How Do I Qualify for Heaven?

Psalm 15

Lord, who can live in heaven with you,
Dwell on your holy hill?
Is there something I must do
To experience Your goodwill?

“He whose walk is blameless,” You say;
“Who speaks the truth from his heart.”
But sin is present every day;
To keep God and me apart.

We’re supposed to do our neighbor no wrong
And cast no slur on others,
But I have days when I can’t get along
With my saintly mother.

Were supposed to honor those who fear God;
Be true to the oaths we swear,
Be generous to those who need our help;
Treat everyone right and square.

By now it should be as plain as day
We’re unable to live in these truths.
We’ve feasted at sin’s appealing buffet
From the earliest days of our youth.

The Bible shares the words so true
Of man’s eternal condition.
It tells us exactly what to do
To defeat our sin disposition.

Jesus came to die on the cross
To pay the price of our sin.
Perfection endured this terrible loss
To draw us near to Him

When we place our trust in Christ
Knowing His Word is true,
His death becomes our sacrifice
We’re cleansed from sin and renewed.

That’s when His Spirit comes within
To be our teacher and guide.
As we listen and learn from Him
Sin habits begin to subside.

So here’s the truth I want you to learn
God paid the price of your sin.
Your salvation cannot be earned.
You must be transformed within.

This may seem too simple for you
As though you only coast,
But if we could earn salvation true,
Our pride would make us boast.

The righteous standing we have in Christ
Comes not from deeds we’ve done.
No, we are judged holy in God’s sight
Because of God’s only Son.

Jesus died that you may receive
Salvation’s invitation.
So tell Him today that you believe
And seal your reservation.


© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Fool

Psalm 14

Who is the man who says there’s no God?
The Bible calls him a fool.
In arrogant pride he lives on this sod
Believing God’s Word is untrue.

His heart is corrupt, his deeds are vile;
His ideals are empty gas.
With vain philosophy he beguiles
The sycophants in his class.

The Lord looks down from heaven on high
Observing the human race.
He searches vainly for all who are wise,
Who desire to seek His face.

He finds not one, for all turned away
To a state of spiritual demise.
There’s no longing to learn or pray,
For they’re tuned to the Father of Lies.

These sons of Satan never learn.
They devour the poor like bread.
Someday the truth they blithely spurn
Will fill them with fear and dread.

But the Lord is the refuge to the poor;
It’s a truth in which to rejoice.
Believers will go to heaven for sure
At the sound of the trump and His voice.

How I long for the day of salvation
When all that was lost is restored;
Receiving heaven’s glorification
And living with Christ our Lord.

I’m going to live in heaven some day.
I hope you will be there too.
Seek the Lord, His teachings weigh;
Don’t play the part of a fool.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

O God, Hear and Act

Psalm 10

Why, O Lord, are you far away
When the wicked act so cruel?
Don’t you know what the wicked say?
They say the believer’s a fool!

The wicked brazenly hunts down the poor
And brags about all his success.
He doesn’t believe judgment is sure;
Considers God even less.

His mouth is full of cursing and lies.
He murders the innocent man.
Like a lion he springs in surprise
On the victims of his plan.

He has no fear of God above
As though He had no eyes.
He has no thoughts of brotherly love
Nor cares if his victims die.

He says, “Nothing bad will happen to me;
Heartache is for the meek.
I reach out and take what I see.
I always get what I seek.”

Lord, when will you act to right this wrong?
You can see the trouble they cause.
Rise to show yourself just and strong
Against those who break your laws?

Break the arms of these evil doers;
Chase them till all are destroyed.
You should become the feared pursuer
Til they lose all the comforts enjoyed.

This I know about You, O Lord.
Of this I am more than sure.
You will bring hope to those oppressed
And relief to those who are poor.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

How Majestic is Your Name

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, to whom we belong,
How majestic is your name.
O Lord, our Lord, your creation longs
To give you praise and acclaim.

Lord, your glory is clearly revealed
In the heavens above.
We, who by your grace are sealed,
Enjoy your peace and love.

Even the praise of child or babe
Produces glorious might.
Even their simplest praises made
Enhance the spiritual fight.

