Oh, to Be Safe at Last!        

                                                                                                      By: Maxine M.

A child has disappeared; lost somewhere in the stand of woods nearby

Swiftly, a search is organized, but it’s late and light is rapidly leaving the sky

Days pass, fears grow, the quest continues, the parents can only ask “why?”

A young soldier didn’t return after a fierce fire fight on the enemy’s ground

The worse was feared; the question was, had he been killed or captured, if found?

The official report read: “whereabouts unknown” as the situation unwound

The pilot had vanished off radar, radio contact was lost, hope was running low

His last known position was over rough terrain, only rugged rocks below

Could he have possibly survived? Only after time and an exhaustible search would they actually know

Now as we look around, we see many who are “lost”, even those in PLAIN SIGHT

Spiritually lost, eyes that are blinded from the truth that God’s word is totally right

Their names missing from the “Lamb’s Book of Life”, in which all the truly saved, Jesus will write

“Lost” like bewildered sheep, estranged from the Shepherd…not part of His flock

Often UNAWARE they are lost, with no idea that tomorrow may bring an eternal shock

For no one knows when the final moments will tick off their personal clock

Many lost are regular church goers, weekly filling up THEIR spot in a pew

But their heart isn’t CHANGED, it just seems the proper thing to do

It’s more of a “club” feeling than to actually make Jesus LORD...living a life truly made new

But from the young, just starting life, to those whose race is nearly run

They all need the Savior to rescue them, the love & peace provided ONLY by God’s Son

It’s VITAL they comprehend what Christ’s death on the cross truly has done

The fact that the very Son of God became a human man, with a SPECIFIC goal in mind

He would teach, heal diseases, demonstrate how people should live…lovingly and kind

Then He’d suffer at the hands of unbelievers…Rome and religious leaders combined

He was beaten, bloodied, mocked, abandoned even for a time by the Father, as God’s Holiness would demand

Dying on that cruel cross for all man’s sins, the fulfillment of what the Father had planned

The purpose was the PERFECT dying for the imperfect, a LOVE we don’t fully understand

Because by His death and Resurrection, the darkness of being “lost” is defeated

Sins forgiven, souls washed clean by His shed blood, restored, Salvation complete

To be “found”, no longer lost, control turned over to Jesus, the god of SELF unseated

But there are some who have never heard the Gospel Story nor read God’s Holy Word

Or if they have, they have rejected, disregarded, or ignored the things they’ve heard

Choosing instead to be NONCOMPLIANT in asking for forgiveness, a “worldly” life is preferred

Going life alone, focusing on personal goals, walking on the dangerous path the lost tread

Whereas ONCE you accept Jesus as Lord, you can simply rely on what He said

“I’ve come to seek and to save that which is LOST”; He will provide a glorious Heavenly future ahead

Now before the risen Savior went back to His Father, He instructed His followers to “go & tell”

Relay the Gospel Story to all who would listen, seek the lost, Satan’s lies repel

Invite all to accept His Gift of Salvation, find comfort, on a Heavenly course excel

The Father constantly calls out for His lost child, as any good parent would

He searches all the places they might be, there’s no place too remote His word can’t be understood

He wants them to come Home to the light, to find true love, mercy, Grace and all that is good

Since the lost are everywhere around us, opportunities to enlighten abound

It’s our duty to report the ways in which all the LOST can be found

By living as an example of His love…the Father’s message expound

“I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE”…seeking saving words Jesus so freely broadcast

How only His Sacrifice on the cross can remove those dark stains of the past

Because to be FOUND!!...oh what a relief, comfort and excitement it brings to be SAFE at last!

                                                       “Lord, Help Me!!”

                                                                                                                                     By: Maxine M.

