Category: Poems

When we are consumed

With whatever it may be,

It absorbs our heart and soul

And it becomes idolatry.

When troubles they consume us

They are simply magnified,

Because when they’re fuelled by our thoughts

Our worries won’t subside.

When we are consumed

By any situation too,

There will be no rest or respite

With anxiety in all we do.

When we are consumed

By any relationship as well,

There may be jealousy and insecurity

Where suspicion it may dwell.

But when we hand it over to God

And lay it at His feet,

There’s a burden that is released

Where comfort and peace will greet.

The devil tries to consume us

In every way he can,

He will tempt us and place fear;

To manipulate at his demand.

The Lord will consume

Satan and all his ways,

And destroy every wickedness

Where God’s glory will remain.

God wants us to be consumed

In Him and in His ways,

To be placed in His tender care

And where clarity remains.

As we humbly bow the knee

And ask for forgiveness too,

We’ll be liberated in many ways

With a vision that is true.

He gives us power and a sound mind

And eradicates confusion;

With a renewed heart and a steadfast faith;

With a genuine new mission.

When we ask ourselves the question

As to what really consumes us,

We analyse our situation;

Our desires and our lusts.

Jesus sets us free

When His Spirit comes to live,

In our heart and soul forever

As we’re consumed by only Him.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  1 Corinthians 10:14

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”  Proverbs 12:25

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

“And when the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.”  2 Thessalonians 2:8-9

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

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

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear by voice!  Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.”  Psalm 130:1-4

Thank you Lord for calling people

Into Your kingdom every day,

Because the world is a better place

When people humble themselves and pray.

Thank you Lord for being in control

And appointing souls into Your care,

Because the most precious gift is eternal life

In Your kingdom where You’re there.

Thank you Lord for softening the hardest hearts

As they repent and call Your name,

When lives are radically changed indeed

And no longer are the same.

The worldly ways will tell us

That negativity and evil reign,

But it’s behind the scenes that You will work

As people surrender in Your name.

Thank you Lord as You orchestrate

Every test and trial in us,

And although it’s never pleasant at the time

The long term benefits do last.

Thank you Lord as You surprise us

When You call those we never would,

Because Your love and grace extends far beyond

And is always pure and good.

Thank you Lord as Your humble servants

Mainly work behind the scenes,

Because it’s Your name they wish to glorify

Not wanting to be seen.

Thank you Lord when words of kindness

Emanate from those You’ve called,

And where sincere motives with a childlike faith

In the heart they are installed.

Thank you Lord for Your amazing grace

Because it’s never earned or ever deserved,

But it’s through Your tender mercies and pure heart

When with Your love You serve.

You gave us the most precious gift;

Jesus Christ our dear Lord,

And inspired scriptures as a guide

As we journey with Your word.

Thank you Lord, we thank You

Because Your phenomenal ways inspire,

As we press towards the eternal goal

When Your ways we do admire.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”  Psalm 100:4-5

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  Acts 14:22

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  Mark 10:15

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11

“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

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

It is no trivial matter

And one to never take too lightly,

When only a remnant will be saved 

For the glory of Almighty.

A remnant is a trace remaining

From a small surviving group;

Perhaps a third from its entirety;

A small number of the troops.

It’s a God-fearing people

And persecuted for His name,

But who overcome by the blood of the Lamb

Where victory in Christ is claimed.

This group receives the largest blessing

In all of eternity,

By virtue of their faithfulness

And through only Christ they were set free.

The remnant will not go with the flow

Or believe all that tickles the ear,

But will line it up with the word of God

With all they see and hear.

They will trust in God’s sovereignty

And know He is in control,

As their first love is Jesus Christ

Where much fruit will unfold.

Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’

Will enter the kingdom of heaven,

Because although they claim to be Christian

They harbour many doctrines of leaven.

The remnant is a minute number;

One that is put through the fire,

To be tested and to be refined;

A group to be admired.

The remnant will hear those precious words

‘Well done, good and faithful servant’,

Since their focus and trust was in Christ alone

And their love for Him was fervent.

(C) P.B. 2022

“And it shall come to pass in all the land, says the Lord, That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call on My name, and I will answer them.  I will say, ‘This is my people’, and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”  Zechariah 13:8-9

“When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord Your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”  Isaiah 43:2-3

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”  Matthew 7:21

“You ran well.  Who hindered you from obeying the truth?  This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”  Galatians 5:7-9

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’”  Matthew 25:21

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  Matthew 25:46

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

There is always a better way

To what we may see or know,

And although it may go against the grain

There is freedom as we sow.

It is better to display righteousness

But where finances are depleted,

Rather than to have vast riches and wealth as well

But where justice is omitted.

Better to eat a morsel that’s dry

But where peace resides within,

Rather than to dwell in a house filled with delicacies

But laden with strife and sin.

Better to gain wisdom from God

Rather than all the gold to collect,

Where understanding is chosen over silver

To avoid unnecessary regret.

