THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS

THEY HAD MOCKED HIM AS THE KING OF JEWS 
AND PLACED A CROWN OF THORNS ON HIS HEAD
THEN THEY BEAT HIS BACK WITH A WHIP UNTIL HIS BACK RAN BLOOD-RED
HIS DISCIPLES HAD FORSAKEN HIM FOR FEAR OF WHAT IT WOULD COST
BUT HE WOULD KEEP HIS WORD AND LOVE THEM STILL FROM "THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS".

TO HAVE CARRIED THAT CROSS, THROUGH THE STREETS TO THE HILL,
AND TO KNOW WHAT AWAITS, IS PART OF GOD'S WILL.
BUT HE WOULD SOON KNOW OF THEIR TERRIBLE LOSS.
AS JESUS WOULD SOON HAVE "THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS".

TO BE NAILED TO THAT CROSS AND THE NAILS DRIVEN THRU,
AND THEN SPEARED THRU THE SIDE AND THE BLOOD FLOODED TOO,
FOR HIS GARMENTS THEY PLAYED AND THE DICE THEY WERE TOSSED,
AS JESUS LOOKED ON "FROM THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS".

THEY NAILED HIM AND PIERCED HIM AND HOISTED HIM HIGH.
AND HE ASKED FOR THEIR FORGIVENESS, FROM HIS PAIN HE DID NOT CRY.
FOR THE FATHER HAD GIVEN HIS SON TO PAY THE COST,
AND THE PAYMENT WOULD BE, "THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS".

I HAVE KNELT ON MY KNEES AND PRAYED IN HIS NAME.
AND I'VE KNOWN IT WAS HEARD AND I DID NOT PRAY IN VAIN,
FOR I CANNOT IMAGINE THE GRIEF AND THE LOSS
IF JESUS HAD NOT HAD, "THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS".

JERRY L. HALL
Trinity, Texas

ONE LIFE

THIS IS THE WAY WE TRY TO LIVE
IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD ABOVE,
HE IS OUR LIFE, OUR BREATH, OUR SOUL;
WE BASK IN ALL HIS LOVE.

DREAMING OF HIS HEAVENLY HOME
IN RAPT AND WONDROUS AWE
WE KNOW HE'LL HELP US EVERY DAY 
AS WE OBEY HIS LAW.

HE TAKES OUR HAND TO HELP US,
HIS GRASP IS SURE AND STRONG.
HE IS OUR QUIET CONSCIENCE
AS WE LEARN RIGHT FROM WRONG.

HE IS THE ONE WE FOLLOW NOW
AND WILL FOREVER MORE.
HE IS THE ONE TO WHOM WE PRAY
THE ONE THAT WE ADORE.

SO LORD, WE GIVE OURSELVES TO YOU;
DO WITH US AS YOU WILL
MAY WE BE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE
AND ALL YOUR PLANS FULFILL.

POLLY BAKER

THE LITTLE  COUNTRY CHURCH

THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE CHURCH YOU OUGHT TO SEE
A BUILDING OF BEAUTY AND MAJESTY
WITH ROOM ENOUGH FOR YOU AND ME.

THERE IS A GAZEBO OFF TO ONE SIDE
BUILT WITH UTMOST CARE AND PRIDE,
SPECTACULAR AT EVENTIDE.

HERE ARE PEOPLE SO GRACIOUS AND KIND
THE FRIENDLIEST NEIGHBORS YOU'LL EVER FIND
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND.

"COME JOIN WITH US AND BE OUR FRIEND
OUR LOVE FOR YOU WILL NEVER END".
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY SEND.

POLLY BAKER