Consecration

by Frank P. Nickel

Lord, I want to qualify
for your “Well done!” when I die,
letting others see that I
LOVE the living Christ!

Let me always prove I’m true,
filled with grace and knowledge, too,
so by what I say and do,
SHOW the living Christ!

Let me shun the praise of man,
keeping low—by grace I can—
walking humbly by Your plan,
PRAISE the living Christ!

Not for earthly gain or ease,
or to sail the seven seas,
but by conquest on my knees,
CROWN the living Christ!

Oh, for pow’r to win the lost,
win them now whate’er the cost,
watching, praying at my post,
SERVE the living Christ!

May I not procrastinate
and in witnessing be late,
but with souls of dreadful fate
SHARE the living Christ!

He’s the lamb, He came to save,
willingly His life He gave,
rose in triumph from the grave,
HE’S THE LIVING CHRIST!

Published as Poem #17 in Contemporary Psalms

(c) 1975, Radiant Light Enterprises

Picture: depositphotos.com #82612402, standard license

God or Mammon?

“Ye cannot serve God and mammon,”
’tis a simply stated truth.
Few there are who know its import
should be learned in days of youth.

Oft ’tis said, “Almighty dollar,”
friend of mine, let’s get it straight:
only God is the Almighty;
nothing else as such can rate.

Money is a useful servant
when controlled with limits known;
but becomes a vicious tyrant
when exalted to the throne.

Love of money—we behold it,
of all evil, ’tis the root;
in the ranks of honest laborers—
not just robbers with their loot.

It’s not hard to worship money
and the things which it will buy.
Once we formulate a pattern,
that’s the way we’ll live and die.

Money cannot buy fulfillment,
money cannot purchase peace,
money cannot grant us pardon,
or secure our soul’s release.

Money cannot grant extension
of our days and precious breath.
Love of money well may damn us
to an insane mind and death.

“If the Son therefore, shall free you,
ye shall then be free indeed.”
Christ alone must be our Master,
He alone can meet our need.

fpn/undated



Picture: depositphotos.com #92868268, standard license

Serve the Lord with Gladness (Psalm 100)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands;
serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before His presence with the singing of songs;
serve the Lord with gladness.
Know ye that the Lord, that the Lord is God.
It is He that made us and not we our selves;
serve the Lord with gladness,
serve the Lord with gladness,
make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands;
serve the Lord with gladness.
For we are His people, of His pasture the sheep;
serve the Lord with gladness.
Enter with thanksgiving, oh, enter ye His gates;
Come, oh, come into His courts, into His courts with praise.
Serve the Lord with gladness,
serve the Lord with gladness,
make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands;
serve the Lord with gladness.
Be ye thankful unto Him and bless His holy name;
serve the Lord with gladness.
Everlasting is His mercy, yes, the Lord is good
and His truth to ev’ry generation shall endure;
serve the Lord with gladness,
serve the Lord with gladness,
make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

by Frank P. Nickel, 1965
This is song #27 in "Sing and Give Thanks"
Contact Joyce for a copy.


Picture: depositphotos.com #11482417, standard license

My Thanks

How can I show the many friends
who bless my path each day,
that I am mindful of their deeds
and kindly words they say?
How much they mean!
How much they give—
ah, could I but repay
their thoughtfulness and acts of love
that cheer me on life’s way!

Although they ask for naught from me,
I would not use my friends
as means of reaching for those things
that serve my selfish ends.
Lord, let me seek for ways to bless
a stranger bending low,
while asking nothing in return,
by this, my thanks to show.

fpn / undated
Published in Contemporary Psalms, p. 57

Photo Credit: Deposit Photo #145937475, standard license