It’s Better to Be Poor

It’s better to be poor
And have riches in the Lord
Than have vast earthly wealth
And let it ruin your health.

It’s better to eat soup
With your family and your friends
Than eat the finest steak
At the table of your foes.

It’s better to be patient,
For patience can bring peace,
Than always lose your temper
And make bad matters worse.

It’s better to speak softly
When anger fills the air
Than try to SHOUT your LOUDEST
When you wage a war with words.

About this Song:

The biblical book of Proverbs is chock full of King Solomon’s tidbits of wisdom. The four I’ve used for this song are the only ones I could find that fall into an “It’s better THIS than THAT” pattern, and I’ve searched Proverbs numerous times looking for more. If anyone reading this post can find another one, I’d be most grateful.

Proverbs 15:1

New International Version (NIV)
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)
15 A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.

Good News Translation (GNT)
15 A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.

Proverbs 15:16-18

New International Version (NIV)
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)
16 It’s better to obey the Lord and have only a little,
    than to be very rich and terribly confused.
17 A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
18 Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.

Good News Translation (GNT)
16 Better to be poor and fear the Lord than to be rich and in trouble.
17 Better to eat vegetables with people you love than to eat the finest meat where there is hate.
18 Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.

I’m not sure what translation I based my wording on, but apparently not the three I quoted above. Isn’t it amazing how much difference exists among various translations of the Bible? Of course, some are transliterations rather than new translations–but those often help us get a special feel for the assumed intent of the biblical author.

Does this song bring to mind anything you’d like to share? If so, please leave a comment.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:


Posted in Anger, Patience, Poverty, Proverbs, Solomon, Wealth, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Joy a Man Feels

What joy a man feels
When he’s found the right words
For just the right occasion.

Like apples of gold
In a silver setting
Are words fitly spoken.

About this Song:

Yes, I know this little piece is almost too short to call a song, but that’s okay. It’s still complete within itself, even though I normally use it to preface “It’s Better to Be Poor,” which I’ll post next week. These words come from two Scripture passages: Proverbs 15:23 and Proverbs 25:11. I’ve included those passages in each of five translations below.

New International Version (NIV)
Proverbs 15:23

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 25:11
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.

**********************************************

Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Proverbs 15:23
23 Giving the right answer at the right time makes everyone happy.

Proverbs 25:11
11 The right word  at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.

**********************************************

The Message (MSG)
Proverbs 15:23

23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful!

Proverbs 25:11
11 The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry. . .

**********************************************

New King James Version (NKJV)
Proverbs 15:23
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

Proverbs 25:11
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.

**********************************************

Good News Translation (GNT)
Proverbs 15:23
23 What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!

Proverbs 25:11
11 An idea well-expressed is like a design of gold, set in silver.

Isn’t that the goal of all speakers and writers–both secular and sacred–to convey a well-expressed idea? We–most of us, anyhow–wouldn’t waste time trying to communicate unless we either had something worthwhile to say or thought we did.

As a published novelist, I know first-hand what a struggle finding just the right word can be. I not only make frequent use of a dictionary and a thesaurus, but occasionally also use a “flip dictionary,” which allows me to look for words related to a given object. (For example, suppose I wanted to learn what the bathroom on a ship is called. I could look up “ship.”)

I’m reminded of a joke I heard years ago. An apartment building housed no one but music students. All day long, one could walk by and listen to the sounds of people practicing scales–up and down, down and up. But this one future cellist played only a single note–an A-flat. Somebody finally got up the nerve to ask why he played only one note hour after hour while everyone else was playing scales. His response? “I listen to the rest of you–day in and day out–and you keep searching for the perfect note. I’ve already found mine.”

Are you looking for just the right word–or don’t you have anything worthwhile to say? If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you always have something to talk about, although your “right words” may not always fall on receptive ears.

How about leaving a comment? I’d love to hear from you.

For a free lead sheet of this little song, click the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page, click on “See list of available lead sheets,” and look for “What Joy a Man Feels” in the drop down list.

Links you might be interested in:

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Posted in Best Words, Bible, Gold, Proverbs, Silver, Words | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd.
He gives me everything I need.
He makes me to lie down
In pastures that are green
And he leads me to drink from
The waters that are still.
The Lord is my shepherd.
He gives me everything I need.

He feeds me in the presence of my enemies.
He makes my cup to overflow.
How it overflows.

