For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11
For He, the Lord of heavens high and vast, Commands His angels, radiant and fleet, To shield thy steps where mortal paths are cast, And guard thy soul through storm and calm replete.
Wherever thou dost wander, near or far, Their wings unseen enfold thee in their care, A silent host beneath the morning star, To lift thee up from peril’s hidden snare.
No shadow deep, no arrow swift by day, Shall pierce the armor of their holy might, For in His will they watch, they guide, they stay, A fortress wrought of everlasting light.
So tread thy road with heart both bold and free, His messengers of grace abide with thee.
A whisper curls through morning’s fragile veil, The Word unfurls, a flame no winds assail, Yet ears alone, entranced, may weave a tale— A shroud of self, where truth begins to fail.
For hearers stand before a glassy stream, Their faces caught in ripples soft and still, A fleeting gaze, a shadow’s idle dream— They turn, and lose the visage of their will.
Like men who see, yet blindly walk astray, Forgetting forms the mirror once confessed, They drift through mists of unremembered day, Deceived by hearts that cradle sweet unrest.
But doers rise, their souls a tempered blade, No echoes hoard their zeal in hollow caves, With hands they rend the veil that hearing made, And build where stagnant spirits dig their graves.
The earth responds—the mountains bow, the seas, A symphony of stone and tide awake, Each deed a note, each step a bold decree, The Word alive in all they undertake.
Through storm and flame, their vision holds its gleam, No glass can dim the fire that they bear, A cathedral soars where once was but a beam— Its spires pierce the sky with answered prayer.
So let the heavens roar, the stars align, A crescendo vast, where faith and act entwine, For those who forge the Word in life’s design, Eternal light through mortal hands shall shine.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4: 13-18 (KJV)
Let not your hearts be shadowed by despair, O brethren, for the ones who sleep in peace, Their silence holds a promise, pure and fair— Through Christ, their souls shall find a sweet release.
For as He died and rose, defying death, So too shall those who rest in Him arise, When heaven splits with shout and holy breath, The archangel’s voice shall pierce the skies.
A trumpet sounds, the Lord descends in might, The dead in Christ shall first ascend on high, Then we, still clad in mortal day and night, Shall join them in the clouds, no more to sigh.
Eternal with our Lord, in air we’ll stand, A hope unshaken, held by His command.
Through trials deep and mountains high, With faith, we rise, we touch the sky. His strength within, a steady stream, Christ lifts us up to stand supreme.
When shadows fall and doubts take hold, His power turns the weak to bold. In every step, through joy or strife, His living might sustains our life.
From deeds of might and grandeur bold, To humble cups of water cold, All for the glory of our King, Our promised reward shall ring. Bless the Lord, O my soul, arise, Forget not His gifts before our eyes.
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice!
Proverbs 29:2 (KJV)
When the redeemed, made righteous, see, Acts of justice, fair and free, Righteousness in truth displayed, Hope-filled joy is brightly swayed— Ecstatic, vivacious, bold delight, A Biblical rapture in our sight! Bless the Lord, O my soul, proclaim, Forget not His benefits, His name!
A blessed balance, Scripture’s sacred call, Weaves grace, truth, mercy, love in holy thread, Yet some chase grace, let gospel’s ramparts fall, Compromise slinks, a shadow thinly spread. Others wield truth, a hammer cold and stark, No mercy flows, no love to lift the load, Legalism binds, a cruel and crushing mark, Too vast a yoke for fragile souls bestowed.
Some sing of love, yet mute the righteous flame, No grace, no truth to guard the narrow way, O Lord, bestow on saints Thy perfect aim, A blend divine where all Thy gifts hold sway! For Christ alone, our Star of flawless gleam, Exudes this dance—grace pours, yet truth stands tall, Mercy renews each morn in radiant stream, Love crowns it all, redeeming every fall.
To Him we run, in Him we bask and grow, His beauty molds our flawed and yearning clay, Through knowledge deep, His grace begins to flow, A fourfold light to guide us day by day! He, risen King, the Exemplar pure and whole, Our Source of wisdom, strength, salvation’s song, May we reflect His traits in every soul, Small Christs aflame, where His great name belongs.
For Jesus reigns, the Balance without flaw, King of all kings, with love and truth entwined, O let us strive, with passion and with awe, To mirror Him, in heart, in soul, in mind!
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4and patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3 (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Romans 5:22-23 (KJV)
As Christ’s own flame, a fervent heart aflame, A target gleams upon our backs, so stark— From lost souls blind, from nominals who claim, Yet ape the world in dress and worldly mark. Wolves prowl near, in wool their fangs disguise, While haters scorn our Savior’s precious name— May every dart, each stone, each hateful guise, Stoke passion fierce for Christ, our endless flame!
Let slander’s sting, persecution’s roar, Become our badge, a holy honor worn, Each lie a seed, blessed beneath the core, That blooms to gold, where Spirit’s fruit is born! Thorns prick here, and tears may carve their stream, Yet Heaven turns them crowns of radiant glee— We stand unbowed, in Jesus’ light supreme, Rejoicing still, till face to face we see!
1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14and thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
15But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 16cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. 17Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. 18Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 19Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
20The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. 22The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. 23And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
25The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 26And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away. 27The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. 28The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: 29and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. 30Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. 31Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them. 32Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand. 33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway: 34so that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 35The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
36The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. 37And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee. 38Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. 39Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit. 41Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity. 42All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume. 43The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. 44He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. 45Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: 46and they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
47Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 50a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: 51and he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. 52And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. 53And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: 54so that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: 55so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. 56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, 57and toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
Words of Warning
58If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE Lord THY GOD; 59then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. 62And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God. 63And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 64And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 66and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: 67in the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 68And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
