"Come to me, my people"

"They will be my people and I will be there God@. Sath the Lord.

Why do I complain?
I have been a victom, yes. But lately that is all.

Lord, I have paused on your path.
At times I even forgot.

So filled with sorrow I could not see.
Could not sing as I walked along.
Stumbling, on I stayed.

Why? because nothing could separate
me from you God my Father.
Somthing keeps me traveling on.
For I trust the one who first trod.

Christ, the one sent to guide.
To be the light in the darkness.
So I follow the light.
The one who has borne many burdens.

Always bringing me back.
Picking me up. Taking me home.
Pursading me to eat and drink.
Oh, to be nurished my your word.

Thankyou for not letting me go.
When I am ready to give up.
You are are not. So here I come.
To you, most high God.

Forever I am yours.

Not a Barbie Doll

I am not a Barbie Doll.
My body is not perfect.
I don't tick all the boxes.

My body is loved as is.
All bumps, bones and curves.
I work to achieve my goals.

Being real is better.
Working for what you wait for makes you value it.
Causing you to not just get, but learn and grow.

Thank-you Father for the ability to choose.
The choice to be real.
The ability to look beneath the surface.

Relationships

Hard. Easy. Partners. Friends.

Family. Colleges. Questionable.

Why do we value each relationship?

Do we value that person in our lives?

or just how it makes us feel?

What we can get out of it?

Good or Bad?

People come in all shapes and sizes.

They come, and they go from our lives.

Those that mean something to us are the ones that stay.

So, who do you make time for and who makes time for you?

How do you show that you care?

When was the last time that you told them?

Hugged them? Sent them a message?

Self-sacrificing love means going out of your way to

demonstrate that you care, making you words match your actions.

Making someone dinner, doing their laundry, driving them home.

All are examples of self-sacrificial love.

This is how Jesus loves us. Without us having loved him first.

Often, we serve others in the subconscious knowledge that they

may well return the favour, love us in return.

When was the last time you simply loved someone without that expectation?

In a way that hurt you and helped them?

Lord teach us how to love.

An Entreaty

Mark 9:23-25 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just going through the motions.

If the way I think and what I say and how I act is just a facade. 

Do I really believe that God sent his son to die and rise again, to save not only me, 

but everyone else too? 

I want to. But It's not easy. I question if I really do believe, or do I just want to believe?

I'm influenced by those around me to keep hold of what I refer to as my faith. 

Is it really my faith, or is it their faith projected onto me so I may perceive it to be mine? 

Are we just encouraging one another to believe in the world's biggest lie? 

Yet how can a lie go undetected? The gospel has spread like wildfire across the centuries. Surely it would have been totally disproved, and its followers disbanded by now if it were of man's invention.
But time and again academics who began as atheists, become not only Christians, but evangelists.
Fulfilling what Gamaliel the Pharisee said, when the gospel first began its spread:

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39)

Those whom I care about I who care about me...

People whom I trust and value their options...

Most of these people are Christians...

But some have turned away, slowly giving up their faith.

It was no longer precious, but instead turned into something that they resented and rejected.

Dear God, I don't know what kind of person I would be without you living with me.

Directing my heart, soul and mind every day.

I am guided by you for give up the God who is just yet whose love surpasses all understanding.

Please my Heavenly Father, remind me every day where I stand.

Let me remain supported by Christ, the solid rock, and not give in and tread down upon the sinking sand. When you call me home, may I then in Him be found. 

Shared...

'It is not good for man to be alone'
Genesis 2:18

So many things are better when shared.
Shared, experienced and treasured by two. 

When you stand still in awe and wonder there is no one there to hear your exclamation.
When you stand together you share your thoughts, conjectures, and perceptions.

Trees need a Xylem and a Phloem to function.
To be healthy, to grow, and support one another as each day passes.
They are together as one.

Good relationships are like trees.

When two people are devoted to caring for one another.
When two people can share faith, values, goals, beliefs...
slowly becoming of the same heart, soul and mind.

Of course, due to the presentence of sin, this isn't always the case.
We let each other down sometimes, forget the needs of the other and want things done our way.
Yet with God's help and intervention repairing the damage is possible.
If only we are willing and humble enough, to ask for his guidance and his aid.

I pray that my relationship will grow to be like a tree one of these days...

Sunrise

The gentle awakening. A little nudge to the brain. "time we both got up." Says the sun.

Opening my eyes blearily, I begin to realise the gradual changes in the light,
as colours appear across the sky.
Blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, all merging together.
They are enhanced by the dark, majestic eucalyptus,
and the soft ground with the dew still upon it.

The colours of the clouds alter to sliver grey and the sky grows increasingly blue.
The sun begins to warm the earth,
I become more aware of my surroundings.
I listen as all of creation rejoices at the new day.
At this moment I smile, watching my dog's exaltation as she bounds around,
pausing to sniff each smell that is of interest to her, relishing her freedom.

