God's Plan - January 31, 1956

Some things we may not understand,

But this one thing is clear;

We reap the things which we have sown,

In joy or bitter tears.

God made us good, just like Himself,

And planned that we should sow;

His righteousness day after day,

That nobly we should grow.

We failed the Lord in His good plan,

Forbidden fruit we ate;

And thus the penalty of death,

Became our final fate.

God loved us with such tender love,

A council thus was called;

And in the council plans were made,

To save us from the fall.

In brief the story may be told,

God gave His only Son;

That man might have a second chance,

The race of life to run.

Not as a fool to lose his soul, 

But as a soldier brave;

Believing in the Son of God,

By whom we now are saved.

~ J. J. Davis ~

How Wonderful to be Alive - January 30, 1956

Photo by: Lucrecia Mouser

How wonderful to be alive, 

And in good favor dear;

With the Eternal One above,

To feel Him ever near.

We cannot conquer sin alone,

We must have help from Him;

Who wore a robe, a seamless robe,

A robe without a hem.

When God controls our every mood,

And warms our souls with love;

It beautifies the soul and makes,

It gentle as a dove.

How wonderful, how glorious,

The Christian way of life;

It is so pure and noble, too,

So free from every strife.

How wonderful to be alive,

To know that all is well;

With the immortal soul, my dear,

No tongue can fully tell;

The glory of a conscience free,

So free from every guilt;

Made possible by Gods own Son,

 Whose blood was freely spilt.

~ J. J. Davis ~

I want to... - January 29, 1956

I want so much to walk with Him,

His fellowship enjoy;

To feel His presence ever near,

My all for Him employ.

I want to feel His blessed touch,

And humble always be;

I want to love and glorify,

The Christ of Galilee.

I want to always use my pen.

To magnify the good;

To help, perchance in some small way,

To build a brotherhood.

I want to think the lovely thoughts,

To help me to be strong;

I want to build good character,

And always shun the wrong.

I want to show myself a friend,

Be kind to everyone;

I want to live each day while here,

That when life's course is run;

The angels may my soul return,

Back to my Maker, dear;

And there I want to dwell with Him,

Where never comes a tear.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Choice - January 29, 1956

The devil now is on the march,

To find some soul to blight;

His march continues day by day,

And throughout all the night.

The King of kings also my dear,

Upon His white horse rides;

To spread the gospel, pure and good,

Of God who satisfies.

Man is a creature who may choose,

Which master to adore;

And when his choice shall have been made,

He then begins his score.

If righteousness shall be his lot,

Like leaven he will find;

A lift to boost the whole of life,

The body, soul and mind.

If sin shall be his choice, my dear,

Then unto him be woe;

For it is true that he shall reap,

The things which he shall sow.

And when he comes to cross the bar.

How dark and dreary then;

For he shall be forever damned,

His final score in sin.

~ J. J. Davis ~

God Makes Us Good - January 28, 1956

No one is good apart from God,

For sin has brought us low;

And there is none good, no not one,

The Bible tells us so;

But when we come with humble hearts,

Repent of all our sins;

It makes a difference you know,

God makes us good within.

"A good man's steps" so says God's Word,

"Are ordered by the Lord;

And daily he may walk with God,

And be of one accord.

He was a good man, so we learn,

Full of the Holy Ghost;

And only can we goodness have,

When we make Christ our host.

No one is good apart from God,

We all have sinned, my dear;

We stand condemned because of sin,

Our souls are filled with fear;

But when we come as one of old,

And plead for mercy here;

Almighty God shall free our soul,

From every bitter fear.

~ J. J. Davis ~

What about the barns you built? - January 27, 1956

Photo by: Vinson Mouser

The sinner lives in constant fear,

Sin makes him cowardly;

No peace has he but like the sea,

Discard is inwardly.

He builds his barns to hold his grain,

And says unto his soul;

Be thou content, eat and rejoice,

But what a foolish role.

The brittle thread of life, you know,

Is held within God's hand;

Today, tonight our soul may be,

Required at His command.

Then what about the barns you built,

And filled with all your grain?

No comfort shall they give to you,

In hell with all your pain.

The sinner lives in constant fear,

He never knows the joy;

Which comes to saints who consecrate,

Their all to God's employ.

No comfort shall the sinner know,

Unless he turn's to Him;

Who wore the robe, a seamless robe,

A robe without a hem.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Believe - January 26, 1956

Photo by: Tanek Mouser

Man can believe there is no doubt, 

God fixed it so, he may;

"If thou wouldest believe," said He,

Reveals to us today;

Man has the power to believe,

God's glory to behold;

Or else refuse and thus to damn,

Forever his own soul .

