IN JESUS CHRIST WE FIND
 
In Jesus Christ the Lord we find 
Salvation, joy, and peace of mind; 
All that was lost because of sin 
Is ours once more when born again. 
--J.E.G
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LOOK UP (APPRECIATE)! 
 
Look up when all seems down. 
Look up, then all around. 
 
 Your lot is not that bad. 
One, two; three, four; now add. 
 
You are among the blest. 
Your thoughts were just in jest
 
Thank God for blessings great.
Look up (appreciate)! 
--J.E.G. 
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UP WITH IT!
 
Get up when you are feeling down;
Don't just lie there to sulk and frown;
Take charge as master of your fate;
With God you're more than second rate.
 
Up with a smile and greet the sun;
Look up, take hold, and get things done;
Each day awaits its use for good;
Up, up with it; do what you should!
--J.E.G
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I SAW HIM STANDING THERE
(Or, The Old Gospel Preachers)
 
I saw him standing there, this man of God,
Erect and firm, although his hair was gray.
The passing years had come and they had gone
To leave the weaker men along the way.
 
I saw him standing there, his face was fixed,
And he was unafraid to preach the Word.
Although the times had changed so many things,
His message was the same for those who heard.
 
I saw him standing straight and him him preach
That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
He preached against men's sins with force and might,
Then called to one and all with pleading nod.
 
I heard him preach salvation through the blood,
The message many need to hear today;
How sinners must believe, and then repent;
And turn to be baptized the Bible way.
 
I heard him preach about the church of Christ,
The precious bride for which our Savior died,
As he condemned the sects of men as sin,
And called on all to give up party pride.
 
I thank the Lord for this, a stalwart man,
Whose message had that old familiar ring
Of the apostles' doctrine through and through,
And this to me was such a noble thing.
 
I saw him standing there, this man of God,
His life as faithful as the day is long.
It gave me courage that I needed most,
And I felt inspiration to be strong.
--J.E.G
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UPON REACHING THE SUMMIT
 
When one has reached the summit of his life,
He may be tired and weary from the climb;
But from the vantage point above the strife
His life to him now seems almost a rhyme. 
 
He now can see each winding path he took
To reach this high and panoramic view,
And with each long and contemplative look
He sees that which before he would eschew.
 
As varied thoughts and moods engage his mind,
He is content, and calm, and feels tranquil;
But he is pleased to leave it all behind,
And there beyond the heights descend the hill.
--J.E.G
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THE IMAGE OF HIS SON
 
When we present ourselves to God subdued, 
We are ready then to find ourselves renewed; 
A life laid out by wise design awaits, 
All which God takes and now facilitates; 
He forms in us the image of His Son, 
And living now for him we are as one. 
--J.E.G. 
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TRUST IN GOD
 
There is so much that we don’t understand;
So wisely let us leave it in God’s Hand,
The One who knows the ending from the start
And what resides in each and every heart.
 
God can take that which seems so very bad
And make it be in time with goodness clad;
That which was bad had only seemed that way,
And what we thought was night brought on the day.
 
So never let a child of God despair,
But simply trust and leave it in His care;
God sees it all, eternal in its scope;
So trust in Him and live each day in hope.
--J.E.G
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HAVE YOU LEARNED TO LIVE?
 
If always you are eager to receive,
But know not what it is to give, 
Regardless what you say that you believe, 
You still have yet to learn to live. 
--J.E.G
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WHEN IT'S TIME 
TO PUT IT IN REVERSE 
 
When things begin to go from bad to worse, 
It's time for us to put it in reverse; 
It's better then to turn our boat around 
Than rowing on ahead to run aground. 
 
Some fools rush on where angels fear to tread;
No fear, but now they are among the dead; 
It's better that we flee temptation strong 
Than wait, or hesitate, then do the wrong. 
 
Now let us wisely watch our steps below, 
Not rushing on ahead, but going slow; 
Our Enemy, who is alive and well, 
Would like to make our path a road to hell. 
--J.E.G
 
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HOLD FAST! PRESS ON! 
 
It has been said 
The darkest hour comes right before the dawn. 
It's likewise true 
The hardest battle's fought before the vict'ry's won. 
 
So don't despair if night seems dark and battle's long; 
The sun shines bright, 
And battle's din is but prelude to vict'ry's song; 
Hold fast! press on!
--J.E.G. 
 
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TAKE A STAND--BE GOD'S MAN!
 
If you really want to preach and be God's man 
Then God requires of you to take a stand 
For truth, for Christ, his church and right, and their defense; 
Also the wrong you are to be against. 
 
You are to preach and teach the fullness of God's plan, 
Not tone it down so as to make it bland; 
And in the preaching of the cross take no offense; 
There's nothing like a preacher on the fence. 
 
The world could not withstand the truth of God's command 
If all would take their stand and be God's man; 
But compromise, pretense? There is a consequence! 
There's nothing like a preacher on the fence! 
--J.E.G.
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THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE 
(Psalms 118:22-24) 
 
This is the day the Lord has made; 
Rejoice and in it be ye glad; 
The Stone the builders hath mislaid 
Has not the corner left unclad. 
 
Rejoice on this the first of days; 
The tomb of Christ is found ajar; 
Come see where Christ the Savior lay; 
Behold the empty tomb afar.
 
Rejoice the first day of each week 
In memory of this victory great; 
Around his table let us meet; 
Death, resurrection, to partake. 
--J.E.G.
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MISTER COMPROMISER
 
Mister Compromiser, that is his name; 
The art of pleasing men involves his game;
To take a stand for truth he knows not how;
Beliefs that are his own he won't avow. 
 
Then to decide which way he finally goes 
He checks the wind to see which way it blows; 
For him to stand alone would never do 
Lest he appear to all a varied hue. 
 
A bone in back he does not seem to have, 
And thus to take a stand it won't allow; 
A man of "yes" it seems he'll always be, 
For on his own he dare not try to see. 
 
The praise of men he wants at any cost, 
Although in seeking such the truth is lost; 
It makes no sense to think and act like this 
And in the sight of God be found amiss.
--J.E.G.
 
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JEHOVAH ELOHIM
 
Jehovah Elohim, that is His Holy Name;
The God of all most High from age to age the same;
The El Shaddai, Almighty in Eternal Power,
By Whom we live and are sustained with life each hour.
¾J.E.G.
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O CHURCH, SHAPE UP! STAND UP! 
SPEAK UP!
 
A church once stood for truth and right;
To have it preached was its delight;
But things today aren’t quite the same;
Alas! Has all gone down the drain?
 
That church now seems an empty shell;
Poured out is truth it would not tell;
Its message now has lost its ring,
As with the world it has its fling.
 
 O church, shape up! And be yourself;
Stand up, speak up, for we’re not deaf;
Again herald forth the gospel sound;
The word of truth and right expound.
¾J.E.G.
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GIVE YOURSELF A SHOVE
 
When everything seems down and out---
That's not the time to sit and pout!
It's time to look to God above,
Then turn and give yourself a shove.
 
The LORD is still in charge of all;
Get up and stand before Him tall.
In Him know not the word defeat
When Life can be both full and sweet.
---J.E.G.
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x
AND WHO ARE THESE?
x
Who are these motley ones clothed in such gorgeous robes of spotless white?
Who are these that surge forth upon the streets of gold in wild delight?
At first it seems they’re out of place, unfit, as if they don’t belong;
As angels step aside somewhat aghast, they merge—a happy throng!
Just who are these that dare to stand before the Mighty God of all?
To praise His Holy Name (Amen!), and then before Him prostrate fall?
They’re earthly creatures, born again, children of Adam’s fallen race;
Saved forever by Jesus Christ, his precious blood, through God’s amazing grace!
 --J.E.G.
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x
IF MONEY TALKED
x
If money talked, what would it say?
Serve me, and I will be your pay;
There’s nothing money cannot buy;
So let your heart aspire and sigh.
Become my slave by day and night;
I’ll make you cheat and steal and fight;
To get ahead, that is your goal;
Just reach and grasp to get it all.
And more than that, I’ll be your god;
But this may seem a little odd
For one that’s short in deity;
But that is what you’ve made of me.
---J.E.G.
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FACES
x
Some faces that we see are long;
Then not a few are round;
Some faces may convey a song,
While others only frown.
x
Some faces are freckle covered;
Some have a bushy top;
Some faces are in makeup smothered,
And thus would stop a clock.
x
Some faces harbor staring eyes;
Then some support a nose;
Some faces register their surprise,
Show smiling teeth in rows.
x
Some faces look like their mother’s,
While others says it’s dad;
Some faces have ugly brothers;
Then some are not that bad.
x
Some faces bear the mark of pain;
Others the guilt of sin;
But with all faces it’s the same;
We must be born again.
--J.E.G
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THAT WHICH WE CANNOT PAY
x
If we put off until tomorrow
That which we should have done today,
And from the future try to borrow
To have more time for "fun and play,"
It will but bring regret and sorrow
And leave our world in disarray
When we at last are made to know
That which we owe we cannot pay.
--J.E.G.
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THE KIND OF LIFE TO LIVE
x
Trust in the Lord and do that which is good,
And live a life of love and brotherhood;
A better way to live one will not find,
A life that’s right with God and all mankind.
--J.E.G.
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YOU ARE UNIQUELY YOU
x
Behold, you are uniquely you—
Someone special, distinct, and new.
Therefore, your self do not disparage;
Shine through, and be just what you are.
x
God made of you one of a kind;
Aspire, press on, with this in mind.
Always through life to self be true,
And thus fulfill God’s will as you.
--J.E.G.
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TheSwordANDStaff