I thank my heavenly Father for the peace I experience at this time.
Here in this place.
In the dawning of the day.

"This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it"
Psalm 118:24

Emotions

There are times when I’ve yearned for my emotions to simply cease.

But what would that look like? After contemplating the question, I resolved that if we eradicated all feelings… grief, loneliness, comfort, jealously, satisfaction, affection, joy, hatred, compassion, envy, anxiety, dispiar, anger, shame, joy…

Leaving them all behind would destroy our motivation, empathy and sense of purpose.

We need to feel. If we became entirely apathetic we could not feel for others. Never having experienced, and therefore not able to understand, where the other person is and how they are feeling.

It is deeply encouraging to me to know that Jesus knew how painful it can be to live in this world
- but he came regardless.

He came so that we might not endure the estrangement, but the adoption.

So that we may know the happiness amongst the grief. The colour against the black.

For what we did not earn he gave in abundance. He gave his grace. 

A treasure that will never spoil or fade.

Now when emotions make strong attempts to overwhelm me, I will recall him who triumphs.

I will put on the armour of God as I prepare for battle. As I march out surrounded by other Christians, I will remember that I do not struggle alone. With the support of my brothers and sisters, I am not alone. None of us are, God is with us…  Always.

Thankyou

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thankyou that you value me.

Thankyou for sending your son to die,

because you value me.

Thankyou that you don't give up on me 

as I give up on you.

Thankyou that you give your children each other. 

Thankyou that you know the road isn't always easy.

Thankyou for giving us the Holy Spirit, to help us fight

sin, fear and despair, with hope, light, and life with you. 

Thankyou that you care for us without reward.

Thankyou that your gifts are abundant. 

Thankyou that you use the weak to help the strong.

Thankyou that you equip us to do your work,

of spreading the gospel side by side. 

Thankyou for all the reasons that you give me 

to smile, dance, and sing for joy. 

Thankyou that when a Christian dies, we; 

as fellow members of Christ's body have tears falling on to smiles. 

Thankyou for giving us the hope and promise that one day,

when we are all gathered around your throne, you will wipe away every tear.

Thankyou that you can be relied on to keep your promises.

Amen. 

"If we claim to be without sin
we deceive  ourselves and the
truth is not in us. If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned,
we make him out to be a liar
and his word is not in us."
1 John:8-10.

Sometimes I am angry 

Sometimes I am angry.

I deceive myself. Because 

I simply don't want to admit 

the sensation. So I allow it 

and give various masks by

calling it frustration, annoyance 

and 'not wanting to become a 

pushover', and so on.

But really I know I'm just in denial.

When I do this I choose to forget the 

numerous times that he hasn't been 

angry at me but instead has

shown me mercy.

After all the wrong we have done

our heavenly father he is still loving 

and compassionate and 

continuously forgives us. 

Why? Why can he do this?
Because he sent his son to pay
the price for our sins so that
we might become his
sons and daughters.

If we are to resemble our father
then when should we become angry?
What occasions can we possibly
call anger righteous anger?

Abuse of power,
Mistreatment of the vulnerable,
Preaching a false gospel.
While these things are worth
becoming angry about
they are equally worth doing
something about.

So next time remember that Jesus
had to die to save you
and not just them.

Be patient and loving like your father.
And canal it into doing something.
Like serving others, making a
difference, and showing compassion.

Don't let your rage control you.
Pray that God might help you to
control it. For with him nothing
is impossible.

I was going to publish this on Christmas day but ran out of time... 

The Gift

At Christmas we receive a gift,
the first, given by God.

Each year we unwrap it anew.
Each year our understanding grows.

It shines brighter as we mature.
It is the extraordinary gift of
God's grace; his one and only son.

As the Christmas rush begins,
pushing us from one stress to
another, we all forget.

We strive to find those perfect
presents for those we hold dear.

And so the gift we are
celebrating slips our minds.

Christmas day is the day to call
off the search.

For he has come, the prince of peace.
Emanuel, God is indeed with us.

The ancient promise has been fulfilled.
So let us rejoice with those we love
because he loved us first.

Oh Grime of Mine

Today my finger nails are filthy.
They are covered with grime.
I have been digging that hole again.
I have been searching hard,
striving to find a way to satisfy
mine and the needs of everyone else.
I've been depending on me.
What I can do, and what I can offer.

I am exhausted.
I know now that I really am just...
stupid.
Everyone else has more brain than me.

And then, as I try to do nightly,
I picked up my bible.

Sometimes picking up God's word
becomes a mundane chore.
But I must run towards it for
how else can my soul
be nourished?

At that very time
I came across words.
Words that I needed.
They where;
"If any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God,
who gives generously to all
without finding fault."

A great weight was lifted then,
with the remembrance that
God is the one that can be
truly relied upon.