The disciples watched as Jesus spent time with the Father in prayer

In that ONENESS that had shown on Jesus’ face, they desired & wanted to share

So Jesus gave them an example of how HE addressed the Father so they could compare

He said, “Just because of WHO He is, He deserves & demands honor & respect”

Humans need to acknowledge His Superiority; any phony hypocrisy He will instantly detect

An insincere prayer done for “public” recognition He’ll simply reject

We think of prayer as handing God a “laundry list” of all wants & needs

When in reality it’s simply COMMUNICATION with the Creator, seeing where His directions lead

“Not my will, but Your will be done”…to His all-knowing wisdom one must concede

Repetitive words, memorized from a book, don’t really reflect genuine thought

As God knows the heart, this monotonous method doesn’t show intimacy as it aught

Or the sorrowful contrition for our mistakes as the Saviour taught

A prayer for the GOOD of others should be on our lips…even for our enemies

And that our deeds & actions should always bring HIM Glory…reflect His Holy decrees

That, as His servants, we can spread the Gospel to our family, community, nation as well as over-seas

The Bible records many beautiful prayers and the results they brought

Prayer for forgiveness, prayers of commitment & dedication, prayers for victory over enemies fought

Then there’s Jonah’s cry for help, seeking RELIEF from the consequences his disobedience wrought

But it still took 3 days of horrible conditions to FINALLY YIELD to God’s will

To realize God’s purpose cannot be ALTERED, as the fish’s gastric juices made him ill

So GRUDGINGLY he went to do what God asked, but saw it as a bitter pill

Now we also find in times of sudden chaos & distress that “HELP ME!!” works too

When there’s no time to try and be eloquent, but when your words simply must be true

When we need a miracle, suddenly we can see things from God’s point of view

In an emergency room when you or a loved one needs immediate attention

A prayer can be ‘short & sweet”, a “Lord, help me”…heartfelt, without pretention

Trusting & believing that our Lord will answer even the smallest of requests we mention

Like when the bank account is depleted, but more bills are still due

We believe He’ll supply the need when, by faith, we utter “Help me!! What should I do?!”

Finding comfort that when we live by God’s financial principles, huge debt will not accrue

And a “Help me” prayer comes quickly in a blinding rainstorm or violent wind

When we SEE our human weakness…our backs, to a corner, are pinned

We realize how much we need the Saviour, and that He still loves us even though we’ve sinned

Now when we’re in trouble, is God our 1^st thought, or a last resort?

Like Jonah, do we resist what we know is His will; not wanting to, our desire, abort?

But only by submission can we survive the “whale’s belly”…safely reach our designated port

Because prayer comes in all sorts of different forms, words & dialect

There’s prayer for wisdom, guidance, comfort, aid or plain worship & praise select

Please don’t forget those “Thank You” prayers for those “blessings in disguise” we detect

Paul said, “Pray without ceasing”, meaning always have the Lord on your mind

A spiritual perspective amid our daily concerns, reason, trust, fortitude, dependence all intertwined

Give acknowledgement that God is Sovereign, Almighty, ever present, ONE OF A KIND

Oh Lord, HELP ME to remember that through Your love & mercy, I’m forgiven & eternal life is mine

It’s Your Grace that will unleash my POTENTIAL life by Your design

Through prayer & supplication we have access to the Heavenly Father, holy & divine

Like he disciples asked so long ago, Lord please teach me to pray

Then be QUIET & LISTEN for your response, earnestly desiring to hear what you should say

For I can only show my love for You when I eagerly & willingly obey

                                          The Ultimate Goal

                                                    

                                                                                                                               By: Maxine Mullivan

Freedom!! A condition of liberty, The Ultimate Goal unrestrained from what “EVIL” would dictate

Exempt from unfair laws & rules, which an unjust society would create

Free to live within fair laws, independent, but in a good community participate

We live in a wonderful “land of the free, home of the brave”

It’s our free choice to ELECT our leaders, HOPING they know how to behave

Lady Liberty has promised to welcome, not in any way enslave

But are you really free…even without visible chains in sight?

Many have apprehension, anxiety and dread that holds them tight

With simply a HOPELESS feeling, not knowing how to fight

Secrets of the past, addictions of the present keep us awake at night

Guilt is one of the strangest, hardest shackle to break and move from darkness to light

Or self-condemnation over something done, or what we didn’t do, things that need to be made right

For when the conscience is ignored, the soul will pay a very high cost

Because sins committed or sins of omission BIND the spirit…sense of freedom is tossed

Since freedom is everyone’s ultimate goal, that inner peace is lost

How then can we be FREE of condemnation of others OR self-inflicted turmoil?

