GOD OF YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW

God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You, the God we boldly proclaim;
We your people bow down and with joy, we bless your holy name.
Praise be to the God who strengthens us each day, and comforts us in sorrow;
Praise be to the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

O' God, who changes not, and is forever the same, be our faithful friend;
Be our hope for each day, and let your gracious mercies never end.
Send down like the rain, your rich blessings. Hold us in your mighty hand;
Be our support and by your power, cause us to stand.

God in times such as these, we need your presence to guide and lead us.
We need your blessed Spirit to support and to be with us.
Do not withdraw your presence from us. Without you, we would fail;
We need you every hour O' God. In you, we triumph and prevail

While the world around us always changes, you are always the same;
Because of your love and mercy, we shall always bless your name.
God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, to you, our voices are raised;
By the saints in heaven, and by the saints on earth, you are to forever praised.

-Michael Carter, 1999

A SONG OF CREATION

INVOCATION

Glorify the Lord all you people, for you are the work of His hand;
Give praise to Him, O' people from every nation and from every land.
His divine power is seen on the earth and also in the firmament of the skies;
Let the joyful song of creation,before His mighty throne arise.

THE COSMIC ORDER

Give glory to God, O' you mighty angels who fly in heaven above;
Bless now and forever, God's great name. Forever extol His great love.
The sun, moon and stars all give off their beaming light;
Let us now bow down, and praise our God, for His power and might.

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain, and every fall of the dew;
Give praise to the Lord, each day He makes all things new.
Give glory to God, O' winter snows and the summer winds;
Praise the God of creation. His grace and mercy never ends.

Glorify the Lord, O' chill and cold drops of dew and flakes of fallen snow;
Give praise to Him, all you who dwell upon the earth below.
Frost and cold,ice and sleet, all that falls from the sky;
Glorify the God of creation and lift His name on high.

Glorify the Lord, O' both the day and also the night;
O' enfolding dark,praise the Lord. O'sun, praise Him with shining light.
Praise Him, O' storm clouds that thunder, and lightening that crosses the sky;
Praise the God of creation, and lift up His name on high.

EARTH AND IT'S CREATURES

O' earth, glorify the Lord. Let praises ring from every mountain and hill;
May all of creation show forth the Lord's power and will.
Glorify the Lord. Give glory to God, all that grows from the land;
Praise Him. All things on earth were created by His almighty hand.

Glorify the Lord, all that live on the land, and all that inhabit the sea;
Praise the Lord, who by His Word, called all things in heaven and earth to be.
Glorify the Lord, O' winged birds that fly in the air;
All things in creation have been made by God, and are under His care.

Glorify the Lord. Give glory, you beasts of every flock and heard;
For you were created by His most powerful and living Word.
O' men and women, praise the Lord. Praise the One whom you love and adore;
O' praise Him, and let all creation lift up His name forevermore.

THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

Let the people of God glorify Him. Let the Lord, by His people be praised;
Let the people's songs of joy, to the God of creation be raised.
Give praises to God. O' servants, open your mouths and let out a joyful cry;
Let your endless praises be given to the God who reigns on high.
Glorify the Lord, O' Spirit and you righteous soul;
For God leads you through the journey, on to the heavenly goal.
He shall bless you, O' people of thankful spirit and humble heart;
His grace is everlasting, and His mercy shall remain and never depart.

DOXOLOGY

Let us give praises, and give all glory to the great Triune God above;
Praise be to the eternal God, for His mercy and for His great love.
All praise be to the Father, Son, and Spirit. The God whom we adore;
Let our praises ring out to Him, now and forevermore.

Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit.

Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, God divine, now on Your people decsend;
Come down on Your people, and give rich blessings without end.
Come O' Spirit, stir up the faith of Your people and may they sing Your praise.
Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, send forth holy fire, and set hearts ablaze.

Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, impart Your seven fold gifts from above;
Build up the Church and unite Your people in the bonds of peace and love.
Come O' Spirit, stir up the faith of Your people and may they sing Your praise;
Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, send forth holy fire, and set hearts ablaze.

Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, equip the saints with gifts to give freely;
Move Your people to daily rejoice in Christ's great love and mercy.
Along with the Father and the Son, Your people sing Your praise;
Holy Spirit, Blessed Spirit, send forth holy fire, and set hearts ablaze.

Michael Carter
June 2009

All praise be to Jesus Christ.

All praise be to Jesus Christ, who is the true source of life, peace, and salvation;
He is the Rock upon which the Church is built. He alone, is it's one foundation.
The Church stands upon the Apostle's doctrine, with Christ as the cornerstone;
The Scriptures teaches that salvation is found through faith in Christ alone.

Christ is the fulfillment of the Father's promise in the garden that He made;
Through Him, the debt and punishment for sin would be paid.
The Son came in the flesh to undo the first Adam's sin;
He came to destroy the power of sin, and to bring the devil's reign to an end.

All praise and thanks to Him who came, the promise of salvation to fulfill;
He was the second Adam. The obedient Son, who came to do His Father's will.
He did not come in pomp or power, but was born of humble birth;
He took on our form, and came down to dwell with all who live on the earth.


The mighty King laid aside His crown, and came to suffer and die in our place;
He bore the cross, suffered and died, so that all would be saved by His grace.
Though He suffered and died, In victory He was raised up from the dead;
The devil bruised His heel, but the victorious Christ has crushed his head.

Christ the Victor ascended to heaven and is seated upon His golden throne;
The saints in heaven and on earth, rejoice and give praise to Him, alone.
He has left the Church His Spirit. Through the Spirit, the Church will endure;
May His Church be faithful, and always keep it's doctrine pure.

Christ continues to be with His Church.With His people, He shall always abide;
Through the Word, the Spirit will always teach, comfort, and guide.
Christ feeds His people with His Sacrament, which strengthens the soul;
His Spirit points to Christ, and keep's before believers the heavenly goal.

When this pilgrim journey has ended, we'll join Him in His Kingdom above;
With the sacred assembly, we'll sing of His grace, and rejoice in His love.
Yes, we'll stand with that blessed assembly and we'll joyfully sing;
"All praise be given to Jesus Christ, our great Lord and King!"

Now to Him, the blessed Lord, who in victory rose up from the grave;
To Jesus Christ, who by grace, came to redeem and to save.
Praise be to Him, and to the Father and Spirit, now and through eternity;
Praise, O' praise, be given to the Blessed Holy Trinity!

Michael Carter

Easter

April 2009

For the collection of my poems:Songs of my soul.

I SHALL PREVAIL

I have had struggles and setbacks that have caused me to shed a tear;
There have been times when I've just trembled with doubt and fear.
At times, I lose faith and think that I will just fail;
Yet it is faith that reminds me that in God, I shall prevail.

I've made poor choices and at times I've lost my way;
I haven't always listened to advice and then I go astray.
I might easily throw up my hands and think that I will fail;
God is there to remind me that in Him, I shall prevail.

I still believe even though I've got struggles too great to bear;
I am reminded that God will take my every worry and my every care.
Yet doubt still sets in, and sometimes I think that I will fail;
God reminds me to trust and believe. In Him, I shall always prevail.


-Michael Carter

Songs of my soul-Poems 1983-Present

Lord Jesus, give me peace amidst the storm

Lord Jesus, give me peace amidst the storm. For the storms are raging around me;
My ship is being tossed by the winds on the restless angry sea.
When I feel as if my ship will crash and sink down into the watery grave;
I then look to You. You will steer my ship. You alone, can rescue and save.

When I feel as if I'm sinking and I am about to be overwhelmed and about to drown;
Reach down Your hand. Pull me safely up, and plant me feet upon the solid ground.
When the storms rage, speak to the winds around me and tell them; "Peace, be still!"
I will not fear the storms and the winds, for they shall obey Your will.

