Tag: Redemption

Salvation: Come One and All

The intrinsic nature of God is light, life and love
So that God chose to send His Son from above
To become one with humanity in His identity
So that we might be united to Him in infinity,
And the desire of God is that all be redeemed
And no one be condemned for all of eternity;
Ah! This is an expression of His constitution
So that, though some might not be redeemed,
It is not His conviction to will condemnation;
Salvation is a door thrown wide open
On the floor of this darkened world
Into which we have all been hurled;
It is left to people to choose any given day whom
They shall believe and serve and receive ransom
From darkness, sin, death if they come to Christ;
God does not shut the door to any who comes,
Though some may not but He fought for salvation
For this world He so loves from heaven above!
And this is the Good News for everyone,
Not just some select few who do come!
God is love in His nature and exceedingly merciful,
Who invites everyone to drink from the river of life,
Ending their strife in uniting themselves to Him
By the power of His Spirit, through Jesus the Christ!
Amen and Amen.

Just Another Chance

So many mistakes along the way,
So many foibles in all of my days;
Many opportunities tossed away
That what else is there but to say,

Lord, have mercy on me and give me another chance;
Though I don’t deserve it, give me strength to dance;
Lord, this time around I’ll heed your divine warning;
Just let me see another morning … without mourning

So many, many times only to fall,
So many times failing God’s call;
So many days never to even try
That what else is there but to cry,

Lord, have mercy on me and give me another chance;
Though I don’t deserve it, give me strength to dance;
Lord, this time around I’ll heed your divine warning;
Just let me see another morning … without mourning

Just let me see another morning … without mourning;
Though I don’t deserve it, give me strength to dance;
Lord, have mercy on me and give me another chance
Just let me see another morning … without mourning

Fear Not, I Am Near

Weary of walking down this lonesome road
I see church steeples rise high into blue sky
And wonder why I can’t go in to begin again
But then I hear your strong, gentle voice . . .

Don’t be afraid; I’m right beside you to guide you,
To protect you even as I continue to perfect you;
Do not give in to fear, for I Am near . . . I Am near

Powers are seated in high places unreachable
And I’m standing in stagnant air unbreathable
As I keep beating on so very many shut doors
With my eyes cast down in sorrow to the floor

And how much will my resume pay?
Oh, and what can I do for you today?
And where do I turn to make a way?
Many queries but I hear you say . . .

Don’t be afraid; I’m right beside you to guide you,
To protect you even as I continue to perfect you;
Do not give in to fear, for I Am near . . . I Am near

Weary of walking down this lonesome road
I see church steeples rise high into blue sky
And wonder why I can’t go in to begin again
But then I hear your strong, gentle voice . . .

Don’t be afraid; I’m right beside you to guide you,
To protect you even as I continue to perfect you;
Do not give in to fear, for I Am near . . . I Am near
Do not give in to fear, for I Am near . . . I Am near
Do not give in to fear, for I Am near . . . I Am near

And Now Do the Shades Rise Up To Praise You

Note: I wrote the following in April 2012 and have decided to share it here, more than four years later, because it is still so very appropriate. . . More importantly, perhaps, it is very much part of my life testimony. Please read, enjoy and (hopefully) be blessed.

Knowing and not knowing. Knowledge without understanding. Wisdom trampled beneath the arrogant feet of folly, led by the blind man I was born, groping along the wall, waiting for the next fall. No not a man, not half a man, but only a shade of what I was meant to be, the image-bearer of God, lovingly created in his likeness.

Feeling my way along in the darkness, surrounded by multitudes of blinded men, I was alone existing in my unlife, haunted by numinous dreams of otherworldly communion, struggling to forge hearts out of stone, draw water from desert sands, and cover the night in unseen light born of imagination desperately searching for some façade behind reality.

And I flew in a thousand directions to escape the anguish of my own haunted soul, dreaming worlds and wars, making love and peace in perfectly controlled imagination, writing my own laws and standing high priest in my own holy temple, all as vacuous as the furthest reaches of coldest outer space.

Man by birth … Shade by slow death.

So much less ~ so terribly other ~ than what I was meant to be, and why? And I have fought and scrambled for so many shallow honors and recognitions, for power, prestige and popularity. Vainly do I scurry to fill my life with toys and trinkets, grasping at suave success and material gain, gasping for the breathe of life in the dark shadows of a dying world.

And my heart cry is lifted in the awful realization that apart from the Author of Life there is no life ~ authentic life ~ but that I am and ever shall be wholly destitute. No matter how much I shift and change, no difference how many different parts I play or people I become, I am nothing. I am the Shade.

