Understanding

“How wrong you are

Because you don’t know the Scriptures

or the power of God “ (1)

The passion

frustration

to understand this Message of love

that purges the contrite heart

A veil of Death

The power of evil (2)

neatly drapes this vile

a heart's content

my feelings covered

even so  the Voice - curbed within

And I reach for the pleasures

feed my soul

blind my life  (3)

Somewhere, Something, Someone,  Somehow (4)

I’ve heard it all

The Cross, God, Jesus

And see Creation

Dare I make Him a liar? (5)

I do not believe what God has done

I look at Creation

Admire the sunset over a tranquil sea

birds abound

in pink and orange and blue

evening shadows complete His Art

I turn my back on Him;

“nature is wonderful!” I would say (6)

denying the Creator of Heavan and Earth

This gentle God

will allow me

In my time of grace

to turn my back on Him -

It is my choice

Patiently He will show me the way;

His Creation

The Cross

The Bible - His Word

A friend’s word perhaps

And the circumstances of my life

So that I can turn to Him  (8)

As He is Love -

My choice

Time of grace

Will surely pass

As death will come to each of us

Dust we are and to dust we return (9)

The fact of life

My back to the Cross

The Truth too harsh

God You’re a Liar (5)

I dare to say

How can this Cross be mine?

An event of two thousand years touch my heart?

Be truly mine today?

Jews, Muslims, Hindus

Who are they, their god

not You? (10)

What Creator would allow a Book

False or filled with half truths

This story of God

His Son

His Spirit

And leave His creation in a state of confusion?

No clear guidance to His people (11)

My Word is the Living Word (12)

A two edged sword

cuts into soul

to see Our God (13)

The Truth to read

and understand

declared in this Word

Come to Me and I will come to you (14)

reveal Myself to you

touch your heart  (15)

A Touch so deep it will change your life

and eternity

In my time of grace

My decision to believe this God

The Creator of life

that surpasses mere existence

My common sense object

My intellect resists (16)

This story of the Cross

The Truth of God

But the guilt in my heart?

Why?

The knowledge of right and wrong (17)

It’s written in my heart!  (18)

And when I ignore what I know is right

It is in my heart that I know

How?

When I turn to Him

He’ll touch my soul (13-14)

Common sense will fade

supra natural sense fills my heart  (19)

as this veil of Death tears apart

Guilt shattered

And lifts my heart

And I will see the reality of God

The empty ache

The void in my being

Filled with God

See purpose in life

To live in Him

The Creator of my soul

The reality of an intimate knowledge of God

A relationship that overwhelms my being

At peace with Him that none can shake (20)

I found my Creator

My purpose for Him

He cleanses my sole

with the Cross of His love

Sin has no place with God

His sinless Son carried it all -

The Wrath of God

For the wages of sin is Death (21)

I escape the hell of this life

with peace in my heart

purpose in life and death

And escape the furnace of His Wrath (22)

The God of all

Before Whom each knee shall bow

and tongue confess (23)

You are God!

Protected from eternal evil

Separated from the God of love -

Eternity

where evil reigns in Hades (24)

And now, I live in union with Him (25)

Through the grace of God, Creator in love

Truth revealed

by the Living God

My life for Him

Scripture References:

1. Matthew 22:29 'How wrong you are because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God

'   

2. II CORINTHIANS 3: l4 Their minds, indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ.

II CORINTWANS 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, .it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god’ of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.

3. ROMANS 1:26 Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions.

4. ACTS 17: 23 To an Unknown God.

5. 1 JOHN 5: 10 So all who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own hearts; but those who do not believe God have made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed what God has said about His Son

6. ROMANS 1:25 They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself.

7. ROMANS 1:20 Ever since God created this world, His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and His divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! 21 They know God, but they do not give Him the honour that belongs to Him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness

8. ROMANS 2:4 0r perhaps you despise His great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent. But you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so you are making your own punishment even greater on the Day when God’s anger and righteous judgments will be revealed

ROMANS11: 22 Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe towards those who have fallen, but kind to you if you continue in his kindness

JOHN 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He have His only Son, so that everyone that believes in Him may not die but have eternal life

9.GENISES 2:7 The time came when the Lord God formed a man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And man became a living person.

JOB10:9 Oh, please remember that I’m made of dust—will you change me back again to dust so soon?

PSALMS 104 He knows what we are made of, He remembers that we are dust.

10. JOHN 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God’s punishment.

MATTHEW 7:14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that lead to it is hard and there are few people who find it

11. ISAIAH 30:21 If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear His Voice behind you saying, “Here is the road. follow it.”

EPHESIANS 5:17 Don’t be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

12. JOHN 1:1-5 In the beginning the Word already the existed, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through Him God made all things, not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to humanity. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

13. HEBREWS 4:12 The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul ad spirit meet,…….

JOB 42:5 but now I have seen You with my own eyes

14. JAMES 4:8 ‘Come near to God, and He will come near to you.

JEREMIAH 29:13 “You will seek Me, and you will find Me because you will seek Me with all your heart.

