Category: Poems

We have felt the anticipation

When presented with a gift;

It’s the joy in not knowing

What possibly could be in our midst.

It’s the desire to unwrap

With the element of surprise,

And discover the hidden beauty

With that hunger in our eyes.

Although our gifts are thoughtful

They will perish eventually,

Because we simply cannot carry them

Into eternity.

There’s a gift that lasts forever

And He hung upon a tree,

Becoming a curse who took our place

So from our sins we are set free.

This gift is Jesus Christ;

All wrapped up in love and grace,

Who unravelled Himself as the Messiah

So God’s rejection we do not face.

And this gift is the greatest

Although He humbled Himself indeed,

To present us spotless to the Father

When for our souls He’d intercede.

This gift is so priceless

But bought by His precious blood,

Because our greatest friend lay down His life

When He unfolded His deepest love.

And His presence will abound

When we trust in Jesus Christ,

Who was crucified but rose again

Full of majesty and light.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17

“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

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

“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

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)”. Galatians 3:13

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ.”  Galatians 3:26-27

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:11

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness…”. Romans 3:23-25

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  John 15:13

The beauty of a lamb is clear;

It is gentle and it is meek,

Covered in white garments

Much serenity it seeks.

Lambs are lovely and delightful

And the hardest hearts can melt,

With their tender love and gracious ways

When their sweetness it is felt.

Whereas a wolf is always lurking

To seek and hunt its prey,

With a desire to maul and to kill

Where violence paves his ways.

When Jesus sent His disciples

He made it very clear,

That they will be lambs among the wolves

But with a message not to fear.

Lambs are sacrificial

And their tender lives are brief,

But we can learn profound lessons

When from their book we take a leaf.

Their silence before the shearer

Indicates a level of trust,

And submission to the hand of their master

Where obedience is a must.

When a person is like a lamb

A peacemaker he will be,

Because he sincerely wants to point to God

Where His salvation we can see.

Jesus is the Lamb of God

Who was savaged on the cross,

By the ravenous and vile wolves

Where their violence was embossed.

But He opened not His mouth;

Like a lamb to the slaughter was led,

With the heavy burden of His cross

And the crown of thorns upon His head.

Because the wolves wished to annihilate

Anything that was pure,

Since they couldn’t handle the convicting truth

And had no strength where they’d endure.

A lamb projects a message

That is pure and is true,

And that message is the gospel

With the good news of salvation too.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.”  Luke 10:3

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7

“When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.  And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’  Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.  And when they had mocked Him they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”  Matthew 27:29-31

“He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”  Luke 10:16

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

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

“That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”  1 Corinthians 15:3-4

When something is good it is wholesome

And just perfect in every way,

Because in order to be good all aspects are considered

When integrity is displayed.

We are too flippant when we speak

And we say that people are good,

Since only God knows the depth of our hearts

Where many things we’ve misunderstood.

Because although we may wish no harm

Or our deeds are loving and kind,

Only God knows the true motives

And whether it’s recognition we wish to find.

Or how can we recognise jealousy

When the person is as sweet as can be,

Or whether there’s hidden bitterness deep inside

And other traits we cannot see?

Because the worldly ways will tell us

That we are born inherently good,

But unless God’s light shines in our heart

Many realities are not understood.

When Jesus was labelled ‘Good Teacher’

His response was firm and clear,

That no-one is good and that right is reserved

For the Father that He held dear.

Although Jesus was God in the flesh

And He was perfect all along,

He needed to make an important point

That it’s in the Father that good belongs.

His word says that none are righteous

And we fall short of God’s glory too,

So how could anything possibly ever be good

In our strength in what we do?

If we believe for a millisecond

That we’re righteous in God’s eyes,

We have not understood Jesus’ sacrifice

Or the reason He needed to die.

Because it’s only through the cross

That we can be made alive,

And dead to sin once and for all

Where to His goodness we arise.

Every good and perfect gift

Is from the Lord above,

Where goodness, kindness, peace and joy

Are encapsulated in His love.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’  So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is God.’”  Matthew 19:16-17

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23-24

“Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”  Isaiah 6:5

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:11

“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

“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

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17

The deepest craving of the heart

Is to discover the depth of love,

To know and feel it with intimacy

Where it simply is enough.

To really know its origin

And as to how it came to be;

To discover the power behind its inception

Where profound joy is felt and seen.

Where its fullness with its wholesome touch

Is to be wrapped around our heart,

And to satisfy every desire and craving

Where we cannot live apart.

The beauty of its magnitude

With its entirety as well,

Ignites our heart and soul forever

Where peace and faithfulness it spells.

