Author: parasbovolos

We’re accustomed to the natural;

As far as the eye can see,

And trust in the tangible

Where proof and evidence is seen.

But there are moral implications

That extend into the spiritual realm,

Along with root causes that cannot be seen

That can leave us overwhelmed.

If earth was our only reality

Then Christ we would not need,

Because if the afterlife did not exist

There’d be no Savior to intercede.

God’s put eternity in our heart

Whether we realise this or not,

But we’re distracted to discover the truth

When too absorbed with our lot.

Fear is debilitating

And will take full control and reign,

Where our common sense is numbed

And where logic does not remain.

All forms of negativity

Have a deep root within,

And stem from the powers of darkness

Associated with our sin.

It’s the invisible attributes

That gain power in our lives,

But we prefer to claim another source

When reality is disguised.

There’s more than meets the eye

And we’d be pleasantly surprised,

When we discover the deeper meaning;

When scales fall from our eyes.

When we have true vision

Of what the Father does desire,

We were once blind but now we see

As our heart and soul is rewired.

Jesus came to set us free

With a heavy price to pay:

He’s the epitome of love and grace

And forever this remains.

God’s vision was pure and clear

As He saw our eternity,

And sacrificed His dear Son

So eternal life we see.

(C) P.B. 2021

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”  1 Corinthians 15:19

“Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”  Galatians 6:8

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16

“Also He has put eternity in their hearts…” Ecclesiastes 3:11

“…and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:23-24

“Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptised.”  Acts 9:18

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

An afterthought is an idea

Not originally planned or intended,

And remembered at a later time

So the feature is amended.

We are not an afterthought

Since everything was contained,

In the sperm and egg with our DNA

Where no seam it will remain.

Look at how we’re created

Ten fingers and a nose,

All features working in harmony

With seeing eyes and ten of our toes.

We are not an afterthought

And definitely not a mistake,

Because God is sincere from the start

And will never become fake.

Christ was not an afterthought

Since the Father could foresee,

Our fallen nature and a requirement

For a Savior that we would need.

An afterthought does not contain

The original plan and design,

Because the addition and amendment

Leaves its simplicity behind.

At times we feel like an afterthought

When we’re initially rejected,

By those we believe are our friends

But instead forgotten or neglected.

An afterthought will never exist

In the Father’s pure mission,

Because He’s true and precious and truly divine

With a faithful plan and vision.

God is wholehearted from the beginning

With a steadfast perspective indeed,

When He gave us Christ to die on the cross

And for our sins to intercede.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.”  Psalm 139:13

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:16

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”  Jeremiah 1:5

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.”  Jeremiah 17:5

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters…” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you, and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 17:11-13

The most magnificent voice of all

Belongs to God Almighty;

The Creator of Heaven and Earth,

Full of majesty and is mighty.

His voice thunders over many waters

And flames of fire He divides;

With great power filled with wisdom,

It’s a voice that never dies.

His spoken word created all

And made the deer to give birth;

His glory extends forevermore

Along with His precious worth.

His voice is pure and holy

And with authority it’s enthroned;

It can never contradict itself;

With integrity in His tone.

It thunders over valleys

And will shake the wilderness;

His voice can strip the forests bare

But will also give us rest.

He sits as King forever

And will distribute His great strength,

To those who revere and fear His name

With provision at great length.

No other voice can ever compare

And no sweeter can it be,

Because the melody that’s in His word

Will entirely set us free.

Free from chains of bondage

Where true liberty abounds,

And where true peace, love and joy

His glory it will sound.

He rejoices over us

And sings His praises too;

The most magnificent and dearest voice

That is sincere and is true.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”  Genesis 1:3

“Then God said, ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’”  Genesis 1:20

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters, the voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”  Psalm 29:3-4

“The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness…the voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’”  Psalm 29:8-9

“The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.”  Psalm 29:11

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  John 1:1-3

“And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”  Isaiah 62:5

When the rainbow in our heart

Ceases to exist,

It’s where every hope and dream within

Has died or gone amiss.

When the tears soak our pillow

From our waterfall within,

The pain’s too much to bear

When things look dark and dim.

But this phase is only temporary

Like every other thing on earth…

And it’s through this broken vessel

Where new adventures can be birthed.