The Lord gives me new strength;
He guides me in His righteous path.
Though I stumble through darkness,
I need not be afraid.
For the Lord will protect me
With His rod and with His staff.
The Lord is my shepherd.
He gives me everything I need.

He feeds me in the presence of my enemies.
He makes my cup to overflow.
How it overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy
Will follow me throughout my life.
The Lord is my shepherd.
He gives me everything I need.
He gives me everything I need.

About This Song:

Who would’ve thought I’d feel inspired to take the very primitive version of a song I wrote forty-two years ago out of the drawer–it took a while to find it–and almost totally rewrite it? You can listen to this updated version here.

I shouldn’t have been surprised at God’s leading me to do that.

After all, Sunday by Sunday our pastor has kept referring to the twenty-third Psalm in his efforts to encourage the congregation during the very disturbing days of COVID-19 and other things that are going on right now.

I’m not great at memorizing Scripture, although I’m sure I used to be able to quote the familiar King James version below:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

But I needed a version I could sing, be encouraged by, and hopefully encourage others with. After you listen to it, I hope you’ll not only feel uplifted, but that some of the words and notes will stay with you. Maybe you can even use them to encourage others yourself.

Oh, and the free lead sheet is available from the Lead Sheet tab at the top of this post.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

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Is It Me, Lord?

Is it me, Lord? Is it me, Lord?
Is it me, Lord, who’ll carry Your cross on a Sunday,
But betray You with a kiss on Monday?

Is it me, Lord? Is it me, Lord?
Is it me, Lord, who walks on the water on Sunday,
But sinks to the bottom on Monday?

Is it me, Lord? Is it me, Lord?
Is it me, Lord, who’s concerned about the lost on Sunday,
But let ’em go to the devil on Monday?

Is it me, Lord? Is it me, Lord?
Is it me, Lord, who’ll bear Your burdens on Sunday,
But who doesn’t know Your name on Monday?

About This Song:


Is It Me, Lord?” brings to mind the reaction of Jesus’ disciples at the Last Supper after He announced that one of them was going to betray Him.

It’s interesting that eleven of the twelve disciples had no intention of betraying their Lord and Savior. I’m guessing that each of them simply wanted confirmation that he wasn’t going to betray Jesus unintentionally.

Simon Peter didn’t realize he would end up betraying Jesus by denying he knew Jesus later that same evening. Neither did the other disciples realize they would betray Him by running away like the scared-est of scared rabbits when faced with danger, and one disciple (believed to be John) barely escaped–without his clothes, which got torn off in the pursuit.

Are we Christians any better? We may not betray Jesus the way Judas Iscariot did. Or even the way Simon Peter did. But don’t we fail Him in a number of significant ways?

I admit it. I do.

And that makes God’s love and forgiveness all the more special. I need not live with the guilt for what I’ve done or failed to do. I can accept God’s offer of a second chance and move forward, keeping my eyes more completely on Him and growing in my desire to please Him and not myself.

Have you ever let Jesus down? Have you sought His forgiveness? And have you forgiven yourself?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to look at the one for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Betrayal, Cross, Devil, Forgiveness, Guilt, Judas Iscariot, Lord's Supper, Simon Peter, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Smile Song

refrain
Lord, I look in Your face and marvel at
How You’ve been smiling on me.
For You have made me and You have saved me
And You have set me free.

Lord, I see in Your smile such love that
I know I am never alone.
And, Lord, I see in Your smile such care that
I know You are all that I need.
refrain

Lord, I see in Your smile such strength that
I know You help carry my load.
And, Lord, I see in Your smile such peace that
I know I have nothing to fear.
refrain

Lord, I see in Your smile such grace that
I know You forgive all my sins.
And, Lord, I see in Your smile such hope that
I know I have new life in You.
refrain

About This Song:
Christians often refer to God as their Heavenly Father, and that’s a legitimate biblical concept. But how often do we think about what being God’s children involves?

Do we think about wanting to please God? (Not because we can ever pay Him back for everything He does for us, but to thank Him or–better still–just because we love Him.)  Do we think about how He wants to use us in His “family business”?

And do we think about the pleasure we bring to God? After all, He’s a master craftsman–THE Master Craftsman. He made the world, and He made each of us.

So shouldn’t we feel free–wouldn’t it be proper?–to imagine ourselves looking into the face of God and seeing Him smile back at us the way an earthly parent smiles at his children?

When we look at God that way–even in our imaginations–shouldn’t we be able to see many of the aspects of His love for us?  The kind of love and care “The Smile Song” attempts to describe.

