66. men of covenant

photo grabbed from Christ Fellowship's Facebook page here:

 https://www.facebook.com/CFimpact/?fref=ts 

(my notes from Pastor Tom Mullins' Father's Day message on June 18, 2016)

“The thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Thus saith the Lord
In the Bible’s story of Jonathan
He is a defender of truth
A real man of covenant

Children today are under attack
People do not have depth of love
What they now see, and what they now hear
Are 100% contrary to the words of God

In 1 Timothy 6:12
It says: Fight the good fight of the faith.
Claim the promises of eternal life
To which we are all called and told to wait

As fathers we have the responsibility
To shape our children’s lives
Heart and soul, God shall be with us
“Do all that you have in mind” (1 Samuel 14:6-7; 11-12)

 The relevance of the Old Testament
Is that it is where the principles are revealed
What’s truth now and what’s truth then
Truth is truth, it’s armor and shield

Back in the day there were Philistines
They are terrorists, enslavers, robbers
At one point, Philistines vs. Jonathan
In another, David vs. Goliath, the giant.

There are critical decisions to make
In order to achieve victory
Even when you’re alone, and life’s at stake
Remember: “God and I make a majority”

STEP OUT from where you’re hiding
Declare victory, don’t be afraid
When Jonathan stepped out, God stepped in
Defeated those thieves, the Philistines

Step up and take responsibility
Everything starts with one man’s courage
When Jonathan did, he was victorious
The enemy’s loot restored and recovered.

Sometimes we get trapped in the shadows
When we do there’s no turning back
No doubt it is a dangerous place
There are predators that hide in the dark.

In the daytime lions lay on their back
At night they are on the prowl
The darkness gives them power
They unleash their anger with a scowl

Isn’t that what SIN is in our lives?
Its power is in its secrecy
Nail your sins unto the cross
Confess, repent, be free.

Align your lives in God's word
Change priorities in your life
You may never achieve perfection
But can have perfect motive of heart

TEAM UP for victory in the battle
Life is a team effort, remember
You cannot fight battles on your own
We achieve more when we commit together

It's unstoppable what can be done
When we live a life of covenant
It is what God has called us to
Just like the crusader, Jonathan

Jonathan is the perfect teammate
To team up with, like David did
Jonathan saw God’s hand on David
In the course of the story, Jonathan intervened

He gave David time to escape
From the wrath of King Saul, his father
Let’s take his example of a life of covenant
With God, with church, with one another.

Men of covenant fuel us with courage
They urge, they are encouragers
Men of covenant are protectors
Like a paraclete, an advocate and helper

Covenant relationships elevate us
Teaches us to be strong in faith and spirit
Strong men gravitate to other strong men
Men of strength emerge victorious, not the weak.

Strong men are not domineering
They walk with God with integrity
A heart for God is what they have
A desire to live in God’s eternity

Once you’ve stepped out and teamed up
In covenant with others who are in covenant with God
CLIMB UP to higher ground
 And proclaim that you are a man of covenant

You will never climb uphill with downhill habits
Be disciplined in word, prayer life, in service
You cannot lead someone someplace you've never been
Always find someone to love, to inspire, to affirm

Lead your family, and serve the church
Just like how it was done in the Battle of Normandy
Paint the back of your helmets red
This was how the squad was led to safety

Take this challenge in behalf of a man
To paint your spiritual helmets red
The man whose heart is fully committed to God
In the midst of chaos he was clearly and easily found.

Commit your heart and mind
Commit your soul and strength
To serve the King of Kings
To live in eternity in his presence

Make this declaration strongly
Show the world you are a man of covenant
Lead your family and church to victory
Step out, Team up, Climb up

I AM A MAN OF COVENANT 

65. heaven is a real place

(my notes from Pastor Todd Mullins' message on "heaven")

when i think of heaven
The Pearly Gates come to mind
i think of harps and of angels
dressed in white, all sublime

There God sits to rule
Upon the  Great White Throne
Jesus on His right hand
They're calling all of us home

Some say Heaven is not real
a myth, a lore, a fantasy
a product of imagination
of believers in God and  eternity

But Stephen was a living witness
as  he was being stoned to death
He saw a glimpse of heaven
Before he drew his last breath

the then persecutor Paul
blinded by a bright light, what did he see?
a glimpse of the glorious heaven
He lived to tell the story

Heaven is a reality
There lived God, the "Authority"
Your last breath on earth
is your first breath in eternity

So what's so great about Heaven
When I can't bring my pet along?
We'll there's a lot to look forward to
Listen to me, the list is long.

