February 21, 2021

The Begotten Son

From the bottom
Of his heart,
The begotten
 Sovereign
Gave his life
While on earth’s
Trampled dirt.

Overwhelmingly
Overcoming
Sin and death,
The supreme Monarch
Left his blood mark 
On his cross so dark.

His compassion for men
Time and time again
Has been proclaimed.

He is the Rock
For whom the dove came;
He is the Savior
Lost men must claim;
He became sin
To feel men’s shame.

By ELM
February 14, 2021

“For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten son….” 
John 3:16a (KJV)

February 14, 2021

Seven Cows and Seven Heads of Grain

My confusion was extreme;
I had two dreams,
But they were one it seemed.
They had the same theme
The dream interpreter said to me.

In my first illusive interlude
I was on the margin of the Nile
When I was mesmerized
By seeing seven wholesome cows
Emerge from the water of the river

And they began to pasture.
Thereafter seven scrawny, skeletal cows
Came forth from the river,
And they promptly devoured
The seven salubrious ones.
Nevertheless, they remained
Sickly, scraggy, skinny cows.

In my second slumbering sensation
I envisioned seven heads of grain

On one stalk that were luscious and loaded.
Suddenly from the same stalk sprouted
Seven shriveled, stunted heads of grain
That swiftly swallowed the seven succulent ones.

The reasonable rationale of these reveries
 Is that seven prosperous years shall be shadowed
By seven desolate, dreadful ones of famine.
Preparations must commence to prevent
Human starvation and malnourishment.

By ELM
February 9 2021

“The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven
good heads of grain are seven years;
it is one and the same dream.”
Genesis 41:26 (NIV)

February 7, 2021

Love Your Enemies

In adversities love your adversaries;
In hostilities love those who are hostile;
In antagonisms love your antagonists;
In oppositions love those who oppose.

Enemies who are relentless,
Remorseless, ruthless
Must be remembered
In prayers of faith,
In rains of grace.

Did not our Lord do so?
Do you love your oppressors?
Do you cherish your foes?
Do you tolerate your tormentors?

If you are a child of the King,
Favor forgiveness;
Overlook offenses;
Waive wrongdoings.

By ELM
February 8, 2021

“…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
In Context: Matthew 5:43-45 

January 31, 2021

Without the Shedding of Blood

The blood of Christ
Atones for sin
Until time ends.
Wise men
Ask forgiveness
In the stillness
Of their hearts.
They become witnesses
Of the righteousness
Of the blood of Christ.
Old ways of living diminish
When a man lives for Christ
Until his days are finished.
The blood of bulls and goats
Was a foreshadowing of the cross
Without which all men
Would be lost.
There is not a need
For other sacrifices
Because the blood of Christ
Is so genuinely precise.

By ELM
January 30, 2021

“…Without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Hebrews 9:22b (ESV)

January 24, 2021

A Lamp and a Light

God’s word is a lamp and a light;
It shines bright at noon and midnight.

His word glows in my soul’s alcoves;
With it there are no dim shadows.

A darkened trail I don’t travel;
In life’s stream it is my paddle.

Life with the word avoids defeat;
I can see God’s path and my feet.

His word I remember and read;
Christ went to Calvary for me.

His word shines my enlightened heart;
Each day with it is a fresh start.

Holy Scripture is my life’s guide;
In Christ’s word I know to abide.

By ELM
November 17, 2020

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) 

January 17, 2021

To Be Consumed with Christ

To be consumed with Christ
Is the desire of a prayerful life.
A heartfelt commitment
Establishes sincere enthusiasm.
Worshipful sentiments
Reflect the depth of a soul.

When a poignant confession
Follows divine conviction,
Responsibility is acquired,
And joy possesses
Worshipful expressions.

A man’s righteousness
Must be based
 On Christ’s faithfulness.
For a man to know God,
He must acknowledge
His own iniquities
And deficiencies,
And believe God’s
Confidential forgiveness.