Grant me a safe journey as I sail along the sea of this earthly life;
Bring me through the storms that cause me both sorrow and strife.
Though the waters might get rough and the storm clouds gather and roll;
With Your steady hand, You will guide me on my journey to the heavenly goal.

Though the storms rage, and the waters will roll, I will still sail across the sea;
Through the journey, I will have peace. For I know that You will pilot me.
The storms will come, but the darkness cannot remove nor hide me from Your love;
I will stay the course, for You will guide me on the journey to the safe harbor above.

By Michael Carter

A Prayer for strength

O' God, we call upon You as we walk along the pilgrim's way;
Strengthen us, lest challenges cause us to stumble and to fall away.
Support us along the journey, keep us from all evil and from all harm;
Uphold us O' God, with Your strong arm.
Daily, the devil attacks, and he seeks to have our soul;
He seeks to harm our faith and to divert our eyes from the eternal goal.
Have mercy upon us. Grant to us forgiveness for our every sin;
When we're troubled in spirit, grant us both peace and comfort without end.
Be our sure defense when the devil and the world oppress us;
Comfort our spirits when sorrows and trials come and distress us.
Support us all the day long with Your unfailing grace;
Grant us swiftness to run before us, the Christian race.
Calm our spirit when we are afraid and trembling with fear;
When we're hurting come to us. With Your hand, wipe away our every tear.
When we've been forsaken, and we feel that we are all alone;
May Your Blessed Spirit remind us that You care for Your own.
There are times when path seems to be dark and dreary;
Strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit, so that we won't be weak or weary.
Guide us through this earthly journey, always keep us in Your eternal love;
Guide us in the journey, and bring us safely to our home above.
There, we shall stand in the heavenly courts with the sacred throng;
And in praise and thanksgiving, we will sing to You, the everlasting song.

Michael Carter-2007

From the collection:Songs of my soul:Poems 1983-PresentBy Michael Carter. (I hope to complete this soon.)

No, I'll not fall away

No, I'll not fall away. I'll not turn from Him, who so loves me so;
Who pours down His rich blessings on me, here below.
I'll cling to Jesus, for He is my strength each day;
No matter what comes, I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

How could I ever turn from the One who suffered and died for me;
How could I reject the One, who from sin's stain has set me free?
How could I renouce the One who grants me strength for each new day?
No matter what comes, I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

I've struggled with shortcomings that have caused me to suffer bitter and sorrow;
But I still press on. I know who holds both today and tomorrow.
I'll cling to Jesus, for He alone, is my strength for each day.
No matter what comes, I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

Through devils attack me, and the world wants me to stumble and to fail;
My faith and hope is bult on Him. In Him alone, I shall prevail.
I'll cling to Jesus, for He is my strength each day;
No matter what comes,I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

Because my faith and hope is built firmly on Him, I'll stand;
I'll not fall nor stumble. For I rest firmly in the palm of His hand.
I'll cling to Jesus, for He is my strength each day;
No matter what comes, I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

No, I'll not fall away. I'll not deny the One whom I dearly love;
I'll press on in Him. I'll run the race, until I am with the saints above.
I'll cling to Jesus, for He is my strength each day;
No matter what comes, I'll walk with Him. No, I'll not fall away.

By Michael Carter, 2007. From the collection; Songs of my soul; Poems 1983-present

Let us hold on to hope

Let us hold on to hope. Let us hold on to God's unchanging hand;
In Him, let us press on, and find the strength and courage to stand.
Our own flesh will cause us to stumble and to fail;
But with faith and hope, we press on. In God's power, we prevail.

Struggles and sorrows will come, and on the journey, rise up to greet us;
But with faith and hope in God, our troubles with neither overcome nor defeat us.
The world and the devil will attack our soul, and seek to snatch hope away;
God will keep us in hope and faith. He will strengthen us each new day.

