Author: parasbovolos

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WAIT! THINK TWICE

Wait! Think twice
Before we respond with bitterness,
Because the outcome is disastrous
Where much heartache will manifest.

Wait! Think twice
Before major decisions will be made,
Seeking the Lord through prayer and trusting God
So regret will not remain.

Wait! Think twice
And from gossip and slander refrain;
As words will bite and ricochet
To cause monumental pain.

Wait! Think twice
And ensure the truth is revealed,
Before moving in haste
Where consequences may be sealed.

Wait! Think twice
And pray about the situation,
Because not everything is from God –
It may bring pain and frustration.

Wait! Think twice
Before walking down the aisle,
Because marriage requires sacrifice
And walking the extra mile.

Wait! Think twice
Because love will save the day,
As we remember that God brings needed justice
Where a price is always paid!

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul…”.
1 Peter 2:11

“The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.” Psalm 94:11

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“The words of a talebearer are like tasty truffles, and they go down into the inmost body.” Proverbs 18:8

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” James 3:8-9

“A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Proverbs 16:28

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5

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UNANSWERED PRAYER

When prayers seem unanswered
Perhaps they’re answered in other ways;
Not with the outcome we expect
But where peace it will remain.

When prayers are unanswered
It’s protection and not rejection,
Since the heart believes one way
But where God provides a redirection.

Our desires cannot observe
The bigger picture that God sees;
He has a better plan and outcome
That will last for all eternity.

Although our prayers appear sincere –
They can be sincerely wrong,
When we believe the outcome will satisfy
But where deception may be strong.

Many cases do exist
Where answered prayers were fulfilled,
But where God’s permissive will did proceed
Instead of His perfect will.

And consequences will abound
When we insist and we persist,
But when we pray His will be done
True blessings will not be missed.

If Jesus’ prayer was answered
When He requested the cup be taken away,
The course of our redemption
May have been rewritten to this day!

God uses wisdom
Always has and always will,
He knows the best outcome after all
And whether our prayers should be fulfilled.

Thank God for unanswered prayers
Because they may have been premature indeed,
And where weeds could potentially have grown
Instead of God’s wholesome, pure seed.

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13

“When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:15

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16

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RENT FREE

If we don’t discern the voices
As to where they’re coming from –
We will swallow every word
And entrust it all along.

Because words carry the seeds
That germinate in our mind;
They will either build or will destroy
Any ripe vessel they can find.

Words they are embedded
And deep within the soul,
Where choices will develop
And where actions will unfold.

The enemy of our soul
Will attempt to rent the space,
And rent-free with his destructive ways
So consequences we will face.

He will vomit hate and bitterness
To envelop our mind and heart,
And without paying a single cent
To steal our joy – to tear apart.

But discernment it is needed
As to what’s false or what is true,
Since the word of God will correct and guide
With a conviction to renew.

The perpetual space in our mind
Is a vacuum to be filled;
It is wise to make good choices
As to what will be instilled.

If we allow the precious Lord
To renew our heart and mind,
We will naturally shut the door
To deceitful voices of all kind.

Jesus gives us peace;
It’s a promise He has made,
Let’s allow His Spirit to furnish our mind
Since His life for us He gave.

“Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.” James 4:1-2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“Greater love has no-one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

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WE’VE BEEN LIED TO…

We have all been lied to
In so great and many ways;
In every sphere of human life
Where deception it remains.

We have all been lied to
From leaders in authority,
Where financial kickbacks do dictate
What we should believe and see.

And the lies continue day by day
But we really all should know,
That we’re responsible to muse the truth
In the way that we should go.

We have all been lied to
From religions through to politics;
Fake sciences and ideologies
That interrupt the way we think.

They emanate from its source –
The father of all lies,
And all demonic of his forces
To separate and to divide.

We have all been lied to
And no wonder there’s no peace,
When we’re indoctrinated with that voice
Where negativity won’t cease.

But there is a solution and there’s hope
In the only One who cannot lie –
When in Jesus Christ we place our trust
To kiss all the lies goodbye.

He’s the only One in history
Who has authority to save –
Our dear soul for eternity
With a peace that we all crave.

So, although we have been lied to
In monumental ways indeed,
Our Savior cares and will restore
With His love and integrity.

“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44

“…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

“In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…”. Titus 1:2

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

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DARE TO CARE

When we dare to care
For things pertaining to the soul,
We are bold to proclaim truth
When with wisdom it unfolds.

When we dare to care
The seeds that we do sow,
God will water and will nourish
Where a harvest it will grow.

But if we do not dare to care
Where voices are restrained,
Many opportunities will be lost
And where regret it may remain.

When we dare to care
We know the value of a soul –
Is priceless in God’s eyes
With a salvation to behold.

When we dare to care
It’s a joy to truly share,
The good news of salvation
Knowing that God’s peace is there.

Because Jesus dared to care
When He hung upon that cross,
To eradicate God’s wrath
When with pain He paid the cost.

To dare to care is rare
When the cost is large indeed,
But where eternal rewards are more pronounced
In all eternity.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” Proverbs 19:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Isaiah 61:1

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8

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GOD-SHAPED HOLE

It’s a hole deep in our heart
That is craving to be filled,
With an everlasting peace
And for joy to be instilled.

And we try to fill this space
With possessions and with leisure,
Or with all things unfulfilling
So to satisfy our pleasures.

But this void cannot be filled
With temporary things on earth –
Since it’s eternal in its nature
And requires the new birth.

God cannot be mocked
And does not tempt his dear creation,
To be satisfied with lusts
And with all sinful of sensations.

His depth requires obedience
To worship in sincerity,
So the fibres of the God-shaped hole
Will forever cease to be.

That God shaped hole cannot remain
When Yeshua fills the void,
Since He’s the bridge connecting us to God
So second death we do avoid.

It’s a rich tapestry that mends
A heart that’s been forsaken,
And where joy will resonate
When His forgiveness it is taken.

Because only God can fill that hole
Since it’s the way it’s designed to be,
So we’re reconciled to His heart
And for all eternity.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7

“Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

“But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 11:21

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” James 1:13

“…which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

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HIS PAIN – OUR PLEASURE

When Yeshua hung upon that cross
In extreme agony,
There was a vision of our faces
With Him in eternity.

His pain became our joy
When He unlocked eternity,
Since the price paid was inevitable
So God’s wrath we do not see.

His pain became our pleasure
Since it was Him and Him alone,
That had authority to intercede –
For sin He could atone.

His pain became our healing
Since by His stripes we are made whole,
Where our transgressions are removed
And where true joy can now unfold.

His pain became a sacrifice:
Acceptable and true,
To remove the sting of death
And eternal separation too.

His pain became our joy
Because there simply cannot be,
The remission of sin without shed blood
To pave the way into eternity.

Thank God that His torment
And His excruciating pain,
Unlocks treasures to receive a crown
Where eternal peace and joy remains.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand…because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:10-12

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted, but He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

“…and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8

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IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOLLOWERS…

It’s not about the followers
Because quantity will never last;
It’s the quality of those involved
With a richness that is vast.

Many followers will not guarantee
That your work is validated,
Particularly when ears are tickled
Or where words are overstated.

When crowds followed Jesus
Initially they were thrilled,
To hear His meaningful message
Or when food their bellies filled.

But when conviction did take place
Many followers departed,
Because Jesus knew how to expose
The false motives and half-hearted.

The twelve disciples did remain
And turned the world upside down,
With a simple message of timeless truth
That turned many hearts around.

It’s not about the followers
Because naturally the crowds do sway –
To a message that is watered-down
Since the flesh likes it this way.

It’s the quality that will remain –
To make a difference too,
Where transformation after conviction
Presents a message that is true!

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” John 6:66-68

“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Matthew 7:13

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“Then the disciples asked Him, saying ‘What does this parable mean?’ And He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’” Luke 8:9-10

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29

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WHEN WE PRAY AMISS

When we pray amiss
It’s when we would like to see –
The outcome in its timing
And of how it all should be.

When we pray amiss
It’s so our petitions are fulfilled,
But most times they are self-focused
With an arrogance instilled.

Because the Bible makes it clear
That when we pray for our own pleasures,
The prayers do go amiss –
When our idol becomes our leisure.

There’s nothing wrong in having fun;
It’s a gift that is God-given,
But when the prayers become self-centred
By certain motives they are driven.

When we pray amiss –
With God we play a game,
Because true prayers bring transformation
Where the heart cannot remain the same.

For souls to be delivered –
And for healing from within;
These prayers are heaven focused
When we’re delivered from all sin.

Prayers for God’s direction
And where we can serve indeed,
Are priceless in God’s ears
When for souls we intercede.

Knowing that we’ll stand
Before our Creator’s throne,
Should place reverent fear in our heart
To remove that heart of stone.

Time is of the essence
And eternity is sure,
Lord have mercy and do lead us
Into the forevermore.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” James 5:13

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13

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THANKS BUT NO THANKS!

When we choose to reject Him
We are saying this effectively…
Thank you God but no thanks
For the provision that we see.

When we despise our dear neighbour
And where selfish ways abound,
It’s Thank you God but no thanks
For the trials that come around.

When we’re bitter or enraged
But where there’s a solution to make peace –
Thank you God but no thanks
When our anger is not released.

It’s not natural to despise
Our earthly parents and siblings,
So why hate our Heavenly Father
Who can deliver us from sin?

When we say Thank you God but no thanks
It’s a much deeper reality,
Where examination of the soul is required
So we can truly learn to see.

If Jesus chose unforgiveness
For the treatment He received,
Every one of us would be simply doomed
For all eternity.

And the pain that He endured
Is beyond anything we’d know,
But where true forgiveness flowed from His pure heart
So to hell we would not go.

Indeed the evil in this world
Is awful beyond measure,
But God’s judgement and His wrath is reserved –
Which never gives Him pleasure.

So next time we say Thank you
But no thank you to the Lord,
The Heavenly realm will keep account
And according to God’s word.

“Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgements. Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Jeremiah 12:1

“For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:10-11

“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord GOD. Therefore turn and live!” Ezekiel 18:32

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8