In Heaven we'll get new bodies
Healthy, free from pain
no sorrows and no suffering
we will even receive new names

We'll be reunited with our loved ones
I bet you can't wait "to hug Dad"
Over-the- top reunions
There won't be reason to be sad

it is a place to know God's secrets
Heaven will be our home, that's sweet
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
Will be revealed to us by the Spirit"

and yes we'll get the chance to hang
with all the heroes of the faith
Imagine meeting Noah, Moses, Samuel
Bible personalities small and great

And finally the best of all
We will get to be with Jesus
What else could be greater than that?
The exact reality that Paul saw in Damascus

While we all wait to get to Heaven
watch and stand guard, be alert
until you see a Glimpse of eternity
you won't realize the value of your life on earth

64. are you the good soil?

the seeds the sower broadcast

on different kinds of soil they fell

the seeds, they are the Word of God

Listen to the message very well

some seeds fell on the path

and the birds came and ate it up

Some fell on rocky places

it sprang up quick but didn't last

the seeds that fell on rocky places

where it did not have much soil

when the sun came up the plants were scorched

withered because they had no root -- growth foiled

Other seeds fell among the thorns

which grew up and choked the plants

but the seeds that fell on good soil

they grew and produced fruits, 100, 60 0r 30 times

let's look at this parable in a new light

aside from the lesson of how the seeds ended up

we know what became of them after they were sown

depending on the soil, whether they have grown

do we assume we are the good soil?

because we believe we grew and bore fruits?

but do we really? Come think again

look closer maybe in our lives, the thorny soil suits?

most of us grew quick and fast

and assumed that we have done well

when trials come our faith is choked

or when good fortune comes, it makes our heads swell

you and I are guilty

we are the good soil, we so assume

but we are told unless we bear fruits

and reveal God in our lives, let's not presume.

63. growing faith

Heavenly Father, although I cry
from pain that breaks my heart
I thank you for the other things
That I know you're doing in my life

Thank you for the new friends
that you put onto my path
Their struggles and their own pains
I pray for them, bless their hearts

Thank you for giving me
the chance to bless others
Thank you for the opportunity
to pray for them, to me it matters.


For every new friend that I meet and pray for
Each time I attend this Bible Study
Adds another layer of concrete
to the wall of faith I build in me.

my faith grows, my faith strengthens
it gives me a new way to look at things
it teaches me to call upon God
to fight these troubles that the World brings.

62. Matthew 21:22

struggling with this pain
each and everyday
some days are worse than the others
in a weird sort of way

sometimes I do feel
a few minutes totally pain-free
i can't help but wonder
if that's a preview of what's to be

a spasm here, a sharp pain there
sometimes a tight grip in my leg
can't stand, can't walk
Take this pain away, O Lord, I beg

it makes me sad, I feel bad
to be a slave of  pain relievers
a rest from this, a pain-free life, 
my heart's desire, my fervent prayer.

my prayer, In Jesus' name, 
Heavenly Father, I ask this
"whatsoever ye ask in prayer
 believing ye shall receive"
 

61. I believe

I believe in Jesus
I am thankful for my life
I believe in what  He did
That for you and me, He suffered stripes

 He is the Lamb, the sacrifice
The unblemished, blameless lamb
 He suffered great for all our sins
It is the truth, His grace abounds.

I proclaim His holiness
I glorify His name
I know that some people sneer  at me
On this earth, they don't know why He came.


