Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Thought, Deed, and Motive

 

by J. Randal Matheny © 2012

   Think James 2 and Matthew 6

Not just the thought, nor good intent,
  And less the wish but vaguely formed,
None count for ought; how well we meant,
  But little we did: "Be filled and warmed!"

For man and God, the pan is proof,
  The bowl and spoon for a brother's need,
The covering shirt and sheltering roof,
  Supplied and fitting, with prudent speed;
The time is past to stay aloof,
  The hour demands the proper deed.

But even the deed alone falls short,
  (The act can hide the simmering lie);
God cares to see, in sovereign court,
  Within the heart, the reason why.

The Prayer of Faith

by J. Randal Matheny

    From reading Mark 11

Begone, O mountain, to the sea!
By faith the King has giv'n to me
His boundless power in ev'ry prayer
To whisk the boulders through the air.

Away with fear, and drown all doubt,
By high command, with prayers devout;
Go far from sight whatever bars
The soul from God above the stars.

The Sovereign rides upon a colt,
To sue for peace, divine revolt,
Who in the temple looks and leaves,
Who sweeps away the den of thieves.

Among the limbs he looks for fruit,
In woe, he withers leaf and root;
The Lord removes religion's theft,
Gives life to Jacob's remnant left.

A poem by Martin Luther

Translated, of course. This was posted by Greg Tidwell on Facebook, so I imagine it's genuine. No title was given for it.

by Martin Luther

Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God—
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
His word shall stand forever!

Say "I will do!" And Not "I'll try!"

Say “I will do!”  And Not “I’ll try!”

              by Michael Carter

I’ll try”, he said…… when he was asked if he could do it

He never achieved a finished product, never got around to do it

Had a chance to go but blew it

Tried to eat but could not chew it

He tried

I’ll try”, the soldier said, when selected for a mission

He never made it through the river couldn’t stick to his decision

Couldn’t do it but He tried

“It’s not his fault!” somebody sighed

He tried

What if on your wedding day?

A father gave the bride away

And the vows they had to say

To love honor and obey

Instead of “I will do” the couple said,

I’ll try!”

“Thy will be done”, the savior cried

“Keep My commandments! Don’t just try!”

Don’t believe the Devil’s lie

Man loved the taste of this world’s pie

Man tried

If as a Christian you must stand

And face a lynch mob’s bloody hand

Deny your Lord is the command

Chicken out or be a man

Will my Jesus understand?

“I’m sorry Lord, I tried!”

Live God’s Word and do not waver

If you seek the Father’s favor

Full commitment He doth savor

He wants change in your behavior

For you

He died

There’s a phrase that we don’t need

Makes us not finish our deeds

Makes our plans to not succeed

Chokes us like a garden weed

That phrase

I’ll try

If you leave a life of sin

Turn and not go back again

Make Jesus Christ your new best friend

Clothed in him until the end

You’ll obey His word and not

Just try!

When that silver cord is broken

We answer for the words we’ve spoken

After death all have awoken

Many souls will start a-smoken

When the Master asks you

“Why?”

Don’t just try do the deed

Don’t just try, PLANT THE SEED!

If you’re all talk you won’t succeed

Serve the Lord with rapid speed

Really “do” and don’t just

Try

Think about the price you’ll pay

When your life has passed away

And you ask on Judgment Day

“Lord, why did ‘you’ not show the way?”

What if you hear the Savior say

I tried!”

Lord, be our light

by J. Randal Matheny

This poem is an adaptation of a prayer I read this morning in The Lutheran Study Bible, on Revelation 11. The last two lines, especially, have been revamped.

Lord, be our light, for worldly darkness veils us,
Lord, be our shield, for earthly armor fails us,
And when the beast from hell comes to assail us,
   Raise us to heaven, Lord.