Author: parasbovolos

Hallelujah! And all glory

To the risen worthy One;

Who defeated death and rose again

As the Father’s will was done.

All glory and all honour

As the stone was rolled away,

And the linen cloths were left behind

In the empty tomb that day.

It was several of Christ’s disciples

One was Mary Magdalene;

Who visited the tomb that day

And marvelled at what was seen.

The body simply was not there

As a miracle occurred;

As He was resurrected from the dead

T’was their precious sacred Lord.

The entrance to the tomb

With a large stone it was sealed;

That two angels did indeed remove

As the resurrection was revealed.

Although the tomb was sealed

And by the guards was monitored;

God’s power did manifest

When the angels were Spirit led.

Because no bribe or deceit

From the soldiers can prevail;

Irrespective of the sum of money

Which they received to tell a tale.

The stone’s been rolled away

As the hardness of our heart;

With all unbelief and unforgiveness

God chisels and sets apart.

He heals our broken soul

As we rely and trust in Him;

The Resurrected and Anointed One

Who saves our soul within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”  Matthew 27:66

“When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure’. So they took the money and did as they were instructed;”  Matthew 28:12-15

“But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”  Luke 24:2-3

“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

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”  John 20:11-12

The three most profound words

In the scheme of eternity;

Flowing from the lips of Jesus

As He hung on that tree.

“It is finished!” He proclaimed

As He sealed the destiny,

Of those who would receive Him

And where eternal life they’d see.

“It is finished!”

Are poignant words indeed,

Where the wrath of God no longer remains

For those whom Jesus did intercede.

“It is finished!”

Where satan can no longer steal,

The soul of those who made an exchange

And their salvation has been sealed.

“It is finished!”

The curse of sin no longer remains;

Through a sacrifice so powerful

And restorative in many ways.

“It is finished!”

Where the debt was paid in full;

Wiping it completely and forever

And where our sins shall be as wool.

You crucified our pride

So we’re dependant upon You;

Knowing that salvation is solely in Your hands

And where our vision is renewed.

All our anxieties and strivings

We should lay at the cross,

Knowing they’re in the safety of Your hands

With a love and peace embossed.

“Father forgive them

For they do not know what they do”

Those precious sacred words

Came from Your heart that’s pure and true.

As You hung for our sake

And gave Your final breath;

You were resurrected after three days

Since in You was found no death.

Your Ascension is living proof

That eternal life awaits,

For the repentant and the humble hearts

Who long to see Your face.

(C) P.B. 2021

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Luke 23:34

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”  John 19:30

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-18

T’was after the Last Supper

In the Garden of Gethsemane,

When Jesus’ soul was overwhelmed

And where emotional torment He would see.

Located at the Mount of Olives

Gethsemane means ‘oil press’,

Where the Anointed One would be hard pressed indeed

So His anointing would manifest.

It was the passion of the Christ

When He experienced suffering;

Combined with anguish and betrayal

With extreme pain that this would bring.

The distress that He undertook

Caused great drops of blood with pain;

Similar to those from an open wound

When much anguish does remain.

As He prayed with earnest and vehement tears

Deep sorrow filled His soul,

And asked the Father, if possible, to take His cup

But prayed for the Father’s will, behold!

The Garden of Gethsemane

Prepared Him for the cross,

With the suffering He would thus endure

To compensate for man’s great loss.

From our beautiful Garden of Eden

To the one at Gethsemane;

We thank God that Christ redeems our soul

So eternal life we can see.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’”  Matthew 26:36

“Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.’”  Matthew 26:38

“’And being in agony He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”  Luke 22:44

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  Luke 22:42

Whether we realise it or not,

We are all in need of a Savior;

To redeem us from the spiritual fall

So in God’s eyes we will find favor.

Unless we’re covered by His grace

We’re detached and strangers too,

Because His wrath can only be appeased

When through Jesus we’re made new.

