Desiring the Lord's presence

(Psalms 26:8, 27:4, 61:4, 63:7, 84:10, 73:25,26)


I love the house where Your presence is,
The place, where Your glory dwells.
So one thing I ask You, only one thing I desire from all my heart;
I want to dwell in Your house all the days of my life.
I will live in Your holy place,
I'll rejoice in the shadow of Your wings.
Sweeter for me is one day in Your courts than thousand in other places.
You are the only One for me in heaven,
There is nothing on earth I desire besides You.
Though my heart and my flesh may fail,
I will always sing that You are the strength of my heart.

by Hripsime Mkrtchyan
Translated from Armenian

The gift of encouragement

In Romans 12:8 I have read something
Which made me glad:
I saw that encouraging is a gift too
Which is used for the edification of church.
I noticed with joy that I have this gift,
And I will use it with the help of my Lord.
I enjoy encouraging God's children,
I love to remind them about our God's love:
''Jesus loves you,
So do I with His love'',
''The Lord is Your refuge
You''ll be safe in His arms'',
''I pray for you and I know
That He will never leave you'',
''You are a blessing to me
And I ask His blessings for you''.
In the Bible I have met those who had this gift,
And they showed me how to use it.
Here is Barnabas, ''the son of encouragement''
Who encourages and exhorts:
''Remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose'' (Acts 11:23),
The letters of Paul are always filled
With encouraging and loving words:
''I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
In every prayer of mine making request for you'' (Phil.1:3),
''My beloved and longed-for brethren,
My joy and my crown,
Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved'' (Phil.4:1).
In his letter apostle James exhorts:
''You also be patient, establish your hearts,
For the coming of the Lord is at hand'' (James 5:8),
The beloved disciple of the Lord exhorts with much love,
''Beloved, let us love one another,
Everyone who loves is born of God'' (1 John 4:7).
These children of God served with love and joy
And they always used the gift of encouragement,
What a honor to be a co-worker with them!

by Hripsime Mkrtchyan
Translated from Armenian