At times it is a whirlwind

With no perceived end in sight;

A vortex that spans deeper

Resisting all our strength and might.

It’s like a battle never ending;

A war that’s deep within,

When we become the casualties

And can never really win.

But our battle is not fought alone

When we come to understand,

That our Creator is fully aware of same

As He holds us by the hand.

He mends our broken soul

And our battered heart He seals,

With His promises that are eternal

And our emotions He does heal.

But it requires humility on our part

To come to the realisation,

That we need God in a deeper way

Along with faith, hope and patience.

When it hurts…

The hope we so desperately need,

Is only a cry or a whisper away

For our God to intercede.

(C) P.B. 2021

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  Psalm 147:3

“I set My rainbow in the cloud…and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”  Genesis 9:13-15

“…for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.”  Joshua 23:10

“The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”  Exodus 14:14

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

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4

A tree is never barren

Although it may shed its leaves,

Because the season that it enters

Is preparation for all to see.

As the leaves tumble to the ground

They’re still beautiful to behold,

With majestic colours that they contain

Namely, Sienna, Brown and Gold.

Although the twigs and branches

Are exposed for all to see,

They create a beautiful landscape

Since unique is every tree.

A tree is known by its fruit

And the succulence of same,

As it produces the quality from within

When in good soil it remains.

Our lives may appear barren

And our leaves are no longer there,

But it’s an open canvas for new beginnings

In God’s tender love and care.

The tree in the midst of Winter

Stands solid, tall and strong;

It waves its branches as it sways

With roots so deep and long.

But it begins to really flourish

When the season turns to Spring,

Along with every pure and tender bud

And hope that it does bring.

In the midst of Summer

It provides comfort and shade,

With a refreshing and delightful peace

When its cover does remain.

The winds of life may shake us

But when the roots are very deep,

No storm, or hail or hurricane

Our downfall it will seek.

But when the tree is bad

And its period of grace has expired,

It is cursed and good for nothing

And no longer to be admired.

But the tree that’s planted by the water

And is nourished and prolific too,

Will continue to produce good fruit

That is genuine and true.

(C) P.B. 2021

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”  Psalm 1:3

“You will know them by their fruits…Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”  Matthew 7:16-17

“And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’”  Mark 11:13-14

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”  Luke 21:29-31

A million reasons is not enough

To express our love to You,

Since You’re infinite with timeless value

And brilliant in all You do.

A million thanks cannot express

Our gratitude towards You,

When this feeble heart and soul of ours

Is inconsistent and fickle too.

If millions of stars could align themselves

To spell Your brilliance and majesty,

There still wouldn’t be enough

To span into eternity.

A million miles still falls short

If we were to travel to find You,

Since it’s the distance between our mind and heart

That will determine what is true.

A million friends can never fill

The void inside our soul,

Because it’s only You, the one true God

That can satisfy that hole.

A million dollars will not fulfil

Our temptations and desires too,

Because monetary value simply cannot buy 

The spiritual riches so true.

A million thanks will not suffice

Because You’re more worthy of same,

But at times it’s the best we can do

When our weakness it remains.

There’s still a million reasons 

For You to reject us all,

But Your tender grace and mercy

Forgives us when our name You call.

You’re our strong and mighty fortress

With millions of reasons to celebrate,

When our heart and soul is transformed within

And laden with love instead of hate.

There’s millions of reasons to thank You Lord

For the love You poured on us,

When You gave Your gift – Your only Son

That You loved so very much.

But it expresses Your grand love

And for this a million reasons will suffice,

Of our gratitude and thankful heart

Towards Jesus’ sacrifice.

(C) P.B. 2021

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

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.”  1 Chronicles 16:34

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  Ephesians 4:4-6

Abstract ideas are not material

As they are theoretical,

But they identify and understand

With moral dimensions that are practical.

Like logic which is abstract

And conceptual but true;

Is our identity in Jesus Christ

When our nature is renewed.

An invisible concept

But manifested outwardly,

Is faith when it’s administered

And acted upon accordingly.

God’s attributes are invisible

But so clearly we can see,

His hand in all creation

And how it all has come to be.

Love is an emotion

It is true but out of sight,

But felt by the heart and is in our actions

As it manifests God’s light.

Invisible are our emotions

And our intellect as well,

But they’re evident and based on reality

Since in our soul they dwell.

