Anyway

Anyway

When the resources are low and times are tight,
You may be tempted to shun doing right.
Do right anyway, trust Jesus to see you through…

You sacrifice for others and they leave you in a bind,
You may feel compelled to cease being kind.
Be kind anyway, trust Jesus to see you through…

Your life may be as a traverse on a treacherous tightrope.
Fear of falling may fool you into to giving up all hope.
Be hopeful anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

Setbacks may have slowed your advancement for a while.
Discontentment may coerce you to smother your smile.
Smile anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

Failures, finicky family, and fickle friends may maim your self-esteem.
You may feel unfit to fulfill your beloved dream.
Reach for your dream anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

You may have toiled and tired to the point of losing your spark.
The tug is quite strong to quit before reaching your mark.
Press on toward your mark anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

Longings for loved ones dearly departed never seem to cease.
You may feel too depressed to enjoy blessed peace.
Enjoy blessed peace anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

You have been crying out for your place and purpose, to find your way.
Your perturbation may persuade you to cease to pray.
Call on the name of the Lord in prayer anyway and trust Jesus to see you through…

You may be dealing with a deluge of dilemmas; therefore, you drift in a daze.
Your predicament may push you to ponder there is nothing worth praise.
Praise God anyway for He is worthy and trust Jesus to see you through…

Confidants have confused your concepts; you distrust all you have ever heard.
You may mistakenly commence to mistrust even God’s word.
Believe God’s word anyway, it will teach you to trust Jesus to see you through…

In this life, you may experience being put off, put out, and put down.
You may feel as the one most likely never to wear a crown.
Know that you can wear a crown anyway, if you trust Jesus to see you through…

The Lord Jesus was tried-tested, and tempted-at all points just like you and me.
He was hard-pressed to give up before dying for us that we might be free.
He died that we might be eternally free anyway; trust Jesus to see you through…

17 Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since He himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help us when we are being tempted. (Heb 2:17-18 NLT)

14 That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him and never stop trusting Him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. (Heb 4:14-16 NLT)

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/29/08

Sacred Serenity

Sacred Serenity

O’ the sacred serenity
Glorify Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Who have made soul salvation attainable
To those willing to secure it

O’ the sacred serenity
God’s word shows the way
A reassuring, invigorating guiding light
Enlightening my soul each day

O’ the sacred serenity
Thanks be to God for my soul’s rest
No more tumultuous tossing and turning
Freed from sin’s tempest

O’ the sacred serenity
Soothed by the Spirit’s calm breeze
As the Spirit presides over my reins
My heart settles at ease

O’ the sacred serenity
His gifts establish my role
By grace, placed within His body
A vital part of the whole

O’ the sacred serenity
Temptation desires me, to incite
My Lord strengthens and safeguards me
By infinite power and might

O’ the sacred serenity
Though, test and trials abound
They only serve to make me stronger
Yielding a faith more sound

O’ the sacred serenity
Chaos will not conquer me
Over all turmoil, I shall surely triumph
Faith in Jesus, my guarantee

O’ the sacred serenity
When I trip in transgression
For holiness, He lovingly reproves me
Leading to contrite confession

O’ the sacred serenity
Peace possible as Jesus paid my sin debt
For me, there is therefore now no condemnation
How much better can it get?

O’ the sacred serenity
Blessed be the Lord, whom I adore
Who drew me with an incomparable love
In His house, I shall dwell evermore

O’ the sacred serenity
Wrought by way of Calvary’s cross
Where Jesus died to save you from your sin
Why would you remain lost?

For sacred serenity now, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!!!

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Romans 5:1-6 New Living Translation

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/22/08

Daddy’s Prayer for His Little Girl

Daddy’s Prayer for His Little Girl

Lord, thank you for my little girl
She is to me a delightfully precious little pearl

Her joyful smile illuminates even a dreary room
Just like sunshine, that chases away gloom

Her bright and breezy banter buoys my heart
So young, yet so perceptive, full of life, loving and smart

May she always perceive that beauty that fades is a lie
And consider and crave the unfading inner beauty from on high

May she be a difference maker who serves well and wisely her generation
A virtuous woman who empowers others by being an inspiration

Keep her from silver-tongued devils, bad boys, and mean men
That her beloved heart be not broken time and again