When I consider the heavens above,
The stars and moons that blink;
When I perceive your labor of love,
This is what I think:

“What is man that you care so much?
Why would you love him so?
You made him ruler o’er all he can touch
And gave him total control.

The flocks and herds you’ve given to him,
The birds of the air and the fish that swim.
All the plants that grow in the field
To man is submitted; to man they yield.

Lower than your angels who serve
But greater than all that remains;
With wisdom and power undeserved,
He rules o’er the earthly domain.

There is nothing more to say,
Nor greater thoughts to proclaim.
It is our joy to shout each day,
‘How Majestic is Your Name!’”

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Hear My Plea, O Lord

Psalm 5

Please give ear to my words, O Lord.
Consider my meditation.
I come in the morning to be restored
In humble consecration.

Give heed unto my voice today;
I lay my heart before You.
I come early to sing and pray,
To worship and implore You

You take no pleasure in wicked sin
Nor boastful, pride-filled man;
Those who harbor lies within,
Or deceitful, murderous plans.

But I will come before you, Lord;
Your mercy I receive,
A wondrous undeserved reward
Because my heart believes.

My enemies are counterfeit frauds;
Their tongues speak vain deceit.
What they say you won’t applaud;
It’s foulness they repeat.

Let all who put their trust in You
Rejoice and sing their praise,
Their heart-felt worship proven true
By the character they display.

Surely, Lord, the righteous are blessed;
You surround them like a shield.
I pray their love will find express
In this ripened harvest field.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

A Cry for Help

Psalm 3
(A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.)

2 Samuel records the true account of David’s traitorous son.
Absalom stole his father’s throne and the king was on the run.
Through the night the king did pray and God became his shield
Keeping enemy troops at bay as they tramped through lane and field.

David cried out to his Lord, “How many are my foes!
Absalom’s army is in pursuit to deliver the final blow.
Many who see me on this road believe that I will die,
But I will place my trust in God who governs from on high.

You are a shield around me, Lord, the lifter of my soul.
I look to heaven for your help. There’s nowhere else to go.
I lift my voice and cry to God, ‘O Lord, do not be still.’
I know my God will answer me from His holy hill.

The peace of God then floods my soul. I sleep in quiet rest.
When I awake I am at peace aware that He has blessed.
I will not fear the tens of thousands sent to slaughter me.
His protective care and concern is the safest place to be.

I feel a surge of confidence. I shout for all to hear it.
‘Arise O Lord; strike them down by the power of Your Spirit.
Punch my enemies hard in their face; break their teeth if you must.
Triumph over ungodly foes whose intentions are unjust.’

Listen people, hear my words, ‘Salvation belongs to the Lord.’
He will deliver from all attacks; protect from the enemy sword.
His blessings rest upon His people, those who trust in His name.
So lift your voice and shout to the Lord, His glory to proclaim.”

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Psalm Two--The King of the World

Psalm 2

Wicked Kings all over the world
Rage at the thought of God.
They plot together with insults hurled
Hating His iron rod.

“Let’s break the yoke, throw off the chains
Imposed by the Lord and His Son.”
They craftily plan and anticipate gain
Believing the battle is won.

The One who rules in heaven laughs.
He scoffs at their futile schemes.
All of their plans both present and past
Can’t stop Him from seating His king.

When Jesus died on the cruel cross.
He defeated the power of sin.
Perfection was buried but evil still lost;
For He died and then rose again.

The Son of God came forth from the tomb;
Declared to the world that He lived.
Resurrected from death’s dark room,
The throne of the world became His.

“Ask and I’ll give you all the nations.
It’s your inheritance, Son.
Rule o’er the kingdoms of all creation.
The eternal battle is won.”

Someday soon the Lord will ascend
To the throne as King from above.
Rebels and fools will go to their end
As He reigns in justice and love.

There is action to take today
As you read this Psalm so true.
Confess your sins as you kneel and pray.
Tell Him that you’ll serve Him too.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Psalm One--The Man Who is Blessed

Psalm One

I know a man, who is truly blessed,
Whose life is free of turmoil and stress.
He doesn’t hang with the wrong kind of friends,
For his sinful ways have come to an end.

His life is now guided by God’s sure Word.
He’s soaking in scripture, his heart is stirred.
He’s like a tree with a strong tap root—
Well-watered, not withered; producing good fruit.