God is invisible

But He’s real as the air we breath;

Like the wind that gently strokes our skin

When the eyes of our heart believe.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…”. Romans 1:20

“O Lord my God, You are very great:  You are clothed with honour and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.”  Psalm 104:1-2

“You who laid the foundation of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever, You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains..”  Psalm 104:5-6

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-6

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Colossians 3:1-3

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:1

If the gospel doesn’t offend us

Then the wrong Jesus they do teach,

As He brings a sword instead of peace

And repentance He does preach.

Hence He was crucified

As popular His message was not,

But the truth will always pierce

To remove debris and rot.

Granted He is loving

And granted He is kind,

But He came to deliver us

So we leave our old nature behind.

We prefer to dwell in sin

As it suits our carnal nature,

Whilst to not appear judgemental

But this contradicts God’s stature.

When judgement has its purpose;

To not condemn but to discern,

It’s to understand right from wrong

When God’s commandments we do learn.

Deliverance is mandatory

Since we all fall very short,

Of God’s glory and His purity

Where false doctrines we’ve been taught.

God’s love is pure and sweet

As it draws us near to Him,

As we acknowledge our reality

And a Savior for our sin.

He is a rock of offense

But this Rock we truly need,

To build a foundation of pure faith and trust

As God leads and intercedes.

This rock shatters pride

And brings stubborn traits to rubble,

To break down in order to raise us up;

To eliminate mountains of trouble.

A rock of offense

But so solid and faithful too,

That takes our yoke and heaviness

As we’re changed and are renewed.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”  Matthew 10:34

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”  Matthew 4:17

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  Romans 9:33

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become our chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”’  1 Peter 2:7-8

“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 6:6

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house..”  1 Peter 2:4-5

“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness…”. 1 Corinthians 1:22-23

“And have put on the new man with his deeds, renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”  Colossians 3:10

“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

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.”  Psalm 119:66

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Before the foundation of the world

His beloved were found in Him;

Those chosen unto eternal life

And delivered from their sin.

In Him they have redemption

Through His precious sacrifice;

Through the blood that was shed on the cross

Where forgiveness and grace sufficed.

In Him is obtained an inheritance

Who works all things for His purpose,

According to His sovereign will

So His glory will shine and surface.

In Him they also trusted

When the word of truth was heard;

The gospel of salvation

With the promise in His word.

In Him is eternal life

With rivers of flowing water,

Where they never will thirst again;

His adopted sons and daughters.

In Him is the guarantee

When with the Holy Spirit they’re sealed,

Once they repent and are baptised

And through Him are spiritually healed.

In Him is life abundant

When they’re grafted in His vine,

And are nourished with truth and righteousness

Where at His wedding feast they’ll dine.

In Him they are grounded;

Once lost but now they’re found,

And rooted in wisdom and prudence

Where blessings they abound.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:4-6

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence..”  Ephesians 1:7-8

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:11-12

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14

It’s a true and known fact

That the world’s bestseller,

Is God’s word the Holy Bible

And to us it’s His love letter.

Written over a span of 1600 years

And across 3 continents,

By over 40 authors in 3 languages

And by God inspired and sent.

It is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth;

Portraying the beauty of His love,

With a plan to send the Messiah

To reconcile us to God above.

It’s transformational indeed

And will change our heart and soul,

Through His grace and sincere mercy

And His pure love behold!

It’s the world’s bestseller

And forever will always be,

Because it’s the only book that can save our soul

Where God’s eternity we can see.

It’s awe inspiring and convicting

But those words we sincerely need,

To give us peace as we learn to love genuinely

Where our spiritual nature it feeds.

It will never be surpassed

As God’s sovereignty remains,

And for those who desire truth

Will be inspired by His ways.

It’s pure and unadulterated

And will change our soul within,

As it pierces to the division of soul and spirit

And convicts us of our sin.

But the good news remains

That when we sincerely repent,

And understand our position before a holy God

It’s a decision we won’t regret.

When Jesus sits in the centre of our heart

His wisdom will prevail,

As we’re instructed in truth and righteousness

With peace that this entails.

Thank God for Jesus Christ

Who died for our sins,

And rose again to victory

To save our soul within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

“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.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre.”  John 19:17-18

“He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”  Luke 24:6-7

“Then Peter said to them, ‘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