We are all God's creation
He has a plan for you and me
I believe that very soon
Life will begin in eternity


I was contemplating on this Lenny LeBlanc song which inspired me to write the short poem above.
Let me share the song here:

60. SEVEN

i have always looked at the number 7
as the number associated with the Lord
the act of Creation He finished in 6 days
and on the seventh he rested from His work

a few days ago, from a friend came an offer
"Go to amazon.com, let's place an order"
with a new credit card bundled with free $50
I will be the recipient, a "transaction tester"

so  amazon.com I quickly checked
book titles I have always wanted
I picked two books by Charles Stanley
the books plus shipment fee, $57.77 it totalled

the freebie is only for $50
the transaction obviously costs more
but wait there, do you see what I see?
$7.77~ God's number ~ triple!!!

as  I write this verse
a silent prayer, I utter
God bless my friend
Three-folds, may it come back to him, later.

59. one thousand gifts

I got the book via amazon

long-awaited, here at last!

when it arrived, I smiled so big

I limp, I know, but to the gate I dashed.

So excited to finally see

the book with a nest on its cover

that familiar image that I see online

the pages that I turn now, real paper!

the handwriting that I have come to love

the chapter titles she wrote

I skimmed and turned the pages

I am sure that soon there's a lot to quote.

the note the sender wrote

the message I will always treasure

a blessed token of friendship

that even the passing of time can't measure.

my friend T, from across the seas

my sister in Christ, a fellow blogger

my big thanks for this "one thousand gifts"

God bless your heart, my dear sister!

58. thankful

lately I have been unable to write
I had neither verses nor prose to post
so many things got in the way
one after another, problems arose.

while the trials were happening
I have picked up wisdom nuggets
in everything that came to me
I tried to write my thanks after the sun set.

I kept those nuggets of wisdom
in my heart of hearts I can feel
God taught me things, increased my knowledge
He showed me His greatness, God who heals!

my thanksgiving journal
which I started after my surgery in October 20
today after about more than forty days
the last number in the list is 230

The Writer is so right in what she said
Thanksgiving is the key
For us to endure tests and trials
Always give thanks and pray on your knees.

57. Sun and Shield

some days are like this
God directs us to a verse
everywhere you look, there it is
as if telling you, it's time to converse

God will reveal Himself
when the Scriptures you read and study
He prods and He prompts
He guides your life, daily

The Lord is a sun and shield
This is the verse that keeps coming up
Psalms chapter 84, verse 11
Everywhere I look it shows up.

I see it in my prayer wall
I turned to my Bible to read
I checked the day's devotional
and lo! the same verse appeared.

I have the same verse in my notes' cover
Written a year ago
Today's daily verse in my phone's daily bible
the 31st verse in the 22nd chapter of 2Samuel

the words sun, shield, refuge
Coming down like a deluge
SHIELD and SUN, Shield and Sun
GLORY and GRACE of The Holy One.

He is indeed a Sun and a Shield
He shines on me and I bathe in His light
He shields me from unnecessary worry
I battled against worry for His greater Glory

The Lord God is my refuge

Everyday that I face this  uncertainty about a health issue
And everyday I see HIS Grace
I am alive and can still walk, to Him I offer praise.

56.reading the Scriptures

I have been reading the Scriptures
seeking wisdom in the words of God
with intent to learn, to know more and more
I read in silence, I read aloud.

I wrote verses in pieces of paper
and posted them on my wall of prayers
But verses alone don't say much
unlike if you read and understand entire chapters

God is faithful, He watches over us
and helps us with what we need
be it for material things but not for greed
He supplies the wisdom in what we read

God warns us against appearing Godly
having a form of godliness but denying its power
He tells us to not be like some people
always learning yet to the knowledge of truth, not any closer.

All Scripture is breathed out by God
profitable for reproof, correction, teaching
in our quest to live in righteousness
we can be competent and equipped through Scripture-reading.

AW Tozer warns against this folly:
selecting a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others
"Nothing less than a whole Bible
can make a whole Christian", that's his reminder.



