Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A Little Child Shall Lead Us



You, little child, with your shining eyes and dimpled cheeks.
You can lead us along the pathway to what everyone seeks.
We blundering grownups need in our lives the virtues that
You have in yours, joy, enthusiasm and love affectionate.
Curiosity that finds adventure in simple things; the mystery
Of billowy clouds, snowflakes, and stars, amazing history.
Tolerance that forgets differences as quickly as your young
Quarrels are spent, Waking the next day with thoughts flung.
Children love unconditionally, not like adults so often do
With strings attached, depending on performances new.

See, how we can learn from children, so trusting, so sweet.
Not scared or threatened by each of our friends they meet.
They listen to stores of Jesus and learn to love Him unknown,
Until they come to an age where they can make Him their own.
It is often us that disillusions them to accept their Saviour.
For we tell them of a tooth fairy who gives them a favour.
Tells a further lie of a Santa that is going to actually fly by
And pile up gifts under the tree, but we make sure they try
To be very good so that they will get their wishes granted.
And they never thought of dying, life was so enchanted.

Then they become an adult and they remember the lies we told.
And wonder about the Christ child, thinking it a story bold.,
A promise of a Saviour that will forgive all their childish sin,
Open their heart’s door and pray to ask Him to live within.
Believing at last they can have someone real to hold onto.
When things are hard, and life seems difficult to live through.
When stories at church seem vague, and hard to understand.
That is when the older youth needs a gentle, guiding hand.
When explanations need to be truthful, ones they can know
Not a figment of the imagination a living sacrifice to show
Them the way to Eternity Life, not another imaginary glow.


  • 1 Corinthians 13:11 ~ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 ~ Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them.
  • Proverbs 18:9 ~ My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother. For they will be graceful ornaments on your head and chains about your neck.
  • Psalm 119:9 ~ “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.
  • John 3:3 ~ Jesus answered and said to him. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
  • Romans 10:17 ~ “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Humility


All Christians should clothe themselves with humility towards one another.
God pulls back from proud, arrogant people; but it is beyond our ability
To endeavour to be humble without having the Holy Spirit within us.
He shows grace and favour to the humble; we should not make a fuss 
About others that brag or boast knowing that now it is no longer just us 
That dominates our thought life, but the Spirit that guides us in all things.
We need to grasp the fact that we are no longer our own, the Spirit brings 
A new attitude into our life, and a recognition that we no longer alone.
This human body; we presented to Christ; we are no longer on the throne.

Often full of self importance and pride, and Christ slowly chips away 
The old man with its jealousy and pride, we just need to readily pray 
When we feel our prayers are hitting a ceiling, though Christ is there.
Bending on our knees has more significance than we will every know.
For it is humbling to admit mistakes, to be willing to admit and go 
To God in prayer, and lay down our thoughts of entitlement, for we see 
What a mess we make of our lives when we do not readily agree 
With the Word of God which teaches us that the first shall be last.
If we want to be first in the kingdom of heaven we need to be steadfast 
Always abounding in the love of God, always putting others first.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and proud people are accursed.

  • 1 Peter 5:5 ~ Young men in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the prod but gives grace to the humble.
  • Ephesians 4:2 ~ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
  • I Corinthians 12 ~ So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
  • Proverbs 8:13 ~ To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.
  • I Timothy 6:17 ~ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
  • Luke 14:11 ~ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. {This is Jesus Christ talking} 
  • Matthew 11: 29 ~ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {This again is Jesus talking} 
  • Proverbs 16:18 ~ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.