Author Archives: porchofthelord

An Ark So Strong

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“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” Genesis 6:14 NIV

God has raised up many ministries to encourage
that, as a believer, you can build yourself an ark–
through faith in His Word and its promises to you,
in a world that’s increasingly getting dark.

Psalm 91 is a well-tested, protective psalm,
that we can claim as a shelter and a shield.
Many don’t consider that God’s Word could be so sure
and have let it become a Sword they only hesitantly wield.

“No evil will befall you…He gives His angels charge over you,”
and “With long life He will satisfy you,” are yours to claim–
Confession of God’s Word, and the Name and the blood of Jesus,
are the weapons, in a storm, that will conquer and tame.

But don’t wait for storms to develop in your life–
Make His promises your regular confession every day.
Abide in His Word, His presence, and dwell secure,
for these are the “Ark” whereby danger is kept away.

P. A. Oltrogge

“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 NKJV

“My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:18 NKJV

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord.”
Proverbs 21:31 KJV

“I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!'”
from Psalm 91 — verse 2

Further messages/testimonies:
http://www.kcm.org
http://www.govictory.com
http://www.josephprince.org
http://www.rhema.org
http://www.lenmink.com
http://www.moorelife.org
http://www.awmi.net
http://www.oralroberts.com
http://www.covenantfamily.cc

On this Valentine’s Day

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Love Sonnet to Jesus

How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways…
I love Thee for giving me breath to praise.
I love Thee for all that you’ve done for me…
In deepest love, you bore my sin penalty.

And through what you have done on a cruel cross,
I can pray in faith and you’ll still “come across”
With answers to prayer as I continue to trust.
Your power has a loving and faithful thrust.

You provide shelter, food, and clothing to wear,
And commission me to the challenge with others to share
Of the things of this life and that which is enduring–
The Gospel of Christ, our eternal, strong mooring.

I love Thee for causing your goodness to reflect
Through family, friends, and teachers I respect.
I love Thee for your Word, which teaches right and wrong;
And my soul is pointed to you through beautiful song.

I love Thee for showing me your artistic impression
As seen in what you’ve created with gifted expression.
I love Thee for giving me the Holy Spirit,
My Comforter–not an audible voice, yet I can hear it.

I love that I can trust that by you I’m being led,
So intimately I’m known, even the number of hairs on my head.
I love Thee for your compassion–the goodness of your ways…
I love Thee that you promise to be with me all of my days.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7

“…He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’”
Hebrews 13:5

Living and Giving Together

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“For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Haven’t I said that a man should leave his home
of mother and father and the woman do the same,
to start their new lives, with no need to roam
from the one with whom they then will share a name?

This is what I’ve established, this is what’s best–
loyalty in love, going through life together,
both in busy activity and peaceful times of rest,
be it sunny days or stormy times that they weather.

I desire a holy bond, committed to Me,
with cords of strong love that cannot be broken.
As the author of love, I know love isn’t “free,”
but is meant to be shared with vows being spoken.

Like anything else, love often takes work–
serving one another will help things go right.
Commitment to each other isn’t something to shirk;
I don’t want one hurt by the other taking flight.

The way to experience the fulness of love
is, as the saying goes, “through thick and through thin.”
Add reading My Word and lifting prayers up above,
and rich blessing will come when I’ve entered in.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:33

(See “About the Porch”)

A Psalm of Security

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Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down,

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.

“With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.”

Cleansing through Forgiveness

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Help us, Lord, to “rise above….”
How can we do it? Through Your love.

We’re to love and pray for our enemies or those who mistreat us, You’ve said.
Surely for them, Your redeeming blood on Calvary was also shed.

Even if they’ve opposed or hurt us to any kind of degree,
we can’t love God, whom we’ve not seen, if we don’t love those we see.

To forgive, for us, is sometimes a very difficult task;
but You can give us Your love for them, and grace in such situations, if we will ask.

When on trial and, then, on the cross, Jesus’ example was displayed.
As He asked His Father to forgive, we must forgive before we’ve prayed.

Love doesn’t take into account the wrongs that we’ve withstood.
To forgive others, through God’s help, is “overcoming evil with good.”

P. A. Oltrogge

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-48

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“If someone says, ”I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21

“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” Luke 23:33-34

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” Mark 11:25

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Don’t lose heart…

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“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV

Don’t lose heart, even if you’ve experienced hard disappointments,
for according to this scripture, we can count on seeing divine appointments.

Serving the One who, in love, died for you, can only be right to do;
and it will help you forget any hurts, to serve and love others, too.

There are people looking for hope that there still might be a God who cares;
and those of the household of faith may need His help through your prayers.

“Those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true,” it’s said.
He’s seen every tear, so thank Him, for the good along the way and up ahead.

P. A. Oltrogge

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

A Spiritual “Driver’s Training Course”

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“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV

If you were training a new driver who was going wrongly in reverse,
you wouldn’t wait until you saw things get worse.
You’d shout out, “Stop, put it in forward gear!”
Likewise, using words of faith in life is the right way to steer–
Not only that, it helps us to “drive away” from fear!

P. A. Oltrogge

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:23-25 NKJV

Proverbs 18:20-21; Proverbs 21:23; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 3:20-21

Emmanuel, God With Us

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Emmanuel, God with us…
You see, we are not alone.
Emmanuel, God with us…
Through the birth of a Child, God’s presence was shown.
He couldn’t leave us without knowledge of His love,
But made Himself known, coming down from above.
Emmanuel, God with us…
From God, the Father, came a Baby so mild.
Emmanuel, God with us…
God’s Son was embodied in a holy Child.
Born of a virgin, the handmaiden of the Lord–
From His life, the goodness of God would be poured.
After humble beginnings in a manger stall,
His Name would become great–He would die for all,
So that any individual living on this earth
Could personally know their God of great worth.
Emmanuel, God with us…
It’s the greatest Name known.
Emmanuel, God with us…in Jesus…
And now we need never be alone!

P. A. Oltrogge

“In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

The Manger

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Jesus…

It’s a funny thing, but I never saw
why You might have been laid in a bed of straw.
That’s where the animals came to feed,
and that was representative of our daily need
of the Bread of Life, which, Jesus, You are.
We’re drawn to Your Word like wise men to a star.
To all people the angels proclaimed tidings of great joy,
by pointing to the birth of that God-indwelt boy,
who lay down in the manger where the animals were fed.
Jesus–the Word was God–You’re our daily bread.

P. A. Oltrogge

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son, and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:4-7