Poetry Saturday—Must I My Brother Keep?

February 20, 2021 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple or Spotify.

Must I my brother keep,
And share his pain and toil;
And weep for those who weep,
And smile with those who smile;
And act to each a brother’s part,
And feel his sorrows in my heart?


Must I his burden bear,


As though it were my own,


And do as I would care,


Should to myself be done;


And faithful to his interests prove,


And as myself my neighbor love?




Then Jesus at Thy feet


A student let me be,


And learn as it is meet,


My duty, Lord, of Thee;


For Thou didst come on mercy’s plan,


And all Thy life was love to man.




Oh! make me as Thou art;


Thy Spirit, Lord, bestow—


The kind and gentle heart


That feels another’s woe.


May I be thus like Christ my Head,


And in my Savior’s footsteps tread! —Thomas Raffles




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Poetry Saturday—The Lovetobutcants

January 23, 2021 — Craig T. Owens 




Listen to this post as a podcast by clicking here:



I have a disease called


The “lovetobutcants”—


I think it’s time I told it.


I’d love to help with that garbage can


But my fingers just can’t hold it.


Hand me a bag of groceries and


My wrists just turned to jelly.


Cuttin’ grass and hedges


Gives me flutters of the belly.


The smell of paint will make me faint,


Sweat makes my eyes start itchin’.


Dishwater on my little hands


Will start ‘em shaky-twitchin’.


Pickin’ clothes up off the floor


Would paralyze my shoulder.


I must not try to close the door,


At least not till I’m older.


So though I’d love to join the work—


Till this disease is done,


I’ll have to lie here in the shade


While you have all the fun. —Shel Silverstein








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Authority To Serve

December 9, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 




And David knew the Lord has established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. (1 Chronicles 14:2) 


“David knew” reminds me of “Jesus knew” in John 13:3.


Both knew God had placed them exactly where they were supposed to be. 


Both knew the authority God had given them. 


Both knew the power that was theirs to use.


Both knew they could do self-glorifying, self-promoting things with their power. Yet both used their authority and power to serve others: “for the sake of His people.”


Jesus gave His authority to us (Matthew 28:18). 


Do I know that? 


I mean, really know that? 


If so, am I using His authority to serve others?


A mark of a godly leader is one who uses his God-given authority to serve others. 


This is part 53 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here.






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Poetry Saturday—I Can Do Something

December 5, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 








I may not do much with all my care,


But I surely may bless a few;


The loving Jesus will give to me


Some work of love to do;


I may wipe the tears from some weeping eyes,


I may bring the smile again


To a face that is weary and worn with care,


To a heart that is full of pain.




I may speak His name to the sorrowful,


As I journey by their side;


To the sinful and despairing ones


I may preach of the Crucified.


I may drop some little gentle word


In the midst of some scene of strife;


I may comfort the sick and the dying


With a thought of eternal life. —Marianne Farningham








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True Prosperity

November 18, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 




…and so he prospered (2 Chronicles 31:20-21). 


When I look up “prosper” in the dictionary, the first entry says, “to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects.” This isn’t even close to the Old Testament Hebrew word for prosper! 


God makes prosper a dependence on Him. Mammon makes prosper a dependence on self. 


The Hebrew word tsalach means: 


    

  • to overcome obstacles (like crossing a river) 
    • 

  • to be empowered by the Spirit of God to overcome an enemy (like Samson did) 
    • 

  • to flourish like a plant growing to full harvest 
    • 

  • to have favor with man so that good can be done for others (Nehemiah 1:11) 
    • 

  • to finish well (2 Chronicles 7:11) 
    • 

  • to be poured out; to be a conduit of God’s blessings to others 
    • 



Prosperity God’s way is being blessed to be a blessing to others.


Prosperity is never for me, only from God through me. 


Prosperity from God helps me overcome obstacles for others, defeat enemies for others, bring in a good harvest for others, have earthly favor that will benefit others, finish well for the sake of others. 


I’ll say it again: True prosperity ISN’T for me, it’s only from God through me! 


Hezekiah showed how God’s prosperity came through him to benefit others: 


    

  • he did “what was good and right and faithful before the Lord” 
    • 

  • he lived “in obedience to the law and the commands” 
    • 

  • “he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly” 
    • 



In light of this definition, I have no problem praying, “God, make me prosperous. As I seek You and work wholeheartedly, flow through me to bless others!”






