10 September 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the “How is your SQ” series today

“In the heavenly realms” many times Ephesians does say

Spiritual forces of evil our earthly struggles often disguise

Today’s sermon was appropriately titled “Open Your Eyes” 

For those with closed eyes, the spiritual realm is not real

Per Psalm fourteen, the fool says God is not the real deal

Ones with closed eyes are fearful, insecure, powerless

Pastor Joey said they are also bold, blind, and clueless

The spiritual realm is real for those whose eyes are open

Per Colossians two, due to our sin Jesus was roped in

Supreme is the power of Jesus, in whom our faith rests

For He is above all, Ephesians one more than suggests

So to keep our eyes open, PMPF we should implement

Pray without ceasing and Meditate on His word frequent

Proclaim your identity and with God’s people Fellowship

Per Romans eight, the love of God is always in our grip

13 August 2023 - ENCS

The “Maturing in Christ” series, Pastor Josh did continue

The title “A Mature Mentality” we did on the screen view

Josh stated that the journey to our maturity is the key

To experiencing life to the full, per Colossians three

A mature mentality is not playing the part of a victim

Saying always and never, plus criticising ad infinitum

It's also not saying I don’t have enough as if in poverty

And per Philippians four, “Christ who strengthens me"

A mature mentality is what in Numbers Joshua showed

And how Jesus humbled himself to take on our load

A mature Christian focuses on and trusts in God above

Which leads the individuals to serve others and to love

Taking off the old mentality and put in the new mentality

Ignore momentary pleasures, as per Colossians three

We are made in God’s image so should walk in unity

Letting Christ's word and wisdom dwell in us richly

23 July 2022 - Faith-based Entrepreneurship

Today’s Faith-based Entrepreneurship had food platters

The focus of the video and talk was “Excellence Matters”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart” we see

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians three verse twenty three

It is critical to remember that excellence is not perfection

And it should be considered relative to one’s expectation

Perhaps the most important element is to generate trust

To do that internally or externally, transparency is a must

And since we all report to God, the real higher authority

We should approach negotiations with a win/win mentality

It is better to suffer for doing good per God’s will, it is seen

Than for doing evil, per First Peter three verse seventeen

If we act with integrity whether or not others can see

In the long run, relationships form our enduring legacy

It was aptly pointed out that if we successfully live love

We will assuredly impact others and please God above

Reflections from a revival meeting

Attending a revival service last night was a blessing

Many in the marketplace about their faith professing

With plenty of time to fellowship, worship and pray

Very timely as well, for it was Maundy Thursday

One person quoted Matthew nine verse seventeen

Pouring new wine into old wineskins is never seen

Jesus did not try to fit His ways into old traditions

As His followers, we must do so without conditions

This triggered a useful reminder in this day and age

From Jimmy Needham’s classic “Clear the Stage”

He sang “Anything I put before my God is an idol"

Doing otherwise would act on my faith as a bridle

Central was the concept of marketplace ministry

Work is a form of worship per Colossians three

So what we do, but also how and why we do so

Doing what is right, not just going with the flow

Influencing others is the definition of leadership

So we can also think of our work as stewardship

Leveraging our God-given talents and opportunities

Our words and actions shining in all communities

Very special was sharing communion at the end

Yet another reason I was so honoured to attend

The fellowship was engaging and far from tiring

Seeing and hearing such faith was very inspiring

22 December 2019 - ENCS

This is unfortunately more than a little bit late

But I think the words carry just as much weight

So please do forgive my tardy poetic posting

I guess towards year end I started coasting

****At the start of service we did see****

****A nice carol from Charles Wesley****

****"Hark the herald angels sing****

****Glory to the newborn king****

****Peace on earth and mercy mild****

****God and sinners reconciled"****

Pastor Josh then spoke to us about faithfulness

What we celebrate about the Lord, he did stress

God honours our faithfulness with responsibility

Even if that often may take away our tranquility

Like Jesus who appeared as a babe in a manger

If we believe we are not special, we risk danger

For like Jesus whose substance outshone his form

He changed the world, introducing us to a new norm

For Paul wrote about this in First Corinthians one

We are righteous because of what Jesus has done

Per Luke two verse ten, the angels said not to fear

“Good news of great joy” were the words to hear

We all need a saviour because of our imperfection

By following Jesus we head in the right direction

From our Creator who so loves us, we have hope

God knows what is our full potential and scope

Per Colossians one, He delivered us from the dark

The contrast with the Holy Spirit is extremely stark

The Spirit gives us righteousness, peace, and joy

About substance versus form, Josh was not coy

The kingdom of God is about your soul’s health

And sharing it with others generates true wealth

We are branches from Jesus’ vine, per John fifteen

If we abide in Him, much fruit will be born and seen

Ephesians two says He makes us alive despite sin

Jesus is the spiritual air that we should breathe in

Per First Thessalonians five, pray without ceasing

With prayer, our relationship with God is increasing

Per Psalm one hundred nineteen, open our eyes

So we can see His wonders on land and in skies

God clothes us with salvation, per Isaiah sixty one

But we also need earthly community in the long run

Per Ephesians two, we are all part of His household

So we fellowship with others both young and old

2 June 2019 - ENCS

More about relationships Pastor Joey did share today

We need love and trust, and forgiveness he did say

He spoke of the why, what, and how of forgiveness

For it is a cornerstone of relationships he did express

Forgivneess is important for health, per the Mayo Clinic

Lowering blood pressure and an immune system uptick

Paul said we are all sinners, per Romans chapter three

Thus pain and sin each day each of us will feel and see

Forgiveness acts like a reset button and a clotting agent

Per Matthew six, Jesus gave a command not just intent

Colossians three says that if we forgive, God will forgive

Like Mandela, we can choose forgiveness in how we live

Of course showing forgiveness is usually quite difficult

First, we must acknowledge pain caused or the insult

Second, per Mark six, forgiving others involves a cost

But without this step, God’s forgiveness for us is lost

His love for us never ceases, per Lamentations three

It is important that God’s forgiveness we feel and see

Third in forgiveness we should aspire for perfection

Per Matthew five, love our enemies without objection

But we must forgive others before we can show love

As Jesus did, praying for others we may be tired of

Fourth is that for God’s healing we should believe

Pain takes time to be healed, not an instant reprieve

3 February 2019 - ENCS

On the last Sunday before Lunar New Year’s Eve

Before to New Zealand Pastor Josh was to leave

He referred to Proverbs chapter twenty two four

The reward for fear of God is riches and honour

For when we fear the Lord and have true humility

He will take care of us and our lives, we will see

Fear actually implies respect, reverence, and trust

As following common sense can often lead to bust

God sometimes asks us to give time or resources

When we are feeling weakest or facing evil forces

We can learn to trust in the Lord if we do our part

Because what God actually desires is our heart

Per verse seventeen of Second Corinthians five

Anyone in Christ is a new creation and can thrive

God offers all of us second chances many times

For He loves us no matter what our sins or crimes

From the domain of darkness, per Colossians one

God can deliver us into the kingdom of His Son

To all sinners, Jesus showed compassion and love

So no matter how we mess up, He will rise above

We can never repay Jesus for what He did for us

We should accept His gift of new life without a fuss

Our reconciliation with God and others is His desire

Like the prodigal son despite all that did trasnspire

Once reconciled with God, ambassadors we become

Representing His kingdom is the obvious outcome

For reconciling with God is a life changing event

That is why His son Jesus Christ to earth was sent

Remember that God created and loves everyone

Reconciliation is open until our earthly days are done

19 February 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh did recap the messages year to date

Fasting aided listening and create a trusting state

Fruitfulness, enjoyment, and then purposeful rest

And looking at boundaries as a way to be blessed

Pastor then quoted from Genesis two verse eight

God planted a garden in Eden, it did communicate

He also put a man there, which serves to remind

We should allow God to place us as He designed

Interestingly, per Genesis chapter two verse fifteen

God put Adam to work, or “blessed labour” is seen

This transpired before the fall, so it was God’s plan

Josh said “Enjoying Work” should be an aim of man

Per Genesis three seventeen, resulting from sin

A different type of labour, “painful toil”, did begin

But instead of focusing on work as a job or task

Per Psalms, in God’s inheritance we should bask

Per a TED talk, excellent work requires passion

Plus vision, focus, and perseverance not to ration

Remember that spiritual and secular are not split

All is sacred, as God’s ambassadors we commit

Work is FROM GOD, as it is a golden opportunity

For us to emulate God’s roles so others can see

We can thus bring light to events darkest places

And use our experiences to brighten sad faces

Work is FOR GOD, per Colossians chapter three

We should do everything in Jesus’ name, we see

Whatever we do, for God we should work heartily

So always operate with excellence and integrity

Work should be WITH GOD, as David did show

Per Psalm seventy eight, into a king he did grow

Why we are put in places we may not understand

Like David, have an upright heart and skilful hand

God wants us to be a light for everyone we meet

By relying on Him, all challenges we can defeat

For our purpose is bigger than any one person

Which gives us lots to do before our time is done

6 November 2016 - ENCS

About Proverbs and words of wisdom, Pastor Josh did speak

With knowledge and understanding, wisdom is what we seek

Knowledge is about facts and understanding is implications

Wisdom is proven over time through consistent applications

Nigeria with its abundance of resources, Josh did compare

To Singapore and Botswana with good leaders who care

The difference in economic growth is clear for all to see

Similarly, Solomon asked for wisdom in First Kings three

Solomon said the beginning of wisdom, per Proverbs four

Was to obtain, at all cost, understanding more and more

In Proverbs nine, wisdom also requires the fear of the Lord

The Holy Spirit will ensure our efforts remain aboveboard

Four steps to have integrity and wisdom, Josh then did share

The first is to pray, a two way dialogue because God does care

We should however not use prayer as an opportunity to complain

For Christ went through so much more, enduring all sorts of pain

And if we feel wronged by others, our response needs to be right

For those are the instances where we can truly share God’s light

The second is to meditate on God’s word, so it is on our heart

Often times, this means to read less but think more on our part

The third is to preach, which also reminds ourselves of the truth

The fourth is to fellowship, which is key for parents and youth

In summary, Josh turned to Colossians three from verse fifteen

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” is evidently seen

To “admonish one another with all wisdom” is a good reminder

And to give thanks in all that we do makes us wiser and kinder

9 October 2016 - ENCS

Joy Talavera spoke about the vision of Every Nation

Focusing on “Christ-centred” as a core foundation

Using Colossians one verses fifteen to twenty three

Several attributes about Christ were evident to see

#dropthemic is a performance completely definitive

That describes Jesus all the time, perfect He did live

Christ is the image of the invisible God, Paul did say

So He is the beginning and the end, including today

Because in things that are material, Jesus cannot be

If possessions take priority for us, trouble we will see

By, through, and for Christ all things were created

So He is the centre of everything, Joy then stated

Since Jesus knows everything that is in our heart

We should follow Him, from His path not depart

He is before all things and holds them all together

He can help us through even the roughest weather

And since he is pre-eminent for the entire universe

So not thanking him upon waking would be perverse

God’s fullness dwells in Jesus, per verse nineteen

So is Jesus with us permanently or only rarely seen?

If we let Christ into our lives, He brings real peace

And with such peace, our joy and love will increase

Between ourselves and God, Jesus bridges the gap 

To be reconciled with God we do not need a map

For only Jesus Christ can make us holy and blameless

More than anything we do, He pulls us from the mess

Being Christ-centred allows Christ to keep us centred

Putting an end to sinfulness that into us had entered

14 February 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh delivered “The Heart of the Matter’ part two

On the topic of “Courtship and Dating” what we should do

With a reference to a seventy five year study he did start

For happiness, meaningful relationships are a key part

There are no specific bible verses on dating or courtship

But there are still guidelines to help everyone on this trip

“Do unto others…” is Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew seven