I’d like to think so. And I would much rather picture His love smile of encouragement and approval than His disappointed look when we act like disobedient children.

~*~

Links you might be interested in:

I’ll be back again next Wednesday.

Best regards,
Roger

Posted in Caring, God's love, Grace, Hope, Peace, Smiling, Strength, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vast

How vast is God’s wisdom;
How broad is His knowledge!
And what mind could fathom
The thoughts of the Lord?
Who could advise God
Or put Him in his debt?
For He’s made all things,
And His Ways are His own.

About This Song:

Some years ago, Beth Moore did a Bible study at the International Mission Board’s annual Spiritual Emphasis Week. While I don’t recall anything about the series otherwise, I do recall an emphasis on Romans 11:33-36. . .


33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(NIV)

I always pray while lying in bed going to sleep. I have certain things I pray about, including more than twenty unsaved people and my thousands of unknown readers.

But I also like to praise God for who He is. I marvel at the fact He’s too big, too wise, too knowledgeable, too loving, too merciful–too much of everything I’m not–for me to truly comprehend.

The closest I can come to appreciating God’s vastness is to look at Jesus Christ–God Himself living on the earth as both God and man.

What do you think? Is God too vast for you to comprehend? If not, your God is too small. How about leaving a comment?

I have two lead sheets available for “Vast.” One version is in 3/4 time; the other in 4/4. If you’re a musician, you might want to play around with doing the two versions in sequence. The 3/4 version seems faster; the 4/4 version is more restrained.

~*~

Links you might be interested in:

I’ll be back again next Wednesday.

Best regards,
Roger

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The Son/Sun Song

Does it brighten your day
When the sunshine appears?
Does it brighten your day
When the sunshine appears?
Does it brighten your day
When the sunshine appears,
And you see by its light
And you warm by its rays?

Does it brighten your way
When God’s Son shines on you?
Does it brighten your way
When God’s Son shines on you?
Does it brighten your way
When God’s Son shines on you,
And you see by His truth
And you warm by His love?

If you’re lost in life’s darkness,
Won’t you follow God’s Son?
If you’re lost in life’s darkness,
Won’t you follow God’s Son?
If you’re lost in life’s darkness,
Won’t you follow God’s Son?
Let Him lead you in truth;
Let Him warm you with love.

About This Song:
If you don’t know me well, you may not realize how much I love plays on words. That’s a side I rarely reveal in my songs.

But “The Sun/Son Song” is an obvious exception.

Although this song dates back to 1994, I only added the third stanza within the last few years. It seems more complete now.

Winter is almost here, and for most of us that doesn’t just mean colder weather, but fewer sunny days. And even when the sun is shining, it doesn’t seem to bring much warmth. Not physical warmth. But don’t we all feel just a bit warmer inside when we look at the sky and see that familiar ball of fire?

For me as a Christian, walking with Jesus on a daily basis is very much like walking in the sunshine. I don’t mean every day is perfect. Far from it at times. But Jesus’s companionship is a constant reminder that God is still in control, no matter how dreary the day otherwise.

If you aren’t walking with Jesus, don’t you wish you had the assurance that you’re safe in God’s hands? Walking in the light is considerably nicer–and safer!–than walking in the darkness.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Darkness, God's Light, Light, Love, Son Shine, Sunshine, The Sun/Son Song, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If You Really Love Me

If you really love me,
Then you’ll do the things that I ask of you;
Love one another so they’ll know it’s true–
I am the Lord of Love.

You know that I’m the Lord of Love;
Show them that I’m the Lord of Love.

If you really love me,
The world will know it from the things you do;
That’s how they’ll judge if your words are true,
That I am the Lord of Love.

You know that I’m the Lord of Love;
Show them that I’m the Lord of Love.

If you really love me,
The world can tell it at a single glance;
It’s seldom you’ll ever have a second chance
To show I’m the Lord of Love.

You know that I’m the Lord of Love;
Show them that I’m the Lord of Love.

About This Song:
Why does the world–including so many American liberals–hate Christians and Christianity?

Is it because we use God’s standards as set out in the Bible to label and oppose sin when and where we see it? Or do people mistakenly believe we hate the sinner as well as the sin?

That shouldn’t be the case. God loves everyone equally, and true Christians ought to be the kindest, most loving people around.

In the old Christian musical Celebrate Life, writer/lyricist Ragan Courtney poignantly asks something like this regarding Jesus’ crucifixion, “Is love so ugly to look at that we have to kill it?”

