I have been young and now I am old,
I oft failed and was out in the cold.
I tasted the bitter and of the sweet,
I knew of success as well as defeat.
Love touched my heart but so did hate,
I took my chance and played with fate.
Through it all I’ve learned one thing,
Earthly pleasures will not joy bring.
God alone can fill one’s empty heart,
To think otherwise is not very smart.
So listen well and take heed dear one,
Trust in God’s Mercy thru His own Son.
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer,
I write by the Spirit as I have heard,
Sheep delight in the soul food I offer,
While goats rant I am sick and absurd.
But our God is no respecter of persons,
He wisely chooses whomsoever He will,
So that He alone receives all the glory,
While His enemies are silenced and still.
Our God delights in using small things,
Yes, even a crazy old fool such as I be,
But knowing it’s His Spirit working in us,
Alas, I can conclude there is no mystery.
Once there was a Prophet named Jeremiah,
That boy loved his people so very deep,
But when that young lad began to prophesy,
They told him “Don’t you dare make a peep!”
You see, Jeremiah was the Lord’s true seer,
Not like false prophets politicians love,
So once that poor boy gave the Lord’s Word,
The people’s push soon turned into shove.
Those fools accused him of being a traitor,
“How unpatriotic!” they all cried out loud,
From there the situation only grew worse,
As angry murmurs spread throughout the crowd.
They were so happy with their false priests,
Thus they claimed Jer’s words were not true,
Next, they shoved God’s Prophet into prison,
Now what was dear Jeremiah supposed to do?
But the ire of nonbelievers was yet kindled,
The prison court simply would not suffice,
So full of rage they threw him in a mud pit,
By now poor Jeremiah wasn’t feeling too nice.
But one eunuch believed in God’s true Prophet,
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian was that man’s name,
He approached the king and pleaded for mercy,
And thus thirty helpful men to Jeremiah came.
You may already know the end of this story,
Prophet Jeremiah was vindicated by the Lord,
About forty years after he began prophesying,
Nebuchadnezzar arrived with a terrible sword.
They say that with age also comes wisdom,
But I must wonder if that is really so true,
It seems that my sins just keep on piling up,
Oh dear Lord, just what am I supposed to do?
But truthfully speaking, our God is so smart,
He knows what we need each step of the way,
For each time we fall, it breaks our pride,
So that we lean on what His Word has to say.
Crushed by the weight of all of our mistakes,
We at last humbly prostrate before our King,
He extends His Grace as was part of His plan,
Because Jesus Christ already did everything.
Lord, protect your frontline soldiers,
Who daily face the enemy’s great ire,
Guard them safe from the terrible heat,
All snares and Satan’s darts of fire.
Keep your servants safe from any harm,
Let them not be touched by the flame,
As they advance the Kingdom of Heaven,
And proclaim Salvation in Your Name.
Give them boldness to speak the truth,
And wisdom to answer every naysayer,
Help them to wield their strong sword,
With which to defeat the soul slayer.
Bestow upon them Gifts of the Spirit,
Fill them with your patience and love,
Assist them in guiding the lost sheep,
To your great Home in Heaven above.