2 Timothy 3

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

55. my prayer for today

I thank the Lord today
in my bed as I lay
waking up to a new day
although missing the sun's rays

I heard the rain's pitter patter
on the roof and on the ground
a mild storm, is it on its way?
I can tell from the rain's sound

I hear Chip Ingram in the background
his podcast, what is it about?
he talks about personal failures
and how life's difficulties,they compound

when failures happen, do you also feel
God's attempts to get your attention?
a money problem, a health issue,
a serious bad news, do you see a revelation?

my prayer to my Mighty God
I do acknowledge your calling
Speak to me, reveal the words,
With an open heart, I'm listening.

Praise the Lord!

54. pardon me

i miss painless days
when i could smile always
tired of a wince and a cringe
would there be relief from a syringe?

today I write a verse
that I know will sound terse
i just want to vent
on my pillow my tears went

a detour from the usual poetry
just one day, pardon me!

53. can we go find some darkness?

this is a story of a three year old girl
who went shopping with her mom
to Wal-Mart they went for stuff
at around three in the early morn

for some reason the little girl
she loved flashlights like crazy
so at the counter, her mom picked up one
handed it to the child, who beamed with glee

as the mom was paying for it
the little girl turned the flashlight on
and because it was Wal-Mart, it was bright as day
no light was seen wherever she aimed it upon

she tried and tried to no avail
and so to her mother, she said
can we go find some darkness?
let's leave this bright place instead.

at her tender age she understood
that light works only effectively
only there where there is darkness
a flashlight's beam you can see

it is the same with the light of Christ
that is found in the inside of us
if we take His light unto this dying world
darkness is dispelled in the name of Jesus.

it is an opportunity to do something now
in the midst of darkness, let us shine the light
say to the enemy, "you're not going to win!"
With Jesus' hope and light we'll win this fight.

52.my prayer

Use me as a vessel of Your words
Perform Your work in me
Use my verses, use my prose
To send the message of humility

Bless my thoughts and my actions
Allow me to touch other people's hearts
Teach me how to use Your words
To encourage and remove what hurts.

Enlighten me with Scriptures
Help me find the right words to say
So that each and every verse I write
Will reveal Your wisdom to guide our way.

I humbly ask You, Dear Father
To fill my days with hope
Help me look forward to each tomorrow
So that with any discouragement, I'd cope.

I want more and more of Your words
Enrich my life with Your love
Through my own pains I will proclaim
You are my Father, my Everlasting God.

51. worry not

(pic from t2Mari's album) 

each day that pass,
I learn something new
lessons I have heard before
but that which the wild wind blew

how many times
have I heard the SERMON on the Mount
God's reminders and commands
so that in our lives, his Words shall count

He said, "Don't be anxious,
don't worry about anything"
let your requests be known to God
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

worry and anxiety
have entered my life recently
health issues in big proportions
one after another, dumped on me

but one thing I cannot deny
that on top of all these issues
There is still God's loving hand
and I say, His Peace, I choose.

Deliverance from a major operation
He provided everything, including costs
Now while waiting for the medical report
A temptation to worry, "Will my life be lost?"

"Can anyone of you, by worrying
add a single hour to your life?
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding
in Christ Jesus will guard your hearts and minds.
[Philippians 4:6–7]

Everyday I feel my thoughts are new
a renewal and a growing of faith
the mustard seed assures my soul
that God will never leave or forsake

I have this peace, God's gift to me
In my brokenness, His grace I found
This earthly life is all but nothing
Hold on to Him till we're Homeward bound.

50. everyday pain

front and back
I am broken
inside and outside
I am torn

ten years ago
the right leg suffered
and now as I feel it
the left leg is bothered

I am stitched
to the end of my wits
as i walk, i limp
when will the pain quit?

Shalom, she lost a tooth
yet she felt blessed
this attitude of thankfulness
to copy it is my quest!

i live in pain everyday
it is starting to be the norm
i know this is the way
for faith to be built and formed

49.Thank you!

