A Poem of Praise

Wake up! For it is morning, open your eyes and see His light,
He frees the soul from mourning and He gives the heart delight,
He is Jesus, God’s anointed, King of Kings with God He’s one,
Praise His Holy name forever, Giving Praises to the Son,
He endured our shame and died for us to make us each His Own,
He rose from the grave to reign again and sit upon His throne,
Now His love beyond all measure, offered to them who will believe,
Shall make the contrite born again, and set the captive sinner free,
Rejoice O world and give your praise, to Him who gives you grace,
Remain in Him ‘till He returns eternal life to face.

Joshua ch.1-5 (some thoughts)

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance of the Promised Land on the east side of the Jordan River. However, they were not allowed to enter their rest (land) until they had helped the rest of Israel get theirs on the west side of the Jordan River. Did the rest of Israel really need their help? No (aside from maybe some moral support), God was the one winning all the battles, and often in some pretty amazing ways. I think as Christians today we too often view our salvation as an individualistic/personal goal or promise. It’s true Jesus died for me, and that God loves ME more than I could probably ever know. This is all true and more than wonderful, but then we seem to, instead of living this new life of hope for His name, tend to forget that we are one body in Christ. That Jesus died for the sins of the whole world and that all who believes will have everlasting life. So if we are one body though individual members of it, we must by faith use the gifts we’ve been given for the building up and sustaining of the body (Church). We must lift up the fallen, supply the needy, encourage the persevering, and care for and love all those who call on His name. Just like in our bodies the heart pumps the blood, the lungs provide the oxygen, and our body’s parts work together for the whole. What happens if there are some rogue cells acting on their own; caring only for themselves, and living in the body propagating cells that are likewise renegade? We call them cancer and the whole body suffers for their sake, until it’s cured or the cancer removed.
We mustn’t ignore other believers who are struggling like the rich man did to Lazarus (Luke 16:19) regardless if they are on our door steps or half way around the world. We have been given a measure and if we freely give we shall freely receive. Sure we may say true things like, “God will help them. After all He loves them too, besides He doesn’t need me. And realistically speaking I couldn’t do much of anything anyhow.” But the bride of Christ Jesus is a collective and just like this passage in Joshua we must join together as Christ’s church/body, together claiming His promises until we all receive of His goodness upon His return. So let’s not be selfish and ignore His word.

Matthew 25:31-46 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' 41"Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and You did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and You did not look after Me.' 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.' 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

So then we in Christ will bear good fruit. Don't be afraid of your old self and fleshly lusts but remember that in Christ we are a new creation, so put that old nature to death (so to speak) let us not be deceived by the enemy and become selfish lay bouts who are too caught up in our society, in its worries, pleasures, and riches that we bear no good fruit. The Fruits of His Spirit are Love, joy, Peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are gifts from Him that we bear not produce. Let us do the good, which we can now by His grace do, and together rejoice in the love of God!

T'wasn't it the night before Christmas? (A Christmas eve poem)

In the winter as the cold winds blow,
Atop my roof on ice and snow,
No sound is heard, no hooves, no bells,
For Santa is dead, our town crier yells,

At half past eleven this Christmas eve night,
The town gasps and weeps at that terrible sight,
A once jolly fat man with red cheeks, suit, and hat,
Freshly gored by a reindeer is lying down flat,

The sirened cars come, the policemen get out,
They question if anyone’s seen Rudolf about,
A little plump boy with a tear in his eye,
States that he saw that villain, just this moment fly by,

The police call a hunter renowned for his aim,
Quite ironically Chris Kringle the third was his name,
He got out his rifle with a scope he called Mark,
They looked to the sky but the sky was too dark,

That same chubby boy, snot running down on his clothes,
Cried out "That monster can't hide, cause he’s got a red nose!"
They looked for that red glow, surveying the night,
Yet no one could see Rudolf’s red nose’s bright light,

Just then "Not my Johnny!" a mother was crying,
Rudolf's struck again, a fresh body was lying,
This time it was Johnny that same pumpkin shaped boy,
With this message in blood "Snitches die with no toy!"

The message was, without a doubt scribed,
By the tip of an antler, as the little boy died,
"That's gone too far!" roared Chris Kringle in thund’rous tones,
"By dawn Rudolf's pelt will be mine, I shall grind up his bones!"

Chris then picked up his gun and was gone on his mission,
The town mourned dear Johnny and sent for the mortician,
As for the two bodies, the town did agree,
They were boxed up like presents, buried under a tree,

Then at about dawn, there arose such a racket,
Chris Kringle returned in a new reindeer jacket,
You could hear Him cry out, with a deep, "HOHOHO!"
As Rudolf’s ground bones, fell to earth like fresh snow,

That Christmas held sorrows yet joy was still found,
For we had a great feast and roast reindeer abound.
A lesson was learned by the children that day,
That the one who’s a snitch, will most certainly pay.