Let us not place our hope in the empty promises of men;
May we hold firmly to the promises of Him overcame the dark power of sin.
Christian hope is grounded on the Word. It is forever sure;
God's promises are not empty. His grace and mercy shall forever endure.

Let us hope in God. Let His eternal presence daily guide us;
God will never forsake us. He has given His Spirit to always abide in us.
Let us hold on to hope. Hold on to the One who brings us through pain and strife;
Let us hold on to hope. Hold pn to the One who grants believers eternal life.


Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

From my collection: Songs of my soul; Poems 1983-Present

How wonderful it to know the Savior.

How wonderful it is to know the Savior. How wonderful that He's near;
What a blessed comfort it is to know that He calms my every worry and fear.
What a blessing it is to have been washed by His blood, and saved by His grace;
How powerful it is to be warmed by the bright beams that shine from His face.

How wonderful it is to know a Savior who suffered and died for my sin;
I have a Savior who is my Lord. He is my teacher and my friend.
What a wonderful peace it is to have a Savior who guides me each day;
My Savior know my joys sorrows. He listens when I pray.

Dear friend, do you know the Savior? Do you know of His great mercy and love?
Do you mediate on the Savior's blessings that He sends from heaven above?
If you know the Savior, then there's no greater peace that you'll find;
His Words will give your soul peace, and will comfort your mind.

Come and know the Savior. Come and find in Him, both peace and life;
Come to Him, and find comfort in times of both pain and strife.
The Savior cares for you. He holds you in the palm of His hand;
Come and believe in the One who has opened the way to the promised land.

Hope reclaimed-dedicated to Barack Obama

We stand on the thresh hold of change. This is change that will last;
Now is the time for hope. It is a time to look forward, and not to the past.
Hope has now been reclaimed, and like the wind, sweeps across the land.
It raises up those who have fallen, and it gives strength to stand.

There was a time when we were burdened with feelings of hopelessness and despair;
Our hearts were filled with dread; and we were weighted down with worry and care.
But then, hope was renewed and reclaimed. The hopelessness came to an end;
Hope breathed new life in us, and gave us strength and confidence again.

Hope has been reclaimed. It has been reborn and restored at this very hour;
Hope gives us strength and confidence. It gives us both faith and power.
Hope looks up to the throne of God. This hope endures. It will not fail;
In this hope, we press on, and with confidence, we know that we shall prevail.

Let us stand united in hope. Let us reach out and support each other;
Let us go and speak words of hope to our hurting sister and brother.
May we reach out to those who are struggling with pain and despair;
With our words of hope, may we show them that we care.

Let the flame of hope forever burn strong and bright. May it burn, and not die;
Walk in both faith and hope; have confidence, and hold your head high.
May faith and hope guide and strengthen you along life's way;
In faith and hope, rise up and go forth with confidence to meet each new day.

Comfort from the Savior

A man was hurting and was going through a difficult time in his life.
He was deeply troubled, and he felt nothing but pain and strife.
He went to a church to think and pray. His heart was full of despair;
He dried his eyes, and then he sought the Lord in prayer.
"Lord, I am at the very end of my rope, and nothing has gone right." He said;
He sighed, "My life has no meaning. I wish that I were dead!"
Then he heard what he thought was a voice speaking to him from above;
The voice was nothing that he'd heard; it was full of compassion and love.
"My child," the voice said; "be strong and know that I am with you each day.
Be comforted and know that I am never very far away."
Then Jesus stood in front of the man, dressed in dazzling white;
His hair and clothes shined like the brilliant morning light.
The man said; "Lord, you said that You'd be with me in times of sorrow and sadness."
Jesus said; "I am always with you. I shall turn your sorrow into gladness."
The man said; "Lord, nothing in my life has worked. I am no good!"
Jesus said; "Know that I work all things for your benefit, as I said I would."
The man said; "There nothing good in my life. I have only known pain and misery."
Jesus said; "Believe me, I have a plan for you.I have redeem you. You belong to me."
The man said; "My life is adrift. I don't know who I am. My life has no plan."
Jesus said; "Remember, I will be with you. I hold you in the palm of my hand."
The man said; "I believe, but help me to overcome unbelief, if You can."
Jesus said; "If I can? Believe in me, and I'll uphold you with my mighty hand."
Jesus said; "In me, you have victory, for I've overcome the devil and sin;
I shall give your life purpose, and a peace and joy that will never end."
The man was still unsure. "How do I know that You really love me?" He cried;
"This how." Jesus stretched out His arms and died.