The business of the devil here,

Is very, very plain;

He wants to fill our souls with doubts,

Concerning Christ the King.

Man has the power to defy,

The devil in said task;

He may believe and trust in God,

And win if he but ask.

God made us like himself you know,

And only God, my dear;

Can satisfy the soul of man,

In pilgrimage while here.

Man can believe, there is no doubt,

Although Satan is strong;

He can believe, Satan defeat ,

Triumph over wrong.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Poor within the Soul - January 25, 1956

He was so rich in worldly goods,

But poor within his soul;

He cared not for the beggar man,

His heart was hard and cold.

He fared sumptuously day by day,

By worldly standards here;

But in reality his soul,

Was filled with constant fear.

 

No soul can live apart from God,

And be serene my dear;

Hard is the way for everyone,

Who fails our God to fear.

This rich man died and went to hell,

A beggar he became;

He begged for water just to cool,

His tongue within the flames.

 

He cried for help, but was refused,

He prayed but prayed too late;

His lot is fixed, forever damned,

That is his final fate.

He was so rich in worldly goods,

But poor within his soul;

Great is the host of souls today,

Which play as fools, said role. 

~ J. J. Davis ~

Praise Jehovah - January 24, 1956

Photo by: Lucrecia Mouser

O, that men would praise Jehovah,

The Everlasting God;

Who gives to us our daily food,

And comforts with His rod.

He sends his sunshine and His rain,

To bless us one and all;

And furthermore He gave His Son,

To save us from the fall.

O, that men would praise Jehovah,

And do as one of old;

Yea, walk with Him as Enoch did,

For culture of the soul.

Our God is worthy of our praise,

And when we praise Him here;

Ambassadors we then become,

To spread joy everywhere.

O, that men would praise Jehovah,

Give thanks to Him each day;

And in all things to murmur not,

What e're may come our way.

And when the silver cord shall loose,

The shadows lengthen long;

No fears, but only praise shall be,

Our everlasting song.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Fruitful Branches - January 23, 1956

The Husbandman is God, my dear,

He purgeth everyone;

Who bears the fruit of righteousness,

While dwelling in His Son.

How lovely and how beautiful,

The fruit of peace and joy;

The fruit of gentleness and love,

We bear in God’s employ.

When we abide within the Vine,

And fruitful branches be,

When consecrated by the One,

Who died on Calvary;

Then God the Father purified,

A blessed fact, my friend;

That you and I more fruit might bear,

And overcome all sin.

The Savior prayed so earnestly,

That all converts be pure;

And God shall answer his request,

This one thing we are sure;

That all who dwell within the Vine,

And dare good fruit to bear;

That God the Husbandman shall purge,

Said souls, the Word declares.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Good Works - January 22, 1956

“Show me thy faith, without thy works, “

Declared one long ago;

“And by my works,” my good, good friend,

My faith to thee I’ll show.

“Go thou thy way, be warmed and filled,”

Are words so sweet to hear;

If food and clothing are bestowed,

Upon the needy dear.

But worthless are these words, my friend,

If no works bestow;

No wonder said the man of God,

My faith, by works I’ll show.

A priest went marching, marching by,

He saw a man in need;

But simply passed quietly by,

His soul was full of greed.

A good Samaritan passed by,

His heart was good and kind;

He stopped and gave first aid my dear,

He poured the oil and wine.

And furthermore he took the man,

Unto a nearby inn;

United must be faith and works,

If God’s favor we’d win.

~ J. J. Davis ~

One-Way Street - January 21, 1956

Photo by: Lucrecia Mouser

A one-way street is what we find,

In many, many lives;

They love so much for God to give,

But dare not for Him tithe.

He gives the sunshine and the rain,

He gives the spruce and pine;

But many, many souls dare not,

Give God a single dime.

A one-way street is what they want,

And blind they seem to be;

That death shall surely come to them,

As unto the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea, as you know, my friend,

Receives but fails to give;

And so shall every life become,

Which dares said standard live.

A one-way street is what we find,

In little souls, my friend;

They seek to get, but never give,

Their lives are full of sin.

A two-way street is what we need,

To get and then to give;

This is the standard we must choose,

If happily we'd live.

~ J. J. Davis ~

A Merry Heart - January 20, 1956

A merry heart is worth its weight ,

In silver and in gold;

In rubies and diamonds, dear,

Its wealth can not be told.