Better to have little

But have reverence for the Lord,

Rather than mammon and great treasure

But where trouble is aboard.

Better to dine with herbs 

But where genuine love exists,

Rather than a fatted calf and all the finest things

But where hatred is in our midst.

Better to dwell on a housetop

But where quietness is found,

Rather than in a home shared with contentions

Where trouble will abound.

Better is one who is poor

But will walk in integrity,

Rather than a rich one perverse in all his ways

Where disgrace is only seen.

When we receive an open rebuke

It is better for our soul,

Rather than feelings that are suppressed

Where deception may take hold.

It is better to be humble

And associate with the lowly too,

Because there are benefits when one is meek;

When words are sincere and true.

And it’s better to trust in the Lord

Rather than in man to place confidence,

Because when God sits in the centre of our heart

There is surety and rest.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”  Proverbs 16:8

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.”  Proverbs 17:1

“How much better to get wisdom than gold!  And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”  Proverbs 16:16

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”  Proverbs 15:16

“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”  Proverbs 15:17

“Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.”  Proverbs 21:19

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”  Proverbs 28:6

‘Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”  Proverbs 19:1

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

“Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”  Proverbs 16:19

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”  Psalm 118:8

When someone loves to slander

They are openly displaying hate,

Because when one’s reputation is tarnished

Even an apology is too late.

When someone loves to gossip

It will separate the closest of friends,

And once this trust is broken

It’s difficult to make amends.

When someone loves to hate

It’s a web within their soul,

Where darkness and all unrighteousness

In the heart creates strongholds.

When a neighbour’s possessions are coveted

It is envy from within,

And it’s where greed comes knocking on the door

Of the heart and causes sin.

When someone is insincere

And although greets you with a kiss,

It’s like venom and a spider’s web

When affections go amiss.

All unrighteousness begins deep within;

In the seat of our heart,

Where disloyalty along with suspicion

Will tear relationships apart.

When we ask for forgiveness

From God and others too;

When it flows sincerely from within

Our heart will be renewed.

The fruit of love is evident;

It suffers long and it is kind;

Will not envy or parade itself

And bears all things and is refined.

Only God can ultimately remove

The cobwebs in our heart,

When He reconciles us and restores 

As we make a brand new start.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”  Proverbs 10:18

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.”  Proverbs 12:20

“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful ambassador brings health.”  Proverbs 13:17

“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue…it becomes cobra venom within him.”  Job 20:12-14

“Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”  Proverbs 17:28

“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife…nor anything that is your neighbour’s.”  Exodus 20:17

“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

“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

Self-sufficient is to be independent

And to provide for oneself,

Without the assistance from others

And not requiring any help.

When self-sufficiency will tell us

That we don’t need God or Christ,

We’ll continue in a deceptive state

Until God’s truth we realise.

When we believe we don’t need Christ;

Until we really do,

For too long we have been self-sufficient

And believed our ways were true.

Our pride will never ask for help;

It’s just something it will never do,

But there comes a time in our life

When humility shines through.

And self-sufficiency will tell us

There’s no need to repent,

Until we realise that we need a physician

And understand what Jesus meant.

Self-sufficiency and pride

Is honoured in the eyes of man,

But it’s a humble heart that God does seek;

One that trusts and understands.

Self-sufficiency relies on our own strength

When God is not in our equation,

And where rebellion dwells in our heart

With the strongest of foundation.

Self-sufficiency will raise the fist

To God and all His ways;

It will whisper that we don’t need Him

And there’s no need to ever pray.

But in a time of crisis

Self-sufficiency will stumble,

Because we’re fallible and just a vapour

Where our heart can fail and crumble.

It’s a broken spirit and a contrite heart

That’s acceptable in God’s eyes,

When He opens the eyes of our heart

And exposes all the lies.

Jesus sets us free

From all self-righteousness and lies,

When we submit and humble ourselves indeed

And in God’s ways we do abide.

It’s by His grace and mercy

That we’re set free from all our chains,

And where an exchange will take place

When hope and faith in Christ remains.

(C) P.B. 2022

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away…But now you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil.”  James 4:13-16

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise.”  Psalm 51:17

“A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident.”  Proverbs 14:16

“Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the power of the heavens will be shaken.”  Luke 21:26

“ When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”  Matthew 9:12-13

These days are fast approaching

And perhaps we’re in the midst of them,

Where godlessness will try to prevail

Bringing sorrow and much shame.

Difficulties will arise

Because when God is far removed,

From all institutions of society

Every aspect will not improve.

In the last days…

People will be lovers of themselves,

And have no respect or any regard;

It’s where arrogance will dwell.

In the last days…

Parents will not be respected,

And where ungratefulness and heartless measures

Towards each other will be subjected.

In the last days…

The slander without self-control,

With recklessness, swollen with conceit

In the heart will take strongholds.

In the last days…

His noble name will be blasphemed,

Where unwholesome words will proceed

And where unforgiveness will be seen.

In the last days…

The love of money will increase,

With brutal tactics that are unappeasable

And where pleasures they will seek.

It’s a sad state of affairs

When the author of life is rejected,

And when evil ways are much preferred

And where God’s statutes are not respected.

There is always a consequence

As we reap what we do sow,

But there’s safety and protection

When God’s ways we learn and know.

In the last days…

God help everyone left on earth,

As we pray sincerely that all repent

And be renewed with the spiritual birth.

(C) P.B. 2022

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!”  2 Timothy 3:1-4

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal…But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  Revelation 21:10, 21:27

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”  John 3:3

Your presence will envelop us

Wherever we may go,

And Your Spirit guides and teaches

In the ways that we should know.

Your loving hand protects us

From our enemies and foes,

As we’re covered by Your feathers…

Wherever we may go.

Your Spirit always produces life;

It won’t oppress in any way,

As it waters sacred seed

Wherever we go and where we stay.

Your promise of eternal life

Is a covenant that’s sealed,

Through Jesus Christ and His shed blood

As our soul is cleansed and healed.

Wherever we may go

We can never escape Your sight,

As You watch closely over us indeed

As You guide us by Your light.

You’ll never leave us nor forsake us;

It’s a promise that You’ve made,

And throughout all trials and all challenges

The right path for us You pave.

Wherever we may go

From Your sight we cannot hide,

And when we ask we do receive

When in You we will abide.

When we receive Jesus Christ

And accept the sacrifice He made,

Our soul is peaceful and it is at rest

Knowing our transgressions You forgave.

Wherever we may go

May Your lamp be at our feet,

And may Your presence and Your protection

Ensure we never taste defeat.

Thank you dear Lord

That wherever we may go,

You’re our Heavenly Father watching over us

And forever may it be so.

(C) P.B. 2022

Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me.”  Psalm 17:8-9

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  Psalm 91:1

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;”  Psalm 91:4

“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;  I will deliver him and honour him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”  Psalm 91:15-16

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Psalm 119:105

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  John 16:13

“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

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”  Colossians 2:13-14

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”  Hebrews 13:5

His eye is on the sparrow

And will watch over it with care;

His loving heart watches over us

As He has numbered all our hairs.

God feeds the precious sparrows

As His eye hovers over same,

So how much more will He provide our needs

When we call upon His name.

But worry and anxiety

Will not add a cubit to our stature,

But rather will diminish and deplete

And with fear our heart will capture.

Worrying can cause much stress

When we try to take control,

Where we believe that we’re responsible

For situations to unfold.

He clothes the grass of the field

And with flowers will decorate,

So how much more will He clothe us

And ensure food is on our plate.

When our focus is on food and clothes

Idolatry can take place,

Because we’re to seek first the kingdom of God

And to seek His precious face.

Sufficient is today’s troubles

So we’re not to worry about tomorrow,

As His sovereign hand is in total control

So there’s no need for fear or sorrow.

As we look at the sparrows

They neither gather, reap nor sow,

Yet our heavenly Father feeds all of them

And guides them where they ought to go.

We are more valuable than sparrows

And His protective hand will guide;

He will provide our needs and all provision

When in Him we shall abide.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  Matthew 10:29-31

“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  Matthew 6:25

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”  Matthew 6:26

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  Matthew 6:27-28

“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”  Matthew 30-32

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Matthew 6:33-34

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

When we go with the flow

We tend to not question anything,

And believe what we are told to believe

Without examining everything.

When we go with the flow

Our thoughts may not belong to us,

As we’re influenced by others;

Our emotions or our lusts.

When we go with the flow

We may believe that all is well,

But it’s where deception breeds on ignorance

And disaster this can spell.

Going with the flow

Is a watered-down version indeed,

When we worship man’s opinion

And in his philosophies believe.

To go with the flow

Can be dangerous too,

Because unless we question and analyse

We’ll never discover truth.

If Jesus went with the flow

We would all be condemned,

With unspeakable consequences

And with strong delusions sent.

Because if Christ decided to appease

Every whim and every way,

We would never know salvation

With an eternal price to pay.

If Jesus went with the flow

He’d be denying reality,

Through compromise and emotional ways

Where only God’s wrath we all would see.

But Jesus was courageous;

He was bold with authority,

And challenged all the leaders

Exposing their hypocrisy.

But if He caved in under pressure

And was ultimately tempted,

There would be no hope for humanity

If to the Father He was not surrendered.

Dead fish go with the flow

But when we swim against the waves,

It’s by God’s strength and only by His grace

That His path for us He paves.

When God’s love and saving grace

Is embedded in our soul,

We thirst for Jesus’ ways

Where rivers of living water unfold.

Jesus went against the grain

That’s why He was crucified,

When the carnal ways of humanity

With the flow identified.

(C) P.B. 2022

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them.”  Ephesians 5:6-7

“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

“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 grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”  Titus 2:11-13

“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.”  Titus 3:3-5

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”  Matthew 23:27-28

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”. Philippians 2:14-15