How can I not say
that God is around, listening
to the silent hopes of our hearts
that we bring to Him when we're praying

For a while now
I have this hope and wish
to receive a copy
of Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts"

Maybe I have not tried hard enough
to look for a copy in the bookstore
Maybe because my God
has something else for me, in store

A prodding, He sent to my friend
and she asked if I want a copy
It was awesome, right there I realized
that through my friend, God is sending a gift to me.

Thank you!

48. the note on top of my bed

today I hang a big note
on top of my bed

so that I will be reminded
 each time I read

the note says "Pray",
 in black ink, simple

in each circumstance,
 give thanks ample

a mental note to self,
it looks like an epitaph, an inscription
written in a "scroll",
 completes the imagination

at first I cringed,
 isn't that a morbid thought
but wait it's a reminder
of The One, our "salvation" He brought

indeed my old self is dead
I would like to believe that is so
the epitaph it will remind me
of the death I have come to know.

47. what giving thanks does

I've always heard it from long time ago
that God commands us to give thanks
I never understood the reason, no.
and even thought that's a wrong message sent

The Writer, she wrote about it
what I have been trying  to understand
Give thanks anyways, do this in remembrance of HIM
For when we do it, it is us made whole, not The One

When we are broken and we give thanks,
 it is us who are made whole
Because when we remember to give thanks
our broken places are remembered,  made good.

 Giving thanks puts us back together
All our brokenness re-collect
In recollecting the goodness of God
Our dead selves resurrect

We are put back together
We are re-membered. We heal
It's us who are re-assembled
whatever the devil in us killed

When we're in pain and weary and sick
He re-members our broken bones
A joyful heart is a good medicine
when we remember to thank God.


So,the age-old question
why does God require thanksgiving?
it is never for HIS conceit
It's for our mending.




 

46. If you really believe...

it was a quiet afternoon

lunch done and everything put away

i sat again in front of the computer

feeling for the inspiration to write the verse for today

nothing coming, instead i felt my eyelids heavy

would a nap do me good? I'm feeling unsteady

the comeon was strong, on the bed, I sat at first 

on a pillow I surrendered my head, yeah I'm sleepy

before I lost myself, I remember I was praying 

giving thanks, the scenes in my mind were flashing

the doctor's office, the home, the hospital bed 

the difficult struggle between my heart and my head

I have made the decision to get the operation done

I don't know if that decision was indeed the right one

It was swift, all I could think of was that God was leading me

That it was the right decision, to go get the surgery

I was dreaming, I heard a voice, asking clearly

"if you say you really believe, why do you disbelieve?"

out of my subconscious mind, I know God can see

that I may proclaim my faith but deep inside,there's uncertainty

I am building up my faith, I know God is with me 

I will struggle, like the others before me

The test of faith is on, pain and suffering will enhance

the trials in my life will produce faith and endurance

Scripture

Romans 5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 

45. Trust in the LORD

it was like a whirlwind, it carried me very far
since then, everyday, I know I've started the war

the first symptoms were easy, they looked ordinary
in my head, the treatment, would not be so scary.

I pored on information I could find on the internet
all the symptoms they mentioned, "I have all of them", I could bet

I read more and more, I self-diagnosed
In a few days from detection, in my mind, this body was comatose

I knew there was nothing wrong with gathering information
to arm yourself with knowledge, is not bad, but do with caution

 The next days became a roller-coaster, acceptance vs unbelief
some days I felt, "I'll submit", but then other days, "I'll just quit"

I have been reading God's words all throughout the ordeal
I can honestly say, I read -- but the message, DID I HEAR?

I went with the flow, preparations were made
I asked for prayers, for God's help, as I decide to go under the blade.

the last three days prior, I was numb, I stopped analyzing
I still read God's words, hoping to see HIS leading

I have snippets of Scripture, that were etched in my head
On the way to the OR, as I lay on that rolling bed

By the wide door we stopped, my children hugged and kissed me
Our fervent prayer, we said aloud, for God's help, for my safety

I started crying, then straight ahead as the wide door opened
Proverbs 3, verses 5-6,  i looked up again, they listened.

"Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding
In all thy ways acknowledge HIM,and He shall direct thy paths"

I realized my folly, by God's grace He showed it to me
I depended on my own knowledge, predicted my own destiny.