By ELM
November 16, 2020

“My passion is to be consumed with him….”
Philippians 3:9a (TPT)
In Context: Philippians 3:8-10

January 10, 2021

Out of the Whirlwind

Out of the whirlwind
The Lord spoke to Job.
He must now begin;
Trials would not end.

‘Don’t question wisdom
From your ignorance.
Who created earth?
Do you know your worth?’

‘I laid the groundwork
Knowing dimensions.
I made your framework.
I’m your redemption.’

‘I kept the oceans
In their boundaries.
I laid foundations;
I made the nations.’

‘The morning stars sing.
I’m the creator.
I give birds their wings;
I make the bees sting.’

Out of the whirlwind
The Lord spoke to Job.
He is man’s dear friend;
In God there’s no end.

By ELM
November 20, 2020

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind….”
Job 38:1 (KJV)

January 3, 2021

I Am Rebekah

Receiving a husband
I had never seen,
Believing a servant man
I had never known,
I went to a strange land.
I perceived this was God’s plan.
I am Rebekah.

I became the mother
Of thousands of millions
Who were ordinary civilians,
Yet some were ancestors
Of the Messiah who were willing
To follow the Savior,
Being very resilient.
They shall live forever
In his dominion.
I am Rebekah.

Leaving the only home
I had ever known,
Being obedient to
The servant’s request,
I followed him to Isaac
With great excitement.
A future Son would be
The promised Messiah.
I am Rebekah.

By ELM
December 30, 2020

“And they called Rebekah, and said unto her,
Wilt thou go with this man?
And she said, I will go.”
Genesis 24:58 (KJV)

December 27, 2020

Prophet of the Highest

I am the prophet of the Highest;
For many years
The oracles had been silent,
When I came
To prepare a way.
I went before his face
To announce to the human race
That he was the Messiah.
I confronted sin
Until my life’s end.

I was the forerunner
And the front-runner
And the trailblazer
And the newcomer
Demanding that men repent.
Their sins they had to regret.
The Messiah would pardon
And he would forget.
Sins must be forgiven
For a man to live in heaven.

By ELM
December 19, 2020

“And thou, child, shalt be called the
prophet of the Highest: for thou
shalt go before the face of the
Lord to prepare his ways;”
Luke 1:76 (KJV)
In Context: Luke 1:76-78

December 20, 2020

The Trough

In strips of cloth
They wrapped the
Newborn baby
And laid him in
A feeding trough
Cut in the bedrock.
Did the baby cry?
Perhaps he gave
A little cough?
Mary kept him in her eye
As the baby uttered a sigh.
Near the trough
Did a neighboring cow bellow
As it looked at the wee fellow?
There were angels all around
Singing in the air
And sitting on the ground.
The trough was the manger

Protecting the baby
From all danger.
This baby is
The soulful Savior.

By ELM
December 14, 2020

“…They laid him in a feeding trough….”
Luke 2:7b (TPT)

December 13, 2020

Love Each Other Deeply

Love each other deeply;
This is what I planned;
The more so is grand.

I want you to love
Particularly when it’s not easy,
As you must love your enemies.

I gave up my life
So that you thoroughly
Can love deeply.

I constantly cultivate
Your love as you activate
My will in your soul.

Persistently praying
And continually obeying
Nurtures your love for each other.

My love is unfathomed
Yet intensely profound
When you grasp I’m around.

By ELM
December 9, 2020

“So this is my command: Love each other
deeply, as much as I have loved you.” 
John 15:12 (TPT)

December 6, 2020

On My Side

The Lord is on my side
When my eyes are not dry.
When tears run down my cheeks,
In the stillness He speaks.

God is my instructor,
My heart’s faithful factor.
For worse or for better,
He’s my life’s pacesetter.

God is my foundation
Built in his holy soil.
He’s my soul’s salvation
Ending all the turmoil.

The Lord is on my side;
I trust this faithful Guide
When sadness overwhelms.
All grace in him I’ve found.

