The Door

“Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in deep anguish.

How long, Lord, how long?

 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.

 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?

 I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

 Away from me, all you who do evil,

for the Lord, has heard my weeping.

 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;

the Lord accepts my prayer.

 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;

they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.”

Psalm 6

David was a man in anguish. When he was in the pit of despair he reached out to God.

He trusted his Heavenly Father.

We can too.

Our foes are our temptations to follow our selfish desires.

To let the devil, take over and torment us.

So…

“Put on the full Armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full Armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Ephesians 6:10-18

Our God is always there, standing by us in our torment.

Sometimes we don’t see that he cares.

We forget that he sent his son to die for us.

That he to, has endured great suffering.

Every time his children turn away, ignore him, and slam the door in his face.

Jesus is one who can open this door. God sent him.

To make a way for us to come back to him.

Into his arms, accepting his offer of grace.

Jesus said;

“I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the

kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

When we come to God as his children we relinquish control of our lives.

“We know that all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Let him in. You will see.

He does care.

A Lightened Load 

'Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others'
Philippians 2:4

I have been guilty of the former, particularly of recent date.
I got so wrapped up in my wants, my needs, and my pain that I could not emerge from them.
Absorbed by my own interests, I could no longer look to those of others,
feeling and showing concern for them.

Now, once again, I awoke deeply concerned, and tried to untangle myself.
Yet I could not do this.
So I turned to my saviour and my God.
I pleaded with him to free me from my apathy.
He showed me grace and taught me to trust him, and to feel again.

A weight fell off me and I was reminded of the story of Eustace from 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.
Of when he needed  Aslan to remove the scales from him
to become human again, for he could not do this for himself.
As each layer came off I felt my muscles relax, and my breathing return to normal.

I thank you, my Father, for freeing me from my sin, and keeping me safe.
I will rejoice in you -
Always.

Joy Defined

"An emotion of keen or lively pleasure, great gladness or delight"

(The Macquarie Dictionary) 

Joy is an emotion that differs from one person to another. 

It is a gift that know one can measure or manufacturer,

but most can recognise the sensation.

When considering this phenomenon I thought it worth asking others 

what they considered joy to be...

"Joy comes from the depth of emotion, it's happier than just 'happy'.

When a heart is filled with joy, it's blissful." 

"Joy is a couple of hours spent with friends, 

a keyboard, and a virtual rocket launcher." 

"Reading and writing is my joy"

"God. Friends. Pets.Smiles. Laughter.

But also being able to trust God in every situation"

"To me, Joy is a deep trust that whatever circumstances 

you find yourself in, God is there."

So, what is joy to me?

My answer is that my joy is found in my ever growing 

relationship with my heavenly father. 

I rejoice in his love for me. 

For his love and compassion is so incomprehensible 

that he sent his son to die a painful death, bringing me back 

to his father and sending the holy spirit to live within us. 

He did it all...  I did nothing. 

All he asks is for me to live for him... 

and I have accepted this privilege.

This is my joy. 

In despair and delight. 

This is my joy. 

What is your joy? 

Does it encompass your life?

Is yours like mine?

When the bible mentions joy it says...

"This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it."

(Psalm 118)

"Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again rejoice!"

(Philippians 4:4)

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, 

and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; 

for this day is holy to our Lord. 

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

(Nehemiah 8:10)

Having just returned from a Christian camp called Dare To Be Different these are my reflections...

A Slice of Heaven

Life in this shattered world (shattered by sin) is like living in a mirror that has started to be repaired yet you can still see the super glue.

Jesus has repaired the mirror of this world of sin. Him being the only one who could concur sin defeat death, and bring us back to God. For Jesus is the perfect priest, king and prophet this world has ever and will ever know.

Its' amazing how many ways God uses us. He uses us! Sinful people in this world to make him known. He moulds us into new people in Jesus and gives us his holy spirit to guide us through this new life with Jesus as Lord.

He loves us and gives us spiritual gifts and advantages. So use them. He'll surprise you how many ways the person you are can bring others to him and help them in their journey.

Introverts, extroverts, cultural background, musical abilities, singleness, marriage, male,female, the list of things that we can use for Gods' glory goes on.