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Think On This…

September 11, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 




Here’s the seed thought for this episode of Think On This…


My t-shirt from To Write Love On Her Arms that says, “You make today better.”




Think on this: Am I being intentional about making other people’s today better? Am I expressing my gratitude to those who are making my today better?








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Poetry Saturday—A Lost Opportunity

September 5, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 




It came and went so quickly,


   My sluggish soul saw not


The Master stand and beckoning


   Toward one of humble lot.




And I rose not up to follow,


   So slow was I to see,


Till the help I might have given


   Forever fled from me.




And often I am grieving,


   And longing all in vain,


For a blessed opportunity


   That will not come again.




Dear Lord, give Thine anointing,


   And make mine eyes to see;


And make me swift in doing


   The work Thou givest to me. —L. Adda Nichols








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Poetry Saturday—Out Of Touch With Your Lord

January 4, 2020 — Craig T. Owens 




Only a smile, yes, only a smile,


That a woman o’er burdened with grief


Expected from you; ‘twould have given relief


For her heart ache sore the while;


But weary and cheerless she went away,


Because as it happened, that very day


You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.




Only a word, yes, only a word,


That the Spirit’s small voice whispered, “Speak”;


But the worker passed onward, unblessed and weak,


Whom you were meant to have stirred


To courage, devotion and love anew,


Because when the message came to you,


You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.




Only a note, yes, only a note,


From a friend in a distant land;


The Spirit said, “Write,” but then you had planned


Some different work, and you thought


It mattered little, you did not know


‘Twould have saved a soul from sin and woe;


You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.




Only a song, yes, only a song,


That the Spirit said, “Sing tonight—


Thy voice is thy Master’s by purchased right“;


But you thought, “Mid this motley throng


I care not to sing of the City of Gold,”


And the heart that your words might have reached grew cold;


You were “out of touch“ with your Lord.




Only a day, yes, only a day!


But, oh, can you guess, my friend,


Where the influence reaches, and where it will end


Of the hours that you frittered away?


The Master’s command is, “Abide in Me,”


And fruitless and vain will your service be,


If “out of touch“ with your Lord. —Jean H. Watson








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Poetry Saturday—I Do It Unto Thee

November 23, 2019 — Craig T. Owens 




Lord of all pots and pans and things,


since I’ve no time to be a great saint


by doing lovely things…


make me a saint by getting meals,


and washing up the plates.


Warm all the kitchen with Thy love,


and light it with Thy peace;


forgive me all my worrying,


and make my grumbling cease.


Thou Who didst love to give men food,


in room, or by the sea,


accept the service that I do,


I do it unto Thee.


Amen. —Brother Lawrence








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A Life Worthy Of The Gospel

August 27, 2019 — Craig T. Owens 




Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ… (Philippians 1:27).


The apostle Paul wanted the Philippians’ living to be their preaching. Much like Francis of Assisi said years later: “Preach always; if necessary, use words.”


The big question is—what does conduct “worthy of the gospel of Christ” look like? I believe Paul identifies at least 15 characteristics in just the next 20 or so verses…


    

  1. It is not a people-pleasing lifestyle. It is a God-honoring, Spirit-lead, Christ-glorifying lifestyle.
    2. 

  2. It is steadfast, which means it perseveres even through the trials and difficulties.
    3. 

  3. It is a heart and mind unified with other Christians.
    4. 

  4. It is bold—“without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.” 
    5. 

  5. It is strengthened in Christ and it is in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 
    6. 

  6. It overflows with loving comfort, affection, and mercy to those around it.
    7. 

  7. It humbly serves others while confidently refreshing itself in Christ.
    8. 

  8. It strives to live as Jesus did, seeking always for God to be glorified.
    9. 

  9. It is obedient to the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit.
    10. 

  10. It finds pleasure in doing God’s will.
    11. 

  11. It doesn’t complain.
    12. 

  12. It is a blameless and harmless life.
    13. 

  13. It shines a light that attracts others to God’s love.
    14. 

  14. It holds fast to the Word of life for the long haul.
    15. 

  15. It is a rejoicing, contented lifestyle.
    16. 



Heavenly Father, may it always be said of my life that it is one that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. May I always be sensitive to the nudges of the Holy Spirit to keep my life aligned in this way. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen! 






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