By ELM
December 1, 2020

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do unto me?”
Psalm 118:6 (KJV)

November 29, 2020

Don’t Doubt Me

Blind people can now see;
Lame people can now walk;
Don’t doubt me.

Lepers have been healed;
Many deaf can now hear;
Don’t doubt me.

The dead have been raised;
Empty are their graves;
Don’t doubt me.

Many lost have been found;
Prisoners are no longer bound;
Don’t doubt me.

Behold, I come quickly;
Believe in me swiftly;
Don’t doubt me.

By ELM
November 28, 2020

“…Blessed are those who don’t doubt me.”
Matthew 11:6 (The Living Bible)

November 22, 2020

Affection on Things Above

Affection on things above
Develops as a result of God’s love.
A fondness,
A tenderness,
A warm heartedness
For sacred matters
Are relished as one
Soars the celestial ladder.

Compassionate good will
Is acquired and remains
When one obtains
The Savior’s saving grace.

A man is able to stand
By the mercy granted
By the crucified hands.

A man can be zealously engaged
When his affection is on things above.
A man’s heart shall burn when he learns
To saturate himself with biblical verse.

By ELM
November 23, 2020

“Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:2 (KJV) 

November 15, 2020

When Men Began to Multiply

When men began to multiply,
The Son of God many denied.
To worship him they did not try.

And it came to pass
On the face of earth,
Men’s souls did not grasp
The plans of the Lord.

When men began to multiply,
Before they were led to Sinai,
With one another they did strive.

And it came to pass
The sons saw the daughters of men.
The Spirit did not seek again.

When men began to multiply,
Their sins caused them to go awry.
The Lord’s grace they did not apply.

And it came to pass
On the face of earth,
Many did not try
The free second birth.

By ELM
September 28, 2020

“And it came to pass, when men began to
multiply on the face of the earth….”
Genesis 6:1a (KJV) 

November 8, 2020

Sharper than Any Twoedged Sword

The Word’s perceptiveness
And judiciousness
Cleanses a man’s heart
Of unrighteousness.

The Word rejuvenates
And invigorates
And liberates
A man’s soul.

It is like a twoedged sword;
It is like a spiritual scissor;
It is like a surgical knife.
This weapon is bladed
And clawlike
And sharper than
Any bread knife.
Sin it strikes.

To a man’s being it penetrates.
It intermingles the thoughts
Of a man with the heart of God.
A man’s essence it captivates;
It stimulates a man’s being
To anticipate
Blessings.

By ELM
October 27 2020

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of
the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) 

November 1, 2020

All That Delights God’s Heart

I trust when I pray
That I delight God’s heart.
I go to my private place
That is my praying space.
I explore my Lord;
I expect his grace.

I aspire to be a sacrifice
That Christ will cleanse
With his sacred fire.
He empties me of vile
Muck and mire.
Shall my shame expire?

I intend my prayers to be
Genuine endeavors
Expressing my needs,
Emphasizing my brokenness,
Declaring my feelings,
While I am kneeling.

By ELM
October 29, 2020

“I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God
to be his sacred, living sacrifices.  And live in
holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart.
For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
Romans 12:1b (TPT)

October 25, 2020

Calling Out for Insight

Calling out for insight
Day and night
Is a good thing.
Asking God for this
May result in bliss.

Having a degree
Of perceptiveness,
Kindled with
Forthrightness,
Adds an openness
To a person’s being.

Christian integrity
Seeks sincerity.
Godly honesty
Ensues genuine humility.

 Calling out for insight
Can make a dark
Situation bright.
Fears can take flight.
Wisdom is a delight.

   By  ELM
October 19, 2020

“Indeed, if you call out for insight…
You will understand the fear of the Lord.”
Proverbs 2:3a, 5a (NIV)

October 18, 2020

Before You Ask Him

Before you ask him, 
He knows what you need,
But he wants you
To agree to believe.

