The Me That You See

Old Man Thinking

Father, You look inside my heart, and what do You see?

A crippled version of what everyone else sees in me?

There are two sides to all of us, the one we want to be,

The one displayed to everyone, but You know the real me,

Insecurities, fretting, and envy, the one I want to hide.

I confess them to You, but I desire Your Spirit to reside

In my heart and deliver me from all these imperfections.

Satan haunts the Christ-like me, with carnal predilections.

Seeing Things God's Way

What amazes me, is that you see me as perfect in Christ,

Free from sin, for Jesus shed his blood and paid the price.

I so desire to be Your disciple, to follow in Your way!

It is needful for me to know Your word in all I do and say.

If only I could be an empty shell and You could fill me up

With Your loving Spirit of kindness, just like a waiting cup.

Then I could pouf out to others and know it was not me.,

But my loving Father who redeemed me and set me free.

God's Work In Me

Your love comes with no conditions and no recrimination.

My heart overflows with love, You do not discriminate.

Your acceptance of the real me, not the me that others see.

The one with scars and flaws, but the one You accept as me!

Grace is so amazing, the “ unmerited” favour You give.

Such an all-encompassing word; it encourages me to live

Ever close to Your living Word, truly you are my all in all!

You give me grace, and I know I am forgiven even when I fall.

THANK YOU LORD!

                                                                   

• I John 5:4 - 5 ~ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world .... our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
• Philippians 1:6 ~ Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 1:10 ~ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.
• Romans 8:6 - 8 ~ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace., Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
• Psalm 37: 23 - 24 ~ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way,. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
• Psalm 32:8 ~ I will instruct you and teach you in the ay you should go: I will guide you with My eye.

Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks unto our God, let us praise His name.

For His provisions are many, His leading we will acclaim.

We live in a land of plenty while others around this world

Are scarred, bereft of home, where mortar shells are hurled.

Are cold and hungry, bereft and wanting basic life needs.

We bow our heads in thankfulness acknowledging our greed's.

Great abundance we have, enough to open our hands and share

With those who live in hunger, Lord, cause us to deeply care.

Food on our plates, clothing on our backs, a land that is free.

We praise Thee Oh God for what Thou has bestowed we see.

We ask You to open our eyes to those around who are in need.

To live our lives with open hearts and minds and to accede

To Thy divine plan, to give of our abundance to those in need.

• Colossians 3:15 ~ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
• Psalm 72:12, 13 ~ For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall saves the souls of the needy.
• Psalm 102:17 ~ He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
• PROVERBS 15:6 ~ In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
• Proverbs 22:4 ~ By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour and life.
• TO HIM THAT HATH MUCH, MUCH SHALL BE ASKED. WE ARE NOT TO FORGET THE TROUBLES OF THE AFFLICTED AND THE POOR. GOD WILL CALL US INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE HUNGRY OF THE LANDS.      SELAH

Thoughts

Thoughts often pop into our minds and come and go, 

But those of God’s Spirit often stay, you should know.

You remember them well, and it is often easy to tell, 

To differentiate passing thoughts of numerous kinds.

Those of other people’s needs, that stay in our minds.

That is the way thoughts of you have so often been, 

Stubborn, prayer-thoughts, the ones that always seem 

To be about others hurts, urging and very persistent.

They come at the most unusual times and are very resistant 

To your ignoring them and neglecting to follow through.

And quieter they will become, if you do not react too.

The Holy Spirit sends those with a listening responsive ear, 

Those who are ready to reach out, to go and offer cheer, 

Be it a word or prayer, even sustenance, they are there, 

Ready to respond to God’s call, willing to answer a prayer.

You knock at a door, not knowing someone was in despair.

The Spirit gives boldness so that you can be ready to share 

Such joy you will feel when you know it was exactly right.

If the Spirit can count on you, the more you have His sight.

For He sees the inner man, his cares and hurts; He has a plan.

To call upon His Encouragers, one of His Saints that can 

Be available and ready, boldly giving heed to His call.

“Here am I Lord, send me”, for such words were so said 

In the word of God long ago, and like risen from the dead.

They are as needful today for us to be ready and willing 

Whether to pray, or to go, there is nothing more fulfilling.

The Spirit has control of our thought life; He has our heart.

If we love Him and really listen, He will never depart.

Be accountable, be humble and obedient, such a great start 

To the Spirit Filled life that gives others thoughts to impart.

Matthew 15:19 ~ “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean.”

Proverbs 14:15 ~ “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” BUT READ Hebrews 4:12 ~ “The word of God is living and active. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”!

1 Corinthians 2:11 ~ “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

You Bring Me Joy

Jesus you are the light shining in my life, the sum of my being.

When I start my day out with You, I know what I am seeing.

Your Spirit shines a light, speaking to me on what I need to do.

Knowing You’re directing my way, I can surrender all to You.

The worries will not accumulate if I pray them on to Thee,

And I can rest in the knowledge that because of You I am free,

To be that person that You always desired for  me to be.

Such a sweet release I have, such joy fills my very soul !

There is a new way of thinking since You made me whole.

What took me so long to begin to see the “Grace Way” ?

I kept sliding back into works, yet You never made me pay

For each infraction that began to teach me how to pray.

“Forgive me Lord, Your ready acceptance of my stubborn will

Has made me love you even more, Your words echo in me still.”

Every new day I am expectant for what You have in store.