It’s sincere, pure and it’s true

When it emanates from its source;

It is divine and filled with gratitude

Where integrity is endorsed.

He has existed from eternity

And for eternity He will live;

He’s an all-consuming fire

Where our Father loves to give.

It took three nails and one plank

For forgiveness to be spelt,

When the epitome of love Himself

Our sins on Him were felt.

Because when love is demonstrated

It is sacrificial and it serves,

And when God’s love is poured on us

It is definitely undeserved.

Although He’s pure and without fault

He decided nevertheless,

To give us Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Since love only gives His best.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“For our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:29

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  John 15:13

When a cistern holds its water

It fulfils an important task,

To catch, to store and to preserve

Where the water indeed lasts.

But when cisterns they are broken

There will always be a leak,

Where no refreshing waters will be contained

And where no comfort we can seek.

Because unless the living waters

From the precious Lord above,

Will fulfil our soul and refresh our heart

We’ll be thirsty for His love.

And we’ll search in many places

To try to fill this hole,

But irrespective of whatever we try

It won’t satisfy the soul.

Because money, fashion or career

Can please us temporarily,

But it’s where frustration, doubts and insecurities

Will certainly be seen.

To be clothed with righteousness

And with meekness with humility,

Is where the depths of the soul is satisfied

And where God’s peace we really see.

To give for eternal causes

Is where our pocket will be lined,

Because it’s in building God’s forever kingdom

When we’re sincere and we’re kind.

And if our career entails servanthood

In whatever capacity it may be,

It’s where sacrifices are truly made

But where many blessings we do see.

Broken cisterns are like tears cascading

With the need to be repaired,

With an urgency to be restored

Through tender love and care.

Jesus’ broken body

Hung in torment to make us whole,

And it’s where eternal life with refreshing waters

Inside our soul unfolds.

(C) P.B. 2022

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  Jeremiah 2:13

“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:37-38

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  1 Timothy 6:10

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:20-21

Every time there’s a calamity

The first thing that’s on our mind,

Is why God did not stop it or intercede

With the many questions we may find.

But sin is sin in His pure eyes

And if He were to eradicate,

He’d have to wipe us off the face of the earth

Due to the fallen nature of our state.

Calamities will always happen;

It’s a sad fact but it is true,

But it’s our reaction and our attitude

That will determine what we do.

Do we fall upon our knees?

Or do we try to take the reigns?

Do we place blame on everything or anyone

Where much anxiety remains?

Or do we simply trust in God

Knowing that His will be done,

To refine and chisel our character

Or do we choose from Him to run?

And let’s not underestimate

The rebuke of the Lord,

When we fail to have a healthy fear

Or to have reverence for His word.

Because life is found in His wisdom

To turn from wicked ways,

To repent and trust in the living God

To find peace in every day.

Calamities are nightmares

But unfortunately they arise,

And the degree of crisis will determine the grace

That helps us to overcome and rise.

And let’s remember there is always help

Where there’s hope in all we do,

Because precious souls provide much kindness

With their assistance and support too.

This life is just a vapour

With all tribulations and its tests,

Since eternal life is forever

Where the Lord desires our best.

But we need to trust in Him

Knowing that better days are ahead,

Because His glorious eternity

Dwells inside us when we’re led.

(C) P.B 2022

“Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares…Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity;”  Proverbs 1:20-26

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”  Proverbs 1:28-29

“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.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;”  Jeremiah 29:11-14

“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.  Amen.”  Ephesians 6:24

When fear takes a grip on our heart

It’s because we’ve been influenced,

Either by external means or inner voices

Where the results can be immense.

When sensationalism paints a picture

With its negative brush or stroke,

The masses are quick and intent to believe

But much fear this evokes.

And this eventually may lead us to believe

That God really does not care,

When the worldly events become chaotic

And whether He really is aware.

But history always does reveal

That good will always prevail,

And although we don’t understand many things

It’s not God’s plan that we should fail.

We’re shown images of horrific wars

But not shown the love and care,

Of those who accommodate all the victims

And where hope and faith is shared.

The negative picture is always portrayed

But it’s always behind the scenes,

Where care and support along with hope

Makes the heart merry and serene.

And we all eventually will die

Whether it’s through war, sickness or disease,

So it’s imperative to trust in the Lord

Where eternal life we see.

Through ashes God creates much beauty

Because it’s at the point of no return,

Where He miraculously raises anything dead

Where many lessons can be learned.

Jesus was horrifically crucified;

The worst punishment man can see,

But it’s the beauty and good that the Father saw

When for our soul He did intercede.