Jesus is the key.
On his daily bread do feed.
Only in Christ can you succeed.

Before you ask him,
In his grace take a swim.
Faith in Christ is never just a whim.

Jesus is full of compassion;
He wishes to be the main attraction.
His grace and love are everlasting;
Therefore, veer from sinful distractions.

Before you ask him,
Walk in his direction.
He does not want you to zigzag
As you carry his cross.
Follow his path; you won’t get lost. 

By ELM
October 12, 2020

“…Your Father knoweth what things ye have need
Of, before ye ask him.”
Matthew 6:8b (KJV) 

October 11, 2020

Of Such Is the Kingdom of Heaven

One must be as a child
To be reconciled
With God.

A relying acceptance,
A responsive alignment,
A resolute acknowledgement
Of the merciful grace of Jesus
Must be present
In the heart of a man
To be as a child.

The kingdom of heaven,
The paradise of promise,
Is given to those who 
Come as a trusting youngster
To the heart Adjuster.

Children – of such
Is the kingdom of heaven – 
Come without leaven
To their eternal home.
They find blessed rest
In a haven, a nest
Where all needs are addressed.

Men should bring children to Jesus;
They should not be hindered
With their hearts loving and tender.

One must be as a child,
Meek and mild,
To enter the kingdom.

By ELM
July 23, 2020

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children,
and forbid them not, to come unto me:
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 (KJV)

October 4, 2020

Fully Mature

I have been proclaimed.
You should feel no shame
When you trust in me.
I trust you are fully mature;
My love is pure.

I want you to admonish
All believers.
You must not let
The old deceiver
Lessen your joyfulness
That you possess.

There should be
A flowering in your soul.
My desire is that you
Continue to grow.
A contemplative calmness
Should take hold
As you let me have control.

Find yourself fully mature.
Problems you must endure
So be at home in prayer.
Perpetuate an
Awareness that I care.

By ELM
September 7, 2020

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing 
and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

September 20, 2020

Autumn and Spring Rains

God sends the autumn rains;
His people have a lot to gain.
Abundant showers
Descending from above
Declare God’s love.

A multitude of gifts are swift
To come from God’s throne
Making his intentions known.

God sends the spring rains
That benefit humankind.
He washes away sinful stains
And opens men’s eyes
That once were blind.

God is faithful
To fulfill men’s dreams.
He is able
To provide blessings
In continual streams
As in April.

By ELM
September 21, 2020

“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the
Lord your God, for he has given you the
autumn rains because he is faithful. He
sends you abundant showers, both
autumn and spring rains, as before.”
Joel 2:23 (NIV)

September 13, 2020

In the Name of the Father

In the name of the Father
Accept my grace.
Cut to the chase.

In the name of the Father
Claim my free blessings.
Keep progressing.

In the name of the Father
Inhabit my presence.
Look for my appearance.

In the name of the Father
Fortify your faith.
Solidify my grace.

In the name of the Father
Close temptation’s door.
Kneel and pray on the floor.

In the name of the Father
Make disciples.
Your worship is vital.

By ELM
September 5, 2020

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Hoy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
In Context: Matthew 28:18-20

September 6, 2020

Making Home

Making home with
My Father and me
Suspends roaming.

There’s no place
Like home;
It affords a joyful 
Syndrome.

Making home with me
Solidifies liberty.
Unrestricted grace
Abides in that place.

Allow your dwelling
To be one of hospitality.
It’s more than a shelter;
It’s making home.

Making home with
My Father and me
Gives one a haven,
A sanctuary,
A place that does
Not vary. 

By ELM
September 6, 2020

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my
teaching.  My father will love them, and we will come
to them and make our home with them.” 
John 14:23 (NIV)

August 30, 2020

Having Dinner at Levi’s House

I was having dinner
At Levi’s house
With tax collectors
And sinners
When a group
Of Pharisees entered.

The Pharisees asked
Why I was there
With the outcasts.

