Author: parasbovolos

When a smile decorates our face

It’s contagious when it’s pure;

Revealing a kindness and a warmth

That encourages one to endure.

When a hug envelops a lonely soul

It’s tender and shows much care,

As a gentle reminder and a reassurance

That someone is always there.

When a friendly kiss is sincere

It seals our soul with joy;

With a compassion and a happiness

When a friendship we enjoy.

It’s the little acts of kindness

That will never go unnoticed,

As we will always remember those special moments

That we keep in our memory list.

To really make a difference

We merely need to care,

And put the needs of others first

Or simply just to be there.

As we live a peaceful and quiet life

And mind our own business too,

It’s a testimony of a simple life

Where we reflect on all we do.

Most crave to be surrounded

By caring and calming souls;

Where God’s wisdom is reflected

So fruitful solutions can unfold.

It’s to share the wonderful gospel

And its message so simple and pure;

It’s to remind those precious souls

That from sin there is a cure.

It’s to be God’s hands and feet

In a world hostile and lost;

As His vessels sharing the good news in love

To point them to the cross.

It’s the simple acts that speak aloud

And the most precious of all indeed,

Reserved in the hearts of man

As we plant those loving seeds.

(C) P.B. 2019

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

“that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Are we seeing through our heart?

Or only from our eyes?

Since the difference will determine

If we believe the truth or lies.

Are we obsessed with externals?

Or do we desire deeper things?

Since the difference will determine

Whether unrest or peace this brings.

Are we focused on the here and now?

Or is eternity on our mind?

Since the difference will determine

Whether eternal death or life we find.

Do we take men’s opinion to heart?

Or believe what God has said?

Since the difference will determine

The path in which we’re led.

Do we wear a mask and pretend?

Or are we content in our own skin?

Since the difference will determine

If we’re sincere from within.

Do we walk in our integrity?

Or choose manipulation and lies?

Since the difference will determine

Whether we’re respected or despised.

The difference is in our attitude

As to whether we heal or kill;

With our thoughts, words and actions

And the type of seed we instil.

(C) P.B. 2018

“Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30

We are strong in our weakness

More than we’ll ever know…

When we allow Almighty God

His strength upon us to bestow.

There is power in humility

That works behind the scenes,

As God exalts the humble

And humbles the exalted it would seem.

There’s much strength in kindness

Since it can transform a life;

As it resurrects from darkness

Into God’s everlasting light.

There is power in our love

With a foundation of pure motives,

As it strengthens the most feeble soul

And it’s where miracles are noticed.

There is strength in our silence

When we know whether or not to speak,

When we learn to become wise

And God’s promptings we do seek.

The world’s strength does not compare

With God’s definition of ‘strong’

Since society’s ways are always opposite

And in God’s ways they don’t belong.

To be strong is to be ‘weak’

And by God’s grace to understand,

That without God we are nothing

And that all is in His hands.

He’s our strong fortress and our tower

Our help when in distress;

He gives us capabilities

And heals us from our mess.

He strengthens the feeble knees

When we cry from our heart;

He listens to our every prayer

His love will never part.

As we rely solely on His strength

We’ll achieve eternal goals,

As He guides us and He leads us

So His life in us unfolds.

(C) P.B. 2019

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

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

“O Lord, my strength and my fortress. My refuge in the day of affliction.” Jeremiah 16:19

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

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Psalm 24:8

True riches do not have price tags

Or something that you can buy…

Since all material possessions

Will one day be left behind.

It’s the treasures deep in our soul

As we exhibit the spiritual fruit,

Of love, peace, joy and kindness

With goodness and patience too.

It’s the richness when we give birth

And that overwhelming love;

That captures our heart and soul

As we hold our treasure from above.

It’s when our spouse looks us in the eye

Followed by a passionate embrace;

It’s the richness of becoming one

With loving kindness and grace.

It’s the riches when we reach out

To serve somebody in need;

It’s the kindness that we exhibit

As we pray and intercede.

It’s the riches when we receive Jesus

And discover the meaning of life;

Being sealed by the Holy Spirit

And becoming the Bride of Christ.

True riches can never be bought

Since God freely gives to us all,

And the richest most precious decision

Is to respond when our name He calls.

(C) P.B. 2018

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22

“..But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” Ephesians 2:4-5

“..and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” Romans 9:23

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” Revelation 5:12

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Proverbs 11:4

If I had a cure for cancer

You’d be knocking on my door,

Perhaps plead for the solution

And no doubt be back for more.

If I had the winning numbers

Of the lottery in mind,

You’d beg for the combination

To leave your poverty behind.

If I had the key to happiness

You’d be standing next in line,

Eager for the perpetual answer

To leave your miseries behind.

If I cracked the code to eternal life

Where no death you’ll ever see,

Most likely I’d become very rich

As there’d be no limit to my fee.

I have some very good news indeed

As there’s an answer to all the above…

Perhaps not in the way you would expect

But nevertheless with love.

There is a cure for cancer

It’s a spiritual one indeed;

It’s when our sickly soul is healed

From its autoimmunity.

The winning numbers do exist

But not found in the lottery;

It’s when Christ stamps His name and number

On our forehead in eternity.

There is the key to happiness

Its true riches are in Christ;

When we open our heart to God

And love Him with all our might.

And the code to eternal life

Was cracked as Jesus was crucified;

So we can avoid the second death

As Christ becomes Lord of our lives.

(C) P.B. 2014

‘While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:18

If we could enter heaven

By the goodness we display…

The Lord wouldn’t have been tormented

On the cross in such a way.

Since God will not use scales

To measure all the good we’ve done;

We all fall short of the glory of God

And perfect there is none.

We will not enter on merit

Or by the kindness we’ve displayed;

As we cannot earn God’s favour

Since there’s a ransom to be paid.

That ransom was required

For reconciliation to take place;

As Jesus healed our souls from sin

Now we can see God face to face.

And once this fallen nature of ours

Is made righteous and justified;

We will naturally complete good works

But through Christ as we’re sanctified.

Since we all need a lawyer

On that inevitable day,

It’s when Jesus stands to intercede

As God’s sentence comes our way.

Are we justified through Christ?

Who bled for our punishment;

As God’s wrath was poured on His pure vessel

His gift was heaven sent.

So when we meet our God one day

Will Christ’s mirror be on our soul?

Do we reflect Christ’s goodness?

To enter heaven – behold!

(C) P.B. 2014

“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

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

“None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him – For the redemption of their souls is costly..”  Psalm 49:7-8

The pain and the memories

Of the injustice and lies too;

Your heart engraved with scars

With a blanket over you.

The days linger with no relief

And the lamp inside you fades;

There is no peace inside your soul

As this pattern marks your days.

It isn’t fair you often wonder

As to why it came your way;

This fiery test and heavy trial

That brings affliction to your day.

But when we refuse to forgive

We bind God’s healing touch,

And the need for deliverance

That our dear soul craves so much.

The epitome of forgiveness

Was when Christ the cross embraced;

To nail our transgressions

So eternal death we do not face.

Since we placed the thorny crown

And we nailed His feet and hands;

With our sinful words and actions

In ways too deep to understand.

But He opened not His mouth

As a humble lamb would do;

Instead asked our heavenly Father

To forgive both me and you.

He’s our ultimate example

Of forgiveness, peace and grace;

With an unconditional love

Extended to the human race.

(C) P.B. 2014

“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

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