Our need is deeper than we imagine;

Higher than any mountain too,

Since we cannot ever save ourselves

Through our works and all we do.

Our need is supernatural

And through eternity it will last,

Since our soul can never be extinguished

Where the necessity is vast.

And it’s wider than we can comprehend

Because in the natural we’re consumed,

And too absorbed in every temporary way

When for God there is no room.

Our need is mandatory

It’s a fact we can’t ignore,

And although unbelief can be an idol

We’re God’s creation to the core.

Our greatest need is Jesus

The One who died for our sins;

To reconcile us to the Father

When our soul is saved within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“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

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”  Ephesians 2:19

“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

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”  Ephesians 1:7

“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

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”  1 Timothy 2:5

Beaten, bruised and battered

Tormented in numerous ways;

You shed Your blood and hung in torture

So the stain of our sin will not remain.

Crucified and with the crown of thorns

In the most humiliating way;

Spat upon and sworn at

By the angry mob that day.

Tortured and tormented

Yet You opened not Your mouth;

Like a lamb led to the slaughter

Where much hatred filled their shouts.

As a spotless lamb so perfect;

No inch of sin was found in You,

And not deserving of such hostility

Or with scathing remarks too.

The Father’s presence left You

For the first time in eternity;

You felt the sting of His wrath

So His anger we may not see.

Because if eternity wasn’t real

There would have been no need to suffer;

As we imagine what the Father is saving us from

When we enter the here-after…

It reveals the condition of our heart

When we’re hostile towards You;

Highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare

And that Heaven and Hell are true.

Without the shedding of blood

There is no remission of sins;

You’re our Passover Lamb so perfect and true

Who saves our soul within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”  Hebrews 9:22

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”  John 1:29

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Matthew 27:46

“But with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:19

“And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”  1 Peter 2:24

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

“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

“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

Barabbas was a robber

Yet he was the people’s choice,

To be released instead of Jesus

When Pilate honoured the crowd’s voice.

When we prefer Barabbas

We choose darkness over light,

And robbed of truth and integrity

As we refuse to fight the good fight.

When we prefer Barabbas

We hate the actual truth,

Because although it’s evident and purely clear

We refuse to accept its proof.

“What is truth?” asked Pilate

As the Truth stood before him,

And found no fault in the Anointed One

With no blame to underpin.

Although Pilate sought to release Him

The crowd roared even louder,

“If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend”

Hence Pilate became a coward.

Barabbas was a thief

Yet like a thief in the night,

Will come the day of the Lord

With great power and with might.

When voices loud and manipulative

Try to crucify the truth,

They join forces with every form of evil

To extinguish all the facts and proof.

But the truth will resurrect

And cannot be smothered too;

It cannot be contained but will shine the light

Because it’s timeless and it’s true.

Whoever wants truth will always search

To find treasure in its beauty;

When they sincerely ask “What is truth?”

And discover Jesus’ deity.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..”  1 Timothy 6:12

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,”  2 Peter 3:10

“Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’…‘I find no fault in Him at all.’”John 18:38

“Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?  Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.”  John 18:39-40

“If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.  Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”John 19:12

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.  But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.”  Acts 3:13-15

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:32

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

“But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  Acts 3:18-19

“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

Like a fortress, strong and secure

Is Your protection and Your love;

A stronghold that shields from danger

That guards us from above.

You’re a rock and a refuge

And a fortress of defence,

That protects our delicate temple

To provide hope, trust and rest.

You save us and deliver us

From the hand of our enemies;

From those who spread a net

And our downfall wish to see.

When we trust in Your deliverance

And hope in Your salvation;

Your mighty arm will guard our soul

With a manifold protection.

You shield us from the arrows;

Protect our heart from the sword,

When we’re not ashamed of You

As our Savior and our Lord.

You’re our stronghold and security

And in the palm of Your hand,

You cover us with Your feathers

In ways too numerous to understand.

You’re a circle of protection;

A solid rock of trust,

As Your devotion towards us is sincere

And Your love strong and robust.

Our fortress and our strength

By Your grace we solely stand;

As Your mercy envelops our soul

And protects with Your strong hand.

(C) P.B. 2021

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation.  My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior.  You save me from violence.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”  2 Samuel 22:2-4

“In You O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.”  Psalm 31:1

“For You are my rock and my fortress…Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength.”  Psalm 31:3-4

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  Psalm 31:24

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”  Psalm 91:3-4

When transgressions are forgiven

Blessed is that soul;

It’s the most priceless gift one could receive

From the precious Lord behold!

To conceal and to keep silent

When transgressions do amount;

The bones will grow old with a drought within

Where despondency can mount.

If we say we have no sin

In God’s eyes we’ll all be liars,

But when we confess and we repent…

It’s God’s forgiveness we desire.

God is our hiding place

He preserves through trials and trouble;

He delivers and guides us with His eye

And with mercy He does rule.

The soul that is forgiven

Has received the greatest gift;

It is life-giving and produces fruit

When the wheat from tares He sifts.

When we acknowledge and confess

Our iniquity and do not hide;

He forgives us with His right hand

When in Him we do confide.

We thank Him for the Messiah

Who was punished for our sin,

And when we’re grateful for His sacrifice

We repent and are cleansed within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”  Psalm 32:1-2

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’”  Psalm 32:5

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Psalm 32:7

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.”  Psalm 32:8

“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.  Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”  Psalm 32:10-11

“First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”  Matthew 13:30

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:8-10

“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

Whoever fears the Lord

With reverence and respect;

Is blessed in ways abundant

When His statutes they won’t forget.

Happiness will fill their dwelling

When the wife is a fruitful vine,

And the children are like olive plants

With blessings pure and divine.

Blessed are the meek

Along with the merciful,

And blessed are the peacemakers

When with love their soul is full.

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Who have come to understand;

True humility before the Lord

Who have knelt so they can stand.

Blessed are those persecuted

For the sake of righteousness;

Who endure slander and all false accusations

They will be truly blessed.

God cannot be mocked

And has a reward for those in heaven;

Who are reviled and persecuted for His name

Who refuse to bow to leaven.

Blessed are the pure in heart

Who desire God’s holy ways;

Who are delivered from anger,  jealousy and hate

Where righteousness remains.

Blessed are those who love the Lord

And where a deep revelation takes place,

That we’re mere pilgrims on this earth

Who desire to see His face.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways…Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house.  Your children like olive plants all around your table.”  Psalm 128:1-3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3-10

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11-12

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

Like an unbaked cake

Is our naked soul before You;

Unfinished and unpolished

Falling short of glory too.

Like an unbaked cake

Are all our collective works,

And in God’s eyes are filthy rags

When they neglect to reveal Your worth.

Although the ingredients of the cake

May be good and perfect too,

All it takes is a little leaven

So its integrity is not true.

Like an unbaked cake

Is the glory of mankind;

Hoping to rise but flat indeed

When there’s arrogance of every kind.

Like an unbaked cake

Is the unregenerate soul,

But the moment Jesus becomes our bread

He’s fulfilling to behold!

Our trials are temporary

But when our cake is baked and done;

It is tasty and it’s wholesome

Being a blessing to everyone.

The cake is delicious

When it’s put through the fire;

Where every impurity is consumed

And when baked it will inspire.

The unbaked cake may be tempting

But it’s always best to wait;

Where patience is a virtue

And not consumed in haste.

When we feel the prod

It’s an encouraging stimulus;

To detect the progress of our walk

As God does what He knows best.

The sweet truth is

That although we all have leaven;

Jesus died on the cross and rose again

So we can taste and inherit heaven.

The icing on the cake

Is God’s loving kind touch;

That encourages us to rise indeed

When He loves us very much.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

“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

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”  Galatians 5:9

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

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  James 4:10

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever..”  John 6:51