When Jesus had been beaten, scorned and mocked

Then hung upon the cruel and rugged cross,

He saw the crowd and soldiers as they flocked,

Those naive to this implicated loss.

Some did not know the evil they performed

To crucify the perfect Lamb of God;

So ignorant the prophesies performed,

They did what they were told with just a nod,

And even on the cross compassion swelled

Within the Savior’s faintly beating heart;

He called His Father where in Heaven dwelled:

Forgive them, they are unaware their part.

Such love that Jesus had unto the end

To intercede as our eternal Friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Then said Jesus,

Father,

forgive them;

for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Luke 23:34 KJV

A business man will tell you in a flash

The bottom line is profit for success.

Without this benefit his store will crash,

Then customers and workers would distress.

What profit will it be upon a man

To gain the world but lose his very soul?

He’s here because his Maker has a plan:

To save the world through Jesus is His goal.

If you take all the money on the Earth

And stack it to the sky like Babylon,

You could not climb to Heaven with its worth;

But give your life to Christ and you’ll be drawn.

The key to your success rose from the dead.

He calls you now to eat the broken bread.

~~~~~~~~~~~

For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:36 KJV

Your sinful life has made you blind from birth,

A stumbling clown pretending to have sight.

Until you’re touched by Christ you roam the earth,

With arms outstretched you can’t imagine light.

Then Jesus comes, the perfect Lamb of God,

His Spirit mixed with dirt and turned to clay;

He puts it on your eyes with gentle prod,

And bids you go and wash it all away.

And when you do the darkness turns to light!

You’re so transformed you won’t be recognized.

Your friends will ask you how you gained your sight,

And you will say His name so undisguised.

He’s standing here right now to touch your heart,

And when He does you’ll see He won’t depart.

~~~~~~~~~~~

¹⁰ Therefore they asked him,

“Then how were your eyes opened?”

¹¹ He answered and said,

A man that is called Jesus made clay,

and anointed mine eyes,

and said…

Though all my wealth be filched by criminals,

My life be threatened by a killer’s sword;

Though I be chained against a pirate’s hulls,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

Though famine strikes my crop from year to year,

My business looted by a passing horde;

Though all my friends start treating me severe,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

Though pain may wrack my body night and day,

My reputation ruined, my face abhorred;

Though cancer eats my skin and bones away,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

The God of my salvation will I praise!

He set me free and set my heart ablaze!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18 KJV

Let not the fear of men hold back your tongue

When telling of your Savior, Christ the King.

The world’s not like your church where hynms are sung;

Its look is harsh, its words like bees will sting.

Be not afraid, but speak both bold and true;

With Jesus by your side He’ll see you through,

And even if they hold a knife to you,

With your last breath forgive them what they do.

Within a crowd there will be one to save,

But if you don’t speak up they may not hear.

The world may put your body in the grave;

The gospel, though, will never disappear.

Though Satan’s at your door and you feel weak,

The Savior’s here with you – stand up and speak!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,

Be not afraid, but speak,

and hold not thy peace

To follow Jesus, be prepared to die,

And more than that, to suffer pain and hate,

To see both wealth and health then pass you by,

To live with disrespect from small and great.

You can’t come after Christ and think of you;

Both prayer and service must fill up your day,

And don’t just say you will, but see it through.

You can’t walk halfway there; go all the way.

If you think taking up your cross is less,

Then you must think that Jesus compromised.

When God says ‘Follow Me,’ don’t second guess;

Take up your cross and don’t look so surprised.

Remember in whose steps you’re following;

To have your fill of love, start swallowing.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 KJV

An angry disposition is unwise;

It’s easy to achieve and hard to lose,

And always seems to linger in disguise

To take away the feelings you might choose.

If you are quick to anger learn to pray,

For something boils within and won’t let go,

And if you bare your soul to God today

You’ll get the aid you need to make wrath slow.

The Lord may lead you to a wiser friend

Who listens with a heart that’s God inclined;

Perhaps a counselor to help you mend,

To find the root of rage that’s had you blind.

If you stay angry, take it to the Lord;

His love will heal you and get peace restored.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:

for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV

Before the world, our Savior was the Word;

Both God and with God, Logos was and is,

Who with His voice the new born heavens stirred,

And all creation rightfully is His.

We cannot scarce imagine this at all,

But God Himself came down and walked the earth,

To save us from the curse of Adam’s fall;

The Word as flesh was perfect from His birth.

How wonderful that God did love us SO

That He BE-came a man, this Word divine!

He sacrificed Himself so all would know

Just how to be the branch with He the vine.

Now, in the first beginning was the Word.

With God and God Himself, the Word is heard.

~~~~~~~~~~~

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

John 1:1 KJV

My Savior lives! Yes, my Redeemer lives!

You can’t deny it when He touches you!

Reach out to Jesus; He your sin forgives!
Each day you walk with Him you’ll know it’s true!
Descended from our Father Christ became
Equipped to be a servant unto death.
Embrace the Savior now – He knows your name.
Make Jesus your Redeemer with your breath.
E‘en though the worms may feast upon your flesh,
Rejoice! You will be resurrected soon.

Live now for Christ; when He returns afresh
In glory, you’ll arise and then commune!
Victorious in Jesus, have no fear!
Escape the bonds of death, your Savior’s here!
Surrender all to Him right now, my dear.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

²⁵ For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latterday upon the earth:

²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body,