Author: parasbovolos

Out of the abundance of the heart

Our mouths utter everything,

But we’re probably most unaware

Of the fruit that it will bring.

Are our words encouraging

Or do the soul they often quench?

Are they sincere with pure motives

Or is there an underlying stench?

Our words produce either weeds or seeds

Along with actions and desires;

Since there’s a spirit that always emanates

That either calms or ignites fires.

A weed is manifested from pride

From an arrogant, selfish soul,

But good seed that germinates

Will be a blessing as it unfolds.

A seed does not negotiate

With its maker God the Father;

It’s simply buried and patiently awaits

Till it blossoms like no other.

The weeds are thrown in the fire

And useless they are rendered,

But a seed sown with faith and hope

Is from a soul that is surrendered.

Good fruit will always germinate

From a tiny, quality seed…

We’re either weeds or seeds most times

The question is “which one are we?”

(C) P.B. 2019

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

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have to fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, bur rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:9-11

“For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

People of faith are pigeonholed

And branded as narrow minded,

But there’s a plethora of deception

When we’re perceived as open minded.

Healthy boundaries are required

In all aspects of life;

In physical, emotional and spiritual

To prevent us from entering strife.

The fallen world and our flawed nature

Can often be deceiving…

When we try to philosophise all aspects of life

But without God’s purpose and meaning.

We need to question our beliefs

And get real and very raw;

Since society has brainwashed us

To oppose God’s spiritual law.

Sin has us all in bondage

And has pigeonholed our mind;

Has caged our true emotions

And has left us spiritually blind.

The little bird in the cage

Is our heart crying to be free;

To realise our potential

Of who God created us to be.

“Come to Me all you who labor

And are heavy laden” too;

The Lord will guide you into truth

And promise to never forsake you.

(C) P.B. 2019

“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

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

When all is said and done

Is more said than what’s achieved?

Has the mouthpiece of our words

Boasted in its evil deeds?

When all is said and done

Have we kept our noble word?

Is integrity of real importance

Or a trait we can’t afford?

When more is said than done

We allow our arrogant pride,

And all of its presumptuous ways

To manifest in its stride.

Do we make a stance for morals

Or pretend to really care?

Do we value the true ethics

Or we’re neither here nor there?

When all is said and done

Do our works align with scripture?

With God’s loving and eternal ways

That paint the bigger picture?

It’s not too late to change our ways

As our ignorance God understands,

But He commands us to sincerely repent

And to follow His commands.

When all is said and done

We will need to give account;

To our marvelous Creator

As we discover what really did count.

(C) P.B. 2019

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world….”

Acts 17:30-31

We all have expectations

Of how life should ideally be,

And we’re thoroughly disappointed

When the results we do not see.

Life can be unfair at times

With many twists and turns,

But the trials will refine our soul

When a lesson throughout is learned.

When we set our standards high

And many times with anticipation;

Our ways can be idolatrous

When in man we place expectations.

We tend to trust that people

Will provide and will be there,

But we set ourselves up for a fall

When they simply do not care.

It’s a blessing when we do receive

The love, care and attention,

But to rely on, live for and to expect

Is a burden that can bring tension.

Only God can ultimately satisfy

That empty hole within,

And will never ever let us down

As He understands the state we’re in…

When we trust in the Lord Jesus

We are truly all set free,

And we can expect all of God’s promises

With true blessings to finally see.

(C) P.B. 2019

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5

“Do not trust in a friend. Do not put your confidence in a companion…I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me.” Micah 7:5-7

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

Every single accessory

Has a beauty of its own,

But independent from the main outfit

That makes a statement all alone.

An accessory is multi-purposed

As it adds or it detracts;

An accessory is a fashion item

That reveals or hides the facts.

Is Jesus just an accessory

To our every waking hour?

Or is He our all-in-all

Portraying wisdom with much power?

Is Jesus just our handbag

That we choose to change each day?

Or is He stamped in our heart and soul

As a fixture that will stay?

Is Jesus just a scarf

That we’re wrapped to have around?

Or does He inspire our mind and thoughts

So much godly fruit abounds.

Is Jesus like our latest shoes

Where we walk our chosen path?

Or are we cautious in our walk with Him

So we’re truly set apart?

An accessory is an addition

That believes to complete the part;

It’s an addition that we require

To conceal a yearning heart.

When the branch is truly grafted in

Embellishments are not required;

Since true nourishment comes from the simple source

From God’s love and life inspired.

(C) P.B. 2019

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.” John 15:5-6

Mammon is an influence…

It’s an object of devotion,

And when it is unwisely used

It can cause heartache and commotion.

Mammon always appears appealing

But can never be the source,

Of true happiness and satisfaction

Since it’s a temporary force.

As it can never fill the empty void

Deep inside our soul,

And no matter what we do with it

More trouble it unfolds.