A song

Here are lyrics for a song that I wrote(not that I've written any music for it, just these lyrics). I wrote it kind of in the style of my brother's musical tastes.(you might also call this a poem)

Solitudes a back breaking labour,
Meant for both prisoner and stranger,
Despised by those always together,
It has found its way to me forever,

A peace long desired, perpetually broken,
Love's poem departed, is no longer spoken,
The land bares our stories that lay in the grave,
Written like books, on forest and glade,
Etchings on oak tree, forgotten by all,
Two immortal names carved, distant and small,
Joy found in moments, destroyed by dismay,
Wind blowing memoirs, air gone astray,

Love once known despised,
Tears fall down from my eyes,
Heart once struck by an arrow,
Broken in two by new sorrow,

A Bed full of comfort, is swollen with weeping,
Solitary confinement in captivity sleeping,
Time healer of wounds appears to be broken,
Vows vanish with death and are no longer are spoken,
Comforters come but broken like me,
Rip open wounds and gaze as I bleed,
Together we're empty alone unfilled,
Sleep now a saviour unconsciously instilled,


No sound heard in this world,
Silence deafens with screeches unfurled,
Darkness is all that I see,
Surrounding encompassing me,

My mind’s boxed in a tomb; it’s at home in this grave,
Speaking proverbs of love better lost than not braved,
But this fool in his folly found joy in that moment,
To late the fool sees his normality bent,
The morning comes slowly revealing the light,
The minute is pasted for my fears in the night,
Pictures on the wall find reality tamed,
Loved ones now separated are depicted and framed,

Light in the distance perceived,
Times week on vacation reprieved,
Though the scars of the wound still remain,
Life brings contentment again,

Precious recollections now displayed in the mind,
Return unyielding hope no creature could find,
An unspoken rule is now found,
That sorrows remain in the ground.

Some of my poetry

A church Luncheon
To slap the sinners hand with glee,
Is pleasant like a luncheon tea,
But while tea nourishes as it flow,
The prior condemns you with each blow.

A Thieves Luncheon
Although His grace sufficient still,
Is yet a matter of ones will,
To chose eternal love divine,
Or appetite for self entwine,
Eternal hope that lay ahead,
Or keep in hand that lump of bread.


Morning Air
When morning dew‘s wiped from my brow,
By light that casts the shadows now,
The dreams that shine in view of dawn,
Were lights that bring back what was gone,
The past is broken from the when,
This day is now the old was then,
The eyes that blink see hope renewed,
In silence the new hour is viewed,
This hope rekindled in the day,
That love will find its path this way.

Beauty
Beauty will see what no eye can,
God’s hidden mystery and plan,
The heart that holds the longing soul,
For triumphs come in spite of toll,
Faith must reside in yearning mind,
That day will come with twain entwined,
Our brightest hope shall be revealed,
And in that hour our soul be healed,
A smile shines forth; can’t be undone,
For on that day our hearts are one.

Lamp Light
At the darkest part of night,
When the Sun can shed no light,
There’s a motion in the midnight black,
That brings illumination back,
A light now shines down at my feet,
Revealing a sweet warmth and heat,
The darkness gone, a friend nearby,
The path renewed, relieved a sigh,
The journeys short and then it’s gone,
Darkness returns until the dawn.

Jonah and the whale or Gospel of Jesus

Luke 11:29,30 and 32 “As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. “

Mathew 12:39-41 “But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”

Jonah took a message of destruction to the city of Nineveh. He did not come to them declaring that they must be keepers of the law, but he did reason to himself that they would repent and receive mercy. They were not given any further instructions in regard to self-righteousness, such as they must now keep the law like the Israelites. They simply believed the word of God concerning them and hoped for mercy. They put their trust in God that He is gracious, merciful and a giver of salvation. The king of Nineveh himself spoke these words
“let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” Jonah a man under the law and not grace foresaw God’s mercy and at first rebelled against the Idea of their salvation apart from works, knowing that if they simply repented God would spare their city from the promise of destruction. In fact it wasn’t until He was made an example in the likeness of Christ, i.e. His being in the belly of the fish as good as dead for three days, that he was ready to accept this message of God’s undeserved mercy and to take such a message to them. For He placed His hope in God for his own salvation apart from works while in the belly of the fish, and finished the prayer found in Jonah chapter two with the proclamation concerning Jesus Himself “Salvation is from the Lord.”
Jesus proclaims this sign of Jonah to be now the only sign to the wicked generation that seeks for a sign. The sign of His death and resurrection, indeed there can be, nor is any greater sign of God’s love and salvation than this. This sign of Jonah through Christ is the very gospel of grace. The people of Nineveh did not receive their temporal salvation except through God’s mercy and grace by believing the word of God through His prophet Jonah. Just as those who now here the gospel of Christ and believe will receive eternal salvation and on top of that His life as a free gift of grace from the one and only living God.

