Come ... I have a song to teach you!!

The song I sing

"O' what a sorry crowd it was,
Publicans and harlots,
Weak, foolish philosophers
And men of the worst kind,
Sinners not worth mentioning,
The scum of the world.

But yet in them I saw a joy,
That I had never seen before;
A peace that I could not understand;
What their past was,
Was not what was today;
Sinners they were,
But repented and reformed,
Miraculously changed!

I wondered, how could it be?
How could this have happened?
Not one of them had a moral backbone,
Not one who wanted to,
Enticed and addicted,
There was neither strength nor will,
Nothing in them,
To have brought about this change;
Though they had the same names,
Looked the same,
They were different,
A new creation, of sorts.

And I enquired,
And it seemed they were but waiting,
To sing out their story,
One by one they retold,
How the old was gone,
And the new had come;
But one single thread,
Seemed to connect them all,
Like the branches of a single vine,
One man, who had touched them all;
One God, who had made us all;
One truth, one way, one light.

And I asked them,
Who is this man, this God?
What is His name?
And in unison,
I heard the sound of many voices,
Immanuel
God with us
Lion of Judah
Lamb of God
Prince of peace
King of kings
Lord of Lords
Son of man
Son of God
Only begotten
Never born, never created
From the beginning
One with the Father.
But the name we love the most
The name that brought us salvation
"Jesus friend of sinners
Loved me 'ere I knew Him"."

This is what you had told me
Of the day we had met
This is the song I had taught you
The day we had met
This is the song we will ever sing
From dawn till sunset
"Jesus friend of sinners
Loved me 'ere I knew Him".

1Ti 1:15 Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

(Below is the song that has recently become even more real to me. Not sure who the author is.)
His Forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
A crown of thorns You wore for me
Bruised for my transgressions
Pierced for my iniquities
The wrath of God that I deserved
Was poured out on the Innocent
He took my place, my soul to save
Now I am His forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
I love to tell the story
Redeeming love has been my theme
And will be when in glory
Not death nor life nor anything
Can ever separate me
O love that will not let me go
Yes, I am His forever

(SONG) Today

Neh 1:3 And they said to me, The remnant left of the captivity there in the province is in great affliction and shame. And the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. Neh 1:4 And it happened when I heard these words, I sat down and wept. And I mourned for days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven. Neh 1:5 And I said, I pray You, O Jehovah, the God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments; Neh 1:6 let Your ear now be open, and Your eyes open, so that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the sons of Israel Your servants, and confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned. Neh 1:7 We have acted very wickedly against You, and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgments which You commanded Your servant Moses. Neh 1:8 I pray You, remember the Word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations, Neh 1:9 but if you turn to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though you were cast out to the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather you from there and will bring you to the place that I have chosen to set My name there. Neh 1:10 And these are Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. Neh 1:11 O Jehovah, I pray You, let now Your ear be open to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name. And I pray You, bless Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (For I was the king's cupbearer.)

Today

Today is the day of salvation
Today says the Lord
Today is the day I'll repent
Today I'll turn to the Lord
Today the work will start
Today, says the Lord
Today no matter what
Reasons, feelings, thoughts
Today is the day of salvation
Today, says the Lord.

The walls are all fallen
The life in ruins be
But today the work has started
Today, when I turned to Thee.

Today, today, today
No matter what I think or say
Today, today, today
Today, says the Lord.

Today because You 've said it so
I know how my end will be
Today by faith I clearly see
Today You 've set me free.

Today, today, today
No matter what you think or say
Today, today, today
Today, says the Lord.

Heb 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear His voice, Heb 3:8 do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, Heb 3:9 when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.
Heb 4:7 He again marks out a certain day, saying in David, "Today," (after so long a time). Even as it is said, "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."

Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,

From within ... rivers of living water!!

Mat 19:25 When His disciples heard, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked on them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

His Promise - This my prayer and hope
"Look at me
Can any man live,
Live as I now do?
Neither can I!
But it is the Grace of God,
For it is no longer I
But Christ in me
The hope of Glory;
For the Life I live
I no longer live
But Christ in me;
Making possible
The impossible.”

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.

Witness

O’ of what salvation do you boast
One that any man can work out!
You flee from youthful lust,
And yes you should,
You also fight those thoughts,
The ones that shame you most,
But can you dig deep within,
And though you do not sin,
Can you bring purity within?