That summarises all the Old Testament laws from heaven

For when our relationship was broken with God above

We needed laws guiding us in the absence of pure love

But now the Holy Spirit tells us how best to approach

Relationships in a manner which is above all reproach

First Timothy chapter five says not to rebuke others

“With absolute purity” treat brothers, sisters, mothers

In Mark chapter ten to God’s words Jesus did refer

Two wholes, not halves, become one, we can infer

We should not look to another person to fill a gap

Only God can complete us, anything else is a trap

This is repeated in Colossians chapter number two

We “have been given fullness in Christ” in all we do

Being happy and complete with God is a precondition

Before moving on to marriage, per Josh’s admonition

From First Corinthians six comes additional sage advice

Do not be yoked with unbelievers even if they are nice

Two cannot walk together, per Amos chapter three

Unless in terms of what to do, they both do agree

If both are following Jesus in their walks individually

Then much easier their joint walk will of course be

Per Ephesians five, we should imitate God above

Beware life’s impurities and always walk in love

Meditating on things pure, per Philippians four

Ensures the God of peace will us never ignore

17 January 2016 - ENCS

The “Discipleship Simplified” series Pastor Josh Harris did continue

Focusing on “Establish Biblical Foundations”, as step number two

Last week, he talked about “engage”, including making a friend

Having conversations and making new disciples becomes a trend

Pastor Josh ran through five points about how we can “establish”

For establishing ground that produces fruit and shade is our wish

The basis for his message, Colossians chapters one to two did form

Although Josh did intersperse other passages, as is often his norm

The first point was that we should establish a foundation in CHRIST

For He is the Rock, our inheritance derived from what he sacrificed

Jesus is head of the church and pre-eminent in every relationship

We can have peace and thus any worry in the bud we should nip

The second point was that we should establish a foundation in FAITH

Trusting God and the Holy Spirit’s presence, Colossians two does saith

If we walk with thanksgiving like Jesus, our faith will assuredly grow

Rhema-hearing Christ’s message is how His Word we can really know

The third point was that we should establish a foundation in HIS WORD

Meditating on it day and night, per Psalm one and Joshua one we heard

And, Pastor Josh did opine, if we happen to be going through a dry season

Not studying the Bible enough, feeling distant from God, may be the reason

The fourth point was that we should establish a foundation in COMMUNITY

In one day the church grew by thousands, in Acts chapter two we do see

For when we work together in peace, God can use us to do even more

Reminding us about the importance of relationships at a church’s core

The fifth point was that we should establish a foundation in LOVE

Per Ephesians three, being rooted in love gives power from above

The love of Christ surpasses knowledge, as per verse nineteen

Therefore our faith is unshakeable, and our heart will be serene

1 March 2015 - ENCS

The "Family" series was extended a week by Rachel Ong

Talking on "Singles Rock" in a voice that was quite strong

This demographic group is often overlooked, she did say

But its mission is to honor God at the workplace each day

Rachel based her sermon on Colossians one verse ten

We are to "bear fruit in every good work", Paul said again

She pointed out that God only ever authored one book

So it is to that book, the Bible, that we should always look

From reading the Bible daily, sin will keep us from doing

But keeping us from sin we get from daily Bible viewing

And for us to be fruitful in every good work, Rachel stated

Jesus Christ needs to be present in our lives unabated

 

Steve Murrell said that to 'honor' is to know one's place

For commandments one and five, this is indeed the case

In order to honor parents, with them we should spend time

For singles, this is easier to do when all are in their prime

Rachel added that since honor stems from one's heart

Worshiping and praising God is how we fulfill that part

 

For most singles, it can be said that work is a calling

Which cannot be found with your best effort installing

There is no such thing as secular work, Rachel said

As secular means 'without God', something we dread

And since we have God by our side, as well as His grace

We are effectively full time ministers in the marketplace

It is interesting that God introduced labor before worship

When we are working, God's pleasure should us grip

As we were created in His image, we should try to be great

Whether married or single, our effort should be first rate

 

It is important that we find time daily to be with God alone

Since we need Him constantly, this we should not postpone

In doing so, He will equip us for our workplace ministry

More than our church, the inside of our office we do see

We must make the most of each and every opportunity

Our actions there speak louder than words or a plea

God entrusts us with opportunities if we walk in excellence

With greater purity, even greater influence He will dispense

 