Let her not be a heartbreaker in any measure
May she appreciate the goodness in others and all life, treasure

May our family be for her, Godly exemplars
May our home prosper in joy and love enough to fill her memoirs

Let Your Spirit and truth be her guide
May Your will be the place where she desires ever to reside

In difficulty may she trust and render thanks and praise unto You
In serenity may she tender sincere steadfast devotion in serving You

I pray that she would love You with her whole essence
I pray that her greatest longing whether in life or death is to be in Your holy presence

Hear, O’ Lord my prayer for my little girl
Your grace upon her, please perpetually unfurl

The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure it is to have wise children.
(Proverbs 23:24 New Living Translation)

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/19/08

Plea to Mr. Sagging Pants

Plea to Mr. Sagging Pants

Dear Mr. Sagging Pants
I would like a word with you
Hear me out; give me a chance

To say, I am a bit dismayed
By your low-riding fashion
At times with underwear displayed

Don’t be so quick to say I’m downing your way of life
I am aware that it is a free country
But, we all, at times, must sacrifice to curb confusion and strife

I just believe you can do much better
Don’t give in to temporary trifling trends
Decide instead to be an honorable pacesetter

It is said that clothes don’t make the man
But the way a man wears his clothes
Can send mixed messages about where he stands

I pray you stand for decency, for that which is right
Pull up your pants for it is good
Pull them up for it is a more praiseworthy sight

God made man to be a dignified leader
Be a Godly man, live your life in such a way that all can see
That in all things, you strive to be virtuous and God will help you be a succeeder

He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor. Proverbs 21:21 (Amplified Bible)

The way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation). Proverbs 15:9 (Amplified Bible)

RevLDReed – Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ
I Owe Jesus
8/22/2008

Dare to Hope

Dare to Hope

There's hope when it seems all hope is gone
There’s hope even when you feel all alone
There’s hope no matter the pain of yesterday
There’s hope if you haven’t made much gain today
There’s hope when your mind dangles in a daze
There’s hope when you wander through a funky faze
There’s hope when sleep grabs and overtakes you
There’s hope as the alarm seems to prematurely awake you
There’s hope when the doctor says he’s done all he can do
There’s hope when you realize you don’t know what to do
There’s hope no matter the uncertainty of tomorrow
There’s hope when you’re so deep in debt you can’t borrow
There’s hope when your peace is swallowed by your stress
There’s hope though it seems your life has forever been a mess
There’s hope when you try to rise, but seem to always fall
There’s hope when no one answers to help when you call
There's hope when your relationship has run its course
There's hope when the job you love pushes you out by force
There's hope as eyes dim, steps shorten, and gray covers the head
There's hope even when your zest for living life is all but dead
There’s hope when you are burdened down by your sin
There’s hope in Jesus; let us present our hearts and let Him reign therein
There’s hope because, out of love for us, His precious life He gave
There's hope as Jesus is a strong deliverer, out of every distress, He can save

21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. 27 And it is good for the young to submit to the yoke of his discipline. 28 Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands. 29 Let them lie face down in the dust; then at last there is hope for them. (Lamentations 3:21-29 NLT)

13 “If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer! 14 Get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. 15 Then your face will brighten in innocence. You will be strong and free of fear. 16 You will forget your misery. It will all be gone like water under the bridge. 17 Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Any darkness will be as bright as morning. 18 You will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety. 19 You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help. (Job 11:13-19 NLT)


LDReedSr – Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ
I Owe Jesus
8/19/2008

A Blessing for My Curser

A Blessing for My Curser

A secretive scorner composed to me a lengthy note
Thoroughly, passionately disparaging me as he or she wrote

There was devilish deliberation discernible in his or her prose
Joyful derision due to a sad, angry inner disposition, I suppose

I could vex my mind and waste my time in wondering who
But, that wouldn’t be beneficial, but a futile, juvenile thing to do

Instead of squandering my energy annoyed at Mr., Ms., or Mrs. nameless
I have chosen rather to pray for the need manifested by an act so shameless

One’s words allows the inner sanctum of one’s heart to be exposed
Through words, one’s mind is analyzable via the views disclosed

My anonymous, animated agitator surely is one deeply damaged by hate within
I reason that he or she has never truly experienced a love that overpowers sin