He finds his delight in his Living Lord
Who paid the sin ransom he couldn’t afford.
He lives in peace above condemnation
Forgiven, redeemed by the God of Creation.

Along with the righteous the wicked abound.
Rejecting the message the Gospel sounds.
They’re like the chaff, the empty husk,
Blown far from the stream along with the dust.

They have no fruit to present to the Master;
They’re marching toward eternal disaster.
They cruise to old age from days of youth
Believing the lie, rejecting the truth.

God cares for all whose ways are right.
They’re ever before Him day and night.
The righteous soul the Lord will cherish,
But all who reject Him are destined to perish.

The plan of salvation is spiritual birth,
Pardon for sin and purpose on earth.
The scripture declares that when we believe
Our sins are forgiven; new life we receive.

This life we now live will come to an end.
The life that’s eternal will then begin.
So what will it be for you, dear friend,
Heaven with Him or hell that won’t end?

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Hear the Word of the Lord

Jeremiah 26-27

Jeremiah stood in the temple yard to tell the people their fate.
This is the message given by God the prophet was called to state:
“If you do not listen carefully; decide to do what is right,
Jerusalem will become like Shiloh when it suffered its terrible plight.”

(Shiloh was honored to be the place where the people met their Lord.
The tabernacle was located there; the Ark of the Covenant stored.
But when Israel strayed away from God and lost the ark in war,
Shiloh became a desolate city, a place to be shunned and ignored.)

When the officials heard this word they seized the prophet and said,
“This man prophesies against us. We think he deserves to be dead.”
Jeremiah then repeated God’s Word: “Reform and change your ways.
God may soften the coming judgment but only if you obey.”

Uriah and Micah also gave a confirming Word of correction.
The people decided the word was true and lifted their disaffection.
Once again the prophet was spared protected by God’s mighty hand,
But there were additional words from God to proclaim throughout the land.

There came a day when Jeremiah strapped a yoke upon his neck.
He warned Zedekiah of many false prophets and their lying effects.
“Bow to the yoke of bondage I sent; serve Nebuchadnezzar the king,
But if you resist and follow false prophets, you will lose everything.”

But false Hananiah took the yoke that Jeremiah had fashioned.
He smashed the yoke into the ground swinging with might and passion.
“Within two years,” this prophet said, “this foreign yoke will be broken.
Hear me now as I speak to you, for this is a word well spoken.”

Jeremiah responded in this way: “Hananiah that’s a good try.
Sadly you have persuaded these people to follow a bald-faced lie.
I have another word from God that everyone needs to hear:
God is about to remove you from earth. Your death will come this year.”

Hananiah passed in the seventh month just as the prophet had said.
It’s a reminder to follow the Word and not the thoughts of your head.
The Bible is our source of truth as we seek out God’s direction.
Modern day prophets will surely fail, but His Word is utter perfection.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Coming Judgment

Jeremiah 5

The Coming Judgment
Jeremiah 5
Jeremiah became a prophet of God to speak to His unfaithful bride.
He called to the city imploring the folks to lay down their sin and pride.
This people, delivered by their great God, had now abandoned Him.
They daily lived on the precipice of time, for judgment follows sin.

Thus says the Lord to Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground.
If you continue to sow among thorns, your troubles will only compound.
Circumcise your hearts, O men, for my wrath will burn like fire.
Because of the weight of sin in the land, your time is about to expire.

Sound the trumpet! Raise the flag. Run to the stronghold of Zion.
From the north will come a destroyer, a fierce and mighty lion.
Put on the sackcloth, lament and wail, for judgment is at hand;
The righteous anger of the Lord will soon destroy the land.

The lion will come like a scorching wind with chariots and swift horses.
Your armies will not prevail against him who leads his powerful forces.
The purpose of the wind from the north is not to winnow or cleanse;
I will use this blistering wind to bring judgment to wicked men.”

The prophet walked throughout the city and listened at her squares.
He was searching for one honest person who treated the people fair.
Jeremiah was told, “Find one honest person, and I will forgive this city.”
Alas, the prophet could find not one. Such conduct receives no pity.