-From "Songs of my soul" Collected poems 1983-present.Yet to be completed.

JUBILATE DEO(Be joyful in God)

Be joyful in God! Be joyful, O'saints, sing aloud of the glory of His name;
Sing the glory of His praise. To the world, His wonderful grace now proclaim.
Say to God; "How awesome are all the works of Your hand;
You O' God, are worthy of the praises from peoples from every land.

The nations honor you. They come and they bow down before You;
The peoples come and they break forth in joy. Their songs of praise come before You.
Come O' saints, come with thanksgiving and enter into God's holy place;
Sing with joy, give God thanks and praise for His wonderful grace.

Our God has done great things with His mighty and strong hand;
He sends forth His blessings upon peoples from nation and land.
Great is our God. O' bless God and praise Him. He is great indeed;
He cares for our body and soul. He supplies our every need.

In His great might, He rules and governs over every land and nation;
He alone is the eternal source of both life and our salvation.
Bless God! Bless God, you who put your trust in Him. Let your praises be heard;
Bless and thanks Him, for His Spirit, and for the blessings of His Word.

I will enter into God's temple, and I will place my offering before His throne;
There in His presence, I will bow, and I will worship Him alone.
I will mediate on His Word. I will call into remembrance His great mercy;
I will declare; "Oh how God has been so good to me."

Come my friends, and listen, and I will tell you how good God has been;
I will tell you that He sent His Son to redeem me from the power of sin.
When I came to God in prayer, He listened, and He heard my voice;
I go into God's temple to be nourished, to praise, and to rejoice.

My friends, I will tell you that I've had times of both sorrow and sadness;
But I know of a God who turns our dark days into both joy and gladness.
Because of His presence, believers are neither abandoned nor alone;
God, yes God, is faithful. He takes care of His own.

Jubilate Deo!Be joyful in God! Let the saints of God now sing;
Let the glad song of victory rise up to the throne of our God and King.
Let the sacred assembly now praise God for His great love, and for His mercy;
Jubilate Deo!Be joyful in God! May the song of the saints echo thro'
all eternity.

Cantate Domino(Sing to the Lord-Psalm 96)

Sing to the Lord! Come gather together, you heavenly throng;
O' saints, blend together your voices. Sing to the Lord, a new song.
Let all of creation sing with joy, and let all make mirth;
Let the praises of the saints, be heard all over the earth,

Sing to the Lord! Sing with joy. Sing now, and bless the Lord's holy name;
Declare the Lord's greatness. To all, His mercy and power procalim.
Proclaim the good news of salvation. Sing His praise, both night and day;
Bless the Lord who both leads and guides us along life's long way.

Sing to the Lord! With boldness, declare Him to every land and nation;
Tell everyone that with the Lord, there is life and salvation.
Great is the Lord. He alone is to be thanked and praised.
To Him, our songs of glory are now raised.

Oh, the majesty and glory of His divine presence amongst us;
How great is the Lord. We praise Him, in whom we believe and trust.
How great is the power of the Lord who reigns in heaven above;
Our Lord is compassionate; He is full of grace, mercy, and love.