JOHN 5:40 Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life

JOHN 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He have His only Son, so that everyone that believes in Him may not die but have eternal life

HEBREWS 11:6

15. EPHESIANS 2 14 The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised His people. And this assures us (in my heart) that God will give complete freedom to those who are His

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered

16 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 For the message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost, but for us who are being saved it is God’s power. 19 The scripture says, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars. So then, where does that leave the wise? Or the scholars? Or the skilful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world’s wisdom is foolishness!

17. GENESIS 2:16 He said to him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. … if you do you will die… GENESIS 3:4 The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. 5 God said that, because He knows that when you eat it you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.  6. So she took some of the fruit and ate it.

18. ROMANS 2: 14-15 The Gentiles do not have the Law, but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law. “Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true since their thoughts sometimes accuse. them and sometimes defend them

19 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts for ever.

20 JOHN 14 27 [Jesus said] ”Peace is what I leave with you, it is My own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does.

ROMANS 8:6 To be controlled by human nature results in death, to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.

21 ROMANS 6:23 For sin pays its wage  - death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

22 MATTHEW 3:7  – who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. 9 And don’t think you can escape punishment  …

EPHESIANS 5:6 Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words, it is because of these very things that God’s anger will come upon those who do not obey Him.

23 ROMANS14 11 “As surely as I am, the living God, says the Lord, everyone will kneel before me, and everyone will confess that I am God.”

24 AMOS 5:6 Go to the LORD, and you will live. If you do not go, He will sweep down like fire …

ACTS 18:6 If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it.

25 COLOSSIANS 2:6 Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as LORD live in union with Him

The Full Message:                    

·        Never apologize for the LORD

The words of the LORD hurt and offend until there is nothing left to hurt or offend.

Jesus Christ has no tenderness whatever toward anything that is ultimately going to ruin a man in the service of God

If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the LORD that hurts you, you may be sure that there is something He wants to hurt to death.

Oswald Chambers. September 26 p191

·        Hebrews 10: 26-31   “29. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall in the Hands of the living God“

Do you believe God, what He is saying in His Word, every sentence? Not merely that He exists. James 2:14-26 To believe that there is a God is demonic (v19), useless (v20) and dead (26). Abraham believed God and was both righteous and called a friend of God (23)

The Truth will always hurt if you are far from it. Let the Truth hurt and offend until it is known in your heart and you will find rest as you see Jesus with your own eyes.

The God Story

 A God made a universe

and an earth

beautiful people

looked at it

and said

‘It is very good!’ (1)

Out of His heart

he gave them

beautiful trees

colourful, delicious fruit

flowers

mountains

sunsets

the sea

and food

All they need to a happy healthy life

And He walked with them

Partners in bond

He gave them

to love

children to care for

to fill their lives with joy

Beautiful bodies

ears and eyes and senses

to enjoy

all He gave

from His heart

A gift from above

Even a free will

to choose

He gave them

And they turned against Him

‘I’ll walk my way

It’s my free will

It is my life!’

And His heart was filled with pain (2)

And man would lust,

harm the beautiful gift of God

with drink, smoke and tattoos

satisfy the cravings of the body

care for myself

for others - if I have to

My way

War, divorce

No regard for God (3)

And will ask

‘Where is this God?’

‘Look at the mess!’

‘A God of love?’

‘Can’t be!’

The LORD was grieved that He ever made man on earth

And His heart was filled with pain (4)

So the LORD said:

I will wipe mankind,

whom I created

from the face of the earth (5)

But ...

”How can I give you up?

How can I abandon you?

Could I ever destroy you?

My heart will not let me do it.

My love for you is too strong”. (6)

A God responded to His heart

He loved the world

so much

His one and only Son

He gave

- Himself on the altar

. no need to be wiped away

by believing Him

a whole and lasting life. (7)

God send His Son

not to accuse,

But to put man right again.

And anyone who trusts in Him

Acquitted!

anyone who refuses to trust Him

-without knowing it.-

would stay on deaths row (8)

and brake the heart of God

Scripture References:

(1)  Genesis 1:31

(2)  Genesis 6:6

(3)  Genesis 4:7

(4)  Genesis 6:6

(5)  Genesis 6:7

(6)  Hosea 11:8

(7)  John 3:16

(8)  John 3:17-8

The Hades

Total absence of love

compassion and kindness

No God

Total absence of beauty

grace, decency and tact

No God

Total absence of hope

honesty, trust and friendship

No God

Total absence of a caring heart

a mother’s love, a father’s concern

No God

Total absence of the presence of God

of peace, holiness and content

His thoughts towards me only holy

filled with love

But eternity without Him

And what is of Him

His character

And what He created

None of Him

Where Evil reigns in Hades

the father of lies

telling me this can’t be

with relentless attacks of utter hate

No virtue or compassion

None of God

Obscene monstrous acts of violence

worse than anything real or imagined

No mercy, no fair play

Look at the world

None of God

The heart of a cruel killer

Deceiver, Power of Darkness

His thoughts towards me only evil

filled with hate

None of God

Hate thy neighbor

Love thyself

Have no regard for God

Eternal pain

in the presence of your father -

The Evil One

Whose only heart

is your pain

Satisfied, he’s hurting the heart of God

Your eternal destiny secure

Separated from God

And what is of Him

You’ve lost His presence

Eternal separation

A place called Hell

Naked

Stiff necked

Stiff kneed

A hardened heart of stone

Touched -

the presence of God

stripped it all

Trembling

Naked

Nothing hidden

He knows the heart-

every thought of man

Knees bent

a head bowed down

the weight of conviction

deep in my heart

a fire melts solid stone

All of my being exposed

Garden of Eden

naked before the Eternal God

Fear gripped my heart

the barrenness of my soul

He covered me

a white robe of holiness

His Cross revealed

from my head into my heart

Abba Father!

Christmas

Pretty little Christmas lights

everywhere

windows and  Christmas trees

candles and hearts

millions in colours

glittering,

delighting the heart of the world

it’s Christmas!

Each little light

a Gentle message from God

A witness to us

Even long before the Light had dawned

It was announced

‘people walking in darkness have seen a Great Light’ (1)

And He said

‘I have come into the world as a light,

so that no one who believes in Me

should stay in darkness’ (2)

‘Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth

Burst into jubilant song’ (3)

It’s Christmas!

As each and every pretty little light

Carries His Message of love to our hearts

A time of peace to all

A time to give!

Even as the world

flock to trade

The spirit is to give

Because He gave

And every precious little gift

Every token of love

A message to the world

‘God so loved the world

He gave His one and only Son,

That, whoever believes in Him

shall not perish but have eternal life’ (4)

And peace

The ever evading dream of the world

Every yearn of the heart

A world cries out

And

‘Unto us a Child is born,

a Son is given,

He will be called Wonderful Councilor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace’ (5)

And He said:

‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to earth.

I did not come to bring peace but a sword’ (6)

‘For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than a double edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit’ (7)

‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives’ (8)

And every well wish for Christmas -

‘Merry Christmas!

Compliments of the season!

and

Season’s Greetings!’

Reminds the heart

The only peace

Is different

It is found in Him

Lights, gifts and well wishes Celebrating THE GIFT!

and a world can never say ‘I did not know’

Because it’s all in Christmas!

1. Isaiah announced the coming of the Christ hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah 9:2 ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned’. Also in 5  below

2. John 12:46 ‘I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness’

3. Psalm 98:4 ‘Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth. Burst into jubilant song’

4. John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life

5. Isaiah 9:6 ‘For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders . And He will be called Wonderful Councilor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

6. Matthew 10:34 ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword

7. Hebrews 4:12 ‘For the word f God is living and active. Sharper than a double edges sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit’

8. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives’

Christmas Tragedy

Bethlehem

The night sky

deep

blue

rich and clear

A glistening Star

Bright and White

Shepherds with sheep

gaze and wonder

An angel choir

can this be

Wise men from afar

can this be True

or a mere tale to tell

The birth of a story

and children would see Christmas trees

hear carols sung

And a Bethlehem night would disappear

under presents

and the hype of money spun

Hearts too afraid to ask

or think

but what about Bethlehem

Was that true

or a mere tale to tell

to an innocent child

and blur his brain

with a farfetched fairy tale

But a tale that millions and millions have heard

over twenty hundred years

wrenched and distorted

and desperate to bury the idea

of possible Truth

under Christmas wraps and goodtime caps

Don’t bring that God

to close to my heart

when happy christmas

merrily fills my soul

and  my enlightened mind-

just don’t upset my party

I hate a tsunami

don’t spoil my day

with hangover pay

Thirty pieces of silver

and I trade the Most High

deep in my heart

For the free will of man

Silver lights and Christmas trees

Money flows and merchants smile

the Father’s house a shopping mall

ties and unwanted presents

broken toys

and soon forgotten gestures

gifts in a corner

and a heart might wonder

what is this

They hung Him on a tree

spat in His face

ignored Him

the Son of Man

the God of Heaven

His Name in vain

without a thought

on the lips of men

The busses declared

‘there is probably no God!’

and Boulton said

‘there'll probably be no religion

in another hundred years!’

They crucify Him again and again

try to kill the Son of Man

and spit in His face

finish off what the Romans couldn't do

Abundant love and patient anger

wrath constrained

Infinite grace covers us all

God hung on a cross

driven by love

and knew that the world would  pierce His heart

for 2000 years and years to come

And a sad sad

status quo

that ruled the world

now for 2000 years and more to come

but the heart of man keeps running

a lone wonderer

desperate for peace

evading shadows

in the gloom of a forest night

desperately reaching out

stretched out arms and hands

and fingers

as peace floats and disappears from grasping souls

like shadows in the night

Peace and content

the desperate yearn

the inexplicable

mysterious

ever evading

need of the human heart

But the reality of the birth of Christ

and the death on the cross

will last

in the souls of those who seek

despite the choice

of a tale with no grounds

The Truth

that resurrects a spirit to life

with peace and content

liberty and reason

and love that fills a heart

with God made one

Who willed the seeking

of the human soul

and the finding

of The One

Poems to Ponder