The Righteous Parent

What good is a parent
Who disciplines not his child
Who doesn't teach them to be humble
But lets them run wild

Yet if the parent teaches well
But the child listens not
Who suffers more, the father?
Or the child that he begot

If an earthly father loves you enough
To teach you wrong from right
How much more so does Our Father
Who is bathed in Holy Light?

Our father loved us so
That he gave up His only Son
So that one day we'll be with Him
When our earthly battle is won

Taken from Hebrews 12:4-13

A Marathon

God has entrusted me with His children
Yes each and every one
He expects me to seek out His daughter
And to look thoroughly for each son

He beckons me to run a race, oh
A marathon each Christian should run
Our finish line is our last breath
Our prize is God's only Son

Shouldn't we then be preparing
Gaining our strength day by day?
Asking for direction for each obstacle
From He who knows the way

A marathon isn't about patience
Patient people get passed with each mile
Perseverance is what our runners need
For each runners race could last quite awhile

The Race Has Begun

Christians!  Don your blinders, look
not to the side, nor to the past.
For the day our Lord shall return
Is approaching us very fast.

It is not the time to relax
Nor the time to rest
Instead it is time to share with all
How well we've all been blessed.

We are blessed with a peace
That only believers can obtain
A peace that with a confession and grace
All the world can attain.

Our Lord has given us His word
And His spirit has given us the power
That we should make haste in sharing His love
For we know not our final hour.

Fear not for He is with you
As you steadfastly travel ahead
And in the twinkling of an eye you'll meet Him
When you lay down your weary head.

A Master and His Tools

Is it possible for a wood carver
To make a masterpiece with a dull knife?
Of course it is, the knife can be sharpened,
He has done it all his life.

Imperfect tools are still of use
To a master who knows his trade.
Who would be more of an expert
But the very hand by which the tool was made?

He knows their weaknesses and flaws
But with care can restore them again
With loving hands, removing rust and
Sharpening blades, like taking care of a friend.

It is written that He is the potter and I am the clay
Who better to mold me than He?
The one who created each individual
Knows best what tool they should be.

Taken from Hebrews 11:32-40

Thy Kingdom Come

He has been crowned with many crowns
So we shall taste death no more
But yet instead when we rest from this world
We will meet Him on that golden shore

How thankful are we now
That our Lord would be mindful of such
For we as lowly sinners
Have been blessed with His healing touch.

We are each but tiny drops
In a vast enormous sea
So how can we even fathom
The glory that God can foresee?

Therefore may we lead lives of courage for Him
So that when our Earthly life is complete
We may meet Him in His kingdom
And worship forever at His feet!

I'm The Map

Walk in the light for awhile
For your days on earth are few
Follow in His luminous steps
He has lit a path for you

The words that have been written
To guide us in His way
Are to free us from life's burdens
Not to hinder our earthly stay

He has given us a perfect map
He has detailed every mile
All we have to do is
Simply walk His path awhile

(Based on John 13:35)

Radiating Thy Light

You've raised the veil from my eyes
So that those around me might see
The glory of your spirit Lord and
What they themselves could be

I beheld myself within your glass
And death and sin were reflected in my sight
The sickness of the world around lay on me
Only your grace could wash me in a new light

Please Lord allow the light of your love to
Radiate from within me Lord
I pray that by looking upon my face
Others will see your love out-poured

(Based on 2 Corinthians 3:13-18)

God's Example

Do as I say, not as I do Our example is not a guide We know what the word of God says But these teachings are not applied God did not give us His teachings As a suggestion, a tip or a hint They are for preparation to be Holy So we can go forth as we've been sent Let us take heed to God's word Each word should permeate our day Let us follow in His footsteps I pray we follow in His way

God's Example

Fruits of the Saints

Do you see the branches of the saints?
Swaying with the wind to find His will?
They search for those who need their comfort.
Always seeking and never still.

Can you feel the trunk of their tree?
Rough against the cruelty of the land.
Yet when you peel away that layer
You find fibers soft on your hand.

Notice the large system of roots.
Planted and grounded in fertile ground.
Soaking up His water of life.
A stronger foundation can not be found.

Taste the bounty of their fruits
No thistles or thorns they bear.
If you choose correctly the fruits of the saints
You will Find His sustenance there

Be careful of the tree in which you partake
Good fruit is not found of every beautiful tree
They can not hide their fruits from God
And by yours fruits will you be known to me

I am priceless because you are worthy

I am a diamond, a ruby, an onyx most rare.
I am priceless to YOU 
Because YOU hung there.

Because you are the treasure that
All explorers should seek
They should spend their life to find it
Day after day and week after week.

And because you only are THE treasure 
That no kings wealth can obtain
Only by YOUR death on the cross
Could my freedom be sustained.

I pray to seek you 
With my life and with my last breath.
Because you gave me the best gift,
You gave me salvation from eternal death.

Not Another Day

Our days converge as one
Routine makes them all the same.
None more important, really
Same day, just a different name

But one day throughout the year
Should stand miles above the rest.
For on that day our Savior was born
And all people on Earth were blessed.

Nothing about His birth
Was just another day.
For by Christs' prophetic birth
God has given us His way.

Each aspect of His birth
Was extraordinary at best.
From His conception to His birth
Unlike all the rest.

Born unto a virgin
In a manger as had been foretold.
The shepherds learned of His birth
And shouted the news so bold.

A gift from God to us.
His one and only son.
He came to Earth to deliver us.
As no one else could have done.

Because only He can be called perfect.
Only He lived without sin.
This is why Christmas is miraculous.
As much so now, as was then.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I wrote it mostly during a sermon that Bro. Ralph Baker gave at Brodhead Baptist Church on Dec. 22. Bro. Ralph was telling us how Christmas should never feel like any other day to Christians.

Are We Ready?

Are we ready for your kingdom?
Are we adding to thy fold?
Are we seeking out thy lost ones?
And praying to be bold?

Have we laid down our selfish will?
And picked up your perfect way.
Have we taken a moment to thank you
For the food we've had today?

Will we forgive those in our life
Who cut us to the bone?
Will we show THEM the mercy
That Christ has ALREADY shown?

Don't we know that if we follow
Thy steps along the way
You will never steer us wrong
And never lead us astray.

If we can say with truthful lips
That we have done as you have shown
You have promised us Dear Lord
Joys we've never known.

I thank you for this promise
For washing away my sin.
Most importantly for your spirit
That has made me whole within.

Outward Appearances Of Glory

We show up to church on Sunday
And gladly sing His song.
Yet I wonder do these praises
Carry all the day long?

Do we only give lip service
And outward appearances of His glory?
When inside our hearts and minds
Our thoughts are wicked and gory.

Are we taking pause before we speak
Those hateful words to our kin?
Or instead are our lips spewing forth
Hatred, murder and sin.

Take a breath and be still.
Look within to find.
Are you loving God with your heart
And with His will are you aligned?


This poem was inspired by my pastor Dan Gutenson's sermon on Sunday Aug. 11, 2013.  The scripture he used was Jer. 7.  Below is the scripture (KJV) from Biblegateway.com

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.

3 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.

5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.

15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.

Eagle's Wings

Give strength to these bones O Lord
I am pleading to you so.
Let me soar with eagle's wings
To heights you only know!

Only You know the purpose of my life
Let me not grow weary before I'm through.
I know there is only one source of strength
And Lord that source is You.

I fear this sense of hopelessness
That creeps from time to time.
When I feel those tentacles enclosing
My release is knowing thou art mine!

Grant me spiritual fortitude
In adversities face, let me be brave.
Let me go forth with strength and vigor
Till I'm resting in my grave.

Inspired by a sermon given on July 7, 2013 by Dan Gutenson at Watts Chapel Baptist.  Taken from Isa. 40:27-31 on biblegateway.com


27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.