Instead of petitioning my God to rain down snares on his or her head
Jesus’ love in me, compels me to pray He would turn them in love to Him, instead

I shall mimic my Jesus, who bore my burden-hung, bled, and died on Calvary’s cross
While being mocked, empowered by love He suffered it that men be saved, not lost

To my curser with joyful love, where so ever, whosoever you may be
I truly say God bless you and I pray that Jesus would, from your sin, set you free

But I say unto you, 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; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…Matthew 5:44-45a

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
8/11/2008

Do Yourself Some Good

DO YOURSELF SOME GOOD

Do yourself no harm.
If, you have been feeling downcast-sad and blue
And your mind keeps saying there is no hope in life for you.
Do yourself some good.
Seek out and take advantage of caring assistance,
Surely, you can find help, if you search with sincerity and persistence.

Do yourself no harm,
If you have erred and fallen down
And you consider yourself even lower than the ground.
Do yourself some good.
Humbly acknowledge your misstep,
Ask for mercy, and then move on with your life-take the next step.

Do yourself no harm,
If, your life seems such a complicated chore
And each day feels as distressing as the day before.
Do yourself some good.
Be grateful for the good in the life you are living,
Laugh a little, learn a new skill, and bless others-be giving, loving, and forgiving.

Do yourself no harm,
If you have lost all things that, you possessed,
Now you cannot shake the sorrow, the shame, and you are beyond doubt depressed.
Do yourself some good.
Easy come, easy go are titles, treasures, and the tabernacles wherein we reside,
But realize, life is not about what you have, but who you are inside.

Do yourself no harm,
If your relationship has reached a dead end,
Irreparably broken, and there is simply no desire to amend.
Do yourself some good.
Cease from anger, forsake wrath, and love the person even if it is best to part.
One day at a time…One-step at a time…One breath at a time, go on living as you take heart.

Do yourself no harm,
Do yourself some good.
Analyze the good that you have going your way.
God invested time in you, giving you life for one more day.
God endowed you with some talent/s for you to employ, enjoy for work as well as play.
God treasured you so much that He sent His only begotten and beloved Son to die to take your sins away.

Do yourself no harm,
Do yourself some good.
Know that God made you one of a kind with much to offer, too.
Take time to meditate on His word and treasure what He has done for you,
Believe on Jesus as your Savior and Lord, use your talents for Him as a way to say thank you.
Knowing that you are saved, in His service, and in His loving care can help you overcome feeling blue.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/15/08

To the Unloving with Love

To the Unloving with Love

I have sought you, though you seem determined to shut Me out.
I have called you, but you have been hesitant to answer because of doubt.

Yes, I want all of you, even as you feel that is too much to give.
I want to be a blessing; in communion forever, I want us to live.

Though you have been distant, I want you to be near.
Though you have been unfriendly, My desire to be your friend is clear.

While you have acted coldly, I have proved to you My affection.
You have lived loathsomely, yet I have declared to you My predilection.

I know others have hurt you-they took more than they shared.
Some abandoned you, now you believe that for you, no one ever really cared.

Your pain has turned your heart against love, even its purest displays.
Now you repel others, others repel you, for everyone mistrusts the others’ ways.

I want to win you over with My sacred, true love that is My sincere aim.
My love transcends all others, for all time, as does My holy name.

While you have been selfish, I have demonstrated to you self-sacrifice.
Though you have been as an enemy, to redeem you, I paid the ultimate price.

I died at Calvary’s cross to make obvious My love is immense and intense, too.
Respond to My love; trust in Me, I will fill you with My love, through and through.

My love within can help you love those unloving towards you.
Love as I have loved you, it is your pass to paradise; it proves your love for Me is true.