Sing to the Lord! Ascribe O' people, all honor and blessing to the Lord alone;
Worship the Lord, You saints who stand around His holy throne.
Tell it to the nations. Make it known that the Lord is King;
Be not silent. Lift up your voices, O' saints. Let your voices and sing.

Let the heavens be glad, and let all people on the earth rejoice;
Let the Church praise the Lord, with one heart, and one voice.
Sing to the Lord! Yes, sing with joy. Give Him both praise and adoration;
Sing to the Lord! Praise now and forever, the God of our salvation.

Lord, in Your mercy

Lord God, I come to Your holy table to seek comfort for my troubled heart;
I come, O Lord, seeking the sacrament which offers the forgiveness that You impart.
Dear Lord God, I ask for Your forgiveness, and I place myself into Your care;
Lord God, in Your mercy, look down and hear my prayer.

I confess to You my Father, my sins and all that I've done and left undone;
I cling not to my merits, but only to the merits of Your dear Son.
Lord Jesus Christ; through Word and sacrament, bring me through despair;
Lord Jesus, continue to remain with me. In your mercy, hear my prayer.

Through Your Word and sacrament, give to me strength for each new day;
By Your true presence, lead and guide me along life's way.
Help me to believe and to overcome all doubt. I place myself in Your care;
Do not leave me alone. Lord, in Your tender mercy, hear my prayer.

Praise be to Christ for the blessings of the sacrament in both bread and wine;
And for the gift of faith to receive from You forgiveness, so amazing and divine.
Thanks be to the Savior for the sacrament that pulls me up from despair;
Thanks be to the Savior, in His mercy and grace, He has heard my prayer.

TE DEUM LAUDAMUS

We praise You, O' God, and Your greantness throughout the world proclaim;
All the earth and creation worships, and praises Your most holy name.
To You, all the angels cry out loud, and the saints gather around Your throne;
The holy angels, and the cherubim and searaphim proclaim You God alone.

Holy are You, the God and the Creator of us all;
The saints cast down their crowns, and in worship, before You fall.
The holy Prophets and blessed Apostles praise You, the saints in joy now sing;
The noble army of the martyrs in white robes acknowledge You to be King.

The Holy Church acknowledges You with both thanks and praise;
The Father of Majesty, with Your beloved Son, our thankful voices raise.
And the Blessed Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who is One;
In Blessed holy unity, with the Father and the Son.

You are the King of glory, O' Christ, our everlasting King;
You are the Son of the Father. Our praises with gratitude now bring.
You left Your throne above, to save us from the curse of sin;
You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You overcame death's power and the grave's sharp sting;
You arose and ascended. You now reign as our Eternal Lord and King.
We, Your Church look for You to return in both power and glory;
The Church in mission, goes forth to the world to proclaim Your story.

We Your people, will forever sing and bless Your most holy Name;
And before all the world, Your saving grace and love, we shall proclaim.
We therefore pray You to help Your servants whom You have saved out of love;
Make them to be numbered with Your saints in heaven above.

How far God has brought us.

God has truly been faithful. He walks with us, and has not left us alone;
God looks after His children. Like a father, He cares for His own.
As we make the journey, we know that He will bring us through sorrow and despair;
Through all of our struggles, God richly shows forth His love and care.
Let us not forget all that God has taught us;
May we always remember how far God has brought us.

God's care and guidance has always been there for all to see;
Daily, God watches over us. Daily, He shows forth His rich mercy.
He is not dear to our pleas. He is not distant and far away;
He inclines His ear, He listens when we come and pray.
Let us not forget all that God has taught us;
May we always remember how far God has brought us.

He has demonstrated His love for us. He planned our soul's salvation;
He sent forth His Son, to carry out the work of justification.
Through faith in Christ, we have the blessings of life and peace forever more;
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has opened to us, heaven's eternal door.
Let us not forget all that God has taught us;
May we always remember how far God has brought us.

