Secrets of Happiness

When Jesus saw the crowds around
He climbed a mountain and sat down
Then His disciples came to Him
He opened His mouth and taught them

The poor in spirit they are blest
For heaven’s kingdom they’ve possessed
Blest and happy are those who mourn
For comfort will to them return

The meek and gentle they are blest
For the earth will be their bequest
Blessed are those who want to do right
For they’ll be satisfied forthright

Blest are those who are merciful
For they’ll be shown mercy [in full]
God blesses those whose hearts are pure
Because they will see God [for sure]

Blest and happy are peacemakers
They’ll be sons of God [our Maker’s]
Blest those harassed for doing right
Heaven’s kingdom is theirs outright

Blest are you when you’re insulted
For My sake smeared, persecuted
Joy! Your reward in heaven’s great
For the prophets you emulate

Matthew 5:1-12

Do We Really Follow Jesus?

Hearing John was in custody
Jesus returned to Galilee
First Nazareth, then Capernaum
By Naphtali and Zebulun

Just like Isaiah’s prophecy
In Zebulun and Naphtali
Beyond the Jordan by the sea
Where Gentiles live in Galilee

Those in the dark have seen a great light
In death’s shadow a light shone bright
And Jesus preached, Repent of sins
Turn to God; the Kingdom begins.

One day along Galilee’s shore
Peter and Andrew, Jesus saw
Casting a net into the lake
For they fished, a living to make

Jesus called out, Come, follow me
And fishers of men you will be!
They followed Him immediately
As did the sons of Zebedee

Jesus went throughout Galilee
And taught in their assembly
Preached the Good News of the Kingdom
Healed disease and sickness victim

Matthew 4:12-23

The Lamb of God

John said as Jesus came to him
“The Lamb of God who removes sin
He’s the next one successively
Who existed long before me

With water I’ve been baptizing
For in Israel His revealing”
The Holy Spirit like a dove
Resting on Him from up above

Just like God said, and I was awed
As I looked at the Son of God
And John said Jesus was the Lamb
And two disciples followed Him

He invited them to come and stay
So they stayed with Him all that day
And Andrew, he was one of them
And he told His brother Simon

When Simon went to say hello
The Lord said, your name’s Peter though

John 1:29-42

The Mystery of Baptism

Then Jesus came from Galilee
To John to be baptized you see
And John tried to stop Him, saying,
You, should baptize me, I’m stating

But Jesus said and answered him,
All righteousness I’m fulfilling.
He baptized Him. Then the Master
Came up away from the water

The heavens opened up above
The Spirit came down like a dove
On Him. Then a voice from above,
I’m pleased with My Son dearly loved.

Matthew 3:13-17

Receive the Word

In the beginning was the Word
The Word with God, God was the Word
Always with God from origin
Everything was made through Him

Without Him nothing came to be
Not one thing that has come to be
In Him life was
And the life was
The light of all humanity

And the light shines in the darkness
Which the darkness could not possess
God sent a man whose name was John
To bear witness concerning one

To testify about the Light
That all through him believe alright
He was sent and was not that Light
Sent to bear witness of that Light

The true Light, every man lighting
Into the world He was coming
He was in the world, made through Him
The world He made did not know Him

Even His own rejected Him
But as many as received Him
Their right as God’s children became
To those who believe in His name

Not born of blood, nor fleshly thrill
But of God, not of human will

The Word became flesh and with us dwelled
And so His glory we beheld
Of the Father’s one and only
Full of grace and truth in glory

John bore witness and cried and said
“This was He of whom I had said
‘He who follows me is preferred
For long before me, He was heard.’”