God said, “Call on ME in the day of trouble and I’ll deliver you”…the stress will recoil

By relying on the Holy Spirit, trusting that Satan’s plan God will spoil

For Satan continually tries to enslave by falsehoods, rumors, misinformation and deceiving

Like the half-truth he told Eve, by questioning what God had said, leaving her unbelieving

Thus freedom to roam the garden was lost, their hearts the 1^st to know grieving

Satan would love all humans to be in bondage to him, it’s his ULTIMATE goal

To keep them separated from God’s love, divided & LOST as a whole

Whereas God’s plan was to send HIS own Son to die, set free every soul

His death would be SACRIFICAL, He GAVE His life on the cross…not from what Pilate had to say

The Father’s love for all the world, this death & resurrection would convey

The penalty for sin is eternal death, but this Judgement, His act of love would pay

You can accept this liberating Gift and have your soul be set eternally free

Simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, be saved by the Freedom granted on Calvary’s tree

Free!! An all-inclusive pardon, no strings attached, all by Faith’s decree

Jesus said while here on earth, “You shall know the truth, and TRUTH shall set you free”

That “who-so-ever commits sin is slave to sin”, a truthful fact all can see

But that those whom the SON sets free are free INDEED…a positive guarantee

Now you may be in a prison cell, shackled by illness, or bound by mental strain

Or perhaps accumulating debt caused by overused credit…desires that go unrestrained

With all types of worries it’s often hard to, a sense of freedom maintain

Even as a Christian we frequently wear chains of heavy burden…such as fear

Trying to figure out WHAT the future holds…tomorrow!!, what will appear?

But by trusting God’s Holy Word we’ll be confident that one day He’ll dry every tear

When you’re young, thoughts of death are way off in the distant

You are free to dream, make plans, making them come true IF you’re persistent

But REMEMBER, it’s God who determines the future and that HIS plans are consistent

Now, as the years add up, thoughts of death become far more real

We think in terms of TODAY, not way down the road, with tomorrow we may NOT have to deal

But when you belong to Christ, believe in His promises, the future has His seal

To those chains of fear of WHAT lies beyond the grave we’ll no longer be bound

Because we’ll either be caught up to meet Him in the air at the last trumpet’s sound

Or arise in victory on that day, at last TOTAL FREEDOM will be found

                                                    Almost!!

                                                                                                     By: Maxine M.

Jill was a young vivacious girl, fresh out of school; the world she was ready to face

Armed with her new knowledge, she thought, the thinking of the “older” generation she could replace

Her dreams and ambitions were great, new adventures she wanted to embrace

Church had never been her way of life, only a few times to Sunday school

Grandpa had read to her Bible stories & stressed that all should live by the “Golden Rule”

Then one day a friend invited her to a downtown tent church Service; Jill thought that sounded cool

She liked the opening music; a modern, fast paced, contemporary beat

The lyrics spoke about Jesus, how only HE could make one’s life complete

How all the trials & problems in your life & future, FAITH in Him could defeat

The speaker seemed to be charming, with a winsome friendly smile

He read from the Bible how God just spoke and a perfect world He would compile

But that, by DISOBEDIENCE, sin came into existence…man’s perfection it would defile

He talked about how God the Father sent His own perfect Son to redeem every fallen Soul

That Jesus came to heal the sick, teach God’s will; for man to believe on Him was the goal

He spread love and compassion, showing that forgiveness was possible through His sacrificial role

That He was beaten, suffered tremendous pain and humiliation, crucified…hung on a cross to die

When He rose again on the 3^rd Day, death was overcome, SALVATION for us He then could apply

Because when His death and resurrection is accepted by faith, our sin is covered…deliverance buy

So when we ASK Jesus to be OUR Saviour, all His promises are ours to claim

That no matter who we are, race or gender, old or young, rich or poor, His love is all the same

Once we are His, we will willingly live life to bring Glory to HIS name

Jill listened intently, felt a strong tug at her heart when the Pastor gave an alter call

That because of Jesus’ sacrifice, anyone could be SAVED from man’s fall

For those who wanted Him in their life to come forward; come, come one and all

Jill thought, but I’m so young, another time I can do that…along life’s way

It may STOP me from experiencing whatever I may want to do or say

Didn’t the speaker say ANYTIME one can simply call out & pray?