Baptism is a washing that is likewise by grace and not an act of self-righteousness. One does not nor can baptise oneself but is baptised by another. Baptism is then not a self cleansing act but a petition to God for a clean conscience (1 Peter 3:21) a cleansing that only God can provide through the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Therefore we baptise one another (according to the commission of Jesus found in Matthew’s gospel ch28vs16-20) in the name of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. As doing it in His name on His behalf acting as His body on the earth for the cleansing of the one seeking after the grace and good news of Christ Jesus. Baptism is a sign to us of our victory in Christ Jesus over sin and death. It declares our freedom from the slavery of sin and the condemnation of the Law, in that in baptism we have died with Christ and the law holds no power over things that have died (read Romans ch.6 and 7). It shows us that we can do nothing for our own righteousness and salvation but like the Ninevites we must forsake sin and believe in the free gift of God’s mercy and love. Being washed and made perfect by the act of God and not of ourselves. We died with Christ and because He was raised up so we too live in a newness of life. That is why we are called born again and saints for we are no longer slaves to unrighteousness but to righteousness. Let us rejoice for God is so good! We also see that when God spared the Ninevites the religious Jonah despised that mercy. Let us not be so captivated by self-righteousness that we, like Jonah did when he left the city, ignorantly reject God's mercy. For we have be given this gracious gift of salvation which is found in Christ Jesus. For I see today too much the false gospels going out into the world, proclaiming that once saved in Christ we are still under the Judgement of the Law. That being now saved in Christ if we fail in keeping the Ten commandments we are hell bound. that is not the gospel to be put under a yoke even God's chosen nation could not bear. I'm not saying not to keep the law, what I'm saying is that in Christ Who fulfilled the law we are free from its condemnation. The Apostle Paul tells us plainly(Romans 8:1) that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus never said to people He had healed and saw had faith in Him “Go and keep the law.” In fact He said to the woman caught in adultery who He didn't condemn “Go and sin no more.” If that was a command then He gave her no hope, but if a promise then praise God He keeps those whom He saves. You see, Jesus, who came to complete the Law, would not have commanded that woman to do something beyond her capabilities as some cruel joke. No indeed when He said “Go and sin no more” it was a promise. He knew full well the salvation and freedom He was bringing to the world. The salvation we receive from Jesus is of an eternal nature. Its the gospel that frees us from sin and promises us that we can now, because of our oneness with Christ, sin no more.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12-21”

So you see Baptism is a promise to the believer of Holiness, and is carried out by Him through His body the church. For the believer is saved and made righteous by Jesus through faith, but baptism working together with faith promises a clear conscience, proclaiming that God has done for them what they could never do for themselves, that their eternal life is cleansed and made holy forever, so that they may be with the Lord forever. Not as an act of human or self cleansing but by an act of God. Nineveh was a picture of temporal grace given by faith and repentance, but Christ is eternal grace. History shows us that the Ninevites could not keep themselves from sinning. Despite their repentant heart they could not free themselves from the curse and ultimately have disappeared from the earth. But Jesus lives in those who believe in Him and keeps and perfects us. Praise God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Do you know and trust in how much God loves you? He loved you enough to give His beloved son so that we might be saved. He paid the price for our sin and then some! Jesus was more than enough for a payment for the sins of the world. So now in Him we are promised life and freedom from sin forever. Believe it! He loves you!

The day before Easter Friday

God is so good!!!!!

Some things to remember in light of Easter:

Many may ask themselves what work can we do for the one who took our punishment, and gave us eternal life, and on top of that filled our hearts with the love and light of Christ Jesus?

“Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29

We who believe in Him are born again new creations, so now we can live in faith, hope, and love.
Even our faith is such a blessed gift as He is the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph.5:8-9

Praise God for His faith, hope, and love!

Jesus is our hope and life the first born from the dead, conquering the sting of death. “"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:55-57 We no longer need to fear death and the righteous punishment of God the Father. For in His love He sent His son to take our sin and punishment. His perfect love in Christ Jesus now casts out all fear. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“We love because He first loved us.” 1John 4:19

We can now truly love because of Him. Love is from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love. To love for us now is both a command and a promise "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35" “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8” “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. John 14:21" “And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 1John 3:23” “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 john 5:3-5”

Praise God for He abides in us giving us and fulfilling in us faith, hope, and love.

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us, God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 john 4:9-18”

So what work can we do for the one who took our punishment and on top of that gave us eternal life? By ourselves... very little more than filthy rags(Isaiah 64:6), but through Him we can rejoice and be glad and give Him Glory, believing in Jesus and loving each other.

What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD. Psalms 116:12-13

Have a Great Easter!!