Sovereign

A cross for a banner and thorns for a crown

Nails as His scepters and blood upon His brow

His body beaten and bloodied, clothes rent and torn

Through the streets, on His shoulders our burdens borne

All the while they mocked and jeered Him

He could do naught but love and pity them

With His final breath, He forgave their sin

As His Spirit withdrew into Heaven

Followers embalmed and buried Him in a tomb

Satan thought he won, but it meant his doom

For three days later, the stone rolled away

And out stepped the Life, the Truth, the Way

He looked a servant when He came, but left Sovereign

To give up all we have for Him is a small loss for eternal gain

For all we could ever gain here, nothing can go with us

Will we choose to serve our own desires, or to serve Jesus?

Choosing the one leaves us empty and our spirit condemned

Choosing Christ will find us filled, and our spirits redeemed

Broken

Blessed are the brokenhearted who seek God,

His compassion washes over their sorrow

Healing their grieving hearts and soothing their souls

Whoever feels shame rather than sorrow is at risk

They only prepare themselves once more for the fall

For shame draws upon itself, but grief draws us to God

Indeed, both pride and sorrow can break the heart, but

Only grief can break the whole, pride does not know how

One part concerned only with itself, cannot break the whole

Shame only seeks to restore one’s own supposed glory

Sorrow longs for the healing only God can bestow

Shame and sorrow's subtle differences are soon manifest

Only a short time passes before the proud fall again,

While true grief heals but slowly; it cannot run, only walk

To walk offers contemplation; to run leaves no time to reflect

God will restore those who walk with Him in their mourning

They give Him their time and request restoration from Him

That they may press onward with greater faith, hope, and vigor

He never abandons His children, even the wayward

God hears the wayward, who cry out with an open heart,

Broken and grieved by the agony God suffered for their sins

The rest are too busy in the race onto their next great feat

They will achieve what they may, only to see it waste away

They demand God let them alone, to let them do as they wish

Many do not realize their grave mistake until too late,

Because God does indeed grant their requests

He leaves them alone, and their own passions destroy them

Whilst the ignorant race toward restlessness and ruin

The mourners find sustenance and rest for their soul in His arms

Those too weak to continue on their own He will carry

He knows their pain, and more, having drank the bitter cup

He transformed the bitter cup into a wellspring of life

That all who drink from His cup may walk from death into life

His immeasurable love fills, heals, and restores all it touches

Whoever seeks Him will find Him, and will find love, for He is love 

Petition

We make our petition as time passes by
As time goes on, we ask God why
Why does He not grant our request
He smiles down and says, “I know best”


When we go to pray
It may not immediately come our way
The fact we do not acquire
Does not mean He denies our desire


Sometimes we do not receive
Even though we fervently believe
We cannot know His will
Yet we know he means us no ill


Instead, when we go to pray
Simply ask Him to help us obey
If we seek to fulfill His purpose
Surely, His grace will astound us


He requires faith and obedience
Not strength and confidence
Confidence He will give
As well as strength to live


Hardships come our way
But against Him they cannot stay
Still we must do our part
Trusting He will guide our heart


How mighty is our Lord
Whose Word is our Sword
How great a love
From one who came as a dove


He offers peace to those who grieve
Whomever asks will receive
Grace that overflows
To wash away our woes


Be patient when you pray
He will never lead you astray
He will tell you where and when
Once the time arrives. Amen

Stands Alone

In the dark, it calls softly, yet silent

In the light, it makes itself known

A whisper in the heart, an uncanny intuition

It knows secrets untold, holds words no one has heard

It speaks with authority, strong in stature

Just, yet compassionate and supportive

Sometimes it terrifies; many try to suppress it

They discount it because they fear and do not know

Many accept or even embrace it, the freedom it offers

They fear because they simply know and respect its power

Yet no one fully comprehends its power
No one can withstand its power

It needs no support, yet it constantly supports others

Still, the truth remains; it stands alone

Stronger than all, at the last it stands alone

Truth stands alone…

Life is a Fight

We get comfortable and loose our edge

The blows come but none the worse for wear

We go on without a care as the blows are but light

Suddenly those blows drive the wind from us

Everything blurs, where do we stand, will we fall?

Do we have any fight left after comfort stole it away?

When the real fights come to us do we stand, can we withstand?

For all the talk about progress the world remains cruel

We can no more ensure a guarantee than hold a ghost

Guarantees and promises are not the same

Promise is a commitment, guarantee a prediction

One can die while still fulfilling a promise, guarantees go in the trash

When the fight comes our way, do we fight back?

Do we have the grit and the wisdom to see clearly and act?