So she sat still, trying to calm her inner feelings, just put them aside

Stifling the conviction she felt, letting any sense of guilt mentally slide

Bringing to mind all those future desires, thinking it was a safe place to hide

“Let’s go,” she said to the friend, “so we can beat the rush out of the parking lot”

Thus, as many WERE going forward, she left behind the message the night had taught

The closing music summed up what Jill’s decision had wrought…

Almost persuaded how to believe

Almost persuaded Christ to receive

Some Souls seem to say

Go Spirit, go Thy way

Some more CONVENIENT day

On Thee I’ll call

Almost persuaded, harvest is past

Almost persuaded, doom comes at last

Almost cannot avail

Almost is but to fail

Sad, sad the bitter wail

Almost…but still lost

Jill tried to change the mood on the back home ride

Her friend seemed especially quiet, “I thought you’d go forward,” she finally cried

“There’s plenty of time for that stuff later,” Jill said. “In the meantime, I’ll take life in stride”

By now it was raining, the road becoming slick and it was one of the year’s darkest nights

The girls were driving way too fast, which always great danger invites

Suddenly the car skidded, the last thing Jill saw was the semi’s fast approaching headlights…

                                     Slave’s Chains or Servant’s Love?

                                                                                                         By: Maxine M.

Since man first recorded history nations, races, genders & individuals desire someone to dominate

Gain control, subdue another’s will, defeat any resistance, make themselves great

Repress others’ sense of freedom, obstruct, limit in what another can participate

So we see a SLAVE is one who follows orders of the MASTER, no choice or decision can be made

Their own thoughts, desires and ambitions are lost, self-worth starts to fade

Blind obedience leaves slaves bitter & resentful, with fear of punishment threats are laid

Submission is top priority, to conform to the master’s will is required

Independence is only a dream, an aspiration every human being has aspired

For one person to OWN another as PROPERTY, at the end of the Civil War, expired

But unfortunately, people can also be a slave to feelings, substance abuse, money…a harmful thing

All those “bad” habits we can’t seem to break, plus dealing with the CONSEQUENCES they bring

Addictions enslave us, dictate how we use our time, keep us on a taut string

Now because of Adam’s fall, all humans are born with a nature to sin

All subject to weakness, temptations, moral deficiency, evil desires common to men

Pride, covetousness, jealousy, lying, stealing, cheating just to help YOU win

But thanks be to God the Father, our Creator, sin doesn’t have to be our master

He had the perfect plan to FREE Souls from sin’s domination & it’s coming disaster

Leave us liberated, emancipated, the way to break the enslavement factor

God knew the ONLY way to free sinful man was through the sacrifice of His own Son

The life and precious Holy blood Jesus GAVE was the SOLITARY way the Gift of Salvation could be done

It gave us a choice to either receive His eternal rewards OR His love completely shun

Now what slave wouldn’t CHOOSE to gain their freedom…leave slavery behind

Just ask the Saviour to redeem your eternal Soul, make it clean & pure as He designed

Breaking all those addictions & bad habits we’ve acquired…true freedom find

In accepting Him, you’re no longer a SLAVE, but a willing SERVANT of the Risen Lord

With a Master you can LOVE, in control, as the Holy Spirit comes onboard

The comfort of being forgiven & His unbreakable promises…how can these things be ignored?

The Bible tells us we cannot serve two masters at the same time, thus a choice must be made

To follow Satan and the temptations he offers, OR choose Christ because of the awesome price He paid

Since it took His shed blood to create the opportunity…slavery for freedom trade

With Jesus as your Master, you’re BOUND BY LOVE, not chains…a happy servant you’ll be

He defeated Satan, death & the grave by dying, rising again for all to see

SERVING Him becomes then an honor & privilege on which ALL who do can agree

The Holy Spirit provides the gifts to SERVE Him with, so you can NOT say “there’s nothing I can do”

Spreading the Gospel by all means provided, demonstrating how His word is absolutely true

By being His hands and feet, helping those in need, showing Salvation’s point of view

“Whatever you do to the least of My Brothers, that you do unto Me,” Jesus said

Any service rendered to someone in need is service to the Lord…honor for Him instead

Visiting the sick, helping the poor, giving time & talent…without thought of reward in your head

From missionary servants willing to leave family & friends to serve Him overseas

To the minister at the pulpit, the choir’s gifted singer, the volunteer in the church nursery…infant cries appease

The generous willing giver, the prayer warriors on bended knee

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:24, “The servant is not above their Master, but are to bring Glory to the Master’s name

The deeds done in service to Him isn’t to bring us profit, fortune or fame

Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, telling them they were to humbly do the same

So have you decided yet? Live as a SLAVE to sin or SERVANT to the soon coming King?

Wear Satan’s shackles or be set free, praises to Almighty God sing?

The choice needs to be made TODAY!! for we don’t know what just a day may bring

                                                GOOD NEWS!!

                                                                                                                     By: Maxine M.

Do you ever get up early just to see what events happened over night?

So often the morning news just announces another day of personal plight

Nature on the rampage, a duck boat sank, a bridge collapsed, MORE of the ongoing political fight

Hundreds of houses destroyed by wildfires, smoke and flames devouring an entire state

Technology growing daily, but privacy is diminished, data stolen, insecurity it will create

Gun violence is daily in the news; what to do about it is a ceaseless debate

There’s nightly shootings, car and plane crashes, abuse of children by those who are SUPPOSED to represent the Lord

Lies & corruption exposed, fraud, scams, harassment, debt…money spent we can’t afford

Wars overseas, nightly clashes with police, illegal border crossings, civil unrest the Nation is moving toward

We hear of mind altering drugs illegally bought & sold on the street; millions of dollars their worth can reach

MS-13 gangs spreading terror, robberies, carjackings, schools told anything religious they can’t teach

Terrorists plot to kill, a sense of security is lost, some churches even “water-down” the Gospel they preach

A jogger is abducted and killed, a man kills his pregnant wife & 2 little girls…how ABSURD

The National Anthem & our flag are disrespected, unpatriotic speeches are heard

There’s obstruction and resistance against leadership, division reigns when unity is preferred

So daily, the BAD news prevails, bringing for many despair, killing tomorrow’s hope

But God the Father, in His Great Love, left us a message telling us how to cope

That when everything in life seems impossible, He throws us a spiritual rope

His inspired precious Holy Book has all the answers anyone could ever need

How to live the life God’s Son’s death made possible for them to lead

It has all the “GOOD NEWS” of God’s plan to SAVE souls; from the penalty of sin be freed

Proclaims how, because of Adam’s disobedience, sin came into existence

Thus the human soul is SEPERATED from its Creator…to His commands there’s resistance

But the Father continually calls them, for His love shows ever persistence

By keeping His word, submitting to His will, listening to the Holy Spirit, His guidance seek

We’ll find a PERSONAL relationship with Him, not just routine church attendance week after week

When we open our hearts to His GOOD NEWS, the “bad news” won’t leave us feeling so hopeless & bleak

We’ll recognize WHERE all the hatred, discord, evil thoughts & actions really come from

Behind it all is SATAN himself, trying to disrupt God’s plan and HIS fate to come

By spreading all those “bad news” headlines, he tries to steal our joy…make life gloomy & glum

But God knew from Creation all about today’s “bad news” and what the answers would be

Covered it all in His Guide Book, if we just take time to look and see

Have faith in His answers like: love your enemies, stay close to Him on bended knee

Hide His word in your heart, use HIS wisdom to discern truth from Satan’s lies

Learn to trust His promise of never leaving us alone, even in the worst of times this vow applies

In Faith, believe & acknowledge HE’s in CHARGE, even when we don’t understand the WHY

The Good News Book states, no matter how bad we’ve been, He will still forgive & save

By our accepting His Sacrifice, that through His death & Resurrection the way of Salvation for us was paved

When we REMEMBER all His blessings and the priceless gift of eternal life He gave

Now if we further read & study His book, we learn more GOOD NEWS

That Jesus is coming back again, a FACT no soul should ever lose

Look up every day in expectation, let this REALITY help in today’s decisions you choose

Let His coming comfort & strengthen you in these very troubling bad news days

Trust in the consolation that His Almighty power will overcome Satan & his evil ways

Let’s pray He comes SOON!! At the trumpet’s sound we’ll gather to Him…all giving Him praise

                                                                                                               

                                       Are YOU that Lost Sheep?