Their hearts I knew were cold;
This is why they were so bold.

I told them the sick
Need a cure;
I wanted to make
Their hearts pure.
New life was their 
Need for sure.

Many people followed me.
Some were friends;
Some were enemies.
They did not all see
Their need for me.
Many did not believe.

By ELM
August 26, 2020

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house,
many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him
and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.”
Mark 2:15 (NIV) 

August 23, 2020

Voice of God Speaking

Men should
Hear the voice
Of the Lord
And rejoice.
Everyone has
To make a choice
To do or not.

If men would
Listen to God speak
Every day of 
Every week
And Jesus seek,
They’d be stronger
And not so weak.

The voice of God
May be speaking;
His Spirit may
Be pleading;
Men should
Follow his leading.

Men need to heed
God’s message
As they travel
Life’s passage.
It shall give them
An advantage.

By ELM
August 15, 2020

“Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking
out of fire, as you have, and lived?”
Deuteronomy 4:33 (NIV)

August 16, 2020

Like the Brightness after Rain

For the most part,
David ruled in righteousness.
He was a man after God’s own heart.
He knew the substantial essentials,
Yet he knew he was not indispensable.

Like the brightness after rain,
He was a visible godsend to Israel.
Like the brightness after rain,
His God given power was invincible.

As he put his trust in God to rule,
He was like the light of morning
At sunrise on a cloudless morning.

Like the brightness after rain,
Blessings flowed from God’s throne.
Like the brightness after rain,
God’s potency was known.

By ELM
July 26, 2020

“…When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the
light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.”
II Samuel 23:3b-4 (NIV)

August 9, 2020

Of Such Is the Kingdom of Heaven

One must be as a child
To be reconciled
With God.

A relying acceptance,
A responsive alignment,
A resolute acknowledgement
Of the merciful grace of Jesus
Must be present
In the heart of a man
To be as a child.

The kingdom of heaven,
The paradise of promise,
Is given to those who 
Come as a trusting youngster
To the heart Adjuster.

Children – of such
Is the kingdom of heaven – 
Come without leaven
To their eternal home.
They find blessed rest
In a haven, a nest
Where all needs are addressed.

Men should bring children to Jesus;
They should not be hindered
With their hearts loving and tender.

One must be as a child,
Meek and mild,
To enter the kingdom.

By ELM
July 23, 2020

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children,
and forbid them not, to come unto me:
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 (KJV)

July 26, 2020

Hospitality to Strangers and Angels

Strangers may be angels,
Or they may not be.
Hospitality must be shown.
Perhaps they are all alone;
Perhaps their sins
Have not been atoned;
Perhaps they have no home;
Perhaps they have been
Throwing stones;
Perhaps they have just
Come from God’s throne.

Strangers and Angels
Need a cordial reception.
They may need lodging;
You may be their destination.
They may need friendship
Or fellowship or companionship,
Or by chance you need theirs.
Maybe they have come to worship.

Without knowing it you may be
Rescuing them
Or reviving them
Or restoring them.

By ELM
July 25, 2020

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality
to angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

June 28, 2020

How Many Loaves Do You Have?

‘What do you have
In your hand?
May it be used
To help a fellow man?’

‘How many loaves
Do you have?’
The reply was seven.
‘Have you considered
What you are getting?
Shall you receive a blessing?’

‘What do you have
In your hand as you walk
On the narrow road?
Do you carry
A heavy load?
The Son of Man
Carried his cross.
Some bear sin on roads
That lead to loss.’

‘How many loaves
Do you have?’
The reply was seven.
‘Could they show
The way to heaven?
Was the bread
Made without leaven?
Is the Bread of Life your
Greatest possession?’

By ELM
June 20, 2020

“’How many loaves do you have?’
Jesus asked.  ‘Seven,’ they replied.”
Mark 8:5 (NIV)
In Context: Mark 8:1-10

June 14, 2020

Possess Your Soul

Let the mind of
Jesus be yours.
It makes life easier
To endure;
It ensures grace
When faced
With trials.