God’s love goes so far beyond ordinary love that people’s inability to understand it makes sense. Even though I’ve been a Christian for more than sixty years, I still can’t comprehend it. Like God Himself, His love is too big to understand.

But I believe in God’s love, and I know it’s a good thing. The best. Not something to hate or fear.

God wants me–He wants all Christians–to spread His love to as many people as we can. In the hopes that some will recognize that He is truly “the Lord of Love” and accept His love, forgiveness, and assurance of eternal life.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Example, Influence, Love, Sin, Sinner | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

That God’s Love Might Show

Live purest lives, God’s innocent children,
In this world of darkness and sin.
You must shine like stars in the night sky
As you share God’s message of life.

God is your father, Christ your brother.
How you live reflects on their name.
Show great care in using your freedom
That you don’t lead the weak to fall.

Feed those who are hungry, clothe the naked,
Visit those who are in jail.
Love each other and love those who hate you
That God’s love may show through you.

You must shine like stars in the night sky
That God’s love may show through you,
That God’s love may show through you.

About This Song:

The first thing my wife noticed about this song is that the words of the title don’t appear anywhere in the lyrics. That oversight occurred so many years ago I won’t make any effort to justify it now. I’ll just laugh at myself once again.

I have fond memories of singing this song the first time at an old age home in Australia. Can you imagine addressing a group of old folks as “God’s innocent children”? But when it comes to our relationship with God, we’re all children–regardless of our age.

I believe this song probably comes closer to capturing the essence of the Christian life than any of my other songs.

It has a good biblical basis. The main idea comes from Phil. 2:15-16a:

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
(NIV)

But related Scriptures include:

Matt. 5:44. . .
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
(NIV)

1 Cor. 8:9-13. . .
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
(NIV)

Matt. 25:35-40. . .
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(NIV)

John 1:12-13. . .
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
(NIV)

Rom. 9:8. . .
8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.
(NIV)

Rom. 14:13. . .
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
(NIV)

John 3:1-3. . .
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
(NIV)

This planet we live on is populated with billions of people who don’t even know Jesus’s name, much less the hope He provides not only for eternity but for a more meaningful life here on earth.

I can’t conceive of billions. I can’t even conceive of millions. But even if I could, that wouldn’t change the fact that my sphere of influence is pretty small.

That doesn’t free me from the responsibility to live in the light and to be light to others, though. I know the Good News. I have the Good News. But how can I show myself a child of God if I’m unwilling to share it with others?

“Faith without works is dead.”

What about you? Does your faith compel you to shine like a star in the night sky of sin and darkness so others can see you’re different?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Children, Darkness, Faithfulness, Light, Night Sky, Obedience, Serving Jesus, Sharing, Sharing God's Love, Stars, Works | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dark Is the Night

I lie down and close my eyes;
I dream, though I do not sleep.
Tomorrow’s ills seem too real today,
Tomorrow’s paths too steep.

Dark is the night and steep is the path,
When I close my eyes to the Way of God’s Son.
But bright is the night when I open my eyes
And follow in faith as God’s Son leads me
Till my journey’s done.

Then I open my eyes in faith
To One Who has been here before.
He knows where I come from;
He knows where I’m going.
I’ll let Him lead,
I’ll let Him open each door.

Dark is the night and steep is the path,
When I close my eyes to the Way of God’s Son.
But bright is the night when I open my eyes
And follow in faith as God’s Son leads me
Till my journey’s done.

About This Song:

I don’t recall the circumstances under which I wrote this song, but I can easily imagine them. I admit that–even as a Christian–I sometimes permit myself to worry when turning my concerns over to God and letting Him lead me safely through the valley would be so much better.

Jesus encountered the worst of every problem I could possibly face in my earthly life and far more. That qualifies Him as the Ultimate Guide.

All I have to do is quit being so self-dependent–and worrying because I know I’m not really in control of my life, no matter how much I’d like to think I am–and let God take the wheel.

Are you a worrier, too? Have you experienced the freedom of stress-free living that comes only from giving God complete control of your life? If not, you’ve missed something of major importance. It’s not too late, though. . .

As I grow older,  my faith in God’s ability to lead me grows stronger, because I can look back to the ever-increasing number of problems God has led me through. He may not have always provided the answer I wanted or expected, but He’s never let me down.

What about you? Are your “nights” fearfully dark or are you following the “Light of the World”? How about leaving a comment?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Darkness, Dreaming, Faith, Light, Sleep, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment