Author: parasbovolos

When we do what we want to do

There can be rebellion in our wings,

But when we do what we ought to do

There’s freedom from within.

Freedom isn’t always external

Because circumstances can keep us bound,

But rather it’s the hidden beauty in the heart

Where liberty is found.

Our definition of freedom can be misleading

Because although we’re not imprisoned,

If we’re harbouring bitterness or unforgiveness

We’re in a spiritual prison.

Freedom is found within the soul

Through our mind, will and emotions,

When hope is intertwined with trust

And when faith is put in motion.

Jesus sets us free

In more ways we could imagine,

And the Holy Spirit reveals true freedom

Through Christ’s sacrifice and passion.

When we’re free

We’re no longer bound by fear,

But hand our anxieties over to God

Where His truth we desire to hear.

Freedom is found in servanthood

And in all selfless of ways,

When it’s sincere and filled with integrity

Where true motives will remain.

Freedom is found in forgiveness

As we’re forgiven and we forgive,

When we confess our sins to the Lord

And for God we choose to live.

When we’re free

It is by God’s sovereign grace,

As the shackles are removed within

And true liberty is faced.

True freedom is shaped like a cross

Where our sin was dealt with by Christ,

Who reconciles us to the Father

As we’re made precious in His sight.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  Galatians 5:1

“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”  Galatians 5:5

“For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  John 8:36

“And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:27-28

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  Matthew 6:14-15

When we believe we’re not good enough

The fact-checker will advise,

That we’re created in the image of God

And precious in His sight.

Although the image is marred

Through our fallen nature and sin,

There’s always hope to be reconciled

When we trust in only Him.

When we worry or have anxiety

The fact-checker will reveal,

To come to Jesus all who labor

Or when heavy laden we feel.

The fact-checker is reliable;

A source of truth and integrity,

It will tell us what we need to hear

And how we ought to live.

It’s a fact-checker for our soul

Pertaining to the spirit,

With many gems and nuggets of gold

And purity within it.

When we need an answer

The fact-checker will ensure,

To provide love, guidance, hope and faith

In order to endure.

It inspires us to forgive

And love our enemies too,

To pray for those who use us

And will guide in all that’s true.

The fact-checker is the bible

And not all forms of media,

Since God’s word instils faith and hope

Not envy, lies or fear.

It encourages us to be peacemakers;

To heal and to renew,

And look out for the interests of others;

To not be selfish too.

The fact-checker is the standard;

It is valid with authority,

Written by man but inspired by God

Through love for eternity.

It is living and it’s powerful

And will certainly transform;

It will blossom in our heart and soul

And calm every wind or storm.

The fact-checker is timeless

Because God’s stamp of approval remains,

As His word pierces to the division of soul and spirit

So we’re no longer the same.

But it heals because it’s filled with truth

And restores us back to Him,

It’s the living word that washes us

And cleanses from all sin.

(C) P.B. 2021

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  Genesis 1:27

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”  Genesis 1:31

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”  Matthew 5:44

‘Blessed are You, O Lord!  Teach me Your statutes.”  Psalm 119:12

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:9

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”  Proverbs 12:25

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

“How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;  When I awake, I am still with You.”  Psalm 139:17-18

“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.  He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.  So He guides them to their desired haven.”  Psalm 107:28-30

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

It’s a submicroscopic agent

And living organisms infects;

Will often cause disease

Although difficult to detect.

A virus is contagious

And is filtrable indeed,

And once it enters it multiplies

Where diseases it may breed.

But there are certain viruses

That are more dangerous,

And when they’re harboured or ingested

Much damage they will cause.

The most prominent is bitterness

Where the seed of hatred lies,

As it infects the body and the soul

When forgiveness won’t reside.

This virus causes anxiety

As it puts a stress and strain,

On every aspect of the heart and soul

So no peace or joy remains.

Another virus is envy

With its cousin – covetousness,

When like a worm they eat away

So there’s no time for rest.

The viruses of lies and greed

Can destroy relationships,

When violence and manipulation

Will flow from unwholesome lips.

Viruses cause damage;

They come to kill, steal and destroy,

To penetrate and multiply

When hosts of wickedness they employ.

But there is a solution

When God will intervene,

To cleanse and heal and to restore

To make things pure and clean.

He sanitises with His touch

To wipe all sin away,

As we repent and ask for mercy

So no virus will remain.

A virus simply cannot stand

In the presence of the Lord,

And when we forgive we are forgiven

And infected are no more.

(C) P.B. 2021

“And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”  Matthew 8:2-3

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Matthew 6:14

When someone is God-fearing

There’s a natural propensity,

To have reverence for His commandments

Where blessings may be seen.

When someone is God-fearing

For wisdom they will pray,

So He will be a guiding hand

Where correct decisions may be made.

The beginning of wisdom

Is the fear of the Lord,

Where respect is sealed upon the heart

With honour for His word.

And God cannot be mocked

When hypocrisy abounds,

Because He sees through the window of the soul

Where deception can be found.

When someone is God-fearing

They’ll respect their neighbour too,

And never wish them any harm

With a sincerity that’s true.

We see many forms of evil

And we’re grieved to hear of same,

But it’s the enemy of our soul who tempts

So destructive traits remain.

Blessings and curses are very real

Since we’ll reap what we do sow,

And when there’s courtesy for God’s ways

All wickedness must go.

To have a healthy fear of God

Is for our health and safety too,

Because the boundaries are to protect

Whilst not oppress in all we do.

It’s through repentance we are cleansed

And our soul is washed, renewed,

Where our old nature is crucified

With a vision that is new.

The goodness of God leads us to repentance

And as we humbly submit to Him,

We’re in the safest hands we’ll ever be

Whilst forgiven for our sins.

The fear of God leads to salvation

As we trust in Jesus Christ,

Who shed His blood to redeem our soul

So we’re accepted in God’s sight.

(C) P.B. 2021

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”  Proverbs 8:13

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  Romans 2:4

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

“Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.”  Romans 13:10

“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”  Psalms 1:6

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”  Romans 6:5-6

“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

When our dependency relies

On all external forces,

For our emotions to be satisfied;

Never enough will be all sources.

Because it simply cannot be enough

To satisfy our soul,

Since our insatiable hunger will increase

To create a deeper hole.

We’re not created to idolise

Money, silver or gold,

Neither people nor relationships

That can create strongholds.

We’re simply made to worship God;

Our sweetest Heavenly Father,

And in selfless ways with servanthood

To sincerely love each other.

But when our wandering hearts

Are constantly desiring,

For fulfilment from all worldly ways;

It’s God we’re not admiring.

Never enough when we don’t love God

Since a substitute is required,

To fill that vacuum from within

With all worldly of desires.

Jesus focused on the Father

And exhibited His ways,

As He’s the express image of Almighty God

And for our souls the price He paid.

When Jesus simply is enough

Our thirst will not remain,

As we’re filled and nourished from within

When faith in Him will stay.

When Jesus is enough…

That hunger from within,

Is satisfied once and for all

As we’re forgiven from all sin.

Worldly ways are never enough

Never have been or ever will,

It’s only God that fills that void within

When His forgiveness is instilled.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”  1 John 2:15-17

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:3-4

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.”  Colossians 1:15-16

“I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”  John 6:35

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  John 7:37-38

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  Matthew 6:14-15

When we let go…

Our circumstances change,

Because the idol that had gripped our heart

No longer it remains.

When we let go…

It isn’t easy indeed,

But it liberates us to move forward

As it truly sets us free.

It’s when we let go…

That things begin to happen,

And we hear of many great examples

As it becomes a pattern.

The lady who so desperately

Is wanting to conceive,

Most times will fall pregnant

When expectations are released.

The person who so desperately

Is yearning for a change,

Will be set free once they discover

That God truly will sustain.

If we constantly desire

And ask for many things,

We’ll be free when we surrender

To enjoy the peace God brings.

When we let go…

And allow God’s sovereignty,

We’ll discover a joy and a peace

Where God’s love we feel and see.

It’s that tight grip that enslaves

As we prohibit the release,

Of God’s blessings and His promises

When our idolatry won’t cease.

But when we let go…

There’s a freedom that abounds,

Knowing God will guide and will protect

When trust in Him is found.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  Psalm 46:10

“Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.”  Psalm 119:73

“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”  Proverbs 13:7

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”  Proverbs 13:12

“By your patience possess your souls.”  Luke 21:19

When we think about it…

Someone had to orchestrate,

And put us altogether

As we’re not some big mistake.

Our network of veins

And our major organs too,

Simply couldn’t just exist

If God was not real and true.

Our DNA can stem to the moon

And back to earth indeed,

Where our bodies contain everything

We possibly could need.

We’re simply too majestic;

All features working in harmony,

And much too brilliant to fathom

For an accident to be.

When we think about it…

It actually requires that we think,

And to meditate on the wonder

That God’s creation brings.

We know that intelligence

Is required when we create,

To ensure our creation works properly

Where all the pieces mate.

We’re like a jigsaw puzzle

And knitted in harmony,

With love and hope instilled within

Where God’s miracles we see.

When we think about it…

We know deep down inside,

That we’re brilliantly created

And for God we can abide.

But when we think about it…

We need a Savior for our soul,

Since we all fall short in moral ways

And hence need Christ behold!

We thank God for Jesus Christ

Who paid our debt on the cross,

As we believe and place our trust in Him

So there’s no eternal loss.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”  Psalm 139:13-14

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”. Romans 3:23-24

A bicycle has the potential

To transport us to our destination,

But we must embark and start to peddle

As we journey with much patience.

We can merely admire the bike indeed

Without making the decision,

To mount and to begin the journey

But it’s when we have no vision.

But when we repent 

And make a u-turn,

We travel in the direction

Where to God we do return.

When we are justified

It’s by God’s grace and love,

As we’ve mounted the bike as we begin

To focus on things above.

And as we’re progressively sanctified

We peddle with sweat and tears,

As the roadblocks and the detours

Our true purpose it will steer.

But we can become stagnant

And although the wheels do turn,

It’s like being on an exercise bike

When we fail to discern.

The bicycle gives us freedom

As the wind we do embrace,

And the sunshine sends its kisses

To overcome all that we face.

The process of sanctification

Will be a pruning one indeed,

But where the character is forever changed

So there’s no peddling with eternity.

This marathon will test us

As we encounter aches and pains,

But the end goal and our vision

Ensures we never stay the same.

Although a flat tyre may occur

He’ll never leave nor forsake us,

As help is always on the way

When in Him we place our trust.

And the final lap of the race

Is when we’re glorified,

Having reached our destination

And in God’s safety we abide.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”  Romans 8:30

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Romans 5:1-4

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”  Galatians 2:16

“But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:11

“Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.”  John 17:17

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Colossians 3:2

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  John 15:2

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one…”. Hebrews 2:10-11

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth, I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”  John 17:3-5

May we be found…

With praises on our lips,

When our last breath is exhaled

And where eternity we kiss.

May we be found…

With a heart and soul of faith,

Trusting in You, our Lord Jesus

When we see Your precious face.

May we be found…

In the Lamb’s Book of Life,

As we’re covered by Christ’s blood

And accepted in Your sight.

May we be found…

With no idols in our soul,

And with a true and a repentant heart

When we meet you Lord, behold!

May we be found…

And adopted by Your love,

As we no longer remain as orphans

But children of the Most High above.

May we be found…

With Your melody deep within,

When we stand before You on that day

With the assurance it will bring.

May we be found…

With Your seal upon our heart,

With the new birth as a testimony

That we’ve been set apart.

And may we be found

With meekness and humility, 

As we’ve trusted in Your promises

So eternal life we see.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”  Romans 8:14-15

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”  Psalm 17:15

“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”  Psalm 45:1

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  Ephesians 4:30

“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  1 Corinthians 10:14

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:10

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

‘Most religions of the world

Are about salvation by works,’

But according to God’s standards

Our good works don’t hold much worth.

Because the Do-it-yourself religion

Will ensure we get the glory,

Where our pride and self-righteousness

Will boast in our own story.

We are saved for good works

And not by good works at all,

Where there’s a new vision and a mission

When God our name He calls.

God hates self-righteousness

Because the credit belongs to us,

Rather than the humble submission that’s required

Knowing we are merely dust.

The Pharisees were filled with leaven

And all self-righteous ways,

Instead of trusting in the words of Christ

Who our soul can save.

Salvation by good works

Can never be attained,

Because if we stumble in one we stumble in all

Where frustration will remain.

We simply can’t keep all the law

That’s why we all need Christ,

Who shed His precious blood for us

Through His sacrifice.

Do-it-yourself religion

Is a deceptive way to believe,

Because if that were the honest truth

Then Christ we would not need.

There’s only one way to the Father;

Through the work at Calvary;

The most dearest and most priceless work

To seal our eternity.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Most religions of the world are about salvation by works.  You must pray, you must fast, you must give alms and so on, and then, at the end of it all, you will get right with God.  You save yourself by your own efforts.  Do-it-yourself religion appeals to people because it leaves them with their pride, for they feel that they have achieved salvation.  It is self-righteousness, and that is something that God hates.  He would rather deal with sin than self-righteousness.  Jesus just couldn’t get on with self-righteous people.  He was a friend of sinners, but the self-righteous, such as the Pharisees, he couldn’t get on with at all.”  Unlocking the Bible – David Pawson; Pages 985 and 986.

“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

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”  Matthew 23:13

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf.”  Isaiah 64:6

“For we all stumble in many things.  If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”  James 3:2

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”  Galatians 2:16

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”  Galatians 2:21

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9