You must possess
Your own soul
To grow.
Be careful 
Not to develop
A coldness.

Form the mind of Christ
To possess your soul;
God uses this
To enrich your life.
It takes patience
To acknowledge
God’s presence.

Don’t stay
At the beginning,
When you first believed.
Trust Christ
At life’s ending
And worship
Throughout
Eternity.

By ELM
May 26, 2020

“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Luke 21:19 (KJV)

May 31, 2020

More than Conquerors

More than conquerors
Christ wants men to be;
In Christ there are
Numerous possibilities.

Tribulations
Can shake a believer’s
Foundation,
But victorious he can be
As he rises from
Life’s troublesome sea.

Trials and travails,
Miseries and adversities,
Disappointments and dilemmas
Come to every man.
Some come by a man’s

Own doing;
Some come from
Another.

Every Christian
Has something
He wishes was not there.
It does not go away,
But it is softened
By prayer.

By ELM
May 26, 2020

“Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us.”
Romans 8:37 (KJV)

May 24, 2020

Hanging On Every Word He Said

Men were
Intently listening
And
Attentively heeding
And
Decisively deciding
And
Astutely responding
As they were
Hanging on every word
He said.

Listeners became converts
And
Converts became believers
And
Believers became worshippers
And
Worshippers became followers
And
Followers became disciples
As they were
Hanging on every word
He said.

Thoughts became deeds
And
Deeds became works
And
Works became blessings
To others
As they were
Hanging on every word
He said.

By ELM
May 18, 2020

“…Because all the people hung on every word he said.”
Luke 19:48b (NLT)

May 10, 2020

Wise in Their Own Eyes

Men who are wise
In their own eyes
Are misguided and mistaken;
They have deluded
And deceived their hearts.

If praise is due,
Let another do.
If one is to glory,
In the Lord let him glory.

Judicious and sagacious men
Receive blessings from the Lord;
God recognizes if a man is self-righteous.

God acknowledges when wise men
Receive praises from others
And not from their own lips.

Some justify themselves before men,
But God grasps their marrow and affection.
Since God asserts microscopic perception,
He perceives men’s honesty and deception.

When a man ascertains he is nothing
Apart from Christ, then he is something.
A man who walks wisely and justifiably
In Christ, serves the Savior humbly.

A man with a proud heart
Is a danger to himself and others;
He cannot be a blessing to another.

By ELM
May 7, 2020

“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!”
Isaiah 5:21 (KJV)

April 26, 2020

Build with Care

The Savior of men is
The precious cornerstone. 
Every wise builder builds upon him.
Every wise builder builds with care.

Christ is the foundation,
The framework, the fundament
Of a man’s soul that is saved by grace.
Jesus is the groundwork.
Jesus is the substructure.
Jesus is the originator.
Build with care.

Establish your life in Christ.
Construct with courage.
Shape with strength.
Make with mercy.
Frame with faith.
Build with care.

There is no other source of life
Than the Redeemer,
No other underpinning,
No other infrastructure,
No other understructure.
Build with care.

Doctrine is built on Christ.
Purposes of God are seen in Christ.
Righteousness reverberates from Christ.
Build with care.

By ELM
April 24, 2020

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation
as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.
But each one should build with care.”
I Corinthians 3:10 (NIV)
In Context: I Corinthians 3:9-15

April 12, 2020

Christ Put on Skin

Christ put on skin
To save men from sin.
He wants to save all
Before their lives end.

Men were made in God’s likeness,
So they can share with others
The glory of his brightness.

Christ put on skin
To save men from sin.
Only through Jesus men
Have victory over sin.

God shields men from within,
Like a tattered coat he can mend.
He insulated Daniel in the lions’ den;
He protects believers
From the wrath of lost men.

Adam’s coat of skins
Gave him a chance to live again.
New possibilities are produced
When men proclaim the truth.

