Category: Poems

Beaten, bruised and battered

Tormented in numerous ways;

You shed Your blood and hung in torture

So the stain of our sin will not remain.

Crucified and with the crown of thorns

In the most humiliating way;

Spat upon and sworn at

By the angry mob that day.

Tortured and tormented

Yet You opened not Your mouth;

Like a lamb led to the slaughter

Where much hatred filled their shouts.

As a spotless lamb so perfect;

No inch of sin was found in You,

And not deserving of such hostility

Or with scathing remarks too.

The Father’s presence left You

For the first time in eternity;

You felt the sting of His wrath

So His anger we may not see.

Because if eternity wasn’t real

There would have been no need to suffer;

As we imagine what the Father is saving us from

When we enter the here-after…

It reveals the condition of our heart

When we’re hostile towards You;

Highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare

And that Heaven and Hell are true.

Without the shedding of blood

There is no remission of sins;

You’re our Passover Lamb so perfect and true

Who saves our soul within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”  Hebrews 9:22

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

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Matthew 27:46

“But with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:19

“And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”  1 Peter 2:24

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

“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

“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

Barabbas was a robber

Yet he was the people’s choice,

To be released instead of Jesus

When Pilate honoured the crowd’s voice.

When we prefer Barabbas

We choose darkness over light,

And robbed of truth and integrity

As we refuse to fight the good fight.

When we prefer Barabbas

We hate the actual truth,

Because although it’s evident and purely clear

We refuse to accept its proof.

“What is truth?” asked Pilate

As the Truth stood before him,

And found no fault in the Anointed One

With no blame to underpin.

Although Pilate sought to release Him

The crowd roared even louder,

“If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend”

Hence Pilate became a coward.

Barabbas was a thief

Yet like a thief in the night,

Will come the day of the Lord

With great power and with might.

When voices loud and manipulative

Try to crucify the truth,

They join forces with every form of evil

To extinguish all the facts and proof.

But the truth will resurrect

And cannot be smothered too;

It cannot be contained but will shine the light

Because it’s timeless and it’s true.

Whoever wants truth will always search

To find treasure in its beauty;

When they sincerely ask “What is truth?”

And discover Jesus’ deity.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..”  1 Timothy 6:12

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,”  2 Peter 3:10

“Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’…‘I find no fault in Him at all.’”John 18:38

“Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?  Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.”  John 18:39-40

“If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.  Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”John 19:12

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.  But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.”  Acts 3:13-15

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:32

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

“But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  Acts 3:18-19

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  John 14:6

Like a fortress, strong and secure

Is Your protection and Your love;

A stronghold that shields from danger

That guards us from above.

You’re a rock and a refuge

And a fortress of defence,

That protects our delicate temple

To provide hope, trust and rest.

You save us and deliver us

From the hand of our enemies;

From those who spread a net

And our downfall wish to see.

When we trust in Your deliverance

And hope in Your salvation;

Your mighty arm will guard our soul

With a manifold protection.

You shield us from the arrows;

Protect our heart from the sword,

When we’re not ashamed of You

As our Savior and our Lord.

You’re our stronghold and security

And in the palm of Your hand,

You cover us with Your feathers

In ways too numerous to understand.

You’re a circle of protection;

A solid rock of trust,

As Your devotion towards us is sincere

And Your love strong and robust.

Our fortress and our strength

By Your grace we solely stand;

As Your mercy envelops our soul

And protects with Your strong hand.

(C) P.B. 2021

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation.  My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior.  You save me from violence.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”  2 Samuel 22:2-4

“In You O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.”  Psalm 31:1

“For You are my rock and my fortress…Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength.”  Psalm 31:3-4

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  Psalm 31:24

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”  Psalm 91:3-4

When transgressions are forgiven

Blessed is that soul;

It’s the most priceless gift one could receive

From the precious Lord behold!

To conceal and to keep silent

When transgressions do amount;

The bones will grow old with a drought within

Where despondency can mount.

If we say we have no sin

In God’s eyes we’ll all be liars,

But when we confess and we repent…

It’s God’s forgiveness we desire.

God is our hiding place

He preserves through trials and trouble;

He delivers and guides us with His eye

And with mercy He does rule.

The soul that is forgiven

Has received the greatest gift;

It is life-giving and produces fruit

When the wheat from tares He sifts.

When we acknowledge and confess

Our iniquity and do not hide;

He forgives us with His right hand

When in Him we do confide.

We thank Him for the Messiah

Who was punished for our sin,

And when we’re grateful for His sacrifice

We repent and are cleansed within.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”  Psalm 32:1-2

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’”  Psalm 32:5

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Psalm 32:7

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.”  Psalm 32:8

“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.  Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”  Psalm 32:10-11

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

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:8-10

“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

Whoever fears the Lord

With reverence and respect;

Is blessed in ways abundant

When His statutes they won’t forget.

Happiness will fill their dwelling

When the wife is a fruitful vine,

And the children are like olive plants

With blessings pure and divine.

Blessed are the meek

Along with the merciful,

And blessed are the peacemakers

When with love their soul is full.

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Who have come to understand;

True humility before the Lord

Who have knelt so they can stand.

Blessed are those persecuted

For the sake of righteousness;

Who endure slander and all false accusations

They will be truly blessed.

God cannot be mocked

And has a reward for those in heaven;

Who are reviled and persecuted for His name

Who refuse to bow to leaven.

Blessed are the pure in heart

Who desire God’s holy ways;

Who are delivered from anger,  jealousy and hate

Where righteousness remains.

Blessed are those who love the Lord

And where a deep revelation takes place,

That we’re mere pilgrims on this earth

Who desire to see His face.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways…Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house.  Your children like olive plants all around your table.”  Psalm 128:1-3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3-10

“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

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  Galatians 6:7

Like an unbaked cake

Is our naked soul before You;

Unfinished and unpolished

Falling short of glory too.

Like an unbaked cake

Are all our collective works,

And in God’s eyes are filthy rags

When they neglect to reveal Your worth.

Although the ingredients of the cake

May be good and perfect too,

All it takes is a little leaven

So its integrity is not true.

Like an unbaked cake

Is the glory of mankind;

Hoping to rise but flat indeed

When there’s arrogance of every kind.

Like an unbaked cake

Is the unregenerate soul,

But the moment Jesus becomes our bread

He’s fulfilling to behold!

Our trials are temporary

But when our cake is baked and done;

It is tasty and it’s wholesome

Being a blessing to everyone.

The cake is delicious

When it’s put through the fire;

Where every impurity is consumed

And when baked it will inspire.

The unbaked cake may be tempting

But it’s always best to wait;

Where patience is a virtue

And not consumed in haste.

When we feel the prod

It’s an encouraging stimulus;

To detect the progress of our walk

As God does what He knows best.

The sweet truth is

That although we all have leaven;

Jesus died on the cross and rose again

So we can taste and inherit heaven.

The icing on the cake

Is God’s loving kind touch;

That encourages us to rise indeed

When He loves us very much.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;  We all fade as a leaf..”  Isaiah 64:6

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”  Galatians 5:9

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

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

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever..”  John 6:51

To be great in the kingdom is to be the least

With no high opinion of self,

And where meekness and humility

With faith and trust do dwell.

Like a trusting heart of a child

Is where hosts of heaven reign;

It’s where humble saints they worship Him

And God’s glory they sustain.

The trusting heart of a child

Is humble and is meek;

It rests in peace with promises

And God’s provision it will seek.

The greatest in the kingdom

Has not the most accomplished list,

Nor the one with qualifications

But where faith and trust have kissed.

It’s the one with a child’s heart

Who has come to understand,

That all man’s glory is vanity

When self credit is at hand.

A child’s heart is simple

And has a genuine trust within;

Without all the intellectual pride

Or where knowledge puffs up therein.

The greatest in the kingdom

Is the one like a child;

With a sweet and humble heart

And with a love that’s not defiled.

Because ultimately all the glory

Belongs to Jesus Christ our Lord;

The One who died and rose

As we trust in His pure word.

(C) P.B. 2021

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”’  Matthew 19:14

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”  Matthew 18:4-5

“Knowledge puffs us, but love edifies.  And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.  But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.”  1 Corinthians 8:1-3

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  John 1:12

When I look at you…

I see the majesty of God’s hand;

The brilliance of His creation,

Too wonderful to understand.

When I look at you…

Your eyes are more precious than jewels;

A miracle to behold

Where God’s sovereignty will rule.

When I gaze into your eyes

I see a warmth and a love;

It is pure and refreshing

Emanating from above.

When I look at your frame

It’s too wonderful indeed;

All features working in harmony

Created from a seed.

When I look at you…

I’m reminded there’s a soul;

The part of us that lives forever

To glorify God – behold.

When we look at Christ

He’s God’s gift to us all;

Expressing grace and mercy

Particularly when our name He calls.

The beauty of creation

And the splendour of His touch,

Is a reminder of His majesty

And how He loves us very much.

(C) P.B. 2021

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”  Psalm 139:13-14

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen…so that they are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20

“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

Like a child that is weaned

And like an ocean that is calm,

Is a simple trust in God

As we rely on His strong arm.

His gentle hand will lift us

And remove all tares of doubt;

All haughtiness and lofty thoughts

No longer will they mount.

When it’s the desire to value simplicity

In everything we do,

We’ll avoid greed and covetousness

And be more sincere and true.

A simple trust is pure

And it’s calming in every way;

When we’re not concerned with great matters

So true peace will mark our days.

Knowing that God is in control

And His sovereign ways will reign;

We’re merely pilgrims on this earth

With only eternity to gain.

It’s not foolish to value simplicity

Since a revelation has taken place,

That the worldly matters will rob our peace

Where vanity is interlaced.

Simplicity unclutters our mind

And when the Lord takes us by the hand,

He leads us and He guides us

So with His wisdom we’ll understand.

He’s our Father in heaven

And His calming strokes we see,

When with a simple heart we trust in Him

As most anxieties are set free.

When our soul is calm like a weaned child

And where the bigger picture is seen,

We value love and simplicity

And all that’s tranquil and serene.

(C) P.B. 2021

‘Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty.  Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.  Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother;  Like a weaned child is my soul within me.”  Psalm 131:1-3

It is the epitome of worship

In His presence with a song;

With joyful shouts of praise

And with a gratitude so strong.

It’s to enter His courts with thanksgiving

And to bless His holy name;

As our Creator and our Shepherd

Where much goodness will remain.

When we enter His gates with appreciation

From the heart we worship Him,

He’s a God of sovereignty

Who will cleanse our soul within.

Lord, You are good and always will be

No darkness is upon Thee;

You made us and not us ourselves

To be all we’re created to be.

God’s mercy is everlasting

And all truth belongs to Him;

His promises are honourable

And when we repent He wipes our sin.

There’s a song in our heart

When we worship with thanksgiving,

Knowing that the Lord is good

Filled with love and is forgiving.

You are God, there is no other

Who can ever compare to Thee?

You’re majestic and filled with integrity

Throughout all the beauty that we see.

(C) P.B. 2021

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness;  Come before His presence with singing.  Know that the Lord, He is God;  It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  Psalm 100:1-3

“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