A voice in my head spoke about the process of cleansing
Some things must come to pass, but trust HIM, there's a new beginning.

In all that we do, to the LORD God, put our trust
Every day of our lives, do this, it's a MUST.


 Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

44. Christian life is not trouble-free

it is a very wrong notion

that Christian life is trouble-free

in fact, sometimes, life's troubles

do not become less, instead, plenty.

this is because God is in the process 

of CLEANSING and CHANGING you

to do away with bad attitudes

and old negative habits that you do.

there are areas in our lives 

that need to be sanded, shaped, sifted

to transform us into Christian-likeness

is what it's for, it's needed.

trouble is one of God's effective tools

in winnowing a person's character

the greatest men and women of Scripture

are those whose lives were made harder.

43. happy is the people whose God is the Lord

the Lord is MY GOD

HE supplies all my needs

HE takes care of my food,

 as HE does for birds, their seeds.

HE gives me my shelter

my protection from the sun and rain

HE gives me the air to breathe

He soothes my aches and pains.

To find JOY in everything

is to be THANKFUL for all things

to be happy is to look unto HIM

and to listen to what HE is saying.

a life apart from the LORD

is a life of strife and uncertainty

Each step away equals worry,

in pain and discomfort, unhappy.

happy is the people

whose GOD is the LORD

all their HOPES are unto HIM

looking forward to HIS SECOND COMING

42. God speaks

i found myself

in a valley of tears

hating myself

for my own sins

i've lived in those sins

ignored the warnings

yet at the back of my head

i hear God's proddings

i read His words

I claimed understanding

but only temporarily

before long i found them waning

i praised Him for all things

acknowledged His blessings

but when the time came for faith-testing

i found myself running

but God is faithful

beyond our understanding

even when we reject Him

He still remains so loving

Today in a painful moment

of admitting my sin of unbelief

I confessed wholeheartedly

and after that I found relief

God sent an emissary

a vessel of God's truth in words

it was like a dam broke, I cried a river

For what she said truly struck a chord

I sit here laughing, crying

enjoying this quiet conversation

about promises, about love

about healing and protection

41. a lesson from Paul

in one's journey through life
temptations are all a-plenty
a snare, a trap, a will to boast
to lift oneself up unnecessarily

what would it gain someone to boast?
it will accomplish nothing
and what would it profit a man to pose
claim greatness about something not his doing

the Lord is good
He safeguards us from conceit
trials may look like a thorn in our flesh
but in reality it protects us from Satan's deceit

sometimes He allows Satan's ministrations 
leaves us open for Satan to mess with and torment
it sometimes pushes us over the edge
to the point that we plead and lament

and when that happens, it is the time
to reveal that His grace is sufficient
the time to experience God's awesome power
Power made perfect when our strength is absent

if being weak means God is with us
who would despise the absence of strength?
it would be a joy to boast of one's weakness
and delight when in hardships, persecuted, insulted.

it doesn't matter much--
if in your flesh, you have thorns
with God in our lives,
the weak among us becomes strong

2 Corinthians 12

New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³ And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.





 

40. looking forward to the thousandth verse

with renewed hope, a stronger faith:

to keep WALKING along this PATH

is the desire of my REPENTANT heart 

in the everyday JOURNEY of my life

a THOUSAND VERSES I will write

39. what steals your joy?

who owns the power

to create your own joy?

does joy come from beauty,

or from a joke, or a funny toy?

when you cease being joyful

do you know you also stop being hopeful?

when you surrender your joyfulness

you embrace the call of the darkness

Ann Voskamp, she asked:

"why deprive myself of joy's oxygen?"

because you believe in the POWER OF THE PIT!

the swiftness and starkness of that answer is startling!

do you smother your own JOY

because you believe ANGER achieves more?

is your daily life ruled by God

or by complaining, exasperation, resentment, Satan's ways galore?

what it really is, is a choice

to CRUSH joy with BITTERNESS

it is the purposeful choosing

to take the way of the PRINCE OF DARKNESS

search yourself,  ask the same questions

do you choose Lucifer's angry way?

is it more effective over giving THANKS?

think about it LIVE JOY starting today.