Christ put on skin
To save men from sin.
On him should a man depend;
Forgiveness Jesus extends.

By ELM
April 10, 2020

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the
Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
Genesis 3:21 (KJV)

March 29, 2020

Search Your Soul

Search your soul for me.
It’s been a long time
Since we dared a rhyme,
Since we shared springtime.

Look with all your heart,
And when you find me,
Never let me go.
In your life I want
To play a big role.

Pursue my purpose.
My intentions are
Most honorable,
Honest and noble.

Dignify your ride;
Come and go with me.
I died on a tree,
So you can be free.

Be still on your bed;
Nightly say your prayers.
Daily eat my bread;
You must know I care.

Tremble before me;
My majesty sees.
My grace and glory
Has made you holy.

By ELM
March 20, 2020

“Tremble in awe before the Lord, and do not sin against him.
Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.”
Psalm 4:4 (TPT)

March 15, 2020

Hide It Within

Some matters are
Found deep within.
That’s where they remain;
They’re of such valuable gain.
They can’t be bought,
Nor can they be
Washed away
By decades of internal rain.

Birthdays come and go
As do days of rain and snow,
But God’s designs are life keeping.
They enter sweeping
Other issues aside;
Initial sinful ones are kept
In parenthesis,
While others simply hide.

All genuine believers
Treasure God’s wisdom.
He releases a man’s soul
From a horrendous prison.
Anchored inside is grace,
Yet sin leaves behind a trace.
Any man can acquire it,
But sin’s wit is hard to admit.

By ELM
March 10, 2020

“My child, will you treasure my wisdom?
Then and only then, will you acquire it.
And only if you accept my advice and
hide it within will you succeed.”
Proverbs 2:1 (The Passion Translation)

March 1, 2020

Count the Cost

What does it take
To save the lost?
Sit down and
Count the cost.

If you are planning
To build a house
With your spouse,
You would first
Count the cost.

The value of a soul
Took Jesus to the cross.
He paid the price
So men could have
Eternal life.

Were the expenditures
Expensive?
Was the purchase
Worth it?

It took a willing heart,
A cross, and Jesus
To fulfill his part.

With this act
All men get a fresh start.
This is a biblical fact.

By ELM
February 18, 2020

“For which of you, intending to build a tower,
sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,
whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
Luke 14:28 (KJV)

February 16, 2020

Not Bread Alone

Bread alone will
Not satisfy.
Have you ever
Wondered why?

There is a deep-seated
Need in a man’s soul
To feel that he is whole.

He can only find
Inherent contentment in Christ,
But most men never go there.
They can be joint heirs, but
They never turn to the Master
Who has all of life’s answers.

Every man has this
Imperative requirement
Ingrained in his brain,
But few admit it.

There is a
Powerful potency
In God’s words.
Holy Scripture is like a sword.
It slashes and splits;
It slices and slits
All human issues
To the core of the heart.

Christ is the living Word.
Now you have heard.
Is the gist of your being stirred?

By ELM
February 11, 2020

“…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

February 2, 2020

The Trying of Your Faith

The substance of things
You hope for is faith,
But you can’t see it;
You’ve never seen it.
It doesn’t work that way,
But you know it when you have it.
You ask for it when you pray.
You may ask the Lord to increase
Your faith day by day.

Faith increases patience.
Sometimes you have to wait;
You may be waiting for days,
Or weeks, or months, or years.
It will come, but when it does,
You may shed some tears.
Happiness or sadness or both
May accompany your faith.
Salvation is by grace through faith.

The trying of your faith
May be a difficult struggle.
Remember biblical Job;
He lost everything but his faith.
Sometimes trouble comes double;
Sometimes you may feel like 
You’re in a dense jungle,
And there is no way out;
That’s the trying of your faith.

By ELM
January 25, 2020

“…The trying of your faith worketh patience.”
James 1:3 (KJV)
In Context:  James 1:2-11