He Visits

He Visits ...And we discover our greatest Friend Copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2019 Emerging

“Our lives are

In You to find.”

The song said that And I hear it With spirit ears now

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I come near it And joy Far above mortal ken.

The paths of my past Traced with logic The systems of men And their ethic But all fouled with self And oppression And double-speak Heartless digression.

I have now a God-sent mistrust Of ways leading

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Only to dust.

I pray let your Spirit draw near Bestowing the clean And the clear.

Your whispers come Louder to me Your gift A new destiny.

Called Up

Yes I still answer Everyone who calls

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Calls for my help As hungered spent Primed to repent Touched by the Spirit Quickened by Word Rescue call heard Heard with new ears Dumping all fears Failed by the rest Come to my best Redeemed.

Strange word you say Debtor to pay

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Now slate is clean Freely I mean Cross held the cure Precious Lamb pure Raised for all sins Cleansed life begins Starts Child right now On this I vow God vows His Christ Paid every price.

Makeover of a Man I had come

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From dreams of service

To an urgent tool belt life

With a baby son and daughter

And a treasured godly wife.

And the legal briefs

Forgotten

In a rush of

Newfound Christ

And persuasion

Then to follow

What the Book says

Without price.

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Yes the Lord had

Changed my mainspring

Changed my message

Glad rescue.

And to share

The rich Evangel

Seemed the choicest

Thing to do.

But the nuts and bolts

Of hard work

And the mere wage

Of a trade

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And the caring

For a family

Meant the stalling

Of dreams made.

Ones for preaching

And for teaching

Set aside or

So it seemed.

Though men listened

In the brief break

To my joyful

Needful dream.

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Of a kindly workman’s

Travels and his tending

To sin’s loss.

Of His bleeding

For the broken

And His victory

Through the Cross.

Moment Just one of those moments

I seldom know when

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And you have my next breath

You draw me again

To thoughts of your goodness

To reckon my debt

To see you give gladly

My sure Shepherd yet.

And all of the day’s stress

And all still unsure

Erased by your presence

Arresting and pure.

Just how can you do this

With saints the world round

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And make it so special

To each heart faith found?

But you are the Lord God

And once lived like us

Enduring the worst test

Your Cross bought our trust.

I’m rich in your presence

Released from each pain

Awaiting the moment

You visit again.

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A Kiss on the CheekÂ

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The story is told of Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) walking a remote country lane and discovering a beggar sitting in the grass. The poor man said nothing but held up a beaten dish.

By reflex Francis reached into his robe for a small loaf of bread, smiled and placed the food in the dish. He continued on his way. About twenty-five yards farther he stopped knowing that something was not right.

Francis returned to the beggar, sat down beside him, gently kissed his cheek and said something to the effect of "God in Heaven loves you more than you could possibly imagine. He knows all about you."

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They sat quietly for a moment, and then Francis continued on his journey.

One more time he turned to give a parting wave of the hand. He saw not the beggar, but rather Jesus standing, smiling, at the roadside at that exact spot. Francis had kissed the cheek of his Master!

Fact or fiction? Does it matter? The story is worth telling as a reminder of the fact that we will be surprised with opportunities. Jesus threw down His challenge in ​Matthew 25:35,36​: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Keep your eyes open, ambassador of the King.

Hillsong

Just the two of us Lord On this green country plot

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Raised a little bit high o’er the rest.

And the breeze says you’re here To decipher my thoughts.

Precious time that I treasure the best.

And the wildflowers wave And the larks soar on high And the cattle just low, “All is good.”

And the City’s rushed noise Is forgotten a while As I rest in your love, as I should.

Light In the depths of London town

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Gutters, shambles, broken down Whiskey, gin spilled on the street Pockets picked by nimble feet Sally Anne with brassy joy Catches ear of girl and boy ‘Bout a child who had no home Pure with promise; made to roam Magic ‘neath a Star so bright Come to give the downcast light.

This the hope of Yuletide charm Entered Yahweh’s strong right arm Entered shepherd for the lost Entered hope at matchless cost. …If you take a right turn here

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Cross the courtyard, damp and clear Pull the gate and climb the stair You will find an urchin there She with tones so clear and bright Sings a holy ​“Silent Night”.

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