All works of man,
Like white washed tombs,
Lively as it might seem,
Just lifeless bones within!
The way I talk, the way I walk
I can polish my outside,
But who can tear the flesh apart
And bring purity inside?

I can hide the thoughts I have
By actions that seem so righteous;
The grinding of my teeth
To be mistaken for a smile;
I can clench my fist in anger
But cross my hands behind;
I can seem so much better
Than one whose anger killed a man;
But on that great and terrible day,
When all the dead shall rise,
I will need to answer for my anger,
No more any place to hide,
With the killed and the killer,
Standing side by side.

You who sing of an empty grave
To prove your saviour lives,
I who once was an empty sepulchre
Decked up and called a wonder,
I who was a wretched sinner,
Till by grace I did surrender,
This life I live, my greatest proof
My saviour once dead, now lives.

1Ti 1:16 But for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, as a pattern to those being about to believe on Him to life everlasting.

Our salvation is not a life which we could have lived by ourselves, but something which was impossible for us, but is becoming a reality by God's grace working in us.
That the LIFE of JESUS may be manifested in each and every aspect of our walking, talking, thinking and doing. My life should be the proof that Jesus lives.

Him who is able to keep you from falling ...

Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing

Nothing of my own

I no longer walk sure footed,
I dare not trust my own,
My decision and my will power
My passion and love for the Lord;
And least of all,
These eloquent words that I speak;
Fooling all including me.

There was a time I boldly spoke,
Looked down on feeble hearts,
Ready to even die,
And count it all as dung.
Yes there was a time like this
A time long gone,
A time I bared my chest
And made a great boast,
"Let everyone else fall
But Lord, nay, not I."
Yes there was a time like this
Before I truly died.

I had been a failure all my life,
Till the Lord had picked me up;
He had healed the wounds
And lifted my head up;
Made a new man out of spittle,
Something out of nothing,
By the touch of His hands.
And O' what joy was mine!
Nothing could bring me down;
And l loved to tell that story,
Of what I was and what I am,
And how He had done it all.

But I spoke to foolish men
Men who couldn't see;
And though they cheered,
And thought they encouraged,
Thought they did a good thing,
When they praised me for my zeal.
A bigger fool that I was,
I took them at their word;
Thought the zeal now I had,
Where once there was none,
Thought I had a part to play;
Though He had done it all.

Reliving the past,
An experience I once had;
The story slowly lost its charm,
As dead words were spoken,
By a dead man, deprived of life;
And as the darkness enveloped,
Everything became a dream;
Till the story was forgotten,
As if it had never happened;
Memories faded,
And names forgotten,
Clinging on to something,
Not quite sure,
All muddled ....

Many cocks have crowed from then,
Many days of blind comfort,
Many days of empty words,
Foolish thoughts and evil intentions;
Many days in the pen,
Till crushed by circumstances,
Reason returned to me,
And in the blinding light I saw,
The evil life now being lived by me.

Once again the old story came back,
O' where I was and what I had become!
And where I saw no glimmer of hope,
No reason for mercy,
Like the morning dawn,
Which breaks forth,
From the darkest hour,
I saw love unexplainable,
Mercy unfathomable,
Reaching out to me!
And as I cried out for help,
As I cried out in shame,
As I cried out in pain,
All my empty boast came back to me.

Nothing left to bargain,
If You can?
If You would?
Take me as I am!
There is no promise I can make,
That I can keep;
My words are all empty,
And even if I say it so,
I can no longer believe,
No longer believe me.

And then I saw in a new light,
Of what it meant when it said,
When I hated HIM,
He came and died for me;
That He had come to save,
Those who couldn't save themselves;
That He has chosen,
The weak and the foolish;
That I could do nothing of my own,
And all I need to do is
Go to Him and rest.

I have been a failure
And I know I will always be
But Christ in me the hope of glory
By His Grace, like Him I can be,
Like Him obedient
Like Him faithful
Like Him hate sin
Like Him love all
Like Him humble and meek
Like Him glorify the Father
Like Him in all things
That when at last I will see Him
And He will say,
"Well done good and faithful steward
Here is your reward."
It will be no false humility
When I place the crown He offers
Place it at His feet
"For if at all I have been faithful
It is Your grace in me
For In my failure You came
Both to will and do in me
Both in and through me."