Of His fullness we’ve all received
And even more gifts, grace for grace
The law was given through Moses
Grace and truth came through Christ Jesus

No one has seen God ever yet
The only one God did beget
In the Father’s intimate zone
He has come and made Him known

John 1:1-18

Jesus as Refugee

To Joseph an angel appeared,
In Egypt, safety is assured
Stay there until I bring you word
Herod wanted no children spared

So by night they left for Egypt
And stayed ‘til the death of Herod
Fulfilling prophecy begun,
“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

When Herod saw the wise men flee
He went on a child murder spree
Fulfilling what the prophet said,
Lamentation through Ramah spread

When Herod died, an angel said
You can go back home, Herod’s dead
Fulfilling prophecy foreseen
“He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Matthew 2:13-23

God with Us, God Saves

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this way
Mary was to marry Joseph some day
But before the marriage even took place
She’s with child by the Holy Spirit’s grace

Righteous Joseph caused no anxiety
Chose to break the engagement quietly
But, an angel came to him in a dream
Don’t fear, the Holy Spirit’s in this scheme

She’ll have a son, and you’ll name him Jesus
He’ll save his people from their sins grievous
The Lord’s message through his prophet compiled
“Behold! The virgin will conceive a child!

She’ll give birth to a son, Emmanuel,
Which means ‘God is with us.’ as all will soon tell”
Joseph awoke and took Mary his wife
Then after the birth came marital life

And Joseph named him Jesus
[And Jesus means, God saves (us)]
And Joseph named him Jesus
[Emmanuel, God with us]

Matthew 1:18-25

Offended by Jesus

John heard in prison what Christ was doing
He sent two disciples to Him asking
“Are You the One who is to come?
Should we expect another one?”

Jesus said, “Tell John what you hear and see
Lepers cleansed, lame walk, deaf hear, the blind see,
Dead are raised, poor hear the gospel decree
Blest is anyone not stumbling at Me.”

Jesus spoke to the multitudes of John
“What did you go in the wilds to look on?
A reed in the wind? A man in soft clothes?
Those in soft clothing live in fine abodes.”

“Was it a prophet you went out to see?
Yes, I say, more than a prophet was he.
For this is he of whom it is written
‘Prepare the way, My messenger’s mission.’”

“Of those born of women there’s none greater
But the least in the kingdom are greater
The kingdom suffers intensely
But the bold take it zealously.”

Preparing for Christ

In those days John the Baptist came
To the wilderness to proclaim
Repent of sins and turn to God
The Kingdom is near, not abroad

Isaiah speaking about John said
Shouting in the desert he spread
Prepare the way, the Lord’s coming
Clear the road for his forthcoming

John’s clothes were made from camel’s hair
And a leather belt he did wear
He ate locusts and wild honey
People came from the whole country

They went out to see and hear John
To confessed their sins they were drawn
He baptized them in the Jordan
And their leaders came to hearken

John denounced them, “You brood of snakes!”
Who warned you to flee when wrath breaks?
Where are your fruits of repentance
Sons of Abraham is no stance

God can make sons of Abraham
From these very stones in the land
Now the ax is poised and ready
To sever the roots of the trees

Every tree that has no good fruit
It’s chopped down and given the boot
I baptize people with water
But someone’s coming much greater

I’m not worthy his shoes to wear
He’ll baptize with Spirit and fire
He’ll separate the chaff and wheat
He’ll winnow and clean the floor neat

He’ll place the wheat into the store
Burn the chaff with eternal fire”

Matthew 3:1-12

Watching and Praying

No one knows the day or the hour
When these things will happen down here
No not the angelic order
Or the Son, only the Father

When the Son of Man comes our way
It will be like in Noah’s day
In those days before the drenching
Were banquets, parties and weddings

Right up until Noah boarded
They ignored warnings afforded
Unaware of what was coming
‘Til swept away in the flooding

Just like when the Son of Man comes
Two farmers; two different outcomes
Two women working at the mill
One taken, the other left still

So you, too, must keep watch!
It’s not something to botch
You don’t know when the Lord’s coming
It’s just like the burglar’s cunning

Keep watch lest your goods be stolen
Always ready, that’s the slogan
For the Son of Man will then come
Unexpected by everyone

Matthew 24:36-44