Whatever season we are in, we should exercise contentment

Timothy said contentment brings God to life in the present

We should not walk in the counsel of the wicked, per Psalm one

We will prosper if meditating on the Lord is what we have done

So in closing tonight, Rachel reiterated her primary exhortation

We should honor God and study His word through life's duration

15 February 2015 - ENCS

On Relationships did Pastor Josh the "Family" series continue

About three primary boy girl relationships he did first us imbue

Between friendship and engagement, there is a Biblical gap

But that doesn't mean God won't provide us with a road map

By letting convictions drive the entire relationship

And of course Acts fifteen provides a strong tip

Josh said to beware of legalism which causes rebellion

We should instead let relationships drive communication

From engagement to marriage the same holds true

Sexual immorality is something we should not do

For if God provides a principal, we should pay attention

But Jesus can make us whole if we fail at sin prevention

 

Josh then shared how to build relationships of health

Community and friends are worth more than wealth

The first step is to have a foundation built on trust

Hard to build but easy to break, Josh discussed

For a deep relationship, the trust must also be deep

Your own trustworthiness is something you can keep

Per James five verse twelve, let your yes be yes

Then about your words nobody will need to guess

Per Ephesians four, we are to speak the truth in love

Building others up so we can all work for God above

 

The second point from Josh is that love is the real substance

Feelings come and go, but love motivates, even in advance

The best description of love in the Bible is easily seen

In First Corinthians thirteen verses one to fourteen

For love must be shared with thoughts, words, and actions

And love can thus overcome all challenges and distractions

 

The third point is the communication is how love grows

A lack of communication is when death's face shows

Josh said it is critical to keep communication lines open

And to respond to God rather than to any hostile men

From James chapter one verses nineteen and twenty

Comes a reminder that should be repeated a-plenty

Be quick to listen, slow to anger and slow to speak

Is consistent with our two ears, one mouth physique

 

The fourth point is that forgiveness is akin to a reboot

It allows a relationship to restart after any dispute

To Hebrews twelve verse fourteen, Josh did then refer

Strive to live in peace with all and all bitterness deter

Per Matthew chapter six verse fourteen, Jesus did state

If we forgive others, God will forgive us without debate

But if we do not forgive others for their sins of any kind

Then for our many sins, God will be similarly inclined

Although with our eternal life this may not be messing

In some areas of our life, it will block God's blessing

 

The final point is perhaps the most important one

Without God, none of the others can really be done

For He alone knows when we need some fixing

And then into our heart, His grace will be mixing

From Acts chapter one, Pastor Josh did then read

For us to do His work, the Holy Spirit we do need

John three verse sixteen notes God's amazing love

He sent His only Son to save us from heaven above

Both Psalm nineteen and John ten verse four

Talk about shepherds lead rather than implore

And finally, from Colossians chapter one

God's redemptive work in us is never done

2 November 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the series entitled "Redemption Stories"

Redemption saves us from sin, enabling us to receive God's glories

Because Jesus redeemed us so we can have life eternal

Changed should be our lives, both internal and external

Pastor then read from Revelations twelve verse eleven

The exiled John heard these words, directly from heaven

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb" we did see

And then, as importantly "by the word of their testimony"

The enemy wants us to feel defeated and facing damnation

But God says we are victors, not victims, in every situation

 

By the blood of Jesus, Pastor Larry said we can overcome

Jesus' sacrifice was required, so we should be far from glum

We have all sinned and fall short, per Romans chapter three

The penalty should be death, in Romans six we clearly see

But per Hebrews nine, we have now secured redemption

Our sins are forgiven, so from death we have exemption

Isaiah fifty three prophesied that by His stripes we are healed

So when we claim victory, the enemy will be scared and yield

 

We also overcome by the work of our testimony, Pastor did say

Per Colossians one, God has rescued us out of harm's way

Since we live in freedom, we all have a testimony to share

They can encourage others who may be feeling despair

Redemption stories were then shared by Alymark and Marisol

About how they escaped troubled pasts, they both did tell

Pastor Larry referenced Psalm one hundred twenty four

And told of man who paid to release a bird out a cage door

Similarly, Jesus loves each of us so much that he gladly died

After living an earthly life that still acts for us as a perfect guide

He effectively opens our individual cages and lets us go

In return we should tell our testimonies instead of lying low

 

