Tag: christianity

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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

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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

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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

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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

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A HEART THAT BLOSSOMS

There are flowers that are tiny
With an aroma magnificent,
And there are flowers that look beautiful
But lack any form of scent.

There are blossoms that are humble
Like a child’s little heart,
That decorate the soil;
They’re an expressive work of art.

Then there’s the queen of the garden
In all its majesty,
Where it’s remarkable in every way
And a delight aesthetically.

But in all its outward appearance
It still contains its thorns,
As a reminder to tread so gently
With a signature that warns.

Not everything that’s perfect
Abiding in the external realm,
Should captivate our heart
Or our soul to overwhelm.

Because deep beneath the layers
A row of thorns it will exist,
And sometimes it’s much too late
When signs are denied or are dismissed.

But a heart that blossoms unto righteousness
Produces fruit that is life-giving,
To enrich the lives of others
And to promote much needed healing.

A good character is steadfast
Amidst every storm and rain,
That will comfort and encourage
Many souls that are in pain.

Yes, externals are so pleasant
When they captivate the eyes,
But a noble character is priceless
When it’s faithful and is wise.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.”
Proverbs 11:30

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

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MY HEART WILL TRUST

When God restores the heart
To coincide with His will,
There’s the freedom of forgiveness
When His love it is instilled.

And even when we cannot see
The entire picture ahead,
It is wise to trust in our Lord
To be sincerely Spirit led.

My heart will trust in Almighty God
Even when my mind has doubts,
Because His love and faithful promises
Is what it’s all about.

My heart will trust if the pain
May linger day by day,
Because this vapour of a lifetime
Is where the soul cannot remain.

My heart will trust even though
There is a desert plain,
Because the oasis exists beyond the valley
Where His hand it will sustain.

My heart will solely trust
In the sacrifice that was made,
Because only Christ fulfilled the mission
When for our soul the price was paid.

‘My heart trusts in the LORD, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7

“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 3:5-6

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them.” Ezekiel 36:27

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”. Ephesians 1:7

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DON’T WORRY…BECAUSE HE SEES

When we’re tempted to worry
Over words of enemies,
Or of hidden envy in the heart –
Don’t worry because He sees.

He sees the hidden motives
And the plans that they devise,
Of character assassination
But they’re not hidden from His eyes.

Don’t worry because He sees
And all details are registered,
Where vengeance belongs to the Lord
With all that’s said and heard.

His hand will feed the sparrows
And provide for His creation too,
Because when we ask we do receive –
Since His promises are true.

Don’t worry because He sees
All our fears and anxieties,
But gently reminds us to submit to Him
So true joy and peace is seen.

Sadly, tragedies and wars exist –
Always have and always will,
But the stars will shine throughout the night
With a hope that’s been instilled.

Don’t worry because He sees
And we’re so valuable to Him,
As our soul is priceless in God’s sight
When we’re forgiven from within.

“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

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31

“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

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

“Hear my prayer; O LORD, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me…for the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground;” Psalm 143:1-3

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35

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BE STILL

Be still and know that every breath
Is orchestrated by His hand,
And that life is solely by God’s grace
With all that He commands.

Be still and know that He will fight
The battles that are unseen,
And where there may be unrest in our soul
He quietly intervenes.

Be still and know He’s in control
Because we are created by His love,
And that the miracle of life itself –
Along with mercy is enough.

Because the soul that is forgiven
Holds a treasure far and wide,
Where hope and faith become our anchor
And where our fears will subside.

Be still and trust that He will guide
When we’re unsure as to what to do,
Because His answers are the best
As they’re sincere and are true.

Be still and know that His precious word
Is the map that lights our path,
To encourage fruit that will transpire
When we are set apart.

Be still and do remember
That we’re purchased at a price,
But so priceless in the sight of God
When Christ’s blood it did suffice.

“Be still and know that I am God;” Psalm 46:10

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

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

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WHAT IF?

What if salvation of our soul
Is as real as the air we breath,
Are we willing to risk eternity
By refusing to believe?

What if hell is hotter
And that Christ’s warnings they are true,
Are we so foolish to dismiss His words
And continue sinning in all we do?

What if the resurrection
Is clearer than the brightest day,
Should not the darkness in our heart
Refuse to have the final say?

What if God is real
And registers all we say and do,
Should we tremble at His sovereignty
If we believe that He is true?

What if our ideas and perceptions
Are merely vapours of a shadow,
Would they really matter in eternity
If they’re lukewarm or are shallow?

What if the depth of God’s word
Is an ocean for our heart,
Are we willing to surrender
And to make a brand new start?

And what if Jesus’ love is deep
And the blood that was shed for us,
Signifies forgiveness for our iniquities
When in God the Father we do trust?

Because what if it’s truly real
And we’ve been deceived through and through?
There’s no excuse on the inevitable day
When it’s steadfast and it’s true.

“And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.’” Matthew 24:4

“But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” Luke 12:5

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16

“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

“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…”. Romans 3:23-25

“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 God-head, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

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BE GRATEFUL

Be grateful for God’s beauty –
Engraved in nature’s ways,
Where His fingerprints are clearly seen
With a wonder that remains.

Be grateful for the things we have
And for the things that don’t own us,
Where freedom it envelops truth
When in the Lord we trust.

Be grateful for the moments
That are only captured by the heart,
And engraved in our memories
With every sacred start.

Be grateful for unanswered prayers
That could have shipwrecked future ways,
Because deceptive ways are anchored
In the heart when lust remains.

Be grateful that a spotless lamb
Was slain on our behalf,
Who was worthy and so pure
And the only One to walk that path.

Because grateful ways are honoured
When God sees a heart content,
That is joyful with its portion
And abhors evil of intent.

Gratefulness will open doors
Where God’s key only unlocks,
To unleash the treasures evermore
And where Satan’s ways are blocked.

Be grateful that eternal life
Awaits those who wait for same,
Where Jesus is Lord and Saviour
And where there’s reverence for His name.

“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

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” Hebrews 13:5

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

“I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Psalm 16:8-9