Note: Inspiration for this verse came from: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/10/why-you-should-smile-right-now-crazy-joy-day-10/

38. two gods

wherever your treasure is

a chain is connected to it and to your heart

this is the MRI/x-ray machine

of the Holy Spirit of God

if you want to know where you're at spiritually

just look at where's your money

wherever your money flows

it tells you where's your loyalty

according to Jesus himself

the two gods are not God and Satan

for Satan is a tempter, a created angel

he broke away from God, to the other direction, had gone.

God and Mammon

the two vying for your heart

God vs money and materialism

seek God's help to set them apart.

Matthew 6

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c]your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

37. Grace-stoppers

If you've ever experienced

God's grace and love

you'd know how it feels

to have that grace depart

it's true that only God

can give us everything

but when grace-stoppers come up

we end up with nothing

there are things that destroy

God's work in our lives

they ruin God's plan

and they give Evil a place to thrive

It is written in Acts, Chapter 5

The story of Ananias and Sapphira

Husband and wife that pretended and lied

Willful deception, exemplified.

At some point in our lives

We face the same temptation opportunity

To pretend, to pose, to deceive

Of hypocrisy, we are guilty

When we crave for applause from people

This causes grace from God to stop flowing

God wants us to remain pure and humble

Our spirit, He is protecting.

Live your life being who you really are

And not who or what you purport to be

Let us seek God's grace to help us see

How to live our lives in honesty.

Scripture:
Acts

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

36.closer to the Father

i can't remember when was the last time

that I caught myself about to smile

with all this bunch of unhappy things

i'd  bet it has been quite a while

lately my days are filled with worries

and challenges that brings me down

it's hard to smile, much more, to laugh

i think, even if i see a clown.

scary thoughts of unknown sickness

i need to muster courage to find out

my head is bursting with thoughts of illness

everyday, to me, are continuous bouts

wavering faith is not good at all

if we allow it, it will make us falter

connect with friends who love the Father

keep one another in fervent prayer

it is good to listen to people of strong faith

they give you strength to muster

your own faith grows and brings you closer

to God, our Heavenly Father

35. caterpillars and butterflies

...the caterpillars you have to endure

if you want to see butterflies in the future...

34....

how quickly feelings shift

from positive to negative

but isn't it human nature

to be irresolute, indecisive

one moment it's a yes

the next it is a no

and then fear creeps in

as we wait for signs to show

signs are not reliable

if they are based on human interpretation

we supply our own meanings

whatever is convenient for the situation

face the fear, that's what's to do

although it is easier said than done

pray for confidence and courage

leave everything in the hands of The One

Note: Will be posting a few verses saved in the drafts folder ~ sitting there for a long time, some missing a line or two, waiting for the inspiration to finish them....and then it came.....

33. SOS

Lord, it has gotten worse,
when is it going to end?

in trickles came the flow of verses
messages became harder to send

i lost the connection
i am floating nowhere

literally and figuratively
the "floating" I can no longer bear

it is one thing to be helpless
to be hopeless is another

i feel light, just like paper
come rescue me in prayer



********
after posting this verse, I turned to my Bible, asking God to show me a verse that would speak to me...
The page opened to Psalm 10, 11, 12 and :


The Thirteenth Psalm

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. ¹ How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?
 ³ Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
 ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.

32. it will get worse before it gets better

(photo by SpinC)

there is a question
asked by many:
why is it that when you walk with GOD
troubles come a-plenty?

pastors I knew
from internet broadcasts
have mentioned the same
in their separate podcasts

they say that to walk with God
is like a basketball game
if you are sidelined
nobody calls your name

but try get in the game
score points, start the rally
they'd guard and keep you
from getting ahead in the tally

when you are cold for Christ
the Enemy doesn't bother
set your heart on fire for HIM
the enemy stalks you like no other.

the trials come pouring in
like when it rains, it pours
problems, sickness, misery
adversities in scores

right now, that is exactly
the door that I chose to enter
when I took steps to follow GOD
I know it will get worse before it gets better.