And if in this there is a truth
A truth for you to learn
You are free to take it
Freely I got, freely I give.

Mat 11:28 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29 Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. Mat 11:30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Php 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.

Jud 1:24 Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish, with unspeakable joy;
Jud 1:25 to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty and might and authority, even now and forever. Amen.

Cut off for me and you

Joh 15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.
Joh 15:8 In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.

Cut off

The one thing He did
The one that surpasses all
When He died for me
From the Father, He was cut off;
A fellowship from eternity past
And one that remains for eternity ever
On that single moment
Cut off for you and me.
It was of this that He spoke
When He had prayed
"Father is there any other way!?
Yet not My will but Thine."
There when He bore my sin
There before a righteous and Holy God,
There the righteousness of God met
And the wrath of God satisfied
There on that gory spot
Where sin and death was dealt with
Even love and mercy unsurpassed met
There when He was cut off
Pierced for my sin
There my salvation flowed out
There I was grafted in.

Isa 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of Jehovah revealed?
Isa 53:2 For He comes up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; He has no form nor majesty that we should see Him, nor an appearance that we should desire Him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as it were a hiding of faces from Him, He being despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and Jehovah has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken.
Isa 53:9 And He put His grave with the wicked, and with a rich one in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased Jehovah to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should put forth His soul as a guilt-offering. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul. He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify for many; and He shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide to Him with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul to death; and He was counted among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors.

written through Isaiah at about 760 to 713 b.c

Yes He will ... yes he will ...

Metamorphosis
We played in a field full of trees
Me and my brothers, we were three
The youngest one, on our shoulders we carried
And when we sat, he was on our knee.

But little by little as days went by
He could crawl, was trying to walk
But try all he could, he would fall
And cry aloud, too young to talk.

So I made sure he would never fall
For I carried him always in my hand
And soon I saw others his age
Running and jumping across the sand.

My bigger brother came up to me
He said of things that one cannot learn
Places that one cannot reach
Unless he falls, fails or takes a wrong turn.

So now I stand in the shadow of a tree
Watching and praying, hoping today it would be
Ready to rush, console and wipe away tears
Or to say, "I knew you could walk. See!!"

1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sin a sin not to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for those that do not sin to death. There is a sin to death, I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Joh 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

A simple truth can set you free ...

A simple truth
I can make giants of windmills
Imagine clouds to be castles
Believe so blindly, imagining
That faith could make it real.
But all I do is fool myself
Believing a lie of my own making.
But I have seen bigger fools than me
Believing what is, to be not
Walking into walls
They diligently believe are not.

I have seen gods being made
Dime a dozen
All shapes and sizes
You pick and choose, you believe!!
I was once such a fool
Didn’t want to take a chance
Took them all in my arms
One of them should work
I told myself
But they were all just concepts
Neatly arranged in my head
A god of convenience
Lifeless and powerless
Just a showpiece
A cultural phrase that I utter!!!

But there is a God in Heaven
Who reveals secrets and makes known all things
He changes the times and the seasons
He removes kings and sets up kings
To the wise, it is He who gives wisdom
Those who have understanding, owe it to Him
He is not a concept that I have imagined
But it is I whom HE has brought into existence.

What then are the sorrows that this world can offer?
Where then is the anxiety of this life?
What fear does death impose on me?
What then will happen of my loved ones?
What surety can I have for my children's character?
O' I have a hundred questions
That I know the practical mind would ask
But in all practicality, all this truly fades away
When I know in assured reality
That the God in Heaven is my Father
Who has explicitly confirmed
The vastness of His love for me
When His only Son He gave for me
That with Him, all things are mine
All things, He would take care;
All I need to do is believe, that He is
O' how wonderful and simple this truth.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Come to the meeting of the saints!

Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

How easily the legitimate reason comes to us to neglect the gathering of the saints; and on the other extreme, we can get into condemnation when there are legitimate reasons for missing the gathering of saints.
How easily even a legitimate reason can be considered neglect if we have not laid it before the Lord. How often we have a compelling reality that stops us from attending a meeting, just because we did not ask the Lord to intervene.

Why then should I go ...
because the Lord said He would be there
because there is a word that He has given you my sister and brother that is for me,
the one little word that would deliver me?
because there is a word that I have been given for you my brother and sister, and if I give it not and hold back the much needed deliverance, what hope have I?
Haven't I failed HIM so many times?
Haven't I been forgiven much?
Didn't I say I would love Him and serve HIM and HIS!?
Haven't I floundered away so many of my years!?
Will I miss this opportunity too?
Come, I hear the call...
Here I am Lord,
Speak! your servant obeys.

In eternity with the Lord and the saints. Is that truly what I hope for!!!
... every trial ...... for eternity!!
Come let us rehearse ...... :-)

When God leads me ... to HIMSELF!!

When God leads me ...

Truly HE holds everything in HIS mighty hands.
I was thinking of King Baasha. An evil king whose family, God said, will be destroyed and be no more. Yet when he repented in sack and ash cloth, not that there was a complete repentance and forsaking of evil, God decided not to do these things in his life time. Imagine ... God's mercy on such a man ...
Imagine ... how vast and deep is God's mercy.
How much more will He not help us whom He has redeemed by HIS own Son?
Wont He not give us all things?
We need God's grace to see it in this light. Else it will be just another verse that we have become so familiar with.

Yes we need to truly see God as our Father. it is for this that Jesus came, it is for this that He gave His life, so that through the new birth that is in HIM, we can call God our Father and Jesus our elder brother.
But how we loose this in the clutter of our own thoughts.
Like the child who wants his father to teach him how to swim. But he is scared, "what if I get it wrong, what if I slip up? my father may allow me to drown." How absurd and ridiculous we would say ....
God the Father gave HIS only Son to save us from our sins, to make us able to live a life that will bring HIM joy. Won't He with Jesus give us all things ...
... but ... but ... what if I get it wrong or slip up? ....
Father I do not want to slip up or get it wrong. Please help me.

Psa 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your right hand has held me up, and Your gentleness has made me great.
Psa 73:23 But I am always with You; You have held me by my right hand.
Psa 94:18 When I said, My foot slips; Your mercy, O Jehovah, held me up.

Yes when He leads me
He leads me by HIS hand,
Not like cattle to be slaughtered
Or as a prey being lured, being hunted,
But as a Father leads His son;
As a Loving Father His son.
He leads me not to the edge of a cliff,
Nor does He lead me to a very deep pit,
He leads me to Himself,
En route maybe a cliff or a pit.
Yes truly He leads me,
Up ahead, I follow the very steps He tread,
To a place to die and be broken,
Yes there is a cross ahead,
But that is not where He leads me,
He leads me to Himself;
Through my own empty tomb
To the resurrection of the dead.
Yes when He leads me on,
By HIS nail pierced hand
Pierced for myself,
He leads me to Himself.

God and all HIS goodness reamins in the place of brokenness

Joh 13:35 By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another.

Yes, by love, but how do we get such a love that will separate us from all the counterfeit in the world.
is it by deciding to love?

We know the theory, but where is the reality?

This love is the Love the Holy Spirit pours into our heart. it is the love that starts with Gratitude to our Saviour and our God. It is the new thing that God needs to do in our life.
And unless we are humbled and broken and go to HIM we cannot receive anything.
But God wants to do this in our life's much much more than we want to. So we can boldly go and ask HIM.

Rom 5:5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. Rom 5:6 For we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one. Rom 5:8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.

In the Valley of the River

The day, I the forgiven sinner came
Washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb
The day the eyes were opened,
In repentant tears,
Never to be the same;
Knowing my unworthiness,
Small in my own eyes,
I wanted nothing more,
But to just faithfully abide.
"Lord you have done more
Much more than what I deserve",
Was my humble cry;
"Nothing more do I want
Nothing more do I ask
But to redeem the rest of my days
By a faithful obedient heart."
And Grace from high
Flowed down in torrents
Down to the valley of despair
Washing away the filth of defeat;
Shame and sorrow washed away
Bringing joy unspeakable;
And today the river still flows
And the watered plains abound
Life seems so natural
And the past seems a distant dream.
But I fear the water would stop,
Up above in the holy mountain
Where sandals have to be untied,
Like the dam the beaver builds
By the labour of his own hands,
By the filth from a heart full of pride.
O may I remain in the Valley
On the path of the downward stream
Never forgetting even once
If not for that crystal stream,
From my saviours pierced side,
All the green that you now see,
On which was once a desolate land,
Once again barren it would be.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, so that no one of you may be puffed up against one another. 1Co 4:7 For who makes you to differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Whom and what do we believe!?

We get forwards of moving stories. Recently I got a mail which spoke of one who gave his everything for his son and another who gave everything for his country. But it so happened that part of the first story was more of a fabrication. But before I had tested it for myself, I had unwittingly forwarded it.
But I want to share some tested true stories ...
Crazy as it sounds there are stories of ordinary men and women who loved and gave everything for their enemies, let alone friends and country. (Try getting "In the Face of Surrender" by Richard Wumbrand. It has over 200 short stories.)
Stories unheard of in the history of mankind till about 2000 years back and from then on, in every generation, there have been a few who followed HIM.
But this story alas is clothed in the garb of those who live a lie and preach a different Christ.

If only you would believe, you would go to the living Christ and get all the doubts sorted out once and for all.

Like the story I heard recently ...

God is Not a Liar

Two young bothers
Saw the setting sun
Told the older to the younger
"The sun has moved along."
"But daddy said",
Replied the younger one
"That the sun stands still
While the earth moves on."
"I will have nothing of that",
was the elder's retort,
"I believe what I see
And doubt every other thought."
"As for me", the younger said,
"I will stick with daddy's word,
Though I cannot understand,
Though I do not see,
I know I can trust my Father,
I know He will not lie to me."

So my dear friends
You may not a murderer be
Nor a wretched criminal
Marching to the gallows tree;
But this will surely be asked of you
This you will have to answer
"Every time I spoke to you
Send someone to help
Every time I tried to reason
You only hardened your heart
The sin that condemns you the most
The one that truly grieves
Is not when you deliberately erred
Or the ones within,
... hidden by your deeds
But when you called Me a liar
When you did not believe."

1Co 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 1Co 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is worthless, and your faith is also worthless. 1Co 15:15 And we are also found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified of God that He raised Christ; whom He did not raise if the dead are not raised. 1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised. 1Co 15:17 And if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. 1Co 15:18 Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. 1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1Co 15:20 But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.

If only you would believe, you would go to the living Christ and get all the doubts sorted out once and for all.

No longer I ...

2Co 12:9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.

My limbs are still the same
Crippled, weak and lame
For when HE said, HIS Grace is all I need
And planted in me that tiny little seed
Not my crippled hands made strong
But HIS strong hands all along.

whatever the situation ....
Php 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(SONG) Nicodemus

Nicodemus

He sat on the porch as the sun slid down
Stroking his greying beard.
It had been hectic the weeks gone by
The children and theirs and the temple chores
The feast was over and all was calm
Just he and his slave on the day of the Lord
And as they sat, he heard him speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things

Rabbi they called him all the men
He knew the scriptures, knew them well
Rabbi they called him, but he could tell
All his works yet in sin he fell
His days were numbered and death was near
No peace was there, but only fear
And as he thought, he heard him speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things

Way past Sabbath late that night
Head covered he went for a walk
He had to find out he had to see
Find this man and have a talk
All his good deeds no hope it gave
He knew for sure it could not save
And as he walked, he heard him speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things

There He sat and twelve with Him
He smiled at me as I walked right in
Then and there I felt peace within
Forgiven I of all my sin
I knew not what or how to say
I had no words, knew not to pray
And as we sat, He heard me speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things

Unless you are born, born again
The Kingdom of heaven you cannot see
Unless you seek you cannot find
Your love of sin has made you blind
For God so loved the world He made
That He gave His only Son to save
And as we sit, to you I speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things

With myrrh and aloes now I stand
Crucified and then HE died
What means He, Born Again
Three days later rose again
Not of flesh, or of blood
But of Spirit, but of God
And as we sit, to you I speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things
He is from God
And now He lives

I am the way, the truth and the light
He comes to the Father but thru' I
Jesus said that and not I
Call it truth or say He lied
But when you stand, stand on high
You stand before Him who for you died
So as we sit, now I speak
Rabbi tell me what you think
The lame can walk
and the blind can see
the sick are healed
and the slaves are free
Rabbi tell me what you think
Is He from God
Who does such things
Rabbi tell me what you think
He is from God
Who does such things
He is from God
And now He lives

25/12/2006

Merry Christmas!?