When life’s fights come our way the choice remains, to fold, or to fight

If we fold then no hope remains; if we fight, hope remains

The weak and hopeless flee or fold, the brave and hopeful fight on

But without love, defeat stares us down, and hope flees our presence

Comfort assures us of others’ affections but love proves itself in silence

Be wary when comfort steps forward, it lays the deadliest trap of all

It makes guarantees of security, prosperity, pleasure and happiness

When the veil ripped the day Christ died, so did this veil of falsehoods

God did not give hope to man through His son that it may be lost

He gave His son that hope would spring eternal

He gave us victory, and the strength and courage to fight

At the end, love conquers all

The Light is the Way

The true, eternal light dwelt among men, but they did not know

Blinded when, amidst the darkness sprang this bright glow

In such a state none could see His true identity

But to all who listened and believed, they will live for eternity

For He came to give men true life

A solitary hope in a world torn by strife

For God so loved the world He sent His only Son

Wherever else men turn for hope they find none

Christ declared Himself as the only way

He calls to all who have gone astray

Those who refuse Him face damnation

But those who come in faith receive salvation

For they followed Him with all their heart

All who believed were set apart

Charged to spread news about God’s grace

To shine His light amongst every race

So all Christ’s disciples, past and present

Must engage in the spiritual war without relent

In holy armor, wielding God’s Word as their sword

Against Satan’s deadly, demonic horde

What We Hold Dear

What we hold dear, we must learn how to let go.
We must willingly part as though we hated
Hatred does not sense loss, yet we are not called to hate
Only to live in such a way that enables us to press onward for God's kingdom
We cannot give God our all if we cannot set aside all we possess
If what we consider ours is dearer than He we have committed idolatry
God calls us to love others as ourselves, but do not place them above Him
We must let go of all we claim as ours in order to fully receive His love
If we cannot then we forever place idols on God’s throne, which is our heart
God gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, should we not give up all for Him?
If we desire to show our love for Him and submit to His will
We must be able to give up all we cherish on earth to Him
His love overflows our capacity, in that way it spreads to others
That they may see it and inquire, then come to know Him who is love
As with everything else, let go the love you received from above
For it never diminishes, nor is it truly ours to withhold
Like all else, it belongs to Him, do not withhold from God what is His
Love does not grow stagnant like a pool, it continuously flows onward
Mountains become mighty falls, boulders create foaming rapids
Mountain and boulder, both mighty yet vulnerable to erosion by water
Same as hardened or thirsty hearts…love softens and quenches
The brokenhearted may find new life in love’s flowing waters
True love casts out fear and instills the heart with trust

When love washes over and around us we are washed anew

Faith and hope go hand in hand with love

Love, the mighty river; faith the buoy that guides us through any storm

Hope, the vessel which keeps us afloat and able to follow God's course

Do not let selfish desires restrain the love God provides

Unleashed, water and love exhibit insurmountable power
Restrained, stagnation and infestation turn them bitter
Therefore let love flow freely throughout your life and be amazed
Whenever we offer God our all, He will use it
He does not always require us to forsake possessions
What counts is that we acknowledge from whence they came
Also, if we show the willingness to give up what we have for Him
If possessions, we sense no loss should they perish
If we refuse to let loved ones go we risk bitter torment for years to come
Entrust to the Lord all you have, and He will bless you beyond imagination
Do not think in temporal terms, for His true blessings are eternal
While He may indeed bless you here on Earth, true riches await beyond
Be that as it may…may God Bless you

Innocence Lost, Freedom Restored

Long ago before I knew, you singled me out, but not just me…
You ensnared my mind without my knowledge…
By the time I knew, the shackles were fastened hard…
Once I knew, I fought back, but in vain…
For years you tormented me, I writhed in pain…
No one knew but me…and I blamed myself…
I hardly remember innocence, such a treasure to cherish…
Ripped apart, my mind has only laboriously recovered…
Still at odds, but the odds are in my favor…
For I now realize your weapon…insecurity…
You trapped me and many others at a young age…
We were not men; we refused the name “boys”…
Without a true identity we felt empowered…for a time…
Afterward, all the more insecure we sank lower…
We could not tell our friends, our families…
What would they say; we let pride get in the way…
For years I bore the burden, I and my brothers…
We cried out to God but barely knew Him when you found us…
We felt our cries were in vain, and doubt destroyed faith…
You drove us mad on the inside…
We could not stop, and we could not bear it…
But neither could we talk about it…
We single you out as our foe, but I know you…
Alone you are nothing…
Your ally is Pride, the age old nemesis…
Until I let pride go, you won every time…
When I let it go, you lost…
Doubt, your other ally, often retrieved the situation for you…
No more, for my God has heard my cries, He knows my heart…
I know the danger in solitude without the Lord…
I know the loneliness that strikes at moments notice…
You struck me as a boy, along with pride, loneliness, and insecurity…
But my God has obliterated your weapons, you are defeated…
My cry now is for others to hear, that they may know there is hope…
Hope, so fair, yet often shattered…not this time…
Faith, small as a mustard seed may move a mountain…
I found my faith, my mustard seed, and you are no mountain…
Victory is the Lord’s; you will not carry the field…
In silence you lurk, and in silence you will gnaw yourself to death…
You have chewed my brothers and I long enough…
Vengeance is not mine; it is the Lord’s…
I asked God to speak to me, to touch my heart and mind…
He has done so, He has freed my heart and mind...
While I cannot change the past…
I know that you will not rule my future…
Lust, go to Hell…