Signed

The Only Salvation There Is

The Lord Jesus Christ

P.S. Desiring Your Love – Whisper to Me a prayer, inviting Me into your heart and I promise to meet you there.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:6-11 (New Living Translation)

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/9/08

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
For Christ, counted all things of this world but loss?
Confirmed gold through trial by fire, emptied of dross?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Faithful, though persecuted for Jesus name?
Enduring hardship but despising the shame?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Am I following my Lord’s example?
Is my life worthy for others to sample?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Am I fulfilling my God’s sacred calling?
Am I steadily serving Him or yet stalling?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Do I give assistance when needed?
Do I aid even when funds are depleted?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
In my weakness, do I trust in His might?
In my limited vision, do I trust His sight?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Is His tried and true word the delight of my soul?
Am I telling others His word empowers and makes whole?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Am I a willing witness to His saving grace?
Or, am I more concerned about saving face?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Do I reject preaching the cross for any selfish aim?
Do I preach with seriousness, knowing this is no game?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Do I practice what I preach that others should do?
Do I strive for inner integrity, where only God can view?
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Am I giving my best to my Lord and Savior, Jesus?
He, who, readily laid down His life at the cross to free us!
Am I a soldier of the cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross?
Lord Jesus, You chose me and my judgment is by You.
I pray you will uphold me until my life is through,
Making me, each day, a more faithful soldier of the cross!

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/3/08

Resolve to Survive the Famine

Resolve to Survive the Famine

But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. (Psalm 33:18-22 NLT)

Reverence God – Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Love Him with all you have and are. Thank and praise Him for all of His goodness towards you and His great plans for your life, which includes salvation unto eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Give Him first place in your heart and mind, and let your mouth be filled with His praises as you make an effort not to complain. Pray to Him for wisdom, guidance, strength, and relief for others as well as yourself. Trust in Him at all times and lead others to do the same. Learn His word and hide it in your heart that you might not sin against Him. Be filled constantly with His Holy Spirit and yield to His leading. Lift up the name of Jesus; trumpet His redemptive work. Seek your place in the body of Christ and serve the Lord faithfully.

Educate to Eradicate Waste – Learn to do well. Learn so you can do better, making the most of what you have. Develop new skills that will enhance your life. Learn to make fewer but more meaningful trips using that more expensive gas. Learn to turn your leftovers into new meals whenever possible. Learn to resist impulse buying of stuff you don’t really need and are not going to use. Waste not, want not. Learn to use portion control by learning and exercising self-control. Learn to cut back on nonessential habits or hobbies, which drain your precious and more limited resources. Learn to yield not to temptation from peer pressure, if you don’t have it to spend, you will not spend what you need for something more important, and you are to learn not to feel bad about it. Learn to budget and stick to it. Take advantage of courses or seminars in your community that can help you do more in life and get more out of life.

Sow into Others – Look for people who need help and help them as God makes opportunity and gives resources. A listening ear can go a long way. You may be short on money to give, but can lend a hand to an elderly person or other people in distress. Sound advice and/or encouraging words many times are found to be more helpful than a fistful of dollars. Join with others and really show the unity in community. Carpool to work or to the grocery store. Some families band together to eat-as in sharing materials for meals, cooking, and cleaning duties amongst themselves. Shared gardening can bring people closer together and cut costs by laboring together to produce food to be shared, sold for profit, and/or given as aid to the less fortunate. Businesses and other community entities can collaborate on some joint ventures for greater efficiency and effectiveness. To keep down confusion, discussions should be held upfront regarding expectations and limitations amongst all parties.

Observe the Signs – Tough times increase stress in our loved ones and in us. Stress leads to poor decision making and can lead to unhealthy habits which can be hard to overcome. Poor decision-making can make for increased stress. Increased stress seeks an outlet and sometimes we hold it in to the hurt of our emotional or physical health and/or sometimes we let it out in a way that hurts others who in turn hurt us. Keep yourself as best you can. Have a trusted love one or friend to confide in. Keep yourself physically by eating as healthy as you can, getting some physical exercise, and making time to rest. Have a lot of talks with Jesus, He can heal, help, and give you hope.

Love is the Essential – Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever. Serve one another in love. Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting—and any other commandment—are all summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements. Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 1 Cor 13:4-8; Gal 5:13; Rom 13:8-10; Rom 12:9-10 (NLT)

Value Life – Appreciate yourself and others as the very blessed creation of God-made in His image and likeness. Be glad about the blessings that you have received from God-your life, family, and possessions-however little or much they may be- be grateful. Acknowledge the good in others and seek their wellbeing, for if you do, God will bless you accordingly. Remember that God, who is divine, exalted, flawless, and glorious without end, invested Himself in you. You may not think much of yourself, and you should have a humble estimation of who you are and what you can do, but God thought about you and so He formed you and brought you forth from your mother’s womb. In His eyes, you are somebody, treasure that!!!

Enjoy the Moment – Enjoy your time in this life for however sweet your times may be. There is a bright side to every dark situation, if we choose to believe it. No matter what happens believers have faith, that God is working things out for their good. Some situations we live through, certainly don’t feel good to us, but somewhere in it, there is good for us. A songwriter said it best, “We’ll understand it better by and by.” Decide to rejoice in each day no matter what you have going on just as the Psalmist did, when He said, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Look ever to Jesus, Love deeply, Live well, and Laugh, when the moment is right.

With the love of Christ towards you,

Larry D. Reed, Sr.
Servant of the Lasting, Living, Loving God

I Owe Jesus
6/23/08

Into the Abyss

Into the Abyss

It is sad to behold our steady spiral into the abyss
To witness humanity in wretchedness, wandering amiss

Each day is becoming as dark as the night
We grope in the daytime, dimmed eyes, distorted sight

Many savor the darkness, supposing it is new light
Evil is the new good and wrong, the new-found right

Addiction to self is sullying what we could be
Anarchy, apathy are advancing, annihilating our would-be

Our broken compass is ever ushering us down
To the depths of delusion, despair, wherein men drown

We waywardly worship status and stuff, to our own hurt
To seize more we step on principle and people like dirt

Truth, to most, is only relative, not in anyway absolute
What is right in one’s own eyes is the unsound substitute

Shamefully, in this, the visible church has become complicit
Dramatized diluted oratory of men’s ideas is what crowds solicit

People who hold sincerely to God’s truth, we publicly demonize
While those who perilously preach for profit, we openly, idolize

The true called out community, at times, is hard to discern
The Christ-like way of life is no longer of utmost concern

We are glad, just to get our orchestrated worship and praise on
Folks falter within feet of the church doorstep, while we carry-on

We faintheartedly fear fleshly men, making them our god
We have lost the fear of our Maker, our Master-Almighty God

Father, we are weighed down by sin, headed in the wrong direction
Forgive and renew us that we may exalt You with holy affection

Thank You for Your Son sent to save us, dying, taking our place
Jesus, despite the troubling times, I am grateful that those who trust in
You shall be upheld, ascend to You, thanks to Your amazing grace

But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. (Matthew 24:8-14 NLT)

RevLDReed
I Owe Jesus
6/19/08

Sanctified Soul Music

Sanctified Soul Music

To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:19c

Just another day that my Lord, has kept me. Just another day that I've been in my Savior’s care.

With these words, it is my sincere belief that the prophet Habakkuk showed that music can spring forth from anyone’s life. These are the last words in a chapter that started as a prayer and ended in praise. Then, He seemingly, with the last statement, knew that a person’s spoken words put in the musically gifted ears, hands, and heart of the right individual could be put to music.

Your life, too, has great musical potential, for we all have a wealth of experiences from our lives to draw from. The experiences of life give birth to music.

You here today may have a meaningful message in song within you that could possibly sell a million cd’s based merely on the things that you have witnessed and lived through. To you, it may not have rhyme or rhythm, but you need to know that it has reason and the reason is contained in the lyrics and your lyrics are derived directly from your living testimony.

People have found that their personal ‘strugglin’ and ‘strainin’ can squeeze a song or two from the storehouse of their soul’s experiences. Trials and tribulations can trigger one to exhale a gospel track from the deep treasures of one’s inner sanctum-the very core of a person’s being.

There was a Christian man who was away from home and his pregnant wife, who received a telegram that was very urgent. The telegram contained a simple message, “your wife just died.” She died but gave birth to a newborn son. When the man made it home to be with his baby boy and grieve for his wife, the child also died the night that he returned. The man buried his wife and son in the same coffin. He then isolated himself within his apartment. He felt that God had been unfair to him. A friend came by to visit on the following Saturday and encouraged him to get out. He led him to a local music school and left him alone in a room with a piano. As he sat at the piano perusing the keys, soul peace came unto him and the Lord began to download a musical masterpiece from on high into his spirit and as he tickled the piano keys these words flowed up and out:

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.

That man was Thomas Dorsey, considered a father of modern gospel music. This song has touched the souls of millions around the world. It came from within one believing man’s grief-stricken soul, who felt God had done him wrong but he found out that the Lord is close to those who are brokenhearted and able to lead them through the deepest grief of their darkest night in their lowest valley of their life. Mr. Dorsey also wrote the “Lord Will Make A Way Somehow.” These songs are sanctified soul music.

If you have ever been down in the valley weighed down with a truckload of troubles and trials, but the Lord was there with you and He brought you through and He brought you out then you got a recipe to make some sweet sanctified soul music that can satisfy some spiritually hungry ears of those with hurting hearts, and burdened spirits. The redeemed of the Lord have something to say and they can say it in song.

When our ancestors endured their soul’s long and dark night, shedding countless tears from the tragedy of their captivities’ hundreds of years, they were perked up within their plight when they tuned lyrics from the rich treasury built up by the blows that were meant to beat them down.

They knew they were poor pilgrims of sorrow and felt tossed in this world alone. But, they heard of a city called Heaven and they started to make it home. Sometimes they would feel discouraged and feel their work was in vain, but then the Holy Spirit would revive their soul once again. Then, they would sing sanctified soul music in hope even in the midst of hopeless circumstances.

We 'll soon be free,
We 'll soon be free,
We 'll soon be free,
When de Lord will call us home.
My brudder, how long,
My brudder, how long,
My brudder, how long,
'Fore we done sufferin' here?
It won't be long (Thrice.)
'Fore de Lord will call us home.
We 'll walk de miry road (Thrice.)
Where pleasure never dies.
We 'll walk de golden street (Thrice.)
Where pleasure never dies.
My brudder, how long (Thrice.)
'Fore we done sufferin' here?
We 'll soon be free (Thrice.)
When Jesus sets me free.
We 'll fight for liberty (Thrice.)
When de Lord will call us home.

Sanctified soul music comes not just from our trouble, but also from our triumphs; not just from our pain but also bursts forth from pure praise from the joy of experiencing God’s saving grace.

Moses, the man of God exploded with sanctified soul music manifested in joyful praise in seeing the salvation of the Lord for “the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” But, their enemies perished in the sea.

Exodus chapter 15 records a song that Moses and the children of Israel sang from the joy that bubbled up from within them. Hearken to a portion of their praise, “saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.”

We live in an era of gospel music that prides itself on manufacturing praise and worship songs. King David ought to get some credit for being a praise and worship pioneer.

There may not ever be any sanctified soul singer such as the man whom God, Himself, declared to be a man after His own heart. Since he came before us and we are able to witness to the evidence for the book of Psalms is a book composed of prophetic praise and worship songs, and many were birthed directly out of David’s personal tragedies, triumphs, and tenacious tendency to transmit glory to God.

David wrote from his lows of being on the run from Saul and falling into personal sin to the highs of being crowned king and just totally adoring the good God of creation and the source of all joy and blessings. Solomon, David’s son, had his own lyrics published too.

Dr Isaac Watts, who wrote “Joy to the World”, “Am I a Soldier of the Cross”, “Come We That Love the Lord”, “We’re Marching to Zion” and “When I Can Read My Title Clear” is attributed with the statement, “Ministers are to cultivate gifts of preaching and prayer through study and diligence; they ought also to cultivate the capacity of composing spiritual songs and exercise it along with the other parts of the worship, preaching and prayer”

There are still modern day melody makers who are skillful in the art of making sanctified soul music. Churches are writing and composing not only lyrics for their choirs and their drama departments but the musical arrangements to go with them. Isn’t the Lord all right.

Let us not hold so closely to the old standards that we overlook and too quickly condemn a modern standard for a new generation that is certified and sanctified from the Lord on high. What God has cleansed, that call thou not common or unclean.

All that is necessary for sanctified soul music is that the words of our mouth, and the meditation of our heart, be acceptable in God’s sight. With these in order, you and your church choir can make some sanctified soul music.

The Psalmist of Psalms 104:33-34 proclaims, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.”
Allow me to be a little lyrically inclined:

I’ve been up
And I’ve been down
But I never turned around
The Lord’s been good to me

I’ve been in
And I’ve been out
And I still got a reason to shout
The Lord’s been good to me

They’ve scandalized my name
But I’m going on in Jesus Name
Because He’s been good to me

Amen – So Be It

Larry D. Reed, Sr.
I Owe Jesus
Submitted this day Wednesday, May 28, 2008