Thursday, September 25, 2008

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.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

(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.