s all about GOD and GOD has chosen to make it super easy for all of us to inherit eternal life!

Today I invite you to be set free! No longer do you need to live in fear of hell and damnation! No longer do you need to cower concerned about judgment and condemnation. No longer do you need to fret that you aren’t doing enough to earn your salvation!

God says to all of us, “You are my child and I love you. I know that you believe in my Son. I look forward to spending eternity with you in my Home. Do not be afraid. All that was needed has been done for you. Jesus did the work. You are saved!”

Do you have a saving faith in Jesus today? Have you put all of your hope in Jesus? Are you SURE that if you died today, you would wake up in heaven? (If not, please pray with me)

Dear God, I know you love me and I love you too. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and that you raised him from the dead! Please forgive all of my sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I want my whole life to declare your praise and glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would take a moment to share your good news with me by clicking "YES" in the upper right hand corner of the blog in answer to the question, "Did you put all of your hope in Jesus today?" Thanks!

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

The Way

2010-07-03T06:26:00.002-05:00

You do know the way
although it seems obscure at times
Although the fog rolls in
and you stumble about in the darknesss
You do know the way
to the place that I am going
You have been there before
You will return again.
You do know the way
to The One we call Father
who loves you
and made you
and summons you home
You do know the way
through your heart
through your trouble
through your faith
through your belief
You do know the way
TO ME.
I am The Way
The Truth &
The Life
You do know The Way--
you know ME.

This Spoken WORD is based upon the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Thomas, Apostle
John 14:1-7 (NRSV)

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

NOTHIN'

2010-06-26T00:00:00.002-05:00

I'm not exactly ashamed, Lord
I just don't want anyone to know
I' mean
I've got a reputation to uphold
and I don't want folks
to think I'm soft
because I love you.
I do love you
Most of the time
that is
Except when I pray
and you don't answer
or when I call
and you don't reply
Also, I'm not too cool
with the suffering, rejection, denial, and follow stuff
After all
I'm an independent man
I make my own way
and follow no one
I'm all about saving myself
and making the biggest profit I can
after all,
it's all about the Benjamins, right?
So, lets just be friends
on the down low Lord
I won't say nothin' if you won't

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Judgment day?

You won't say nothin'
If I don't?

Today's Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible.

Luke 9:21-27 (NRSV)
Following Jesus

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

THAT AIN'T COOL

2010-06-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Why ya gotta lie on me
sayin' I serve the demon king
When I'm takin' down his kingdom
brick by brick
Why you cain't see
what the blind can see
Why you cain't hear
what the deaf can hear
Why you hatin' on a brother
just doin' the right thing
followin' Daddy's orders...
You hatin' cause you're jealous
The folks are talkin'
and it ain't about you
In three days
you'll learn that
I AM
King of Kings
Lord of Lord
Messiah
Savior
and Friend
But today
You called me out of my name
And that ain't cool...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Matthew 9:27-34 (NRSV)

Healing the blind, casting out a demon

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

SPECIAL MUSIC

Today's music ministry goes out to all fathers and men who want to be fathers in the future. Have a Happy Father's Day weekend! Peace be with you!

SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW...

2010-06-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

You're hanging around
drawn by a Power
You do not understand
But feel compelled to witness
nonetheless.

You sit
talking behind your hands
disparaging me
snickering
doubting
hoping secretly...
that Messiah has come

You won't ask your questions
forthrightly
instead you ask each other
who am I?
who am I to heal?
who am I to forgive sin?
who am I to send them home?
healthy and whole...

Who am I?

Indeed...

But so that you may know
I heal
And so that you may know
I forgive
And so that you may know
I allow you to sit anonymous in the crowd
Perhaps
one day
you will know that
I am
that I am
and will ever be

Amazing?
Strange?

OH YES, I AM HE...

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 5:17-26 (NRSV)
Jesus forgives sins and heals

One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, "Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the one who was paralyzed - "I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home." Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

AWE-FULL

2010-06-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

You are awe-some,
Awe-full
Awe-inspiring
Awl-glorious

There is none like you.

Forgiving sin
Restoring legs
Punkin' fools who chose
not to believe

There is none like you.

Stand up you say
in the midst of unbelievers

Stand up you say
in the midst of sin and shame

Stand up you say
with all of your authority
You make me walk
You make me praise
You make me live...

Paralysis
of the mind
Paralysis
of the heart
Paralysis of the soul
BE GONE

Stand up and
go home
glorifying God
who forgives sin
heal souls and
help us start again.

You are AWE-FULL.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 9:2-8 (NRSV)
Forgiveness and healing

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Stand up, take your bed and go to your home." And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

TBM--Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)

Prayer Changes Things

2010-05-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 1:5-17 (NRSV)

God's Spirit to come on John the Baptist

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

NOT SO GLORIOUS

2010-05-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

We have seen your glory
but life
It isn't glorious
Day after day we labor
making mess after mess
because we fail to truly embrace
Grace and Truth.

Living is hard
Dying is harder
And I don't feel so graceful
just now...

But, you promised me
grace upon grace
Please make Jesus known to me
in my final hours
help me to believe
that my living has not
been in vain
Forgive my sins
Known and unknown and
Please
Grant me your peace
I want to come home now
I need to behold your glory
Full of Grace
Full of Truth
Jesus
I need Thee now.

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

John 1:14-18 (NRSV)

We have seen the glory of God

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

Seek & Save

2010-05-08T00:00:00.001-05:00

I've come to seek
and save the lost
So I saw you in your tree
small in stature
not amounting to much
but a follower you shall be
come down from there
for we must sup
and talk of things so true
You've not done good
we'll make it right
If only others knew
they wouldn't judge
the things you've done
they'd celebrate your change
for today salvation
came to your door
and you didn't find Him strange
Now your life
will never be
the same as it once was
Your family line
has been transformed
and all of this because
you chose to see
for yourself
the one whom they call Lord
your wisdom
on that blessed day
led to eternal reward

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible.

Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)

Salvation makes a home with Zacchaeus

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

I want you to give today's music ministry a chance. It really blessed me. Listen to the end friends.

IN JESUS' NAME

2010-05-01T02:00:00.000-05:00

God,
I'm asking
in Jesus' Name
for things so
wonderful
I dare not speak them
out loud.
You said
anything
I ask
you would do it.
Did you really mean
ANYTHING?
I truly want your will
to be done
in my life
as it is
in heaven.
Show me the will
of the Father
and that is what
I will do.
I'm am asking You
PLEASE
hear
my
prayer...

This scripture was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Philip and James, Apostles
John 14:8-14 (NRSV)

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

STRIVING...

2010-04-24T02:00:00.000-05:00

Striving for God's Kingdom
but its awfully hard
the trials and tribulations
of day to day life
burden me down
steal my smile
wear me out
and make me want to
CUSS.

I want some things
I cannot have
and it makes
me mad
makes me want to
scream

strive for the kingdom
and do not fear?
Easy to talk that talk
Much harder to walk to that walk

Help Lord
most days I fail
to even turn in the right
direction...

I'm tired...
I'm lost.
I'm glad you're GOD.
Give me your good pleasure
Give me YOU.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 12:29-32 (NRSV)

Do not fear, little flock

And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

STRANGE FRIENDS...

2010-04-17T02:00:00.000-05:00

What strange "friends"
he has
what kind of rabbi
would hang out with
the poor
the crippled
the lame
the blind
doesn't he know
that God has forsaken them
that they are sinners
beyond the pale
We don't have time
to mess with those
folks
He's no real
prophet of God
for if he were
He's spend more
time
with us...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 14:12-14 (NRSV)

Welcome those in need to your table

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

Believe Again...

2010-04-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

Peace my friends
I'm not a ghost
Risen in victory
Defeated the hosts
of hell who tried
to abort the plan
to kill my body
and bring down man
to the depths of hell
for all off time
but risen in victory
eternity's mine
I give it all
to you my friends
walked through the wall
to bring an end
to division, doubt
fear and pain
see the holes
believe again...

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 24:36-40 (NRSV)

Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

TOMORROW...

2010-04-03T02:00:00.000-05:00

Time and eternity kissed
as in the grave he lay
heaven and earth
held its breath
the birds refused to sing
Women hiding,
watching, waiting,
plotting
his body to anoint
brothers running
hiding
praying
unsure and overwrought
Others plotting
sealing
guarding
hoping against the day
Lord
Savior
Rabbi
King
gets up from the shadowy
grave
Tomorrow
The third day
Its not so very long
until we learn to sing
with joy
Messiah's victory song!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 27:57-66 (NRSV)
The burial of Jesus

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

Already Furnished

2010-03-27T02:00:00.000-05:00

Just like he said
It's always that way
He can see what's to come
Always do what he says
Told us to go
and follow a man
to an upper room
where we'd find no ban
on our desire to serve
the bread and the wine
to remember the Spirit
which passed over us in time
to save our first born
and, set us free
to lead us to a land
with milk and honey
Now he's sayin
the bread is his body,
the wine his blood
g'n for everybody
Shared for all
out of, tremendous love
At the, insistence of,
our, God above
Sins are forgiven
Heaven opened wide
already furnished
come inside!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 22:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus prepares for Passover with his disciples

Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it." They asked him, "Where do you want us to make preparations for it?" "Listen," he said to them, "when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, 'The teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there." So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

AIN'T GOT TIME TO DIE (yet)

2010-03-20T02:00:00.000-05:00

Busy lovin' people
savin' souls
Healing bodies
Makin' people whole
You hatin' on me
don't make no kinda sense
Why disagree
when I've given no offense
Ain't got time to die
It's not yet my turn
On my God I will rely
For him only do I yearn
I'll die for all
when God says so
When I hear him call
to the cross I will go

Aint--Got--Time--To--Die!

(yet)

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

John 11:45-57 (NRSV)

Plotting against Jesus during Passover

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, "What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed." He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

What Is It?

2010-03-13T02:00:00.000-06:00

What is it
about HIM
That causes all
the sinners
to listen

What is it
about HIM
that makes the powerful
shake in their shoes
and the popular
fear the end of their reign

What is it
about HIM
that extends welcome
to the very same folks
we push away
and that causes
heaven to rejoice
as he ushers them into
the warmth
of his love

What is it
about HIM
that causes me
to want to kill him
and to love him
and to serve him
all at the same time?

CRUCIFY HIM

EMBRACE ME

REMEMBER ME

when you come
into Your Kingdom.

SAVE ME...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible.

Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV)

Parables of a lost sheep and a lost coin

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL

I HEAR YA

2010-03-06T02:00:00.000-06:00

I hear you
and I see you fruit
It's rotten to the core
Nasty
Bitter
Rancid

Although it appears
sweet
drenched in honey
delivered with a smile
I can taste it
in the depth of my soul
and it is gross

Daddy taught me
not to expect good fruit
from a bad tree
and He was right

You all need
to check yourselves

Repent
Turn
Change

So that out of your hearts
will come

Words
Fruit
Actions

LOVE
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE
KINDNESS
GOODNESS
FAITHFULNESS
GENTLENESS
SELF-CONTROL

that's the kind of fruit
that will please
The Master
and make Him smile.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 6:43-45 (NRSV)
A tree and its fruits

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL