Tag Salvation

Christmas Shoes By Brenda Drake

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There are many at Christmastime that do not wish for things large or expensive but are hoping for and will be very thankful for a needed item such as a pair of shoes. The greatest gift I ever received was salvation.  It never gets old.  It is the gift I desire to share with everyone I meet.  Jesus is the gift the Father bestowed upon a sin-sick world. We will spend eternity singing praise for a gift such as this.

Christmas Shoes

Christmas shoes were delivered to the door,
With Santa’s name attached, but they were from the Lord.
They are not fancy or flimsily made in fact;
They are sturdily made to last.
They fit perfectly…oh how he now runs.
His heart is full, he feels free to join in on the fun.
This was a Christmas gift needed, not a toy to be thrown aside;
To yet another story bring alive.


The babe in the manger grew to be delivered to your heart’s door.
With the gift of salvation presented from the Lord.
It also was needed; not flimsy or to be thrown aside.
In His strength you are able to run free and alive.
If you have the sweet assurance that your feet are shod,
With the holy gospel-truth the provision of God,
Rejoice and give thanks for the gift of God’s Son.
If not, prepare yourself to receive your running shoes to come.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The Plan By Brenda Drake

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  • living sacrifice of love
    living sacrifice of love

My new life was on the sweet path of prayer, and then I became aware of the terrible struggle of the flesh.  What a fight was on the path ahead.  My battle of flesh is not yet won; but  I have grown in many areas.  I am not finished yet!  The Lord continues to help me every day as I study the Word, listen to wise teachers, and heed the council of the Holy Spirit within. 

The Plan

The plan is not difficult and yet you will find,
You will have difficulty keeping it in mind;
For old habits are hard to break.
Some extra effort it will take.
The plan is simple as one, two, three.
It is liberating to the soul and sets from worry free.
Number one – Ask God to guide your day,
And believe He hears the words you pray.
Leave it alone – let it rest,
And know He turns it out for your best.
This step will bring peace to your life;
So you can enjoy the life offered to Christ.
Number two –Become as a living sacrifice to Him you love so much;
Because of His sacrifice you are able to perceive His love.
You are a well-pleasing sacrifice offered to die for the King
This step causes your heart to sing.
Number Three – Offer yourself that died to now live to glorify Him;
His work through you shall now begin.
This step will fulfill and cause joy to flow;
Not only to you but through you… from soul to soul.
I said it is easy but you must struggle against flesh,
To enter in God’s way to rest
 You are able if you ask for God’s help; this too
Is the last step – Know your God answers you!

I John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The Wonder of it All By Brenda Drake

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  • The Wonder of it all

Is there a greater story to tell?  Is there a more beautiful love story?  Is there a greater goal to reach?  When we stop to think about it there is nothing as important… The wonder of it all!

The Wonder of it All

The wonder of it all is more than we can know;
The One that made the world knows every soul.
He loves with a never-ending desire,
To warm every heart with His love’s fire.
His love is respectful; it will not force us to serve.
He lovingly directs us with the wooing of the Word.
This love leads and guides us to Salvation’s plan.
Then, makes us new and writes our name on His hand.
Angels are assigned to each child born anew,
As the Holy Spirit inside them moves.
Love jealously watches over those that are in Jesus alive;
Those who are prepared to be His bride.
Just like their Savior, they die to self-will,
To the Heavenly Father’s plan fulfill.
They are ready, willing and able, because of His ability within,
To carry forth the Good News; to draw others to Him.
There are givers and takers, God is glorified each day.
The wonder of it all is Love planned it all that way.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 3:1-3
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Not Like Flowers on a Page By Brenda Drake

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  • Lord let me be the real thing

I love flowers and always am amazed at their beauty.  I love to take pictures of them but I would not think it would be a gift to hand someone a picture rather than the flower.  We make our outside look as pleasing as we can for others to see, but the real gift we can give is the flower of God’s love He has planted within. 

Not Like Flowers on a Page

Flowers on a page may be pretty it’s true,
But they are unable to be picked and given by you.
They smell like musty old paper or resembling ink;
With not a hint, of aroma of blossoms red or pink.
An artist can capture a flowers beauty to pleasure the eye;
They can look very real and alive.
But they are just an image of the real thing,
A small amount of pleasure they can bring.
There are some people that are seen as good;
Attractive but their presence is misunderstood.
They are flat and lifeless too;
Unable to be selected; by God used.
The redeemed life is new, alive and whole;
With fresh aroma that proves a forgiven soul;
A fresh breath of air in a harsh dry land;
Picked and chosen to be sent by the Creator’s hand.
A great example of the One that died in their place,
At the foot of the Father because of His mercy and grace.
They are real, true believers in God’s Son;
Fully dedicated to get God’s Work done.

Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

Come Soar with the Lover of Your Soul By Brenda Drake

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  • Come and Soar with the Lover of your Soul

Come Soar with the Lover of Your Soul

We get so busy in our everyday life almost before we realize it we are piled high with the many things that cause heaviness within.   Jesus is always available to lift our load as we lift up our prayer requests. This poem encourages us to share every concern with Him. He promises to not only listen to us but to answer with His assurance, comfort, and joy. 

Come soar over obstacles in the way.
You are lifted over them when you pray.
The dream that illusively seems out of reach,
The answer to the question you refuse to speak,
The doubts and even the fears,
That clouds your thoughts with unshed tears,
Come let us examine these things;
Bring them one by one to Christ the King.
New vision inspired by God above;
Will be delivered on wings of love.
With God on your side and with His rule within,
Is there a chance of failure with Him?
With joy, peace and salvations sure hold,
How is it possible you do not walk with Him on streets of gold?
How could the bride of heaven, with garments pure in Christ,
Not be comforted by the joy of God’s presence in their life?
Come and soar with the lover of your heart and soul;
Rest confident in His sure, loving hold.

Psalms 27:5
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.

Confession is Good but Repentance is Better By Brenda Drake

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  • Confession is good but Repentance is Better

I always thought confession and repentance was the same thing.  Little did I know I was confessing my sins way before I ever really repented.  When I repented I changed my ways.

Confession is Good, Repentance Better

Confession is good but it only a job half done.
It perhaps admits you have wronged someone.
Even with tears and feeling truly sorry for your wrongs,
You may continue walking the path you are on.
Take the next step repent and walk the other way.
Then you are choosing to God’s Word obey.
Many confess weakness and easily admit,
They have a temper and at times throw a fit.
They wear flaws like a trademark that self identifies;
But it is sinful before the Father’s eyes.
Some admit they are bitter with an added excuse;
For their continued sour attitudes.
Some say, I was born with this way; it is not my fault,
Its confession will not change things at all.
If you say you are a born worrier, remember you are now born anew.
Turn-about, and allow God’s way to rule.
Confession with repentance will change the course of your life.
Know you are given strength when you choose to follow after Christ.
I will lead and guide you to the place of victory.
Confess your sins and the in repentance you follow after me.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Act 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord

He Reaches Out By Brenda Drake

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Our Lord is always attempting to touch us with His hand of mercy and heart of Grace. In the beauty of creation He reaches out to us, and on the cross He bore our every sin so He could forever touch our soul.

He Reaches Out

He reached out to me before I was born.
He desired my love before I was formed.
Strange, but wonderfully true,
As He reached out to me; He also reached out to you.
On the cross… terrible, was His agony.
In this troubled place, He reached out to you and to me.
He saw our every sin, and, He died for each and every one.
Then, He motioned to us to follow Him, when He was done.
His holy work was finished; He waited for the appointed time,
When He called my name, I reached out, and invited Him inside.
There are many special times when I’ve felt His touch;
When I lift up my heart in worship… He lifts me up.
In times of worry, and times of stress,
When I, lift up my prayer requests,
He takes the problem that weights me down,
And then, He pulls me to higher ground.
Even in times of anger, trials, or fear,
In just a breath of praise, He draws near.
His loving, hand of mercy, and His wonderful, firm embrace,
Draws me even closer; when I seek His face.
He also reaches out to me through others …it is strange indeed,
Because we are so close, when it happens; it is, His embrace. I receive!

I John 4:10-11
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

I Choose By Brenda Drake

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  • Crucifix or cross on heaven cloudy sky with lens flare

         We have ample opportunities to get down-in-the-dumps, allowing worldly circumstances to take away the joys of our salvation. We all have a choice to fear evil is in charge or to be confident our Lord is in full control.  I choose to have faith in God’s goodness and want to think on the good things in life.

I Choose

I choose to see the sunshine above the clouds of life.
I choose to see the workings of the Spirit as I follow Christ.
In the midst of evil I seek to see;
The soul that the Good News needs
The tactics of the enemy are not hid from my sight,
But my choice is to rely on the plans of the God of right.
The world proves daily why I hate its taste more and more.
And it gives me a greater hunger for the Word of the Lord.
In the blackness of sin and shame and its dark foreboding ways,
I choose to trust and rely on God and continue to sing His praise.
Yes I am a dreamer and choose to look through eyes of faith.
I am my God’s beloved and for His return I wait.
But until then I will diligently follow after the Light,
For even in the dark world His love shines bright.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

All Because of God’s Smile By Brenda Drake

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I remember working hard trying to receive a smile of approval from my step-father.    My concept of God was tainted by the harshness of my experiences when young.  Even after I received the gift of salvation, I acted much the same way as I did back then.  I toiled extra hard to please my heavenly Father too.  Just as when I was growing up, I did not feel I was doing well and was disappointing God.  I now know He smiled upon me before I was born.  I do not need to work for His love and approval.  Jesus already loved me enough to die for my every lack and sin.  He knew I could never be pleasing without His help.  My heavenly Father’s smile is always upon me because of my Lord’s work in my behalf.

All Because of God’s Smile

It all started because of God’s smile on man;
Hope lifted up high and beheld His plan.
His love smiles down in favor each day,
Inviting, and calling, to behold the Way.
All because of His smile light shines within,
The blind beholds and recognizes the darkness of sin.
In this special appointed time,
There is sweet release of soul, heart, body, and mind.
Salvation’s smile of mercy and grace,
Draws seeking hearts to God’s embrace.
There the joy knows no bounds.
The lost is indeed found.
Heaviness vanishes, with new awareness and new life,
Introduced to cause sweet inner delight.
A warm settling of assurance; all is right with your soul,
As new direction and new purpose overflows and unfolds.
All because of a smile pointed your way is this story true;
Your thanks, praise, and worship is a smile to Him from you.
Go forth and deliver the gift of love to another.
Preach the Gospel so God’s smile is by another discovered.

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Eternal Destination by Brenda Drake

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We tend to believe the ultimate destination for the soul is from our birth to the day we die.  Now I know the greatest journey is from death to eternal life in Jesus.  From the day we are born we are dead to the Spirit of God.  When we accept what Jesus did for us in His sacrifice on the cross we are reborn into eternal life in God’s kingdom. 

Eternal Destination is found in Him

Eternal destination is secured in Christ.
Through death’s door is found life.
Life like never imagined will be.
Such is the place secured for thee.
The flower of heaven walks at your side.
As you bloom; grandly completely wholly alive.
The air sparkles with expectation and joy that surrounds.
Your feet are planted forever on Holy Ground.
Joyous songs fill the heart, soul, and mind,
With sweet assurance and gratitude as designed.
Love wraps you in a forever embrace,
All eternally provided by His amazing grace.
Oh what joy, peace and love flows,
To and from every blood purchased soul.
The loving Father smiles; the knee bows in worship and praise,
As hearts are filled they lift their gaze,
To behold the wondrous beauty of the one they adore.
They are overwhelmed with love for the Lord.
Jesus, the Savior and closest friend,
An eternal destination of joy is found secured in Him.

1 John 5:11-12
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.