Our God shines upon us daily the bright rays of His divine grace;
He daily renews us, and He strengthens us to run the Christian race.
Through His Spirit, He directs our ways and guides our feet;
Through faith, we press on. We shall have victory, and not see defeat.
Let us not forget all that God has taught us;
May we always remember how far God has brought us.

God has brought us through times of great sorrow and tears;
He spoke to our troubled spirits, and He calmed our fears.
His divine presance gives to us both joy and pleasure;
His grace and mercy is our greatest treasure.
Let us not forget all that God has taught us;
May we always remember how far God has brought us.

God moves in a mighty way. He guides us and supports us with His hand;
He leads us through the world, onward to the heavenly promised land.
Praise be to God! He cares for us, and knows the desires of our heart;
Daily, we are at peace. We know that His sweet presence will never depart.
Throughout the journey, we hold on to what God has taught us;
Let us give thanks as we ponder how far God has brought us.

From the collection:Songs of my soul; Poems 1983-present. By Michael Carter

GOD, GUIDES US-THE CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY

God guides us, like a tender Shepherd, through this earthly wilderness;
In this journey, He comforts us, and He carries us through distress.
O' how rocky the path we walk, how great is the despair.
Along the way, we are supported by God's loving care.

During the journey, there will be struggles that we'll face;
We can only make it through by the power of God's grace.
There will be many obstacles that will make the journey dreary;
There will be struggles that will make us grow weak and weary.

We might tremble as we face unknown trials and fears;
God will be there. He will wipe away our tears.
There might be times when we're filled with dismay;
God will listen, when we stop and pray.

During the journey, storm clouds of affliction will arise;
For divine help, we will lift up our heads to the skies.
Jesus will step forth and tell the storms; "Peace, be still!"
The storms shall pass. They shall obey His will.

O' God, we will engage the enemy in spiritual warfare;
We entrust ourselves to Your protection and care.
All Your power and strength, we pray, send us;
Send down Your holy angels to guard and defend us.


O' God, go with us, as we journey on the battlefield;
Let our faith and trust in You be our protection and our shield.
As we go forth on the journey, may we take Your Word;
This is the Spirit's strong, swift sword.

Lord Jesus, be our lasting hope, and our strong defense;
Be our strong refuge and our mighty fortress.
You alone, are our healing balm of comfort from pain;
You are our everlasting shelter from life's storm and rain.

We willl walk by faith. We will walk the path;
We shall endure the unbelieving world's anger and wrath.
We shall strive to control the flesh. At times, we'll fail;
But in faith, we press on. In Christ, we stand. In Him, we prevail.

Through the journey, we will battle the devil, but we'll not see defeat;
Jesus has thrown the devil down. He' been placed under our feet.
Yes, the earthly jounrney might seem to be both hard and long;
God will give us strength for the journey. He will keep us strong.

In faith, we press on. As we do, we will always look to the skies;
God will encourage us. He will hold the blessed cross before our eyes.
We've come this far by faith. God is present to always guide us;
Through His Word and Spirit, He will always abide with us.

We are blessed in the journey. Each day, we remember just how good God has been;
How He sent His Son to set us from the powers of the devil and sin.
Still, there might be times when we feel abandoned and alone;
The Holy Spirit reminds us; "God takes care of His own."

O' God You've always guided us. Continue to guide each day;
Be our guide. Lead us on the path, lest we stumble and go astray.
As we travel, let declare all of the great things that we've seen and heard;
Let us go forth on the journey and proclaim Your most holy Word.

Guide us great God. Hold us ever so firmly in the palm of Your hand;
Lead us down the path that takes us home to the promised land.
There, we shall stand with the saints. Our voices together shall be raised;
We shall the unending hymn; "Amen! May our God be forever blessed and praised!"

Christians, praise your God!

Christians, praise your God! Praise Him for He's done;
How through His own dear Son, the victory has been won.
Praise be to God for the great blessing that He gave us;
Out of great love, He sent forth His own Son to save us.