We are his people. All different parts of Christ's' body. One huge family.

Speeding quality time with Gods' people over the course of five days, reflecting on his word and how he works in this world and our lives is truly a slice of heaven. A glimpse of what is to come. A new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 


This poem is dedicated to the leaders campers from 'dare 2 be different'. Thanks for making camp like you guys... pronominal! 

Believe? What in? 

The world wants us to be happy.

We agree.

The world says succeed.

 We fail.

The world says find someone.

We do. They die. We grieve. 

The world says try money,

We do. We are not satisfied. 

We become greedy.

Believe in yourself it says, 

it is, after all the great mantra.

But we are not enough. 

For we will not be able to 

fulfill all our needs.

Don't panic.

Christ is enough.

He will fill you up until 

his love and sacrifice 

flow into every part of your life.

Now have faith and trust in him.

He will grant you satisfaction.

For with him faith is more enough. 

A decision made with love

Mark 14:36;

‘And he said “Abba, Father all things are possible unto thee;
take away this cup from me:
nevertheless not what I will but what thou wilt”’

At Christmas we celebrate a birth.

At Easter we celebrate a death and a new life for many.

Those lost, now found.

Those dead, now alive.

Those against, now for.

And why?

To fulfill and ancient prophecy?

To provide an interesting story to pass on?

To have something to pick at?

If he’d said no there would be 

No redemption,

No connection,

No family,

And

No Easter eggs.

If he had not obeyed his father.

But out of his great love for us he did.

He wasn't pressured.

He wasn't caught off guard.

He was intentional.

For him there was little loyalty.

For him there was little pity.

For him there was much pain.

For him there was separation.

For him there was loss of life.

But for us there was an abundance of Grace.

On that day a new life was created.

On that day there was the gift of redemption.

So accept it with thankfulness.

Don’t leave it by the wayside of life.

Instead grip it with vigor.

Let it fill you up until you are

Compelled to share it.

Remember it, and that with God 

Nothing is impossible. 

The edge

I dreamt that I was standing on the very edge of a chasm.

The name of that chasm was doubt.

Doubt in myself and doubt in the God I love.

Then I stumbled. Again and again I stumbled.

 I fell down, and further down

until I gave up on all hope of a rescue.

Then in that darkness I heard a voice.

“It is finished” It said.

With that I was lifted up on eagle’s wings.

I circled up and further up until light burst in upon me.  

I realised that although I had then given up on myself,

 my God had not and never will.

Because you see,

it is not our own fuel that propels us though life,

 for that is small and soon peters out.  

Instead, it is the love of our patient heavenly father

who lifts us each time we fail. 

And we do fail.

Each time we learn and grow

so that we might resemble him even more. 

It is indeed finished and our

relationship has been repaired

by the author of those words;

our saviour, Jesus Christ.

Upon The Beach of Grief

Grief comes in five waves of

emotions caused by

treacherous winds of pain and

regret.

Grief causes unique reactions in

individuals triggering

transformations and

determinations within the

individuals dampened

by this tide of

bereavement.

 When bearing up to such an

experience these individuals

endeavour to uncover

for themselves the right sort of

towel in which to wrap the

pain and confusion that is caused by

this rather

debilitating disorder.

The trouble is; there is only one that

will truly dry one and

not disappoint.

Only one that will not become threadbare

and leave one with little or no protection

against the great gusts of despair as they

essay to entangle and an entrap one in it's

dull-full tries.

This is the ever reliable,

unmistakable and comforting,

fortifying towel of

God's grace.

Be Wary Of Words

Words.

They can be innocent, soothing, hasty,

harmless, reckless, and perplexing all at the same time,

and even within the same breath.

We speak abruptly, and with careful consideration.

Both of which have consequences.

For with a word you can change a mind, wound a soul, and warm a heart.

All this is done with tools of communication - the spoken and written.

Indeed it was once observed that we use our tongues

to both praise our Lord and curse our fellow man.

Words are used by different people to achieve two very different purposes.

Some, use words to deliberately cause humiliation and hurt to those around them.

Others use this gift of vocabulary to build people up.

Remember, that the words that we use

to belittle or to encourage

come from the same mouth.

One made by our loving Father in heaven.

Formed that we too, might impart

to others our thoughts and emotions.

So be wary of the words that you chose.

Use the unique gift of speech wisely.

For some, sadly, do not possess such a privilege.

The Furniture

Dedication: to my Editor, thankyou.

My Readers often commend me for the content of my poems.   

You see when they give me this feedback

they see my work alone.

The reader observes the poem; not the pen and ink.

My audience do not perceive the chair of my

relatives and the portraits of my friends  upon the wall.

Nor do they perceive the table of those that have influenced me

and taken such meticulous care and investment in my education.

I am particularly indebted to my tutor, teachers,

and close family members for being so patient with me throughout.

Out of all the those essential pieces of furniture who have made a significant

contribution to my quality of life and the poems that reflect this ,

as they continually lead me on the road of this life,

paved with all sorts of challenges along the way,

the one that I simply cannot complete this work

without acknowledging with immense gratification is the floor.

For it is the foundation that supports all the others.

The one that suports all the others is he

who created them and is set apart.

For he is my Father in Heaven.

He will not decay, disappoint, or dissipate.  

It is he that I must thank above all.

Our Lord is both the Alpha and the Omega,

the beginning and the end.

Faces

What is a face?

It is a place where a range of expressions is portrayed

and by which many of their owners are betrayed.

It is avowed by the general populace that faces are worn only by those

through whose blood pulsates.

I however entertain a different belief...

For I am certain that such faces are not alone possessed by those afore mentioned.

Countenances are common amongst numerous subjects of the natural kingdom;

over which Christ rules and shall not forsake.

When one perceives those occupants of the courtroom of creation,

identifying the individual designs of their demeanours

one cannot disengage from the inspection of such shapes that form them.

The knobs in the trees, the indentations within the rock, the upturned petals of the flowers,

the ripples of the sun-lit water, and the soft curves of the clouds.

The faces of the natural world surround us day by day.

All we need to do is turn our own around and look.

The Hope of Heaven

I dream.

I dream that one day (however distant that may be),

that one day I will see that preverbial light, that is freedom.

When I walk into that light, I will take with me no more

dark and dismal disappointments, sorrows,

perpetual fatigue, and chains of captivity within my life.

For that light shall cleanse me of all that living life in a sinful world brings.

In that glorious light I shall join others

whose chains have begun to break and disintegrate.

Most importantly I will wander,

hand-in-hand, eye-to-eye, and voice-to-voice with my saviour and my God.

And this will be the epitome of fulfilment and freedom.

I wait, work, live, and belong to that day (as do many others),

the day when the tears will be wiped from all increasingly scarlet eyes.

For now I merely glimpse pieces of the puzzle of the immense joy yet to come.

In those fragments I can observe the faces of

my brothers and sisters in Christ and all that surrounds them,

including the many marvels of creation that captivate me daily

along with the many gifts and talents that he has granted unto us all.

We await with patience and hope the day when he will return.

On that day we will see some, (if not all), of those that we love and grieve for at present.

And in all of these things God provides us with the greatest gift that he could give;

HOPE.

Ants...

Why are ants perceived as being worthless?

When you inquire into their ways you can see that

they have a significant role in the Lord's creation.

We swish ants that aggravate us with a great degree of indifference.

Then we may even begin to recite statements,

inculcated within us from an early age.

However, it is not solely ants that we regard in such a manner.

But a variety of other intricately and uniquely made

animals and insects in his creation.

If you take a moment to reflect, within nature

there are all varieties of marvellous creatures to be seen.

Some of which are the small flying insects of bright

colours and shades,

of which it is difficult for one to remember their numerous names.

Let us recall to ourselves as we reflect upon these things,

the words from that beloved hymn;

'All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.'

God - The Greatest Counsellor

When the time comes to grieve -

God is near.

When all you want to do is scream with frustration -

God is near.

When mental and physical pain becomes too great to bear alone -

God is near.

When you're convinced that the whole world is against you -

God is here.

When you could fill the entirety of a bucket with just your tears -

God is here.

He really is the greatest counsellor, comfort, and companion we could ever have.

...

James 4:8 ; "come near to God and he will come near to you."