I know the Lord would have us all,

To overflow with joy;

For thereby we become a strength,

To bless in His employ.

A merry heart like medicine,

Has healing in its touch;

And like the sun it gives its warmth,

We need so very much.

Laugh and the world, so we are told,

Will laugh with you my dear;

But weep and you may weep alone,

No one to share your tear.

A merry heart is worth its weight,

In silver and in gold;

It blesseth both, body and mind,

It blesseth, too, the soul.

Come, let us strive artists to be,

In spreading cheerfulness;

Great is the need in all the world,

And, O, how it will bless.
~ J. J. Davis ~

Fear is a Monster - January 19, 1956

Photo by: Vinson Mouser

Fear is a monster, great and strong,

Many are slain thereby;

Because they fail God's love to use,

God's perfect love apply.

Yea, perfect love, so we are told,

All fear shall be cast away;

Why live and be tormented dear,

When we may perfect be?

 

Old age is creeping, creeping near,

Be not afraid my friend;

Old age may be so sweet and grand,

If life is free from sin.

Your job you lost, well what of that?

Others have lost theirs too;

Just simply keep your faith in God,

For He will see you through.

 

Your health may fail, but don't forget,

A house not made with hands;

Await you in that better home,

Where life shall be so grand.

The monster death is drawing near,

Be not afraid at all;

For perfect love shall then suffice,

When God shall make the call.

~ J. J. Davis ~

God's Gifts - January 18, 1956

God made the world, and looked thereon,

It please Him very much;

He gave His Son that we might have,

His kind forgiving touch.

He gave to us His Holy Book,

That we might learn just how;

To dedicate our all to Him,

Lay hands upon the plow.

God gives to us so freely here,

His everlasting love;

And furthermore, He plans for us,

To dwell with Him above.

If you and I some talent show,

'Twas He who gave it dear;

Yea, every good and perfect gift,

Comes from Him whom we fear.

Since He has given , O, so much,

Suppose we plan to give;

Yea, consecrate our all to Him,

That we might nobly live.

God made us noble, just like Himself,

And planned great things for us;

And if we live as He has planned,

We'll make His will a must.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Love Divine - January 17, 1956

Photo by: Lucrecia Mouser

Our lives can be so beautiful,

When filled with love Divine;

For love Divine gives health unto,

The body, soul and mind.

When love divine is in control,

Our thoughts and deeds are pure;

And only as we dwell in God,

Is life, my dear, secure.

Our lives can be so fruitful here,

As well as beautiful;

And when we bear much fruit for Him,

Our lives are never dull.

How pleasant, dear, to walk with Him,

The Christ of Galilee;

Sweet fellowship with Him shall make,

Our lives rich, full and free.

Our lives can be so beautiful,

So kind, so pure, so good;

And what a pleasure here to build,

A Christian brotherhood.

And when the silver cord shall loose,

The golden bowl shall break;

The beauty of the soul, my dear,

A million fold shall take.

~ J. J. Davis ~

By Faith - January 16, 1956

Photo by: Vinson Mouser

By faith we climb the mountain high,

Where vision is so clear;

By faith we comprehend God's will,

And learn our God to fear.

By faith we use our tongues aright,

To bless and not to curse;

By faith we consecrate our all,

Which thus includes our purse.

By faith we pour the oil and wine,

Good neighbors try to be;

By faith we make the road quite safe,

For all humanity.

By faith we seek to find the lost,

And bring them to the lamb;

By faith we overcome all sin,

Lest we should all be damned.

By faith we love the good, the bad,

And keep the golden rule;

By faith we play the game of life,

As wise men, not as fools.

By faith we come to cross the bar,

Without a single fear;

By faith we enter that bright home,

Where never comes a tear.

~ J. J. Davis ~

Harvest Day - January 15, 1956

Photo by: Lucrecia Mouser

To bear the fruit of love and joy,

The fruit of purity;

The fruit of peace and temperance,

And that of charity;

Are those things that will make the soul,

Rejoice and be at rest;

And strength they give unto the soul,

To face its every test.

To bear the fruit of gentleness,

And that of meekness, too;

Are also things that thrill the soul,

And thrill it through and through.

O what a blessed privilege,

To dwell within the Vine;

To give first aid to them in need,

By pouring oil and wine.

To bear the fruit of patience here,

In all we say and do;

A mighty challenge to us all,

To me, my dear, and you.

And when the harvest day shall come,

And come to all it will;

Our souls shall then rejoice in Him,

God's will has been fulfilled. 

~ J. J. Davis ~