Category: Poems

The greatest of love is rare

And it certainly is selfless in nature;

To lay down one’s life for his friends

It’s the most honourable in stature.

It’s to serve rather than to be served

With compassion and humility,

Having understood that nothing is owed to us

And as a result unexpected blessings we see.

To lay down our life simply means

That our identity is in Christ,

As children of God having received His promises

Whilst we learn to fight the good fight.

It’s to go the extra mile

And to be willing to turn the cheek;

To serve with all gentleness

To be humble and to be meek.

The greatest love is not puffed up

And will never parade itself;

It is kind, sincere and genuine

And not absorbed in self.

Because love is a commitment

Not just some romantic tale;

It is steadfast throughout all tests and trials

With the long-suffering it entails.

Jesus demonstrated the greatest love

To lay down His life for His friends,

For those who have received Him

Along with all promises heaven sent.

(C) P.B. 2020

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

“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

“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”  Matthew 5:41

“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  Matthew 5:46

You were a Carpenter by trade

But You had a special vision;

To reconcile us back to God

Through Your kind and loving mission.

You’d work and chisel to perfection

Every creation that You made;

The finished product would be seamless

As Your humble touch would be displayed.

You removed all the splinters

From the heart of every piece,

And You carved it with Your seal

And Your polish before release.

From the finished piece of wood

Which You crafted to perfection…

To that splintered wretched cross

As You suffered much rejection.

But as You hung whilst being in torment

And You faced such agony,

Your focus was set above

As our eternity You could see.

T’was God’s mercy upon mankind

When the cross was nailed to You;

When sinners crucified Your body

As to criminals they’d do.

From one wood to the other

Your timeless grace did so reveal,

That the latter was more special

So no more can Satan steal.

(C) P.B. 2017

“Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary…” Mark 6:3

“The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again.: Luke 24:7

“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again” 2 Corinthians 5:15

A root system is a means of support

Which is hidden from our sight,

But its an organ of absorption

To give any structure life.

It ensures the body will flourish

And acts as a storage for food;

It nourishes and it will feed

To ensure the system is good.

At the root of definition

There may be problems inherent,

When the root of a problem is deep

And when wrong messages therefore are sent.

When there’s greed ingrained in our soul

The love of money is a stumbling block,

That will lead to much covetousness

With other issues it unlocks.

When lies and deception become paramount

The root system is faulty indeed,

Because manipulation, control and intimidation

Become water for those seeds.

When the fruit is not wholesome

From the buds with its leaves;

It needs to be pulled out at the roots

To eliminate any bad seed.

The root of the problem is hidden

But will always manifest,

Because the issue needs to face the light

As God reveals and knows what’s best.

The love of money is a root

Of every type of evil…

As it fosters every type of sin

And controlled by the devil.

All bad seed needs to ultimately die

And ripped up from the roots;

To promote new beginnings with love and joy

And to eliminate all disputes.

All bitterness and hatred

Do emanate from bad seed,

Where the root system is decayed

And very unfruitful indeed.

A good root system is required

If there’s to be lasting fruit,

Since every tree is known by its fruit

As it provides the living proof.

(C) P.B. 2020

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”  1 Timothy 6:10

“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Matthew 7:17-20

“But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.”  Matthew 13:6

“Lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”  Hebrews 12:15

“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  Luke 12:15

The crown of creation is mankind

Yet they say it has no designer;

No God who has created same

And no Creator or no refiner.

But shouldn’t this be of concern?

Since everything we create needs a brain,

With a heart and a logical sequence

So no fault or seam remains.

Surely our arrogance tells us otherwise

That God does not exist,

Have we forgotten the fundamentals?

As surely something we have missed.

The intricate detail of our bodies

Is a testament that God is true…

A perfect designer with a brilliant concept

To believe is the least we can do.

Our lymphatic and nervous system

All have a function to fulfil;

Our eyes are a majestic miracle

Where much delicate care is instilled.

Our heartbeat is alive and well

And our fingertips are furnished with nails;

Our eye lashes protect our eyes indeed

With every blink that they entail.

Look at the beauty in animals

Their eyes talk to us every day,

With a warmth and an unconditional love

With a beauty that remains.

Examine the wonder of flowers

And their distinct aroma as well,

Their perfect stem and structure too

God’s masterpiece they spell.

The clay doesn’t dictate to the Potter

Or neither clenches the fist,

Since there’s beauty in everything He makes

On His comprehensive list.

The crown of creation

Is the majestic design of us all;

With a gift from the Father, our Jesus

Who redeems us from the fall.

The crown of creation

Reflects God’s richness indeed,

To relate to us on a personal level

And as a Father to take the lead.

To inspire and to encourage us

And to see us through every trial,

To direct our steps in righteousness

To bring conviction if we’re defiled.

The majesty of God’s Son

Deserves the greatest crown of all,

Since the explicit nature of Jesus

Will intercede when the Father calls.

(C) P.B. 2020

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  Genesis 1:27

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?  For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour.  You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”  Psalm 8:3-6

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown…”  Revelation 14:14

Although good works can never save

There’s a process of sanctification,

And a standard acceptable in God’s eyes

When we abide with dedication.

All our works are as filthy rags

As we gain all credit indeed;

Neglecting God and His plan of salvation

And allowing the lies our mind to feed.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

Was enough to set us free,

To save us from the second death

And all of our idolatry.

But when we receive Jesus

And accept the work on the cross,

A change is manifested in our spirit

With much love that is embossed.

Who may abide in God’s tabernacle?

And dwell in His holy hill?

It’s for those who are justified through the Lord

And accept to do His will.

It’s for those who walk uprightly

With righteousness in their heart;

Who speak the truth with integrity

And who is truly set apart.

It’s for those who do not backbite

Or cause feuds and troubles as well;

Nor does evil to his neighbour

But with peace and joy will dwell.

It’s for those who fear the Lord

Who will not accept lies and bribes;

It’s for those who display sincerity

That are honoured in God’s eyes.

The process of sanctification

Is mandatory if we’re to dwell,

In God’s tabernacle and holy hill

When we’re justified as well.

The character of mankind

Will determine our destiny,

When repentance becomes a lifestyle

So eternal life we’ll see.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.  He who does these things shall never be moved.”  Psalm 15

“In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”  Isaiah 64:5-6

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil.  Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.”  Isaiah 1:16-17

“But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:11

Humility is a noble trait

Since it frees us from arrogance;

When we are modest of our importance

And set free from a prideful stance.

True humility acknowledges

Our need to fear the Lord;

Trusting in HIs wisdom and salvation

And to be grounded in His word.

It’s to have a genuine gratitude

With the desire to serve others,

And being aware of our bad qualities

And where love many sins will cover.

The Father displays humility

When He outreaches to the needy and poor;

Those afflicted and tormented

Pouring His love forevermore.

The Incarnate Son revealed

Humility from birth to death;

He served in meekness of spirit

And humble ways He’d manifest.

When we lean on God’s understanding

We’re displaying humility indeed,

Trusting in His perfect timing

And knowing that He will intercede.

He will show us the righteous path

Through prayer and meditation;

Leaving the arrogance of our ego behind

To submit without hesitation.

God’s ways and timing are best indeed

And until we humble ourselves to accept,

We will be frustrated with our expectations

And even have many regrets.

Humility is a beautiful trait

It’s refreshing and gentle too,

When we accept God’s leading and path for us

With His plans for me and you.

(C) P.B. 2020

“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

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:8

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

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life.”  Proverbs 22:4

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”  1 Peter 5:6

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.'” 1 Peter 4:8

“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.”  Jeremiah 29:11-12

Promises are commitments

Either written or oral indeed…

They are sealed with integrity

And consolidated by our deeds.

There is a destination

And by God it is declared;

It’s an assurance and an undertaking

Executed with much care.

This land was in ancient Canaan

The east side of the Mediterranean Sea;

A land of joy and prosperity

For Abraham and his seed.

It is the ‘land of milk and honey’

Given by God to Abraham,

And all of his descendants

To inherit the promised land.

But the journey was long and arduous

And although there was a shorter route;

It’s the complaining that prolonged the way

Coupled with disputes.

It’s the valleys and the turmoil

And the swelter of the heat;

It’s the pressure and frustrations

With no instant of relief.

Their disobedience delayed their route

Since Egypt in their memory remained,

As they aroused the wrath of God

When they constantly complained.

It’s the grumbling that caused many delays

As they travelled in circles around,

Always yearning for much better

But where satisfaction was never found.

The promised land is real

And although may seem like forever;

All our tests, trials and tribulations

Much faith and hope should shelter.

The journey has its joys

With the simplicity it entails,

And a reminder of God’s provision

Particularly when we are frail.

It’s to never quit amidst the pain

Since there’s always a solution;

With a crown that certainly awaits

With a fruitful blessed conclusion.

It may just take the forty years

For the promises to unfold,

But the treasure that awaits

Is multiplied and is manifold.

By faith we enter the promised land

Sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

When we become children of God

Through God’s promise that is sacred.

Our promised land of salvation

Is when we receive eternal life,

Through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

As God’s promise will suffice.

(C) P.B. 2020

“I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.  Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.”  Exodus 6:7-8

“When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance..”  Numbers 34:2

“If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.”  Numbers 14:8

“On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands.” Ezekiel 20:6

“For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness…because they did not obey the voice of the Lord.”  Joshua 5:6

“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

When someone shows compassion

They’re sympathetic of others’ distress;

With a desire to alleviate the suffering

So they find true peace and rest.

It’s a deep sorrow from within

When misfortune comes our way,

And by showing love and gentleness

There’s a hope that will remain.

Compassion has the power to change

Every event and circumstance;

It plants a smile on someone’s heart

And their countenance it will enhance.

Compassion is coupled with action

With a desire to help and assist;

To promote much needed healing

When love and kindness kiss.

It’s a beautiful desire

And can change a life forever,

Since the fruit that it produces

Every storm and trial will weather.

Jesus was compassionate

With His followers indeed;

He fed the crowd of five thousand

With food and spiritual seed.

Compassion is always fruitful

When with love it is sincere;

To alleviate all suffering

With a gentle kindness that’s so dear.

God is compassionate

And desires that none are lost;

He sacrificed His Son

When Jesus bled on the cross.

Christ’s sacrifice showed compassion

As God’s heart was extended to all,

To save us from the second death

And to redeem us from the fall.

(C) P.B. 2020

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”  Psalm 86:15

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”  Mark 8:2

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

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Interlaced and interwoven

With much brilliance indeed;

All created with intricacy

And birthed from just a seed.

Too marvellous to comprehend

And too majestic to understand,

And in our limited capacity

We see the handiwork of God’s hand.

All creation is brilliant

With intricate detail within;

Like clay in the Potter’s hand

With embellishments outside and in.

His creation has a purpose

To give Him the glory as well;

Our eternal hope and everlasting life

And the stars His wonder they spell.

All with a unique fingerprint

With every intricate of snow flake;

All different from each other

Much beauty in all He makes.

His invisible attributes are clearly seen

And we have no excuse at all,

Since Jesus was God manifested in the flesh

To redeem us from the fall.

He’s magnificent but He’s humble

When He gave us Jesus Christ;

The lamb that was sacrificed

To restore us to the light.

Intricate and delicate

But robust and strong indeed,

Is God’s precious of creation

And where His love does intercede.

(C) P.B. 2020

“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

“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

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.”  Psalm 139:13

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You are our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”  Isaiah 64:8

“Look now at the behemoth which I made among you; He eats grass like an ox, see now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles.”  Job 40:15-16

“Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, when I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but not farther, And here your proud waves must stop!”’  Job 38:8-11

“Have you given the horse strength?  Have you clothed his neck with thunder?” Job 39:19

Faithful are the wounds of a friend

When they’re sincere in their correction…

Done in love with a caring and gentle spirit

In a humble conversation.

These are certainly wounds that heal

Because although we prefer not to hear,

It’s what we need to know and acknowledge

When our friends are loving and sincere.

All of us have flaws and weaknesses

Blind spots and challenged with sins,

But when the people we trust are open and honest

It transforms our soul within.

Because when we care we are honest

But not done with criticism,

Since the end goal is to promote healing

And never for gossip or schisms.

But we cannot reprove a scoffer

Since they will mock and dismiss everything;

Reject our message of integrity

Along with the healing it so brings.

Spouses challenge each other

Hopefully with love and respect,

Because when iron sharpens iron

Although it’s painful it’s for our best.

Parents correct their children

So they’re guided through instruction;

With a genuine love that cares indeed

To prevent their future destruction.

If we neglect to be challenged

We can be in trouble indeed,

Particularly when the kisses of an enemy

Our false perceptions they feed.

Faithful wounds are necessary

But they’re for our very best interests;

To help us grow in maturity and faith

Rather than cause a hindrance.

God wants to set us free

And He gives us faithful friends,

Who will lovingly challenge us in a caring way

To eliminate every false thing and pretence.

Faithful wounds are like kisses

Because they’re genuinely created with love;

To restore, refresh and provide a new start

When they’re gentle as a dove.

(C) P.B. 2020

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”  Proverbs 27:6

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

“The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.  He who disdains instruction despises his own soul.”  Proverbs 15:31-32

“He who rebukes a man will find more favour afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.”  Proverbs 28:23

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you.”  Proverbs 9:7-8