What matters most?

When God looks at you, what matters most?

What matters most?

What matters most
Between God and you?
What makes you clean,
turns his face to you?

Is it attending meetings?
When you do the right thing?
Is it the way that you speak
Or the songs that you sing?

Is it times you've repented
Or rituals you keep?
Is it times of faith
Where you've taken that godly leap?

Do these make you better?
In Paul's words, by no means!
When God looks at you
To him, this is how you seem.

What matters most
Is when I look at my son
And see your sin are all covered
Yes, every one!

You stand before me
Pure and spotless like snow
Because Jesus brilliant whiteness
Bridges sin's chasm, so go!

Go out and away
Knowing my Grace is enough
No extras you bolt on
Can trump my son's love.

Don't shackle yourself
With good works you must do
Go out knowing strength
And freedom too.

On Christ, the solid rock you stand
All other ground is sinking sand.
Today, you're made right just through his love,
So leave today, knowing for each and every day,
for you, for all,
he is enough.

What is this gospel?

What is this gospel?

You may ask what's this gospel?
What's this truth I hear?
Isn't this just one of many?
Why shouldn't I fear

Its background motivations
What it really demands?
Isn't this just some new check list?
No, let me take your fears in hand.

This is no mere suggestion
This is no whim of man
This the power of God
Like the power of his right hand

This is the Word of the one
Who flung stars into space
It's the Word of the one
Who chose to take your place

This is the commanding word
That brings light to the dark
This most commanding of words
Is so simple and stark

That sometimes you wonder
Is this all that there is
Could this good news really match up
The the reputation it has?

My friends, I'll say this once
And then time and time again,
This gospel of Jesus Christ's
Is your only foundation

We build upon Christ because nothing else stands
We stand on his word, knowing it's true
We hold out his gospel for it is good news,
The bestest, most wonderful given to you.

With the power to change and transform you today
His word's no philosophy or man's greatest thought
For all those are nothing and we count them as nought

Before the almighty Word and the gospel which he gave
With one simple command,
Repent, believe and be saved.

Today, my friends, His word waits for you
Each verse and chapter cries out who He is
His gospel, his truth, his hope brings you life,
Will you lay aside so called truths to take hold of his?

You won't be disappointed as you oft might have been
This truth can be felt, this truth can be seen

In the people around you transformed by his Grace,
In your heart where love took root when Christ took your place.

So stand here together, my friends and hold on
To the gospel we hear
To the gospel we know
To the good news that promises He won't let go!
To the love of our father who fully forgives
To the God who sees our dying and calls us to live
Take hold of his gospel, let none else take his place,
For nothing compares to his free, saving grace.

Just Jesus

A new poem out of Simon's preach this morning on Galatians 2:12-21 summed up in all we need is: Just Jesus.

Just Jesus

What do I need to accomplish for you Lord?
Just Jesus.
When I come to church, what should I bring?
Just Jesus.
If all else was taken from you today!
If you had nothing at all to give,
You would still have everything you need
Just Jesus.

What kind of person do I need to be?
Just Jesus.
How am I supposed to live up to that?!
Just Jesus.
You can never live up to his perfect example
Instead, God looks at his son and says he is sufficient
And so, all you need, though you've all fallen short is
Just Jesus.

What kind of deeds should I set out to do?
Just Jesus.
What, healing and casting out demons and handing out food?
Just Jesus.
When you choose to follow him with all of your heart
He changes how you live like replacing old parts
So what other people increasingly see is
Just Jesus.

What does God see when he looks at your life?
Just Jesus.
What about my all of my on going sins? No,
Just Jesus.
Don't chain yourself to the old things you did.
Nor chain yourself up to the good things you do.
Stand free of all chains, open handed and hold out
Just Jesus.

Just the gospel, add nothing more

A poem that came out of today's talk on Galatians 2:1-10 where Paul reminds the Galatians that the gospel is Jesus. They need nothing more to be saved.

Just the gospel, add nothing more

You stand here today, surrounded by those
Who it's tempting to go after choices they chose
Are they that important? Is their way the best?
Well here is the question and here is the test,
If their thought's in addition to the hope you've in store,
Think, what do we add to the gospel? Nothing more!

If you feel inferior compared to the greats
If a leader you admire holds such godly state,
Remember, their standing, as yours does too
Does not stand on their words or the things which they do.
But instead, know this truth and this I implore,
Your standing before God is in Christ, nothing more!

When Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia, he wrote
No mere friendly jotting, no bland pally note,
But a firm, stark reminder to the leaders of theirs
About adding to the gospel, a thing God can't bear.
For Jesus stands for us, sufficient for all.
That we might enjoy Him, adding to Christ nothing more.

If someone should say to you, bearing in mind
You are free through his Grace, bought and paid in kind.
That there's something you really ought to do in addition,
Stand back and remember you're his by adoption.
No extras, no greatness, we come to him poor
For his gospel is all that we need, nothing more.

So, yes, there is much that we feel moved to do
For the power of his gospel is transforming you.
To hold him out daily to all on the earth,
To a world that cries loudly, Prove you have worth!
That there is one who stands sufficient himself,
He gives their loves meaning, He gives their souls wealth.

In the midst of your life, know this one thing for sure,
That your heart may stay glad as you grow and mature
May no Jesus extras make you feel insecure
These extras aren't necessary, his gospel assures,
For in goodness we all stand as plain amateurs
You stand before Christ, with full goodness secure
Holding simply the gospel, my friends, nothing more.

What does Grace change?

A new post that came out of Grant's preach opening up Galatians today. Being reminded Grace changes everything!

The best kind of news

A new poem out of worship this morning, being reminded how good the good news of the gospel is and how we all need to keep hearing it!

There is power when you pray

This poem came out of one of our Powerhouse prayer meetings where I was reminded that there is power on our prayers because it's God we pray to!

The Woman and I

This poem came out of a word someone brought at church about the woman Jesus met at the well. The truth is, you and I are that woman and Jesus comes to us.

Through the power of my spirit

A poem that came out of a talk at a regional Advance churches meeting on the power of the Holy Spirit and how vital it is if we want to plant and grow churches.