In him lies all wisdom.
To him be all praise.
Because in him we find purpose,
not in ourselves.
So this poem is not about me,
it is about him.
Just as it should be.

Broken 

I am broken. Smashed, 

seemly beyond repair.

I need to be remade. 

But no glue of this world 

can stick me together 

again. No amount

of parties, possessions, 

money, social status, or

anything else will sustain me.

So I have searched. 

After searching,

 I have found that 

none but the Lord can 

restore me. 

I am healed by nothing 

but his compassion and 

grace, poured out for us all

upon the cross. 

Now I may rest. 

I am at peace. 

Through the Lord's Eyes

We say 'I just don't like my body shape'

God says 'I have designed your body just the way it should be'

We say 'my face is too crowded with spots'

God says 'beauty is far more than spots'

We say 'my nose is all wrong'

God says 'what do you mean?'

We say 'my face really isn't shaped right''

God says 'that is only though the eyes of the world'

The world's perceptions of physical beauty

differ day to day but God looks on the inside.

Though the eyes of the Lord;

"Your beauty should not come from

outward adornment... rather it should be that

of the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Smog

The mind is a city fog.

It intensifies when you are immersed in the world too long.

So, return to the clear atmosphere of Gods' grace.

For then, only then, will you be a member of Christ's body.

When you join with his people in unity.

For only when you have been rescued

can you be part of those that guide the

blinded into the untainted air of life.

A life in Christ.

Racist! 

A person is bursting with potential.

An individual is stupendous and skillful.

Men and women have unique ways of 

completing tasks and contributing in this world.

The great value of children no matter what may be 

their race or gender or abilities is always 

the same to their maker.

So...

what is it that makes a person a person?

Is it their race?

Is it their gender?

Is it their ability to fit into society? 

Is it their relationship with their spouse?

Or is it who they are as a human being?

So is there ever any excuse to be prejudiced towards others?

NO!

There are oh so many reasons not to.

So let me just share a few with you...

Our differences are what makes the world work.

Our differences are what gives us our personality.

Our differences separate us from the other creations of this earth.

Our differences are in fact how our God created us.

That is in fact the thing that ties us together.

That thing is that we have all been fearfully and wonderfully made.

So if we are going to discuss the race of another

then why not do it with respect to what the Lord has created.

For it is 'in his image that we have been made'.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 

Psalm 139:14 (King James Version) 

The Tree of Life 

What is as old as the hills yet

 as youthful as yesterday?

What is as predictable and yet unpredictable

 in all its' twists and turns?

What is as grand as an afternoon sunset

whist being subject to stormy weather?

It is in fact the tree of life, its leaves unfurling each day,

and every year it does the same.

Yet as it matures it develops new limbs and new shades

as well as the hard troublesome knobs developing

from time to time when the going gets tough.

Occasionally it  has good years in which it grows

and grows, stretching up to the stars,

and sometimes its growth is stunted by the

various seasons of its life time.

When the tree dwells on the rocky ground

or is over taken by the many temptations that

a sinful world presents and then it does not thrive

and reach life's full potential,

as the Lord originally intended.

All this can be remedied by simply placing

our roots in which trust into the good soil;

the soil of Christ.

You see life is like a eucalyptus tree;

throughout all its twists and turns it is

imperative that we root ourselves firmly

into the only ground worth trusting.

A ground that will support us and not fail to

forms us into the godly persons that

we were created to be;

Gods' people, his treasured possession.

 

The Age of Beauty

Beauty is often perceived as something

belonging only to the young.

This idea, however, is not altogether correct.

for there is in fact a vast deal to be found in the mature.

They possess that certain manner and in

both semblance and personage that is beauty.

For beauty is not only a value to be

uncovered outwardly but inwardly.

In point of fact it is the former that causes

the latter to become so attractive.

Consider a person's smile -

Whether old or young what causes

that lifting of the corners of the  mouth

and that particular lighting of the eyes

that proclaims within one of two persons -

The benevolent and the malevolent.

This secret is indeed unveiled in such a smile.

Charm can also be uncovered in a persons' skin.

Whether it be the callous for many days of

hard labour in improving the lives of others,

or the various wrinkles upon the face depicting

a rather lively and jovial disposition or the

frequent smiles of humble contentment

that mould those distinctive

creases worn upon their countenances.

However some wrinkles indicate to an

observer the signs of discomfiture that

spring out of a fountain of dissatisfaction

with others, those around them,

and quite often with themselves.

You see, their was an age wherein our

saviour came and brought with him a

grace that brigs the ultimate satisfaction

and is the type of beauty that

continues to grows in the heart and

shall never cause it to begin to ache.

That my readers was the age that was

the watering can for all ages to bloom

and blossom into his own likeness.

It has in fact been promised that one

day all with be perfected.

For this water is the unfaltering identity

that can be found in Christ.

For he is the one that God sent

to makes us and all else alike to,

thereby making all right.