“Why should I forgive this people for whom I supplied all needs?
These are the people who gave themselves to sin and idolatry.
Like lusty stallions each went his own way seeking his neighbor’s wife.
Why should they now be so surprised to experience the pruner’s knife?”

“O house of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation.
They will devour your flocks and herds; bring pain and separation.
They will take your sons and daughters back to their foreign lands,
But even then you won’t repent and follow My guiding hand.”

O People of God, it was true for them and it’s true for us today.
Today is the day of our salvation. Today is the day we should pray.
Let us confess our need for him and trust Him for salvation.
Help us live our remaining days in fruitful appreciation.

America is walking in peril by abandoning her God above.
She is departing from faith in the One our founding fathers loved.
Walking in sin down the same ugly path, her judgment is at hand.
Lord, help us all be bold Jeremiahs willing to share Your plan.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

God is Calling Out to You

Jeremiah 2-3

Jeremiah heard the voice of God and felt the pain in His heart
As He remembered Judah’s love at the journey’s start.
All Israel was His holy bride sealed at Sinai’s pact,
Protected by His mighty arm from Satan’s evil attack.

“What fault did your father’s find in me? In what way did I fail?
Why did they follow worthless gods powerless to prevail?
The people forgot the way I led with a strong and loving hand
To deliver them from slavery to a prosperous, fruitful land.

I gave you a land of milk and honey which you promptly defiled
Falling in love with idolatry like a headstrong child.
The priests and scholars did not speak; the leaders didn’t care;
The prophets prophesy by Baal today. A word of truth is rare.

My people committed two terrible sins: The first is rejecting Me.
I see them practice their harlotry under every spreading tree.
They have rejected Living Water that cannot assuage their thirst.
They have abandoned their Redeemer following idols first.”

“O Judah, you are a wild donkey in her time of heat
Sniffing the winds to find the stallion she desires to meet.
You say unto a statue of stone, ‘You are god who gave me birth.’
How foolish it is to follow a god made from the stones of earth.”

Young lions trampled your cities to dust. Where have your gods been?
When the men of Egypt burned your towns, where were your gods then?
You look to the sky and fervently proclaim, ‘He is not angry with me.’
How foolish it is to deny your guilt. The evidence is plain to see.”

You are Israel’s faithless sister. You failed to learn from her sin.
You pretend to come back to me, but you are faithless within.
I’m calling now to Israel too dispersed through Assyria’s land.
Return to Me. I am your husband. Come and take my hand.”

In the same way that God called to Judah and to Israel too,
So He continues to call out today…calling out for you.
He is not willing that any should perish. He wants to save your soul.
There is no other fountain to cleanse. Only He can make you whole.

Will you listen? Will you respond? Will you come to Him today?
Time is short. The end is coming. It’s time to kneel and pray.
God is waiting to make you His child. He wants to forgive all sin.
Come to Him in faith and surrender. He will cleanse you within.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1

After Josiah came four worthless kings as the time of captivity drew near.
Jeremiah was called as a prophet supreme, but the message they would not hear.
Read God’s Word and consider it well; the message is given for all,
For we will miss the purpose of life if we fail to heed God’s call.

Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, was raised in a righteous home.
His father was a priest who served when Josiah was on the throne.
In the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign, Jeremiah heard the call.
The record reveals the challenging task he faced as he gave his all.

“Before I formed you in the womb I determined to make you mine.
I set you apart and gave you to Judah for this particular time.
I, your God, have made you a prophet and put your bones on fire,
For the people you serve have lost their way and are led by evil liars.”

“O God in heaven, why should I speak? To them I’m a tender youth.”
“Just go where I send you, say what you hear; proclaim the triumphant truth.
I’ve set you over nations and kings to root out and pull down.
You are called to refute the lies of those who will wear the crown.

A king from the North is coming soon to capture the holy city.
Because of Judah’s idolatry, I will turn from compassion and pity.
Prepare yourself, arise and go; proclaim the truths you have heard.
Do not be dismayed when they resist, for they will not heed the word.”

“They will fight but will not prevail against you,” says the Lord.
The king, the priests, and the princes will fail to resist the coming horde.
Judgment will come for the idolatry practiced throughout this land
Where people worship gods of wood fashioned by their own hand.”