But now stripped bare, blindfold removed, and all fantasy blown away like thin wisps of lingering smoke. Now awakening to the awakened world, and released from the confines of the medical ward back into the streets of asphalt and concreted buildings, flashing lights and delivery trucks, schools and churches and middle class homes…

Now what? More alive and awake than ever I have been before, I am frightened. What now? Fantasy feels safer, dreams more secure. No matter how agonizingly unrealistic, and no matter how disappointing … how shattered. But I hear the whisper in ancient tone, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’ And so, ‘awake, o sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ And he who has now begun this good work in you is faithful and he himself will bring it to completion, for he came not only to give you life, but life abundantly!”

What else but to bow down in humble adoration and thanksgiving? After all, did the Light not shine to rescue me from Darkness? Did the Voice not speak for me to hear? Was the Story not told to fill my emptiness with Meaning? Did the Arms not open wide to embrace and hold one so alone and forlorn? Did Life not die and rise again that I might die no more, but live? Live?

The great psalmist, David, once asked, “Will you show your wonders to the dead? Will the shades rise up and praise you?” And the answer is given…

Yes, the shades do now rise to praise you! Lord, make me whole.

Alone: The Insanity of Vanity

Sown are the seeds of pride that make you think you can make it on your own;
And so you stride with head held high stifling the sigh of your forlorn heart
Broken apart by the reality that you’re not the strong tree you’ve tried to be
And you can’t even agree within yourself much less three others in your circle;
Your life is but one journal of one mortal, infertile, like one kernel of sea-sand;
And you look around and deep inside know you’re bound for lonely damnation
All because you refuse to bend your knee and bow your head beside your bed,
So you stand tall ‘n grand while shaking and quaking trying to keep your stride,
But you cannot hide your condition and position in life from the all-seeing Eye;
No! You are weak and, like everyone, need to seek help from the only Helper …
Sometimes you can’ make it on your own … In fact, you can never make it alone!
Reach out and let the Spirit teach you to be meek and mild, to seek and be saved;
After all, your vanity is sheer insanity … Allow yourself to be bought and taught
By the only One who can purchase your life, rebirth you and give you new worth!

You Jumped in Front of the Train

You jumped in front of the train;vote
Took a bullet in the brain.
You broke your back,
And left your love in a haversack

You laid your body on the pyre;
Consumed by raging fire.
You took the blame,
And saved me from the flame.

You sheltered me from the storm;
Kept me dry and warm.
You said farewell,
As you hammered in the final nail.

In your eyes the dancing light,
In your breathe the soul takes flight.
In your tears the song sung sweet,
In your heart the heavens beat.

You laid your body on the pyre;
Consumed by raging fire.
You said farewell,
As you hammered in the final nail.

… … … the dancing light and light
… … … and this soul takes flight
… … … songs and songs so sweet
In your heart the very heavens beat.

Note: First published in Stumbling Along the Road to Redemption in 2012 by Jonathan Noble

Amazing God: Sing Alleluia!

O God, how can I begin to praise You and thank You enough?
For all of the blessings You have so graciously bestowed?
How can I sing to You fervently enough, genuinely enough?
You have saved me, even a wretch like me, and I thank You!
You are God
You are Lord
You are King
You are Savior
You are Creator
You are Life-Giver
You are Light
You are Life
You are Love
You are Peace
You are Truth
You are Abba Father, beloved Son, and all-holy Spirit;
Ever one God, world without end. Alleluia! Alleluia!
You, O God, reign eternally and there is none beside You!
What wonder, then, that You have thought of me,
That You have bought me and brought me into Your fold!
Amazing love, indeed! How can it be? Yet it is! Alleluia!
I love You, precious Lord; I love You and sing Alleluia!

Rejoice in You, Rejoicing in Me (Recast)

Rejoice in You, Lord, rejoicing in me;
I once was blind but now I see;
Once did mourn but now I sing
And dance in You in the joy You bring!

So now, take me, mold and shape me,
And make me Your own forever to be!

No life and no love but You alone
Did by Your blood my sins atone;
Amazed I wonder, ‘How can it be?’
And rejoice in You rejoicing in me!

So now, take me, mold and shape me,
And make me Your own forever to be!

You have given me the greater part,
And so I dance and sing in my heart;
My cup here ‘n now below overflows
As by Your Spirit day by day I grow!

So now, take me, mold and shape me,
And make me Your own forever to be!

Note: This is an expansion and recasting of a poem-song I wrote some years ago by the same title.

Simply ‘Thank You’

Because I all too often lack an attitude of gratitude, it is far past time to simply say ‘thank You’ to the Lord God:

Thank You for home and family,gratitude
For smiles and philanthropy;
Thank You for love tokens
And all kind words spoken;
Thank You for the light of day
And the moonlight at night;
Thank You for a galaxy of stars,
For cars and even the bizarre;
Thank You for grass and trees,
For the bass and honey bees;
Thank You for my dear children,
So near to my heart . . .
And such a pivotal part of me!
Thank You, Lord, most of all
For redemption after the Fall,
For without Your full salvation,
There’d be no real gratification;
So thank You and praise You!