Moving at the Speed of Love

Joel 2:12 - “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
 
Repent! Repent! Repent! Repent! Repent!
The day of Christ’s return is even nigh,
And you sit there in all your sin content;
The moment comes and then will pass you by!
Don’t think with belly full you are immune!
Your idle laughter mocks the face of God!
Throw ash upon your head and fast and swoon,
And weep until your tears run deep and broad!
Repent with all sincerity and turn
Into the open arms of One who loves you so!
Seek first the King of Heaven – ache and yearn!
With fasting, weeping, mourning – now let go!
            This may be your last chance to turn around!
            Repent before that fateful trumpet sound!

Matthew 13:31-32 - Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
 
When you claim Jesus as your Lord and King,
Surrendering your all to Him alone,
Believing that for you He took death’s sting
And brings you from the cross to Heaven’s throne.
A Godly love is planted in your core:
The presence of the Savior lives in you.
A new relationship forevermore
Through Holy Spirit’s revelation true.
As you obey the guidance of His word
In scripture and in prayer you will mature
Into the image of the Son conferred;
You’ll see yourself as He does: bright and pure.
            The blood of Jesus waters spirit’s seed
            And grows into a fruitful tree indeed.

Psalm 143:8 - Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
 
Each morning give me ears to hear the sound
Of Your pure loving kindness in my heart.
You always call me to You to be drowned
Within the living water You impart.
I trust You with my mind, my life, my all;
In everything I give this day to You.
Instruct me in each step both great and small
For I believe You’ll lead me straight and true.
I will not fear whatever this day brings,
Your gentle whisper guides me through the day.
No matter what may come, to You I cling;
You never leave my side or lead astray.
            I lift my soul to You, Lord, here’s my hand;
            You’re in control and have my whole day planned.

James 4:6 – Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Do not resist the proud; you cannot win.
Don’t argue, fight, cajole or use your wits.
It’s useless even when the pride’s within;
Don’t even try, you should just call it quits.
You struggle with a spirit that’s a pro.
Remember, Satan’s pride cost him his crown.
Here only God above can strike the blow
Resisting, beating all that’s pride-full down.
Fall on your knees to Abba, let it go,
For there’s no room for pride before the throne.
Humility is all that’s left to show.
When God resists the proud His grace is known.
            Let God remove all pride where it may lie.
            Stay close to Him, and only Him rely.

Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 
Throughout our lives we buy into the truths
Espoused by those who claim to know the Lord.
They shout their wares from steeples on the roofs
And show small pearls of wisdom to the horde.
We gather everything that we have learned
And think we have the total wealth of God,
But then one day by revelation yearned
The essence of our Savior leaves us awed.
Oh, only in the heart of Christ you find
That one true pearl of wisdom worth it all!
Give all you have in spirit, body, mind,
Take up His cross and follow His plain call.
            Here lies the mystery for what it’s worth:
            He died for you. In faith you’ll find new birth.

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 
If you believe in Jesus you become
A citizen of Heaven, home of God.
But while you live on earth you still succumb
To all of its distractions and façade.
Don’t be so double-minded that you fail
To know the will of God, the King of all.
Instead renew your mind to higher scale
Through study of the word, in prayer recall.
No longer of this world, the language now
That you must learn is that of Heaven’s voice,
And once it’s in your head you will know how
To keep your mind on Him, His will allow.
            Now be transformed, my child, renew your mind
            To think and speak and be like Christ defined.

John 2:24 - But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men
 
The miracles that Jesus did were famed
Throughout the land from all who heard of Him;
The word was spread Messiah now was named
To liberate the nation’s hope once grim.
But He knew in the heart of every man,
That many sought to free themselves from Rome;
He’d come to do the will of God’s own plan,
To free their souls and not their earthly home.
Whatever your desire, Jesus knows;
He lives within your being through and through.
As you become like Him, the hopes you chose
Conform unto the Father’s hope through you.
            Christ won’t commit to you outside God’s will.
            Commit yourself to Him; with love you will.

Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 
Within the corporate body of the church,
We serve and work as one before the Lord,
And should a member trip and start to lurch,
The rest need come in aide with one accord.
We bear each other’s burdens as our own,
For we ought love our neighbor as ourself.
No matter what we have, it’s all on loan
From no one less to us than God Himself.
This does not mean you lift the weight of death,
For let the dead take care of its own kind.
Pray to the Lord with Spirit as your breath;
He’ll tell you when to loose and when to bind.
            There is no burden when you share the load;
            In love you help your brother down the road.

Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
 
This morning dedicate your life to Christ,
For without Him you’d have no life at all.
You’ll never match the things He sacrificed,
And all He did for you both great and small.
The things you say and do, do in Christ’s name
With love and gratitude to God on high;
Your conscious faithfulness in peace will frame
The truth of Jesus as it does apply.
You’re forming in the image of the Son;
Your words and deeds are turning into His.
Here in the speed of love it’s not undone,
And grows into the essence that He Is.
            Each moment keep the Savior in your mind;
            Give all you Have to Him, and Him you’ll find.

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
 
The peace of God, where understanding fails
Removes all anxious thoughts and fearful heart.
The love of Christ replaces worry’s scales
And makes His home in you to ne’er depart.
Lean on His every word, call out His name,
For God our Father seeks relationship.
Your prayers and supplications feed the flame;
With gratitude you form a fellowship.
Surrender all your cares, your trials and woes
Where on the cross those weights already lie
And rest unburdened in His pure repose
While all the world’s afflictions pass you by.
            You cannot understand God’s perfect peace.
            Believe this, though: you are His masterpiece.