Author: parasbovolos

Promises are commitments

Either written or oral indeed…

They are sealed with integrity

And consolidated by our deeds.

There is a destination

And by God it is declared;

It’s an assurance and an undertaking

Executed with much care.

This land was in ancient Canaan

The east side of the Mediterranean Sea;

A land of joy and prosperity

For Abraham and his seed.

It is the ‘land of milk and honey’

Given by God to Abraham,

And all of his descendants

To inherit the promised land.

But the journey was long and arduous

And although there was a shorter route;

It’s the complaining that prolonged the way

Coupled with disputes.

It’s the valleys and the turmoil

And the swelter of the heat;

It’s the pressure and frustrations

With no instant of relief.

Their disobedience delayed their route

Since Egypt in their memory remained,

As they aroused the wrath of God

When they constantly complained.

It’s the grumbling that caused many delays

As they travelled in circles around,

Always yearning for much better

But where satisfaction was never found.

The promised land is real

And although may seem like forever;

All our tests, trials and tribulations

Much faith and hope should shelter.

The journey has its joys

With the simplicity it entails,

And a reminder of God’s provision

Particularly when we are frail.

It’s to never quit amidst the pain

Since there’s always a solution;

With a crown that certainly awaits

With a fruitful blessed conclusion.

It may just take the forty years

For the promises to unfold,

But the treasure that awaits

Is multiplied and is manifold.

By faith we enter the promised land

Sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

When we become children of God

Through God’s promise that is sacred.

Our promised land of salvation

Is when we receive eternal life,

Through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

As God’s promise will suffice.

(C) P.B. 2020

“I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.  Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.”  Exodus 6:7-8

“When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance..”  Numbers 34:2

“If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.”  Numbers 14:8

“On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands.” Ezekiel 20:6

“For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness…because they did not obey the voice of the Lord.”  Joshua 5:6

“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

When someone shows compassion

They’re sympathetic of others’ distress;

With a desire to alleviate the suffering

So they find true peace and rest.

It’s a deep sorrow from within

When misfortune comes our way,

And by showing love and gentleness

There’s a hope that will remain.

Compassion has the power to change

Every event and circumstance;

It plants a smile on someone’s heart

And their countenance it will enhance.

Compassion is coupled with action

With a desire to help and assist;

To promote much needed healing

When love and kindness kiss.

It’s a beautiful desire

And can change a life forever,

Since the fruit that it produces

Every storm and trial will weather.

Jesus was compassionate

With His followers indeed;

He fed the crowd of five thousand

With food and spiritual seed.

Compassion is always fruitful

When with love it is sincere;

To alleviate all suffering

With a gentle kindness that’s so dear.

God is compassionate

And desires that none are lost;

He sacrificed His Son

When Jesus bled on the cross.

Christ’s sacrifice showed compassion

As God’s heart was extended to all,

To save us from the second death

And to redeem us from the fall.

(C) P.B. 2020

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”  Psalm 86:15

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”  Mark 8:2

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Interlaced and interwoven

With much brilliance indeed;

All created with intricacy

And birthed from just a seed.

Too marvellous to comprehend

And too majestic to understand,

And in our limited capacity

We see the handiwork of God’s hand.

All creation is brilliant

With intricate detail within;

Like clay in the Potter’s hand

With embellishments outside and in.

His creation has a purpose

To give Him the glory as well;

Our eternal hope and everlasting life

And the stars His wonder they spell.

All with a unique fingerprint

With every intricate of snow flake;

All different from each other

Much beauty in all He makes.

His invisible attributes are clearly seen

And we have no excuse at all,

Since Jesus was God manifested in the flesh

To redeem us from the fall.

He’s magnificent but He’s humble

When He gave us Jesus Christ;

The lamb that was sacrificed

To restore us to the light.

Intricate and delicate

But robust and strong indeed,

Is God’s precious of creation

And where His love does intercede.

(C) P.B. 2020

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20

“God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”  1 Timothy 3:16

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

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You are our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”  Isaiah 64:8

“Look now at the behemoth which I made among you; He eats grass like an ox, see now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles.”  Job 40:15-16

“Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, when I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but not farther, And here your proud waves must stop!”’  Job 38:8-11

“Have you given the horse strength?  Have you clothed his neck with thunder?” Job 39:19

Faithful are the wounds of a friend

When they’re sincere in their correction…

Done in love with a caring and gentle spirit

In a humble conversation.

These are certainly wounds that heal

Because although we prefer not to hear,

It’s what we need to know and acknowledge

When our friends are loving and sincere.

All of us have flaws and weaknesses

Blind spots and challenged with sins,

But when the people we trust are open and honest

It transforms our soul within.

Because when we care we are honest

But not done with criticism,

Since the end goal is to promote healing

And never for gossip or schisms.

But we cannot reprove a scoffer

Since they will mock and dismiss everything;

Reject our message of integrity

Along with the healing it so brings.

Spouses challenge each other

Hopefully with love and respect,

Because when iron sharpens iron

Although it’s painful it’s for our best.

Parents correct their children

So they’re guided through instruction;

With a genuine love that cares indeed

To prevent their future destruction.

If we neglect to be challenged

We can be in trouble indeed,

Particularly when the kisses of an enemy

Our false perceptions they feed.

Faithful wounds are necessary

But they’re for our very best interests;

To help us grow in maturity and faith

Rather than cause a hindrance.

God wants to set us free

And He gives us faithful friends,

Who will lovingly challenge us in a caring way

To eliminate every false thing and pretence.

Faithful wounds are like kisses

Because they’re genuinely created with love;

To restore, refresh and provide a new start

When they’re gentle as a dove.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”  Proverbs 27:6

“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.”  Proverbs 27:5

“The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.  He who disdains instruction despises his own soul.”  Proverbs 15:31-32

“He who rebukes a man will find more favour afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.”  Proverbs 28:23

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you.”  Proverbs 9:7-8

Sometimes what we actually see

Is not what it appears,

Because our eyes and heart can indeed deceive

When it’s what we want to see and hear.

A magician is an example

Of portraying an illusion…

Where our eyes are deceived to believe

That there’s a magical solution.

Likewise we can be deceived

As to when we look around,

Where situations appear real and content

But where troubles they abound.

An exterior is not a representation

Of what is really inside,

Since the outer shell and beauty of same

Many internal problems it may hide.

Life can be an illusion

When we prefer to believe the lies,

So as to prevent any self-reflection

Where our carnal ways should die.

Illusions can dictate our lives

When we’re set on believing same;

Where the focus is always on externals

And where there’s pretences and games.

Beautiful faces and beautiful things

Are temporary indeed,

And if our focus is solely on all of these

We can certainly be deceived.

Because the incorruptible beauty

Of a gentle and quiet spirit,

Is precious and so priceless

When there’s sincerity in it.

It’s best to be real and honest too

Irrespective of the consequence;

To be genuine in our convictions

Rather than sitting on the fence.

Because the enemy of our soul

Creates many grand illusions,

As his crafty and manipulative ways

Are there to draw a conclusion.

To deceive us and to kill and destroy

By the many deception and lies,

All under the banner of freedom

But with a plan to annihilate lives.

Illusions can be dangerous

Since we cannot really know,

The deeper truths of every situation

Particularly when integrity it foregos.

God will expose every hidden thing

As all will come to light…

Let’s forsake every kind of illusion

So with God our heart is right.

(C) P.B. 2020

“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…”. 1 John 2:16-17

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward…rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”  1 Peter 3:3-4

“And Jesus answered and said to them; ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.’” Matthew 24:4

“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 God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:14

When we have a vision

We like to envisage an end result…

One that yields a fruitful outcome

That’s prosperous without a fault.

An end result is important

Since it will reveal what we have sown;

As the harvest that we will reap

Depends on the dedication we have shown.

To plant good seed is paramount

Since it produces a hundred fold;

When the mission is towards God’s purposes

Where blessings are increased manifold.

Keeping the end in mind is necessary

If we’re to be steered in that direction,

Regardless of roadblocks that present themselves

Along with possible deflection.

Sometimes the path is obstructed

As we experience a detour,

But through much patience and persistence

We learn to truly endure.

We can deviate from the path

When temptations come our way;

If we’re not planted and grounded in good soil

Where God’s word will help to sustain.

We can’t profess to have faith

If we have hatred in our heart,

Since peace and holiness is required

If we’re to be set apart.

The end in mind is mandatory

If we’re to continue on the road;

Where our eyes are on Jesus first and foremost

Since we’ll reap what we have sowed.

If there’s no hope for an afterlife

Then our faith has been in vain,

Not having treated Christ’s sacrifice with respect

And perhaps looked upon with disdain.

The end in mind is what’s important

Since it will determine our eternity,

And whether our focus is on God or whether it’s on this earth

And whether the truth we really see.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.”  Psalm 119:33

“Lord, make me to know my end…that I may know how frail I am.”  Psalm 39:4

“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…And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  Hebrews 11:13

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14

“..by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:2

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

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end.”  Revelation 2:26

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”  Revelation 22:13

When we approach the Red Sea crossing

There’s no point in looking back…

Since we are finally delivered

Where we shall never lack.

The waters will be parted for us

As a miracle does take place;

When we surrender the Egypt in our heart

And new beginnings we’re to face.

Our familiar ways love Egypt

With the comforts that we share;

The variety and the colourful ways

With every type of fare.

There’s pleasures and enjoyment

With all the finest things,

And the very best of quality

Along with every pleasant way this brings.

There’s nothing sinful with all the above

But they can become idolatrous;

When we pursue them with all our heart

And neglect to put God first.

Egypt appears desirable

But our soul needs God’s pure touch;

To restore us and to make things new

Since He cares and loves us much.

When we part our ways

To see God’s wondrous hand,

He will make a way and pave our path

When we trust in His commands.

The chariots of Pharaoh

Were cast into the sea;

As the Israelites were delivered

When God did intercede.

When our will is exchanged

And we allow God to take the reigns,

He will steer us through our troubled waters

With a solid faith that remains.

When the bondage and our every oppression

Is released with every chain;

We once thought we were free but actually weren’t

But now God’s truth it will remain.

Egypt becomes a memory

With all excessive work and labor;

Our strivings and our philosophies

As we receive our Lord and Savior.

When the land of Egypt departs in us

And we proceed to the Promised Land,

Our soul shall never thirst or ever hunger

When we’re guided by God’s hand.

(C) P.B. 2020

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before Me.”  Exodus 20:2-3

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.  So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”  Exodus 14:21-22

“Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them.  Not so much as one of them remained.”  Exodus 14:28

“So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”  Exodus 14:30

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”  1 John 5:17

Resources assist us in our daily lives

Since they are a provision,

A source of supply as an aid and support

Drawn upon in need for a mission.

We have a spiritual resource we can rely on

A special one indeed;

It’s Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Who is always willing to intercede.

He will give us strength to follow Him

And not succumb to peer temptations,

He’ll give us wisdom to make right choices

And peace in the storms through patience.

He will guide and teach us in every matter

To walk in spiritual maturity;

To live a life of godliness

So His hand we truly see.

Our Jesus fills our soul

With everything we shall need,

And He deposits courage in our heart

With a strength to take the lead.

He’s faithful and He adores us

And although we’re despondent at times;

He gently lifts us up through prayer

And transforms and heals our lives.

He has promised us eternal life

Where riches are stored forevermore;

An abundance of resources never-ending

With beauty and love in store.

Our Jesus is filled with integrity

Since He delivers HIs promises,

And every resource that we require in life

Filled with tranquility and much rest.

(C) P.B. 2020

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

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

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..”  Matthew 6:19-20

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9

“And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life.”  1 John 2:25

It’s a long and dusty road

But one Saul needed to travel;

To discover God’s intervention

And for his heart to be unravelled.

Saul was a Pharisee of Pharisees

With the highest of qualifications,

The most noble and respected ones

With the utmost of reputations.

But Saul was a hypocrite

And thought he was doing God a favour…

By killing and persecuting the Christians

Who placed their faith in Jesus as Savior.

But his day of reckoning did indeed come

When he travelled down that road,

And was struck by God Almighty

As he kicked against the goads.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Were the sacred words he heard,

As Jesus empathised with His children

who were persecuted and considered absurd.

Saul subsequently became Apostle Paul

And his life’s direction was steered;

To suffer many things for the name of Christ

But at least now the real God he feared.

We cannot kick against the goads

When we deal with God Almighty,

Because irrespective of what we believe is right

We shouldn’t take His truths too lightly.

The road is long and narrow

As Jesus claims He is the way…

The life and the truth as well

And forever this will stay.

Apostle Paul is a true example

Of our fleshly carnal ways;

That need to be crucified by God alone

So restoration our path it will pave.

The scales from our eyes

Need to be removed indeed,

So we’re filled with the Holy Spirit

And begin to truly see.

The road to Damascus is necessary

In a spiritual type of way,

If we’re to be reconciled to the One true God

Where genuine faith remains.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’  Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”’ Acts 9:4-5

“For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  Acts 9:16

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptised.” Acts 9:17-18

“If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:4-8

“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

It’s easy to make comparisons

And to point the finger too,

When the transgressions of others appear worse

Than all we say and do.

But by what right do we have

To compare our sins to others?

When in God’s eyes we’ve all transgressed

And no better than one another.

Although certain sins create more heartache

And it’s tragic that this occurs,

But God’s righteous judgement will prevail

To deal with those accursed.

The gentle lady in your neighbourhood

May appear to be an angel indeed…

But if her pride prevents her from receiving Jesus

For her soul He cannot intercede.

Because unbelief is the only transgression

That will never be forgiven;

As it doesn’t allow true faith and repentance

And by pride it’s always driven.

There’s no point to ever compare and judge

Just because we haven’t murdered,

Or committed adultery and considered as ‘good’

But by other sins we’re burdened.

Let’s not deceive ourselves that we’re good

As Scripture makes it clear…

That there’s none righteous, no, not one

But only God whom we should fear.

Comparisons breed covetousness

When we want to be considered as better,

But when we stand before God to give an account

All else will truly not matter.

Comparisons lead to jealousy

Because others appear to be happier,

But when our lives are simple and hassle free

We’re better off by far.

Let’s not compare ourselves to others

Since we have a unique blueprint indeed;

Instead let’s be content with what we have

And plant much godly seed.

(C) Paras Bovolos 2020

“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  2 Corinthians 10:12

“There is none righteous, no, not one..”  Romans 3:10

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

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

“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

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” Hebrews 13:5