There was a time when we were crushed by the weight of sin;
It bore us down, and caused us bitter pain without end.
Then the devil came, and he daily tormented and oppressed us;
His relentless attacks, greatly tormented and distressed us.

Death the evil foe brooded over our fate, and threatened us each day;
We struggled with the flesh, and at times we fell away.
The suffering from sin and the devil was too great, and deeper we fell;
Our suffering under the power of sin made life a living hell.

The powers of sin and the devil so ruled us, and kept us in captivity;
We were bound in chains. In pain, we cried out for liberty.
Our condition was painful, and our suffering was so great;
We were burdened down, and felt as if we were carrying a heavy weight.

Our own good works could not win our freedom. They could not save;
They could not turn back the powers of sin, the devil, and the grave.
Our human nature, against God's judgments would rebel;
Because of the torment of sin, we suffered the very pangs of hell.

God saw our condition. He saw us struggling through sin's dark night;
He turned a Father's heart towards us. He was moved by our plight.
He saw that we were oppressed, and that we could not stand;
God resolved that He would set forth His saving plan.

God acted in His own time. He knew what needed to be done;
He would send forth a Savior. He would send forth His Son.
He said; "Go, joy of my heart. From sin and sorrow set them free;
Slay bitter death, so that they will live with You in eternity.

My Son, cast down the devil from his throne;
Bring them peace, so that they will praise You alone."
The Son laid aside His crown and went forth. His mission to fulfill;
He stepped forth from His royal throne, obedient to His Father's will.

The Son came to earth, and was born of virgin mother;
He took the servant's form. He came to be our brother.
He came into the world to seek and to save;
He came to overthrow the powers of sin, the devil, and the grave.

He said; " My beloved, stay close to me;
From the stain of sin, I've come to set you free.
For your sins, I shall suffer and be crucified;
Through faith in me, you will righteous and justified.

The foe will slay me, but I will rise from the dead;
He might strike my heel, but I will crush his head.
By my death and resurrection, I shall destroy the power of the grave;
I have come, your soul to both redeem and to save.

Through my innocent blood, I will make you my own;
I will redeem you, and make you mine alone.
I will abide with you always. You are mine forever.
The wicked foe will divide us, never.

Hold fast to me, for I will be your rock and mighty fortress;
I will comfort you, and bring you through times of distress.
Fear not, for I will go with you on the battlefield;
Your faith in me, will be your protection and your shield.

Be on your guard against those who would steal your hope. Resist them in Faith;
Do not fear them. I will send you my Spirit. He will keep you safe.
Be steadfast in faith. Stand on my Word, and hold your ground;
Be faithful to me to the point of death and in heaven, you'll wear a gold crown.

I will give you my Spirit to strengthen you in the race that you must run;
He will guard you. He will remind you of all that I've said and done.
In your journey, always look to me. Do not have doubt, but believe;
My peace and my blessing I give you, before I leave."

Now to Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our great Redeemer King;
All our thanks and praises, we joyfully now bring.
With the Father and the Spirit, we bless and adore;
Praise be to the Triune God, now and forever more.

-Michael Carter,

From the collection;"Songs of my sou1." Poems from 1983-the present."

Carmon of redemptor(The Song of the redeemed)

O' Ruler of universe, Lord God, great and wonderful things You have done;
You have redeemed Your people through the blood of Your own dear Son.
We stand as the sacred assembly, and we sing our praises, for You are holy and true;
We come before You, and we dedicate our lives and hearts in service to You.
Who can fail, O' Lord to honor You and give You both thanks and praise;
Our voices shall not be silent. Our joyful songs, to You we shall now raise.
The people gather before You. They all come to You from every land and nation;
We stand in awe, and with one resounding voice, acclaim You the God of salvation.
Great things of You are spoken. Your mighty works throughout the world are known;
We the sacred assembly of the redeemed, give our praise and thanks to You alone.

Michael Carter, 2007