They rejoice
On Christmas day
To celebrate
HIS birthday
By HIS word
Who made all
Him who died
To save all
Who rose again
And now lives
All good things
Him who gives.

They rejoice
On Christmas day
To celebrate
HIS birthday
With a dead tree
And electric lightings
Gift that perish
And empty greetings
Vacation time
The family's gathering
All are here
Just Jesus' missing.

"John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Let HIM in ...

Let Him Through!

A strange and peculiar place
I chanced upon my way
Like an archaeologist
Who stumbled on an ancient truth
While hurrying to be some place else
I too, was just passing through.

A blind man who could see!
The deaf who woke at the drop of a pin!
The cripple who danced for joy!
A mad man whose advice they all sought!
Were among those whom I met;
Stories etched in my mind
Entwined in my own story
The one I was living through.

"Once upon a time",
The mad man started first,
"I ran naked within the woods
And lived within the caves";
I listened in amazement
And turned to the one who sat by me;
But he could tell me nothing
For he had not seen it happen
You see, he was still blind then
Blind through and through.

But all changed in an instance
Like spring which northward moved
The darkness receded
And light shown forth from midst the gloom
As the snow melted and winter retreated
All things became new
When the bearer of glad tidings
On the way to Jerusalem
Had marched right through.

He went straight to Jerusalem
Straight to the cross to die
Death defeated, seated on high
He invites all, even you and I
O' hear Him all, hear Him now
Hear Him as He whispers loud
"Come all ye who are weak and heavy laden
Come to Me and find rest
Come while yet there is time
Follow Me, as I am passing through."

He turned the tables upside down
Set the captive free
The blind could see
The lame could walk
And this your story it could be
If you did, what was did by me
When all my sins were washed away
And the old was gone and all made new
When the strong willed doors of life
Open and let Him through.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.

Lord I need help ...

Mark of Love

Comes the morning
Clouded and dark,
In these Northern skies
It bears the winters mark.
But the sun still shines on
Ever bright, ever strong
As we stagger between
Our rights and wrong;
Clutching on to thoughts of comfort
We try to ease the pain,
For a moment we thing we got it
For a moment it seems so plain.
We have got all the colours right
But that is just one side,
Time turns the Rubik's cube
To show the mess we tried to hide.
There is only one way
And we know it in our heart,
If ever we need a healing
From 'me' it has to start.
"I and I alone",
When the broken heart will cry,
The heavens will be opened
Showering joy and peace from high.
Comes the morning
Clouded and dark,
But love rules this heart
It has seen the nails mark.

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard, He said to them, They who are strong have no need of a physician, but the ones who have illness. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luk 18:9 And He spoke this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed within himself in this way: God, I thank You that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice on the Sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And standing afar off, the tax-collector would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but struck on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner!
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

With HIM on the throne ....

Heb 12:1 Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God. Heb 12:3 For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds.

Endure

As the storm raged
Frightened I sank
I cried for help
And His hand on mine
He pulled me up
And we walked hand in hand
As the storm raged
My hand gripped His
A little more tighter than before
And as we walked
I got accustomed to the storm
For I knew
As long as I held His hand
Though fearsome it might seem
I could walk midst the storm
And it would not touch me
But though I knew
I still winced when I saw
The raging sea
And the powerful winds
And then He said
In simple words
"Do not fear
Just look at Me".

And now I hear
That the storm still rages on
Frightens men and sinks their ships
Blinds their eyes and deafens their ears
But my hand in His
And my eyes on HIM
I can only hear
His gentle words
"Do not fear
I am near
Endure".

The friends God has given us

... pondering ..,
surely it has crossed your mind
just as it had mine
that a day comes
a day of wrath and judgement
not for us who
by blood redeemed
purchased by love
saved by faith
a day of great joy
and terrible sorrow
when the ones we called friends
damned eternally
surely it has crossed your mind
just as it had mine
what should I be doing?
what should I be saying?
(how should I be living?)
what it means to love?
the ones I call my friends
surely it has crossed your mind
just as it had mine
that the Master spoke of us
when He said
No greater love than this
than a man lay down his life
his life for his friends
surely it has crossed your mind
just as it had mine.

Joh 15:13 No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
In HIS footsteps let us follow. He took ridicule, shame, suffering, ..... even to the death on the cross for me, the one who did the same to Him.
O Lord give us grace.

Rom 5:8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
2Co 5:15 and He died for all, that the living ones may live no more to themselves, but to Him who died for them and having been raised.

HE has made it possible. AMEN.

On things that ensnare us ...

Throw him out!?

I threw him out, this stranger
Threw him out when I knew
The harm he does and the vice he holds.
Words that seem so harmless
From a spirit that doesn't know God
His tact and cunning ways
Stay on he says
I will not say the things
That you do not like
But he lies
But the fool I am, I fall
For his weak apologies
He shows me things of awe and wonder
Doesn't show me God who made it all
He shows me the courage of man
But not God, His love and mercy
He builds around me a world
A world that deceives
Shows me little truths magnified
And bigger lies hidden behind
But now my eyes are open
I have seen his evil guile
I have thrown him out
Thrown him out of my house
But he lingers on in my neighbourhood
And often I meet him as I stroll
Often he comes up to talk
Often I stay on and chat
Time flies and the emptiness returns
Still trapped
I need help O Lord
Only you can dear Jesus
Help me throw him out
Throw him out of my heart.

Yes what we need is the wrenching from within our heart. All our efforts are so temporal and superficial and external. We need the wrenching that only God can do within us. Also the balance that only the Holy Spirit can help us walk in.
And the discernement which helps us not to impose things on others which are probably areas of obedience very specific to us.
It is not the empty pockets that save me from the love of money, but that heart fully surrendered to God. A heart emptied of all but Christ.

This is our message ...
Jesus only, Jesus always ...

(in reply to: The Stranger has been living in your house and mine for some time now folks. All you do is listen to him for he wont give you a chance to talk. He shows you almost anything and he says almost anything too. Know his name? T.V.)

The Day Unforgettable

On the cross roads of eternity - a day I should never forget

That blessed day
Which the past raced to meet
And the future turned back to see
Where time crossed paths
On a little hill outside
On a cross crucified
Where blood flowed across time
Where a wave of forgiveness
Swept me off my feet
I knelt and wept
For the mess I was
I knelt and wept
For all my sins
There I knelt
And even now
No longer I
But Christ in me.

2Pe 1:9 For he in whom these things are not present is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from his sins in the past.

Col 1:27 For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
Col 1:28 whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

(SONG) Outside Must I Go

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
The Master of Heaven
And earth and skies
O see Him die

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
Like a common thief
With all their lies
The sins of you and I

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
No walls surrounding
And open skies
Room for all who cry

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
High up to see
For all the eyes
Lift Him up high

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
Outside must we go
Outside go I
Outside to die

Outside the city
On a mount they nailed Him
O see Him die
For the sins of you and I
Room for all who cry
Lift Him up high
Outside go I
Outside to die

Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the Holy of Holies by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, so that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Heb 13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

(SONG) One thing

Two eyes to see Your Glory
Two ears to hear You Speak
Two hands to do Your Bidding
Two legs to follow You
But one thing my only worry
One thing is all I say
Just one life to live for you
Just One tongue to sing your praise
So I pray that you give me grace
So I pray as I run this race
To shout with all of my heart
Of Your wonderful mercies
To live each of my moments
For the Glory of Jesus
More than all the tongues
More than all the lives
More than I can ever be
More, as You would want me to be. - 3

Psa 27:4 One thing I have desired from Jehovah, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to pray in His temple.

(SONG) The written and unwritten books

The Father, Our Father
The lines read
In this book
In the Bible I held.
He shines the sun
On the good and the bad
I read these words
What the Master had said

And my eyes with tears it filled
To hide, my head upward it tilled
And across the skies
All over the lands
And deep in the seas i saw
It was written
It was written
By an unseen hand
Of the glory of God
Revealed in His son
Of the glory of God
The Kingdom to come
Of the glory of God
On the Cross what was done - 3

Rom 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.

With whom shall I stand, when divided they stand ...

Who am I, O Lord Jehovah?
And what is my house,
that You have brought me here?
- David Ben Jesse
O' who am I?

O' that I would see
As the Lord would see
The beam in mine
And not the speck.
Like the prophets of old
Who bared their neck
As they saw HIS glory;
No pros and con,
No explanations
Just HIM alone.
O' who am I?

Who is Paul and who is Apollos
Aren't they just saints like all
Or Moses,
Was there a man like him HE writes.
"Who is on Jehovah's side",
He had asked,
Who cared not for his own,
As the inheritance was auctioned;
No one saw, no one heard
God was all in all
For God had done it all.
O' who am I?

I have heard HIS voice
I have counted the cost
And though the clouds may blind
Yet believe I will
Neither bless nor curse
Humbled by what I am
As a deer that pants for water
I lay it all at the altar
My reasoning and my emotions
What I am and what I have
And what I want
Count it all but loss, just dung.
O' who am I?

For I am Korah's son.

--O to remain in my boundary. For who am I to judge the Lords anointed. Give me Grace O Lord to remain faithful to the light that you are giving me, to never forget the purging of my sin. To remain in that place of brokenness where YOU might be found. In that place there is safety, in the shadow of the almighty.--

Can it be!? (Future)

How can he look back in despair
When hope is all he sees ahead?
How can the dread full past
Bloom to this beautiful future
How can a rose come forth
From a cow dung heap
How can it be
When today this sinner weep
Tomorrow a saint he be
How can it be
When on the cross He died
Died He for you and me
How can it be,
Such things, impossible
With man it be
But for God
Nothing, said He.

Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you that a rich man will with great difficulty enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When His disciples heard, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked on them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Remember THIS day !? (Present)

Yes a day is soon coming
Be reminded it says
A day of remembrance
A day the trumpet sounds
A day when all tears are wiped
A day of never ending cries
A day of joy everlasting
A day of gnashing teeth
A day like never before
And never will be;
How so, you might say
Pray how so;
Remember I would say
Remember the price that was paid
By the life that was laid;
Remember the scoffing
Intellectual sceptism
Of truth rejected
And secular isms
Remember how you laughed
And moved on
When a face you cannot find
In the clutter that is your mind
"In sincerity seek"
That voice seemed to speak
"Remember today
Remember to pray"

Isa 55:6 Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Remember that day ...(Past)

How good it is to remember
Even when you are not;
The fleeting instances of life
So easily forgotten;
That when a face you cannot place
Mentions a scene you cannot trace;
A question seems to pop up
A truth seems to arise
That the ones that you cherished
And the things that you sought
Often bear a witness
Of what you actually are worth.
Alas now it seems so late
This life seems to be in vain
As the missing memories,
I begin to count in pain
And I remember
The days I could have lived
The man I could have been
If I had but remembered
To value the friends that I had made.

It is not late...it only seems .... :-)
Heb 4:7 He again marks out a certain day, saying in David, "Today," (after so long a time). Even as it is said, "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."

Amo 9:13 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that the plowman and the reaper shall draw near, the treader of grapes, and he who draws along the seed. And the mountains will drip must, and all the hills will be dissolved.
Amo 9:14 And I will turn back the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the cities which are desolate, and they shall live in them. And they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall also make gardens and eat their fruit.
Amo 9:15 And I will plant them on their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, says Jehovah your God.

Have your eyes fixed on eternity..

These days on earth
Will fleeting go
These days like smoke
That the wind does blow
Before soon
We will stand
Before God and HIS
Nail pierced hand
On that day
On that glorious day
Let me rejoice
On how I lived today.

Luk 12:41 And Peter said to Him, Lord, do You speak this parable to us or also to all?
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall set over his houseservants, to give them their portion of food in season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant when his lord comes and finds him so doing.
Luk 12:44 Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.
Luk 12:45 But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the male servants and women servants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk,
Luk 12:46 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant who knew his lord's will and did not prepare, nor did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he not knowing, and doing things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him much shall be required. And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

What is in a name?

Hey Joe ... let me tell you something... yes you ...
Who me!? I am not Joe!
Whatever.....!!! hey stop ....
Sorry Sam, Joe (you) ain't listening ...

So if you want me to take notice
To respond or speak back
Let me tell you a little secret
A simple simple fact
It may all seem quite same
After all what is in a name
"I'll call him what I will
Doesnt matter to me"
Go ahead and imagine
Imagine it is me
You know its not the same
Unless you call me by my name.

Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.