With Your Spirit’s leading, and my prayers interceding more,

I can truly say that when I sing Your songs or read Your word

My heart soars, and I feel my hands raise up, not to be heard,

Lifting joyful hands to You in sweet surrender for all You’ve done.

In the sacrificial free gift of grace of Your only begotten Son.

The joy is unspeakable and it is full of glory, so painfully won.

THE HALF HAS NEVER YET BEEN TOLD ! 

                                                                                

• John 15:11 ~ “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
• Psalm 33:21 ~ “For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.”
• Isaiah 51:10 ~ “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
• Psalm 64:10 ~ “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory>”
• Isaiah 55:12 ~ “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
• Psalm 126:5,6 ~ “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy, He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
• Habakkuk 3:18 ~ “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
• 1 Peter 1:8 ~ “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
• Psalm 89: 15, 16 ~ “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day; and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”

Seeking God

When you seek to know God you are seeking with all your heart.

That means searching Him, but He is not lost, it is you that is apart.

For you to know God, fasting, if done with the right intention.

It does not mean verbalizing it, better that you not even mention.

Seeking the Lord means you want to literally be in His presence.

The Hebrew word “to seek” means “His Face, His very essence."

God is omnipresent, everywhere, near everything and everyone.

A conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention on Him.

It is not mental coasting, it is a conscious choice to start, to begin

Directing your heart and mind towards God, set a personal goal.

It is a deliberate choice, like choosing life, giving God control,
But at the same time staying away from questionable places,
Unhealthy attractions; would you take Jesus to some pub places?

If you cannot take the Lord, look upon His face, how will you grow?                                                                                                 

Matthew 6:33 ~ “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you/.

Jeremiah 29:13 ~ “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart"

Being Bold

Are we bold enough to tell our neighbours what Christ means to us?

They cannot laugh at us or malign our faith, and we have a big plus.

What do we fear, we talk about our experience if we are sincere.

The Spirit is a plus, we are not threatening, or making a big fuss.

It is what we believe, sharing our faith; what He has done for us.

We are not forcing them, pressuring, or putting them on the spot.

We want to tell them Christ is real, this is not about us, it is Him!

“ Born Again” may be an anathema word; it is deliverance from sin.

Think of how the missionaries must feel, going to a foreign land..

They go with the Spirit, and a language they may not understand.

They have a drive in them “to go” a need that others might know 

Their Saviour personally, and then they teach the how to grow 

In the knowledge of the Saviour which can be a great challenge,

Many already know that Jesus died to make the great exchange.

For often the God’s of that country will be added to the Saviour, 

Aren’t numerous God’s better? and so often they feel a failure.

They work and pray so hard, and ask for our prayers to go too.

For if we have one neighbour here, how many do we rescue?

Missionaries may work for years, then, just as soon as they leave 

The Nationals go back to the old ways, unless they all receive 

Ongoing teaching and really get to know GOD’S face and word.

It is the glue that holds them together in a world that is unstirred 

By the Spirit of God, and when people do not continue to pray 

Without ceasing, here, where things are more clear, and can say

Without fear that a kernel of corn with faith can grow into a field 

But here too we need to pray for another great revival of souls,

Time is short, and there are millions unreached, and our goals?

Is it the Western World that needs the revival, a wake up call?

For the fields are ripe unto harvest, the harvesters are too few.

God will reap His kingdom with or without us, how about you?

The blood that was shed by Christ is not just a historical event.

It happened 2,000 years ago and the cross is why He was sent.

Too Close to the Edge

Summer sun, barely begun, new warmth will reveal

And bright smiles everywhere; such joy we all feel.

Alas, we abide too long in the sun and we all burn.

And again and again our faces and bodies we turn

To that hot sun until we peel, wrinkle, and are sore.

Then it is too late, doctors say don’t tan any more!

Just like our life this example can be of use to us all.

God tells us to avoid danger or we will surely fall.

DANGER! ~ TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

Sometimes we venture so close to the edge of sin,

We don’t want to sin, but still venture a little way in.

When the Spirit talks about danger don’t even begin

To succumb to the danger signs that cause us to sin.

We play with fire until just one spark starts to ignite

Clothing leaps aflame, our bodies, a horrendous sight!

We thought we knew, but did not heed the warning.

Playing with fire is like ignoring the Spirit’s calling

DANGER! ~ TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

We go where we would never go with the Lord..

It’s a gambling den that we know we cannot afford.

And the police come, and shame is what we feel.

The person that brought us encourages us to steal.

We have stepped over the edge, what will you do?

You’re so ashamed, how did this ever happen to you?

You saw warning signs, ignoring  them, you went in.

You have submitted to Satan’s ploy, that of his sin.

DANGER! ~ TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

Hebrews 12:28 ~ Since we have a kingdom nothing an destroy, let us please God by serving Him with thankful hearts, and with holy fear, and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:3- 8 ~ And have you quite forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, His child? He said, “My son, don’t be angry when the Lord punishes you. Don’t be discouraged when He has to show you where you are wrong. For when He punishes you, it proves that He loves you. When He

whips you, it proves you are really His child.. Let God train you, for He is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected?  If God doesn’t punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means that you aren’t really God’s son at all - that you don’t belong in His family.

I Timothy 6:1l ~ Oh Timothy, you are God’s man. Run from all these evil things and work instead at what is right and good, learning to trust Him and love others, and to be patient and gentle.

2 Timothy 2:22 ~ Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men often have but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts.