WE’VE BEEN LIED TO…

We have all been lied to
In so great and many ways;
In every sphere of human life
Where deception it remains.

We have all been lied to
From leaders in authority,
Where financial kickbacks do dictate
What we should believe and see.

And the lies continue day by day
But we really all should know,
That we’re responsible to muse the truth
In the way that we should go.

We have all been lied to
From religions through to politics;
Fake sciences and ideologies
That interrupt the way we think.

They emanate from its source –
The father of all lies,
And all demonic of his forces
To separate and to divide.

We have all been lied to
And no wonder there’s no peace,
When we’re indoctrinated with that voice
Where negativity won’t cease.

But there is a solution and there’s hope
In the only One who cannot lie –
When in Jesus Christ we place our trust
To kiss all the lies goodbye.

He’s the only One in history
Who has authority to save –
Our dear soul for eternity
With a peace that we all crave.

So, although we have been lied to
In monumental ways indeed,
Our Savior cares and will restore
With His love and integrity.

“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44

“…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

“In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…”. Titus 1:2

“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

GOD-SHAPED HOLE

It’s a hole deep in our heart
That is craving to be filled,
With an everlasting peace
And for joy to be instilled.

And we try to fill this space
With possessions and with leisure,
Or with all things unfulfilling
So to satisfy our pleasures.

But this void cannot be filled
With temporary things on earth –
Since it’s eternal in its nature
And requires the new birth.

God cannot be mocked
And does not tempt his dear creation,
To be satisfied with lusts
And with all sinful of sensations.

His depth requires obedience
To worship in sincerity,
So the fibres of the God-shaped hole
Will forever cease to be.

That God shaped hole cannot remain
When Yeshua fills the void,
Since He’s the bridge connecting us to God
So second death we do avoid.

It’s a rich tapestry that mends
A heart that’s been forsaken,
And where joy will resonate
When His forgiveness it is taken.

Because only God can fill that hole
Since it’s the way it’s designed to be,
So we’re reconciled to His heart
And for all eternity.

“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

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

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

“Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

“But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 11:21

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” James 1:13

“…which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

HIS PAIN – OUR PLEASURE

When Yeshua hung upon that cross
In extreme agony,
There was a vision of our faces
With Him in eternity.

His pain became our joy
When He unlocked eternity,
Since the price paid was inevitable
So God’s wrath we do not see.

His pain became our pleasure
Since it was Him and Him alone,
That had authority to intercede –
For sin He could atone.

His pain became our healing
Since by His stripes we are made whole,
Where our transgressions are removed
And where true joy can now unfold.

His pain became a sacrifice:
Acceptable and true,
To remove the sting of death
And eternal separation too.

His pain became our joy
Because there simply cannot be,
The remission of sin without shed blood
To pave the way into eternity.

Thank God that His torment
And His excruciating pain,
Unlocks treasures to receive a crown
Where eternal peace and joy remains.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand…because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:10-12

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted, but He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

“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

“…and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOLLOWERS…

It’s not about the followers
Because quantity will never last;
It’s the quality of those involved
With a richness that is vast.

Many followers will not guarantee
That your work is validated,
Particularly when ears are tickled
Or where words are overstated.

When crowds followed Jesus
Initially they were thrilled,
To hear His meaningful message
Or when food their bellies filled.

But when conviction did take place
Many followers departed,
Because Jesus knew how to expose
The false motives and half-hearted.

The twelve disciples did remain
And turned the world upside down,
With a simple message of timeless truth
That turned many hearts around.

It’s not about the followers
Because naturally the crowds do sway –
To a message that is watered-down
Since the flesh likes it this way.

It’s the quality that will remain –
To make a difference too,
Where transformation after conviction
Presents a message that is true!

“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

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” John 6:66-68

“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Matthew 7:13

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“Then the disciples asked Him, saying ‘What does this parable mean?’ And He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’” Luke 8:9-10

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29

WHEN WE PRAY AMISS

When we pray amiss
It’s when we would like to see –
The outcome in its timing
And of how it all should be.

When we pray amiss
It’s so our petitions are fulfilled,
But most times they are self-focused
With an arrogance instilled.

Because the Bible makes it clear
That when we pray for our own pleasures,
The prayers do go amiss –
When our idol becomes our leisure.

There’s nothing wrong in having fun;
It’s a gift that is God-given,
But when the prayers become self-centred
By certain motives they are driven.

When we pray amiss –
With God we play a game,
Because true prayers bring transformation
Where the heart cannot remain the same.

For souls to be delivered –
And for healing from within;
These prayers are heaven focused
When we’re delivered from all sin.

Prayers for God’s direction
And where we can serve indeed,
Are priceless in God’s ears
When for souls we intercede.

Knowing that we’ll stand
Before our Creator’s throne,
Should place reverent fear in our heart
To remove that heart of stone.

Time is of the essence
And eternity is sure,
Lord have mercy and do lead us
Into the forevermore.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” James 5:13

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13

THANKS BUT NO THANKS!

When we choose to reject Him
We are saying this effectively…
Thank you God but no thanks
For the provision that we see.

When we despise our dear neighbour
And where selfish ways abound,
It’s Thank you God but no thanks
For the trials that come around.

When we’re bitter or enraged
But where there’s a solution to make peace –
Thank you God but no thanks
When our anger is not released.

It’s not natural to despise
Our earthly parents and siblings,
So why hate our Heavenly Father
Who can deliver us from sin?

When we say Thank you God but no thanks
It’s a much deeper reality,
Where examination of the soul is required
So we can truly learn to see.

If Jesus chose unforgiveness
For the treatment He received,
Every one of us would be simply doomed
For all eternity.

And the pain that He endured
Is beyond anything we’d know,
But where true forgiveness flowed from His pure heart
So to hell we would not go.

Indeed the evil in this world
Is awful beyond measure,
But God’s judgement and His wrath is reserved –
Which never gives Him pleasure.

So next time we say Thank you
But no thank you to the Lord,
The Heavenly realm will keep account
And according to God’s word.

“Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgements. Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Jeremiah 12:1

“For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:10-11

“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord GOD. Therefore turn and live!” Ezekiel 18:32

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

EVEN THERE…

God is acquainted with our ways;
He hears the whispers of our heart;
Can trace every thought and pattern –
What we finish and what we start.

And even there He’s with us
As His hand will guide and lead,
When He’s our Saviour and our best friend
As we ask Him to intercede.

When our tears soak our pillow
And when we’re lonely or afraid,
He will comfort us amidst the pain
When we’re rejected or betrayed.

Even there His grace sustains us
When we know His heart is near,
To subside the raging storms –
The anxieties and fears.

Daily we are reminded
That there’s evil everywhere,
When we’re focused on media outlets;
From prince of the power of the air.

But even there God knocks
For the focus to remain,
On Him and all His goodness
Where our future He sustains.

He is there among us
Through our prayers and hope within;
To remove the tares of doubt
And to eradicate our sins.

Thank God for Yeshua;
The Prince of Peace indeed,
Who sacrificed His life
So eternal life we’ll see.

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there
Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:9-10

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalm 139:7-8

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2

“And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

LESS THAN A MINUTE…

Our lives are just a vapour
In comparison to eternity,
Where millions and billions of years
Ultimately our soul will be.

It’s almost less than a minute
Where our frame on earth exists,
Where the timeline will be unfathomable
When life and eternity will kiss.

Less than a minute…
And hence the imperative of same,
Where Jesus is our Lord and Saviour
When the correct decision has been made.

Because He’s the only One
To die on the cross for our sins;
To erase the wrath of God
When we’re forgiven from within.

Less than a minute…
Yet the most important it will be,
As we’re created in His image
Where eternal rewards they will be seen.

Like a flower in our garden
Here today and gone tomorrow,
But where eternity will reveal –
Total bliss or total sorrow.

And it’s less than a minute
Where every moment counts indeed,
To become more and more like Christ
Until we enter eternity.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

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

“Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken…And the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47

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

“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

HOW CAN WE NOT?

How can we not respect Him
Who hung upon the cross;
Who intervened to erase our sins
To face no eternal loss?

How can we not admire Him –
Who knew no sin at all,
Who walked and talked amongst us
Where our name the Father calls?

How can we not believe –
When miracles we see,
Every day in every single way
In how creation has come to be?

And how can we not trust
That deliverance sets us free?
Because when we humble ourselves and cry to Him
He faithfully intercedes.

How can we not adore Him
When He mentioned “It is finished!”
As He hung in agony for our sake
For the work that was accomplished?

How can we not be grateful
That the gate to hell is sealed,
When our soul’s greatest need is forgiveness
When we’re saved and we are healed?

When we’re patient with long-suffering
And know our prayers are heard as well,
It’s in God’s timing and His perfect will
Where answers they shall dwell.

How can we not reflect
On dangers that were intercepted,
When our heart it was protected
And our feet were redirected?

Because He knows every single detail
And the motives of the heart,
So how can we not be grateful
When He protects to set apart?

“The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.” Psalm 18:46

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.’” John 19:30

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10

“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

“Salvation belongs to the LORD.” Psalm 3:8

OUR SAFE PLACE

Amidst the chaos and the noise –
Your gentleness remains,
As a reminder You’re our hiding place
And where evil is restrained.

You’re our harbour and our safe place
And Your presence calms our soul,
Where our emotions they do regulate
When Your peace in us unfolds.

You’re our Father and protector
And Your heartbeat draws us near,
When the haven in our mindset
Subsides anxieties and fears.

Our stronghold and our fortress
With a bridge to overcome;
Our green pastures in the valley
When to You we do succumb.

You deliver us from enemies
Where Your hand sustains us too;
Your promises are steadfast;
They are wholesome and are true.

Our safe place and our covering
As we trust in you, O Lord,
And thank you for your forgiveness –
So undeserved since we’re adored.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

“Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9

“Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men,” Psalm 140:4

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

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

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

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11