Material abundance will rob our sleep

And steal us of much peace;

It may promise quality, beauty and comfort,

But our problems will never cease.

It can eat away at our health

When stress levels are too high;

As all unnecessary yokes and burdens

Will either make us sick or die.

And when it’s stored for selfish pursuits

Where pleasures are one after another…

It consumes our self-centred motives

Neglecting the needs of others.

If we do accumulate much wealth

Let’s ensure its properly used;

To feed the poor, provide for the widow

And where the orphan is not abused.

Jesus made it very clear

That two masters cannot be served…

We will either serve God or mammon instead

And hence reap the reward we deserve.

(C) P.B. 2019

“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:24-25

“He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker; but he who honours Him has mercy on the needy.” Proverbs 14:31

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be loyal to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

“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… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

 

If God wasn’t humble

He’d be continually in our face;

Pointing His finger at our wretched sin

Instead of extending His grace.

But God is very humble

And works in the hearts indeed;

He transforms and renews us

When He works behind the scenes.

He has given us a conscience

So we can know what’s right from wrong;

He’s stamped eternity in our hearts

So we know to Him we belong.

He has given us Jesus Christ

As His representative on earth,

And His crucifixion and resurrection

Heralds our new birth.

He has given us creation

So impeccable and perfect;

His signature upon every creature

As a sign we won’t forget.

But it’s the enemy of our dear soul

That’s loud and proud indeed;

Causing heartache, chaos and every bad way

As he plants his wicked seed.

The majesty of the universe

Yet a mere manger was used,

To cradle the babe of salvation

So true wisdom cannot be abused.

God is perfect yet humble as well

So holy, majestic and true;

There’s no excuse if we reject Him

Since He’s given us every clue.

(C) P.B. 2019

“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

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

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

When we become an heir

We can claim legal rights;

To a property or to a rank

To a token or a prize.

An heir will always inherit

A favour undeserved;

Since it’s a gift and not through works

Where mercy has been served.

An heir inherits everything

From his predecessor’s list;

It’s an unexpected blessing

Where no detail has been missed.

But an heir that is truly rich

Has tasted the Lord’s grace;

An heir according to eternal life

Justified and thus embraced.

There are spiritual riches in abundance

By His grace, an undeserved gift;

Where there’s beauty for ashes and restoration

Where from the miry clay He lifts.

An heir that embraces life eternal

Is the most precious inheritance of all;

A glorious expectation

When our precious name God calls.

It’s never through our righteousness

But according to mercy and love;

He washes us and renews us

And pours out abundantly from above.

We were once steeped in foolishness

Deceived and serving various lusts;

Disobedient to our Heavenly Father

And so stubbornly robust.

But our Savior extended kindness

And thus we were compelled;

We inherited all His spiritual riches

And now avoid judgement and hell.

Let’s ensure we do inherit

Everlasting life through Christ,

Since it’s the very best inheritance

And all that will suffice.

(C) P.B. 2019

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit when He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

When we understand the quality

And with gratitude we recognise…

There’s an appreciation that’s significant

When one is precious in our eyes.

When one is absent for some time

And there’s a reconciliation;

There’s a thankful attitude that fills our heart

Along with appreciation.

It reminds us to never take for granted

Their loving and caring ways,

And a timely reminder of a life so brief

That sustains our earthly days.

To appreciate someone it may just mean

That their absence is required;

For a moment in time so we realise

That their presence is desired.

To appreciate is to hold in high esteem

With respect and honour too;

It’s to notice the treasures in little things

And the wonderful things they do.

As we appreciate these dear souls

That are sent from God to us,

Let’s remember that we’ll give an account

Those embedded in our trust.

As we’re reunited with loved ones

Following a period of isolation,

Let’s shower them with cuddles

And lots of love without hesitation.

Although one’s absence can be missed

Especially after a time prolonged;

It’s a wakeup call as we remember

That for their affection we have longed.

And as we show appreciation

In particular to our Heavenly Father;

We’ll display love, kindness and faithfulness

As we appreciate one another.

(C) P.B. 2020

James 2:8

1 Corinthians 13:13

1 John 4:19

As the seed falls to the ground

And it comes to its demise;

It is born again and flourishes

Into a plant it becomes alive.

As the web of life continues

And the caterpillar dies;

It leaves behind its past

As a butterfly arrives.

From a seed into a flower

All creation is glorified,

To reveal the truth of God

Which can never be denied.

As our sinful deceitful ways

Are surrendered to Christ we die,

We become a new creation

As our spirit becomes alive.

And our body it decays

As this shell is only dust,

Our glorified bodies are prepared

By God only if we trust.

To trust that Jesus died and rose

This example we take to see,

That when we die we awake

To dwell forever in heaven with He.

(C) P.B. 2002

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.”  Revelation 20:6