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A personal testimony I hope speaks to many in addition to the ones who've read it already..
by -Bobby E

A Paradoxical Faith

A paradox; the spirit gives life to the body while the body manifests the spirit…

One physical the other spiritual, yet try as we might they are inseparable…

This paradox confounds the philosopher and flusters the scientist…

What should sound unreasonable makes perfect sense…

No matter what means are used, none can disprove it…

On the contrary, this paradox withstands all intellectual and scientific probes…

Without the body the spirit is not visible, but without the spirit the body dies…

How is this? A person whose spirit is crushed may take their life…

But a determined individual reveals the strong spirit that lies within…

Do not try to split hairs and live one way then another…

Better to act an utter fool than to appear wise only to be proven a fool…

Piety for its own sake gains nothing but self-inflicted shame…

Humility is to put your interests second, not put yourself down…

If humility you desire then inspire others through confidence in yourself and them…

No one ever inspired another if the one considers himself worthless…

Do not get mixed up in rank or prestige…

How curious that the content tend to prosper…

Yet the over-ambitious often fall to disappointment and insatiable desire…

Trust the Lord to provide the abilities necessary for every task at hand…

Take spiritual sustenance from all you do as Jesus did…

For He said to His disciples: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me…”

Why not follow Christ’s example and petition the Lord to sustain us in our labors?

Such fulfillment I wager few have ever experienced…

For myself I know I have not reached that point…

Bear in mind, as sustain means to “keep going,” we are to continuously walk with God…

God promises to sustain us both spiritually and physically when we walk with Him…

The spiritual prompts the physical to act through their mutual relationship…

Remember to give thanks for opportunities and abilities He has given us…

Do not hold back in your labors for the more we excel the greater His glory…

Never will He place before us an unnecessary task…

Regardless the task let us roll up our sleeves and get to work…

Any assignment undertaken with earnest passes quickly…

Even the most mundane project will not last long if set to with a will…

Christ told his followers, “the saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true”…

“I sent you to reap what you have not worked for”…

“Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor”…

Consider this: no matter your occupation you benefit from others’ work…

All the technology we use for work, someone else labored to design …

In research we read others’ works; in ministry we read what others preserved…

The hardest paradox lies in this…

We teach, encourage, and instruct all who come under the church roof…

Yet somehow all who come under that roof never really leave…

They remain in the building, asleep between Sundays and Wednesdays…

We must awake from our slumber!

Better to fall asleep in church than ignore the lost outside its walls!

The lost refuse to enter churches by what they see outside, not inside…

It is upon us to turn the Church inside out…

To first set an example, then to teach others, as Christ did for us…


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inspired by the passage: John 4:31-34

Crusaders

The first responsibility for a soldier is to obey orders and second to survive.

In the battle for victory a soldier may fail the second but never the first.

Fight for today because tomorrow may never come, we cannot waste a single day.

Hearken and take up the cry, the call to arms.

War is upon us, we must prepare at once or we will falter.

At every opportunity train new warriors to join in battle for the unready fall swiftly.

Holy warriors, do not use intellect without zeal.

Neither fight with mindless passion, for on its own passion soon grows weary.

Together they are powerful but divided they are vulnerable.

Do not allow Satan to deceive you or dim the light within you.

He knows he cannot overcome the light itself for that comes from above.

He must deceive you to dim the light and force your withdrawal.

Always remember the light within for God has given this to you as holy weapons.

A shield at your side or sword in its scabbard will not move lest brought to bear.

Thence, cry to Jesus for swords to attack and shields to defend and He will hear.

Rest in the Lord, both in and after battle, for our foe never tires.

Do not linger long on victory for any pause gives the enemy reprieve.

Be wary when times are good because the devil prepares a deadly trap.

Never forget that you were bought at high cost and given great purpose.

 Crusaders, the fulfillment is in the pilgrimage, will you not live for Christ?

Do not reach journey’s end only to discover what could have been…

To live is Christ, and to die is gain…but what about just before death?

Will you look back in regret on wasted time and opportunities?

Or will you be able to see the Lord’s work in your life, its purpose fulfilled?

He has commanded us to be strong and of good courage, to engage the enemy!

Hasten, do not delay! Take heart, God is on your side, who can resist His will?

Let our actions demonstrate our faith, that others may see Christ in us.

Prepare for battle at every opportunity, for it has not ended; do not delay!

Strap on your holy armor and mighty sword of the Spirit! 

Brothers and sisters, we must join the fray!!