Before I begin this Poem The Lord gave me, I want to make a statement:
I know He didn't give me this Poem so folks could have any old excuse to stay home from Church to do their own thing any time they felt like it, but I also know that God is not so strict as to say that if you aren't in Church "every time the doors are open", you will perish ~ for where would our 'shut-ins' be & those who are taking care of sick folks & the disabled? And, where is His 'Grace'?
I, personally, have 'Church' in my own heart 24-7 now, but I used to 'be there' every time the doors were open (I was afraid to miss, if you know what I mean)! Then, one day, our Precious Lord sent me to a very strict Church {before He sent me to a 'liberal' Church where I discovered that folks love Jesus THERE, too :)} & I heard someone say "I hope Jesus doesn't come Sunday Evening, for they'll miss Heaven!" {It was Sunday Evening after Church when I heard this in the Church Parking Lot}. I thought to myself: what about the Pastor's wife who was home watching over their sick kids, would she miss Heaven? No, of course not, for she loved Jesus!
I was sure glad I saw this 'Truth' before I became 'homebound' because I knew I loved Jesus with all my heart, but, if I couldn't get to Church - would I miss Heaven? I loved going to Church & working for God there, but, I have since found I can still serve Him even here at home - spreading His Love & Word through the Poems He gave me to write & share on the Internet with you! Yet, even that won't get me into Heaven ~ just JESUS!
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS LOVING GRACE!
"TO TELL ME!"
© 1999 Patricia L. Carpenter
{Poem Book 7}
To tell me that:
If I am 'not' in Church *
every time the doors are open
I will go to hell,
Denies the 'BLOOD' that JESUS shed *
~ to 'SAVE' me ~ *
which from 'His Body' ~ fell.*
We must be careful *
not to let Satan *
destroy The 'Church' through us,
Because we take *
God's Word & 'twist' it
& raise a great big fuss.*
'Divide' The Truth
~rightly~ my friend *
& remember Whose in 'charge',*
The 'One' Who came
& DIED for us:*
while some still think His Body's 'at large'!
We know where He is
~ of course ~
up in Heaven preparing our place,*
But, many think
they 'stole' His Body *
& cannot 'win' their race.
They cannot win
& neither can we *
if we're depending on our 'works',*
For 'many' are
~in Church~ always
yet 'left out' in the lurch!
As they are depending
on their 'attendance'
& not on JESUS CHRIST,*
The ONE & ONLY *
WAY to Heaven ~ &
to have 'Eternal' Life!*
Now many may argue *
& dispute this word
but the FACTS are very clear,
Just pick up
your Bible & READ it
& find THE TRUTH, my dear!*
* Jn.4:21-24; Eph.2:13 & Heb.10:19 & 12:24; Heb.13:12; Lk.22:44 &
Jn.19:34; 2 Jn.1:9; 2 Thes. 3:3; Heb.10:25; 2 Tim.2:16;
2 Tim.2:15; Heb.13: 20-21; Jn.3:16; Jn.14:2-3; Mt.28:11-15;
2 Jn.1:7-8; Rom.4:4-5; Rom.10:11; Jn.14:6 & Acts 4:12;
Jn.3:31-36; Jn.3:18-21; I Jn.5:20-21. 8/9/99