                                                                                                                By: Maxine M.

On the 5^th day God created animals, even those little creatures that crawl & creep

But let me tell you a story that Jesus told about a flock of sheep

Just remember, SHEEP are not the smartest of any species, thus they are hard to protect & keep

He said there were 99 that safely lay in the shelter of the sheepfold, secure in the Shepherd’s care

But one was lost, strayed away somewhere; of potential danger unaware

Predators lurked, just waiting to pounce, ‘you’ll make a great mutton snack’ they declare

But the Good Shepherd left the flock (safe & sound) to look for the ONE that was lost

Because of the love He felt for every sheep, a love which even straying cannot exhaust

But to save the lost sheep, the life of the Shepherd it would cost

Only by Jesus the Shepherd’s death could ANY of the sheep be truly saved, the story will demonstrate

Since all we, like sheep, have gone astray, TURNED to our own way, now for Judgement await

LOST! until we come back to the Shepherd; in His plan of Salvation participate

The plan where WE open our heart, REPENT, then follow wherever the Shepherd will lead

Like the story’s lost sheep that the Shepherd found, we’ll rejoice in His pasture’s feed

Safe from all those worldly predators, trusting the Shepherd will provide every need

But you must first admit you are LOST, not refuting the danger that, in every life, exists

That sudden death can come to everyone…a fact so many resist

NO ONE is excluded, but until that happens, the search from the Shepherd persists

Now we are all in various sized earthly families, which God often calls His flock

He looks at us as sheep, CONSTANTLY needing His protection & guidance around the clock

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; as the Shepherd, He takes care of His stock

We, as sheep, have a deep desire for personal peace & satisfaction that will last

And as the sheep of His pastures, the Shepherd is able to provide for our needs which are vast

He makes them lie down in green pastures, when life rushes by us so fast

The Shepherd knows that sheep need REST, time to stop and on His blessings reflect

The “green pastures” reassures us that worry about tomorrow our hearts need not detect

He leads me beside STILL waters, from mental turmoil & unrest He protects

He restores my soul and realigns our thinking, giving an “I’m able to go on” attitude

Leading His sheep in right paths, to give glory to the Shepherd’s name in gratitude

In the valley of the shadow of death, His sheep will not fear, but live in hope & fortitude

Thy Rod (Word of God) and Thy Staff (the Holy Spirit) bring comfort & protection from the enemy

Goodness & Mercy will follow all the days of my life because His death & Resurrection set me free

To KNOW I will dwell in the House of the Lord FOREVER is the ultimate divine decree

But the sad news is, this psalm does NOT cover those lost from the sheepfold

Who strayed away looking for something else, something they thought would satisfy & prosperity hold

Many are nice, friendly, well intentioned sheep, but false doctrine they’ve been told

Like saved by just doing “good”, helping others, giving to the poor, attending church once in awhile

Repeating a prewritten prayer, instead of one you genuinely from the heart compile

Not acknowledging or accepting the Shepherd’s gift of Salvation, living in continual denial

So, WHOM from your family is represented by the lost sheep the Shepherd sought?

The ONE who has NOT answered the Shepherd’s call…responded as they ought?

Perhaps entangled in worldly cares; not really thinking about WHAT Jesus’ death bought

Are YOU that lost sheep…that precious LOVED one we daily pray for?

Pray that you will heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction; a relationship to the Shepherd restore

He knows everything about you, so no response will He ever ignore

Because until death occurs , He will continue to search, ready to come to your rescue

He’s looking even for the weak and hurting lambs, those wandering and need to be made new

So PLEASE, TODAY, run back to the Shepherd, find forgiveness and more Mercy & Grace than you ever knew