So what is the message for us today? What can we learn from this?
What should we grasp as we kneel to pray? It’s meaning we must not miss.
We love our computers, our high def TV’s, the technology of the land.
Could these be considered the gods we love fashioned by our hands?

Lovers of pleasure and not of God, enslaved by money and greed—
Isn’t this a message of truth that people today should heed?
Let us not practice foolish delusion like the people of Judah embraced,
For soon the day of accounting will come when we meet Him face to face.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Josiah Plan

2 Kings 22-23

The greatest king Judah had known was beloved King Hezekiah.
But now we come to special young man whose name was King Josiah.
In between was an evil one who reigned for fifty-five years.
Though he was Hezekiah’s son, he was evil beyond his peers.

Manasseh repented in later years and tried to change his nation,
But the evil he had performed altered its spiritual station.
His son Amon, who became king, abandoned the way of the Lord.
Two years later he was destroyed by his servant’s sword.

The people installed Josiah as king when he was but eight years old.
From his advisors wisdom would spring more precious than silver or gold.
Josiah’s leadership and reforms are chronicled in three stages.
The blessed actions he performed are recorded in these pages.

The first stage happened from age eight with guidance from his advisors.
As they taught him respect for God, he was enabled to rule wiser.
His leadership grew at age sixteen when his faith became his own.
He did not turn from right to left, nor did he from godliness roam.

Stage two began when he was twenty and nothing within him faltered.
He decided to cleanse the nation removing false gods and altars.
Jerusalem first and throughout the land his resolve the people saw,
But nothing compares to the fateful day they found the Book of the Law.

Stage three begins at age twenty-six when he ordered the temple cleansed.
Hilkiah found the Book of the Law, missing from way back when.
Josiah consulted Huldah the Prophetess to assuage his spiritual thirst.
“Because of their sin,” the prophetess said, “the land will surely be cursed.”

Now God was pleased with Josiah the king; gave him a word from the Lord:
“Before judgment falls on everything, you will go to your heavenly reward.”
Josiah called a sacred assembly to hear the words from the scroll.
The people heard how sin condemns with power to destroy their soul.

The land was put to a further purge with idol objects defiled.
The people saw the truth about sin and how its power beguiles.
The power of sin is present today in our land and across the sea.
It is to Jesus the Savior we pray for salvation to set us free.

Josiah reigned for thirty-one years; brought blessings to his nation.
He was successful because he feared the God of all creation.
You can walk with the Lord today discerning this world’s demise:
Turn to Jesus; walk in His ways. “Look up! Your redemption is nigh.”

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

What Will Your Legacy Be?

2 Kings 15:1-6; 32-37; 18-20

Many kings in the North and South were very wicked men.
They fought each other and enemies without over and over again.
Thirteen ruled as kings in the North until Elisha died;
About that time Uzziah became the king of the southern tribe.

Uzziah is known to be Azariah; both names describe the man.
He did right in the sight of God but missed a part of His plan.
In the fifty-two years of his legendary reign he saw a lot of faces,
But he failed to completely remove the idolatry of the high places.

Jotham was Uzziah’s son who became a righteous king.
He rebuilt the gates on the temple wall among many other things.
Jotham conquered the Ammonites; received tribute from many places,
But like his father he failed to destroy the idolatry of the high places.

After Jotham Ahaz was king. Of evil he never tired.
He sacrificed his infant sons through Molech’s awful fire.
Defeated in war he surrendered the treasure belonging to the Lord.
Such wickedness extracts a price that no one can afford.

But after Ahaz came a king who loved God with all his heart.
He trusted the Lord in heaven above His wisdom to impart.
Hezekiah became the greatest king to rule from Judah’s throne.
His courage, faith, and integrity, we should seek to make our own.

Uzziah, Jotham and Hezekiah—three of Judah’s best leaders.
Each left a legacy of righteousness admired by Bible readers.
We too will leave a legacy from this time we have on earth,
So consider the brevity of this life and leave a legacy of worth.

We cannot change our history past, but there is time still left,
Time to refocus our life on God; to encourage, love and bless.
We can live with eternity in view remembering heaven above,
Infusing the way we talk and live by the power of Christ’s love.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved