Author: parasbovolos

God is not an ATM

Where we constantly withdraw;

To top up our emotional account

When we beg or ask for more.

God is not a magician

Where we wave our magic wand;

When we demand a quick response

Whilst having neglected Him all along.

God is not disposable

To meet any carnal desires,

Or to fulfil the lusts of the flesh

And to cater for every liar.

God is not religious

To impose rules and regulations,

But desires that we obey willingly

From a heart that’s filled with patience.

God will answer all our prayers

When they’re according to His will;

To heal the sick, to deliver souls

And when His commandments we fulfil.

A prayer that touches His heart indeed

Is “Lord forgive all of my sins,

Be my Lord and Savior

And cleanse my soul within”

Our God is holy and righteous

And deserves our love and respect;

As we humble ourselves and focus on Christ

And HIs sacrifice we ought to never forget.

(C) P.B. 2018

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

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

Does it really matter

If we have the latest car,

But to compete and to covet

Is what drives us this far?

Does it really matter

If we have the finest clothes,

But our soul is clothed and covered

With much deception and loopholes?

Does it really matter

What the media portrays,

Since their lies and false statistics

Try to manipulate our ways?

Does it really truly matter

If we have such a face,

That can raise everyone’s attention

But the Lord we won’t embrace?

And does it really matter

If our bank account it bursts

But our heart is always bankrupt

As our desires do come first?

It really doesn’t matter

As the vanity of all these things,

Will dissolve and come to nothing

Along with the empty pain this brings.

The only thing that matters

Is to trust in Jesus Christ;

Surrender our heart and lives to Him

As His forgiveness will suffice.

(C) P.B. 2015

“Vanity of vanities” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:1

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

“All flesh is as grass; and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:24

When we think about prosperity

It’s the physical aspects that come to mind;

To have riches in abundance

And materialism of every kind.

The prosperity gospel is focused

On leading to much success;

To have a mindset fixed on wealth

And to name and claim the best.

But true prosperity is nothing of the sort

When it focuses on eternal things,

It’s when the heart of an overcomer is prosperous

And not what our circumstance brings.

Apostle Paul was beaten

And suffered in extraordinary ways,

But his soul was prosperous throughout

Focusing on his eternal days.

Prosperity is bringing

God’s will into existence,

And not our own successes

With all pride and all pretences.

True prosperity is humble

It’s the inner attitude of the heart,

And the fullness of God’s riches

Which sincerely set us apart.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.”  Psalm 118:25

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2

 It’s always tempting to believe

The information from many sources…

Whether written, conveyed or spoken

Regardless of fact or fiction it endorses.

However, the infallible inerrant Bible

Inspired by God written by man,

Is oftentimes twisted or ignored

Or considered difficult to understand.

The Word of God is powerful

And sharper than any two edged sword;

Piercing to the division of soul and spirit

Discerning every thought and word.

The Holy Bible is credible

With all prophecy fulfilled;

It is valid, authentic and authoritative

With an eternal hope instilled.

Jesus spoke in parables

To test the hearts of those sincere;

Who desired the depths of truth

Since they did have ears to hear.

But the Pharisees and hypocrites

Possessed a shallow understanding;

With a desire and a pretence to serve

Exhibiting qualities most demanding.

As we do our soul a favour

And absorb the Holy Bible;

It will transform from the inside out

Whilst in our heart create revival.

In the meantime the Book of Revelation

Is being exposed day by day…

Revealing the true intent of the heart

With every perverse and wicked way

Do not let society rob you

Or to strip God’s moral law;

Which is stamped in His Word

And gives life forevermore.

(C) P.B. 2017

“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

“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

“Many books will inform you but only the bible will transform you.”

Like a wave in the ocean

That stands tall but fades away;

Like a flower that soon wilts

Lord you’ve numbered all our days.

Out of nothing you’ve created

All marvellous creatures great and small;

May we respond with much humility

When our name You call.

To those who seek Your face

You restore and gently heal;

You forgive and reconcile

Through Your grace and sovereign will.

You’re a Father to the fatherless

And You protect the widow too;

Your hand reaches to the homeless

To restore their hope in You.

Most know they’re in rebellion

Towards a God perfect and true,

But the opinions of society

Hold a higher place than You.

But how can the clay dictate

When the Potter’s in control?

Since Your guiding hand it fashions

So Your perfect plan unfolds.

All glory and all honour

To the name above all names;

Jesus Christ forevermore

Today and yesterday the same.

(C) P.B. 2016

“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

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”  2 Corinthians 10:5

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

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Are you facing a Goliath

Or a mountain much too high?

Have your molehills become towers

And seemingly just overnight?

Does your heart feel the weight

As your soul is burdened too?

Are the circumstances anchored

Where the joy is washed from you?

It’s a phase so temporary

And like eternity it seems,

But when the stone is rolled away

Your love and peace will be redeemed.

God can take your mountain

And reduce it to a pea,

Then grind it to a powder

To let your troubled heart be free.

The battles are always won

When faith and hope are combined;

To cast Goliaths with one pebble

And the greatest victories we’ll find.

(C) P.B. 2015

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust …. My Savior, You save me from violence …so shall I be saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:2-4

“Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine (Goliath) in his forehead, so that the stone sank in his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.” 1 Samuel 17:49

Is it all really worth it

The five minutes worth of fame?

As compared to eternity

In which Jesus Christ will reign?

Every drop of sweat and tears

As the hunger for more mammon,

Leaves the soul so desolate

As the heart suffers great famine.

The priorities are incorrect

Craving much success and praise,

And blinded to the truth of life

As vanity leads the way.

The desire for more luxuries

And to have better than the rest,

Creates unnecessary sacrifice

Leaving family members stressed.

There is so much potential

To live only for God’s glory,

But the deceitful cares of this world

Creates many boastful stories.

There’s no room for self-proclaiming gods

Or inflated egos too,

To usurp our God’s authority

Which is pure, holy and true.

True fame comes from the heavenly realm

As God exalts those who are meek;

To be His hands and feet on earth

And His heart to always seek.

(C) P.B. 2005

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”  Mark 8:36

Are you a fan or a follower?

As the difference is so vast…

It’s the attitude of the heart

That will set your soul apart.

A fan will follow the crowd

And refuse to rock the boat,

But a follower picks up his cross

And will go to places remote.

A fan will compromise

And endorse worldly philosophies,

But to enter that narrow gate

Is where the follower chooses to be.

A fan will play the part

But when stirred to make a stance,

All excuses are brought forth

So no reputations take a chance.

A fan seeks ease and comfort

And is deceived in many ways…

The follower hears the shepherd’s voice

And makes the choice to obey.

Are you a fan or a follower?

As your eternal destiny,

Is determined by the choice you make

And where you soul chooses to be.

(C) P.B. 2014

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39

It’s the substance of things hoped for

The evidence of things not seen;

It is knowing there is a solution

When there’s no doubt in between.

It is expedient in all situations

As it requires abundance of hope;

It eliminates all types of fear

With a trusted ability to cope.

It’s an assurance as we progress every day

To our final place;

With God’s promises stamped in our heart

As we expect His arms to embrace.

At times we’re tempted to doubt

But we’re drawn to overcome;

As we submit all to the Lord

And in repentance we succumb.

As we earn eternal rewards

Through obedience to our Heavenly Father;

We try to walk with reverence and love

Knowing there is a here-after.

Let’s all edify and encourage each other

Knowing a righteous crown awaits,

As we fight the good fight till the end

Since our goal is to enter His gates.

(C) P.B. 2017

“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

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

 

A grudge is simply not worth

Losing our eternal security,

And when an argument is harbored in our heart

It will never set us free.

It is our natural propensity

To return evil for evil,

But God says “Vengeance is Mine”

As we listen to Him and not the devil.

Our pride is always defensive

When we believe our way is right,

But we’re instructed to forgive seventy times seven

As we humbly surrender the fight.

The Lord will fight our battles

When we ask for His forgiveness;

With pure motives to restore all things

As we rebuke all bitterness.

We are commanded to forgive

If we’re to receive forgiveness indeed;

Knowing that hatred, envy and murder

Through unforgiveness will always breed.

And to murder is simply to hate

Since the intention is in the heart,

When we harbor ill feelings and malice

To create chaos and to tear apart.

Forgiveness releases the shackles

That keep us forever bound;

It refreshes our soul with a brand new start

And where liberty can be found.

Forgiveness is a decision

And will always set us free;

As it releases both from bondage

When possible restoration we can see.

Although we may never forget

And be much wiser next time around,

When there’s no need to regurgitate

We know peace our soul has found.

(C) P.B. 2019

“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

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'” Matthew 18:21-22

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:23

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive.”

2 Corinthians 2:10

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:35

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time for the day of their calamity is at hand.” Deuteronomy 32:35