31. do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal...

"Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you,
which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you"

when adversities come into your life
what does it make you feel?
"God doesn't love me". "He is punishing me"
"I am terrible". "Take my own life, yes, I will"

Stop believing the lies
that the Evil One tells you about adversity
it is a very private, very dark
and a very scary place to be.

Adversity is the hammer
that shapes the new us
God draws closer and nearer
to those whose spirits are crushed

In those windows of time
that you literally reached the end of yourself
cry out to Him, don't hold it back
admit that you need Him, that you need His help

Adversity is normal
it happened to Jesus, to Paul, to all Christians
where sin abounded, grace abounded much more
according to the Book of Romans

Adversity is expected,
we are told not to be surprised
the fiery ordeals are for our testing
and in each of them. the Lord hears our cries.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Through adversity, your life, God transforms
it is an uninvited friend in the hands of an all-knowing God
in the midst of my pain God will wean me from my pride.



1Peter4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

30. hang in there

(photo by SpinC)

"I quit. I can't take it anymore. I had it!
I'm opting out. I'm done!"
make a difficult problem work for you
instead of making it bring you down

The spirit of God spoke
to the writer of the Book of Hebrews
to encourage them, to draw them back,
and so their confidence in Him, they won't lose

he reminded them how they remained faithful
even through terrible suffering
how they accepted it with joy
even when from them, they've taken away everything.\

Think back on the early days
When you first learned about Christ
Do not throw away the confident trust
keep in mind, that in the end, there is a "prize"

From the Book of Philippians
remember, if you can't, Jesus CAN
believe that God wants to help you
read the 34th chapter of the book of Psalms

I can't. You can't. HE CAN.
God wants to help you and me
Hang in there, don't lose hope
God's love and grace, we will see.

29. He is not here!!!!!

the prophets of most religions
have died and their bodies, "laid to rest"
it is a comfort for their followers
knowing they are "there", more or less

the mortal body that rests there
have long since been buried in the earth
the years will pass on and on and on
whatever is left of the bodies, mixed with the dirt

it is because they are mortal men
that cannot rise from the dead
only a man that is GOD
can, even death, transcend

the instance of Jesus' death
caused grieving and heartbreak
He is the SAVIOR and yet
His dead body was laid in the grave

in His own words He had said
that He will rise again after three days
the sepulchre was heavily guarded
but God is God, He has ways :)

totally opposite from the prophets of religions
whose followers feel proud where the bodies laid
For believers: "He is not here, He is risen"
Is the greatest sentence ever said.

Read in Matthew 28:10
"Be not afraid, go tell my brethren,
that they go into Galilee,
and there shall they see me"

Believers received comfort
from discovering an empty tomb
it is the reality of a prophecy
so be ready, He will be back soon!

28. are your pearls real?

once there was a sailor
who was alone and had no family
over time at sea he collected pearls
pearls from the bottom of the sea

he didn't have anyone
to give the pearls to as a gift
there wasn't anyone that he had met
who had made him feel pleased.

Alas, there was a little girl
that he met and he was pleased
the little girl wore a string of pearls
but they are pearls made of plastic

the sailor and the little girl became friends
although she was there only on vacation
when it was time for her to leave
the sailor decided and reached a decision

he offered the string of real pearls
to the girl who immediately became excited
these are real, and genuine pearls,
priceless and pure, one's hard work, invested.

but when he said "before I give you these,
give up the plastic pearls, give them to me"
the girl held onto the bogus pearls
and said, "They're mine! Don't take them away from me!"

funny when we fail to see
the real value of what is true
we hold on to material things
where our hopes and dreams are anchored to.

the fake pearls, they represent
our love for the world, our lust
may we wake up to the realization
they are second rate fun that don't last.

In our lives let us search ourselves
what are the things we hold on to?
do we even know that oftentimes
what we hold on to have no real value?

1 John 2:15-16  ¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[a] is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.