Distraction

It is as if a living entity transgresses my unseen mind.
Filling my head with thoughts that I never expected to find.
I am deep in prayer, thoughts of God refreshing my soul.
Then in an instant all is changed and he tears my life apart.

It is then a fleeting shadow, Satan captures me once again.
With needless trivia he causes me so much shame and pain.
For he has stolen my thought life, destroyed my desire to pray.
And he has replaced it with endless lists or needless fears
More abhorrent is the fact that he’s been doing this for years!

He doesn’t restrict his thought-theft to my devotions at home,
He even attacks me when I am listening to music all alone.
I’ve even found him in my church pew sitting right next to me.
His critical spirit changes my focus until through his eyes I see.

I’ve caught him before Communion; learned to prepare ahead.
If I didn’t fight to contest him, the message goes over my head.
He is wily and so wicked and he knows the weakest part of me.
I feel such a deluded failure when his scheming I do not see.

Depart from me I often shout, for I know your name so well!
Oh if only I could send you to the deepest depths of hell!
These thoughts have no part to play in God’s own worship time.
I want no portion of you here and I stand and draw the line.

But alas my peace he has broken and filled my heart with fear!
For if I commence talking to Satan he has stolen my very ear!
Through a ‘chink’ in my mind he then controls my worship hour
Causing me to cry out to God, “Send down Your Holy Power!”

To annihilate this devil who knows where my weaknesses lie
To allow this spawn of darkness to invade my worship time.
With thoughts so wicked I scarcely can believe they are mine!
I determine to become more aware, I will not cower and cry.

I have the power of the Spirit given to me with full control.
I have been given plenteous verses of scripture available to extol.
God’s word says he searches to and fro to find whom he may devour,
But my God is always listening and I must draw upon His power.

Being more assertive I will strike even before I commence to pray.
Using stronger language claiming Jesus blood, demand he goes away.
And one day I am going to meet the devil on equal battle ground.
I will then have all of my armor on, and scripture will be found.
He’ll whisper a word, a sly suggestion, in that way he tends to do.
And I will be prepared for him, Lord the battle will be won by YOU!

SONlight of My Day

Barely has another new day begun
When you come to me as the morning sun.
Breaking the light after a night of pain.
Showing me your love and care once again.

Sometimes the sun shines ever so bright,
But inside there are clouds as dark as night.
I thank you Lord that you are my all in all.
You sooth my pain when there is a squall.

No matter how difficult the road I travel gets
You hold my hand until once again the sun sets.
Always by my side, always you are my guide.
You experienced pain and rose again, death defied.

How can even I murmur at my own happenstance!
It was you that died and offered me a second chance.
My Praise of you obliterates the focus on myself.
I’m certain it is prayer that is changing my health.

You wipe my tears and make the pain go away.
You let hope shine bright when troubles are at bay.
You inspired life in me when no-one else could.
You’re my rock, my stronghold where I have stood

You told me to be aware and keep my armour on.
The victory of battle was one that you have won.
I will stand at your gates when they open wide.
I will thank you Lord for always being on my side.

The Road

This road I travel seems far too long
And the weight that I carry far too heavy.
The burden of pain was not intended for me.
I reach out to You the origin of my life.
And I beg you, Lord, please to not tarry.
I lift up my hands in reverence to you.
You can take up my burden and carry me too.
One’s focus can be distorted measured by pain.
My eyes tend to waver away from you again.
I know this is temporal and surely won’t last.
Healing will come and I’ll soon forget the past.
The future is what I should now be looking to.
Heaven and the joy of being forever with you.
Whenever the pain distorts all of my thinking,
The fountain head is where I should be drinking
More of you Lord, I want still more of your way.
Seems such a small price that I have to pay.
A glimpse of heaven through the mist of my pain,
Renews my spirit and I can see you once again.
Clasp me Lord, send your army from above.
Branding this body, sealing it with your love.
I will never recant my confession of faith.
Satan’s darts bounce off me, you keep me safe
I am forever yours no matter what happens to me.
I long for that day when finally I am set free.

The Closet

Father, why the closet, why the closing of the door?
I have questioned this and pondered why before.
Quietness, darkness or private communing with you?
What were you saying when advising me what to do?

Was it to help me remove the shackles that bind my mind,
So that in a cloister I could be quiet and more easily find?

In dark seclusion time set aside in reflection of you.
I walked into a small dark room intent on finding out
What your word meant, what the closet is all about.
Sitting there in utter darkness with nothing else to do.

Your Spirit in there with me revealing my sins to me,
And I unburdened my heart and feel release so free.
Something happened in that closet in closing that door.
Time just stood still and my fretting was no more.

Sitting was something I should have done long ago.
The act of subservience that you taught me, I know.
Tears of repentance for all that you have done for me;
For you are the great deliverer that set this sinner free.

Just waiting in your presence with a longing deep inside.
Was a beautiful experience that I never want to hide.
This is our quiet time, for you always hear my cry.
Raising my hands in worship I breath a cleansing sigh.

I now walk out that door feeling refreshed and clean,
Knowing that by others my pilgrimage was unseen.

Seven Days of Prayer

Seven days of prayer renew my mind and change my perception
The more time I spend with you the more you show me direction.
“Living on the daily bread and drinking at the fountain head”
They are not just words of a song that are so easily said.

They are words of praise acknowledging the very essence of you.
I know, because I choose to spend my time praying through.
Bubbling up within my heart is eagerness and not defeat.
It is a burning inside me, I simply must sit at your feet.

Prayer is such joyous conversation to share daily with you.
Words of praise I give to a God whose word is ever true.
No quick platitudes or verses said as I fly out the door
Not satisfied with my wants, digging deeper I want more.

If only I had realized the importance of prayer in my life.
It would have saved so much struggle and vanquished strife.
I want to love you freely and to see you in the light of salvation,
Stripped of vanity and pride, and from you no condemnation.

I know that if I had simply surrendered all my burdens to you
You would not only take up my burdens you’d carry me too.
How complex I am that I come to lay troubles at your feet
But only when I reach the point that I realize my defeat.

Yes, the seven days of prayer mean a heavenly point of view.
If I am in your chosen place here I am ever talking to you.

A Poem

CONSIDER SPRING LEAVES
Small, bright and lush with newness of life unfurling.
Oil in our hands, see as we examine its rapid growth!
The promise of Spring as that bud starts to burst forth.
How like us when first we surrender our life to Christ.
Consider the joy of our salvation, that first new leaf!

STUDY THE SUMMER LEAVES
The hot Summer leaf wilts under the heat of the sun.
They thirst, for the new tree roots fail to cast deep.
Their vital oil gone, causing them to curl and to dry.
How like us when we fail to drink from God’s word.
Consider how that joy curls in the maelstrom of life.

SADLY SEE THE FALL LEAVES
See how quickly that leaf reaches its Autumn of life.
They let go and fly away at the first gust of Fall wind.
Crumbling to dust at Winter’s swift chill weather.
It is in the Winter of life that you begin to realize
Consider that the leaf dies but we live on forever.

TAKE A LEAF FROM MY BOOK
Such a big reminder of my life is that small tree leaf.
For all too soon I have reached the Autumn of my life.
Learning too late objects were not worth all the strife.
My life should never have been attached to this world.
Consider it is easier to walk by faith and not by sight.

Satan's Instructions

I dreamt I heard a conversation,
Of Satan instructing his congregation.
He was sending them out as his anointed few,
And I repeat the dream now here to you.

“Christmas is here, and I’m depending on you
So stand tall, and take note, all my motley young crew.
I need your help at this season, so you must not rest.
So I am instructing you to each do your best.

The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye.
A vision, a want, and a dream and a sigh.
Cause them to grow and to fill every mind.
With pride and envy, and pleasures of all kind.

And go to the saints - The more saintlier few,
Tempt them with feasts, and tempt them with brew,
All party and visit and forget even why.
Fill each man with dissension and create a new lie.

To live life to the fullest, there’s no future just present.
Use each moment for self and for everything that’s pleasant.
Don’t forget I am powerful, don’t forget I am strong.
I know the character of man, and I’m, seldom far wrong!

If you find a man lax and weary in well doing,
It’s a signal to you to draw close and start brewing.
Talk about Santa, and talk about toys.
Use your finest of wits, and your sneakiest of ploys.

Now talk about famine and talk about war.
Make them think they are sitting by death’s very door.
Cause them to covet and lust, and fill them with greed.
Fill them with ‘wants’ that they think they all need.

Bring on depression, bring on the fear.
Bring on the worry, and bring on the tear.
Don’t talk about meekness, don’t talk about sin.
Don’t consider the world, and the state that they’re in.

And whatever you do, don’t mention the child!
Don’t talk of a garden that I once defiled.
Not a word of the Savior, not a word of His plan.
To redeem a lost world and to save fallen man.

So go quickly now, for the season is here.
The time for festivities and for good cheer”.
And I heard him exclaim ‘ere he walked out of sight,
“Merry Xmas to all, and now go show them your might!