Good will always prevail

Just when things look hopeless and dead,

Because we serve a God of miracles

Who has our best intentions instead.

(C) P.B. 2022

“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.”  Jeremiah 29:11

“Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…to comfort all who mourn…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”. Isiah 61:1-3

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

God is a God of absolutes

Always has been and always will be,

Because in His economy it’s black or white

With nothing in between.

But when we prefer the grey areas

It’s just so we can justify,

Our intellect and our philosophies

In order to keep an open mind.

But the fact of the matter is

That we are God’s children or we are not,

Where there’s no in-between whatsoever

Since we’re either justified or fall short.

We’re either married or we are not

Because there’s really no middle ground,

Since the public vows do determine

That a lifetime spouse is found.

We are either pregnant or we are not

Because when the egg is fertilised,

It’s the beginning of a beautiful life

And so precious in God’s eyes.

And there’s either eternal heaven or hell

With no purgatory in between,

Because God is not a god of confusion

Or with any doubts it seems.

We’re either hot or cold towards God

Since anything lukewarm is ejected,

And God makes it clear and does not lie

When middle ground is rejected.

Our soulish ways love everything grey

So we can avoid accountability,

Towards a pure and a holy God

But it’s where judgement we will see.

If we walk in the Spirit

With love, peace and humility,

We crucify the lusts of the flesh

So God’s righteousness we see.

The reason God is absolute

Is because His love is so sincere,

And it’s with all His heart that He has provided

With a passion He holds dear.

Jesus paid our debt on the cross

Not half-hearted but with sincerity,

To make us whole towards a pure God

So eternal life we see.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”  Romans 8:30

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.”  John 6:63

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,”  1 Corinthians 14:33

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:25-26

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  Revelation 3:16

When we look around

And see the evil manifest,

We wonder whether God is in control

Amidst all this horrid mess.

When we hear of children hurting

Or disgracefully sold as slaves,

Many questions do arise in us

And whether any hope remains.

When we hear of heinous crimes

And all the suffering that exists,

Although we’re grieved in our soul

Is there something that we’ve missed?

Apostle Peter thought he was doing good

By saying ‘Far be it from You, Lord;

This shall not happen to You’

But a rebuke for him was stored.

‘Get behind Me, Satan!’

Were the words of Jesus Christ,

Since Peter was mindful of the things of men

And not focused on God’s plight.

Because if Jesus listened to Peter

We would all surely be lost,

For an eternity if Christ avoided

The sacrifice on the cross.

The purest man to walk the earth

Had to be severely traumatised,

To appease the wrath of a holy God

So we’re made clean in the Father’s eyes.

Many testimonies do abound,

From those under severe duress,

Where the physical and emotional pain would linger

But where God’s grace did manifest.*

All injustices will require an account

And although we think they are ignored,

It’s God’s will that none perish but come to repentance

Or else God’s judgement will be stored.

And the judgement is forever

Where there’s wailing and gnashing of teeth,

Where the soul will be in torment

And never find relief.

The money hungry and their power struggles

Eventually come to a demise,

When they’re used for the purposes of injustice

Since in God’s eyes they are despised.

And just when we think we’re in control

All it takes is an accident,

Or a crisis to occur in life

Or any mishap that is sent.

Only God sees the big picture

And knows exactly what is required,

For Him to call us unto eternal life

Since His ways are so much higher.

(C) P.B. 2022

*Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

“Then Peter took Him aside, and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’”  Matthew 16:22-23

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36-37

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 8:12

“But He was wounded for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:5-6

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

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.”  Isaiah 55:8

Broken pieces of our soul

With shattered hopes and dreams,

Where pain it runs throughout our veins

With heartache in between.

Painful moments in every realm

And unbearable at times,

With many questions that go unanswered

Along with confusion in our lives.

Many scars that are invisible

But stamped upon our heart,

With a desperate need and a desire

For a refreshing brand new start.

A desire for healing in our wings

With a strength to overcome,

When the patterns of our pain

They become a collective sum.

But the one who satisfies the heart

Is the One who created same;

God Almighty who makes all things new

Where there’s healing in His name.

He bottles every tear

And is familiar with our pain,

He knows exactly how we feel

And sees a heart that’s bruised and maimed.

He redeems us from the pit

And instils much hope within;

He wipes all of our transgressions

And cleanses us from sin.

And He takes those broken pieces

To create a beauty from within,

When the heart and soul is transformed

As we learn to trust in Him.

(C) P.B. 2022

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  Psalm 147:3

“You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You…”. Psalm 56:8-9

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31