By not loving our lives is the third way that we can overcome

Per Mark ten, Jesus' life was ransomed for many, not just some

He expects the same from His followers, both then and now

In Romans one, unashamed of the gospel Paul did avow

For the gospel is the power of God that is salvation for all

So from telling others our testimonies, we should not stall

3 August 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the series titled "Centered"

Into the third chapter of Colossians we entered

About roller coasters, he said he was often scared

They are often like our life of faith, he then shared

The downward rush of fear, the upward relief of joy

The enemy attacks us, trying our lives to destroy

Every time that he tells us to disobey and not to step out

What he is really doing is sowing more and more doubt

God has called us into a life of faith, we must remember

This is true all the time, from January through December

The tendency may be to get off the roller coaster ride

Because as it continues, we get more scared inside

But we should never give in to the "whatever" attitude

That lowers our standards and allows too much latitude

 

The title of his sermon was "The Virus Called Whatever"

In the text, the word appears many more times than never

Verse seventeen says in whatever we do, do in God's name

Verse twenty three talks of the heart and then says the same

The enemy will continually try to distract us by whatever means

Overwhelming us with challenges or boring us with routines

In return, we must do whatever it takes to do things for God

Whether or not they may appear normal or even quite odd

For as per verse one, we "have been raised with Christ"

We should set our hearts on Him, who has always sufficed

 

Pastor's first point referred to John ten and "You Have Power"

Paul encouraged us to be aware of God's strength every hour

In Colossians chapter one, he refers to "holy and faithful brothers"

If we do not see ourselves in that way, then neither will others

To do God's calling is a privilege and is why we are here on earth

We should get in the game and give excuses a very wide berth

We should be rooted and strengthened in Christ, per chapter two

Our family and friends should always challenge us better to do

But we should not get hung up on mistakes, even if they are often

For obedience comes one step at a time; the path God will soften

Pastor then pointed out that self-focus usually leads to resistance

But through it all, God provides the power for us to go the distance

 

Pastor Larry's second point was that we should "Live Higher"

Per verses five and eight, our earthly nature we should retire

And not to revert to old ways, then we must always take care

Reading the Bible every day is just as important as prayer

Like training for a marathon, we must prepare to finish strong

Per Amos, God is angered when for other things we long

By reading the Bible daily, we prepare for times of temptation

Per Colossians three verse ten, this forms a strong foundation

 

In summary, Pastor said that we should do whatever it may take

To step out in faith and overcome our fears, doing all for His sake

27 July 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Neli Atiga gave his farewell sermon at ENCS earlier today

To Every Nation Church in Brisbane he will soon be on his way

 

After we took communion and the congregation had all entered

His sermon continued the series on Colossians titled "Centered"

Our days are numbered so what we focus on really does matter

Pastor Neli laid out three ways to identify our focus on a platter

First is our passion, what we are willing to make sacrifices for

Second is our priority, in other words what we have at our core

And third is people, the ones and the values that surround us

If we are centered on Christ, everything else becomes a plus

Pastor then said that we have one job so need to get it right

The rest of his sermon thus focused on what we need to fight

 

Colossians one verses fifteen to twenty talk of Christ's pre-eminence

We were created by him and for him, his power and glory are immense

But God also dwells in him and reconciled with the world through him

If these four 'hims' were not all true, our future would look quite dim

So Jesus should be our passion and priority, who we try to emulate

By doing so, Pastor said, our walk on God's path will be kept straight

 

Colossians two refers to Laodicea, which sat on the river Meander

Jesus called them lukewarm in Revelation three with much candor

We must avoid meandering and having our faith be lukewarm

So about five potential causes of this Pastor Neli did us inform

First is our image, or how we might appear in others' eyes

If this drives us, our passion dissipates Pastor did advise

Second is trying to improve, for we should want to obey his law

This is what was written in John fourteen verse fifteen, we saw

Third is impulse, giving into the desires of former addictions

We should try to avoid temptation to adhere to our convictions

Fourth is immaturity, wanting others to feed us all the time

Instead, we should be doing things for the church in our prime

Fifth is idolatry, which Pastor Neli said is at the center of all sin

Letting other things take center stage is where problems begin

 

I note that Brisbane's big gain is of course Singapore's big loss

But either way, Neli will still be sharing the message of the cross

We will miss his musical talents, his jokes, his smile, and his size

Along with his ability to always find a way to spring a surprise

Thank Pastor Neli for all you have done for so many people

Go forth, young man, and change lives under a new steeple

15 February 2014 - Fruit of the Spirit (part two)

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous”, says Psalm 33

For right, true, and faithful the Lord’s word will always be

And despite empty stalls and a harvest that was null

Habakkuk rejoiced and in God his Savior was joyful

“May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace”

Per Romans fifteen, so hope will overflow and not cease

In Philippians four, from Paul’s pen and in his voice

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Do not be surprised at trials and sufferings and more

But rejoice, per verse thirteen of First Peter chapter four

Psalm 104 says “May the glory of the Lord endure forever”

“May the Lord rejoice in His works” that disappear never

“I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” it does say

And “may my meditation be pleasing to Him” every day

In Zephaniah three, despite destruction, he said not to fear

For the Lord took delight in Zion, which he held so dear

In Hebrews twelve, Paul said to persevere with our race

And to not lose heart but to fix our eyes on Jesus’ face

For “who for the joy set before him endured the cross”

As “the author and perfecter of our faith”, He bore the loss

In Numbers six, God told Moses how the Israelites to bless

“The Lord bless you and keep you” he did on them impress

“The Lord [will] turn his face toward you and give you peace”

He will “be gracious to you” and your blessings will increase

In verse one hundred sixty five of Psalm one hundred nineteen

“Great peace have they who love [God’s] law” is clearly seen

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast”

For per Isaiah twenty six, the Lord’s time is never passed

In John fourteen, Jesus said “Peace I leave with you”

Telling his disciples not to fear in anything they would do

In Philippians four, Paul said “do not be anxious about anything”

“But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving”

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding”

“Will guard your hearts and your minds” through everything

Per Colossians three, “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”

Since all were to called to peace as one body with many parts

Per Psalm twenty nine, David’s love for God never did cease

For “The Lord gives strength” and “blesses his people with peace”

In Isaiah chapter nine, a child’s birth was foretold to one and all

The Mighty God and Prince of Peace will David’s throne reinstall

As a result, “of the increase of…peace there will be no end”

For from ongoing justice and righteousness He will not bend

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith”

“We have peace with God”, Romans chapter five saith

And per 1 Thessalonians chapter five verse twenty three

“May…the God of peace, sanctify…spirit, soul, and body”

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”

“Do not fret when men” do evil and things look grim

Psalm thirty seven continues, “… and turn from wrath”

And “do not fret” for that only leads to an evil path

In Psalm forty, David said that he patiently did wait

God heard his cry and saved David from a bad fate

Proverbs fourteen says “a patient man has great understanding”

“But a quick-tempered man displays folly” in virtually everything

“Love is patient, love is kind” per 1 Corinthians thirteen

About patience in suffering, in James five is also seen

“Be patient…until the Lord’s coming” for there is nothing to fear

“Be patient and stand firm…because the Lord’s coming is near”

2 Peter three says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise”

“He is patient” so believers should not doubt as did Thomas

God wants “everyone to come to repentance”, per verse nine

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief” says the next line

“And the earth and everything in it will be laid bare”

By living “holy and godly lives” we will not despair

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation"

This pearl of wisdom Paul also shared in many a quotation

2 February 1014 - Fruit of the Spirit (part one)

Galatians five says “the acts of the sinful nature are obvious”

Including debauchery, selfish ambition, and other acts devious

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness”

Along with goodness, faithfulness, self-control, and gentleness

And about fruit, in Luke six Jesus did to his disciples say

“No good tree bears bad fruit” whether Monday or Sunday

“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit”, He went on to state

That people do not pick “grapes from briers” Jesus did relate

“The good man brings good things out of the good” in his heart

And “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” its part

“I love you, O Lord, my strength” David wrote in Psalm eighteen

Jesus’ thoughts on loving God in Mark chapter twelve are seen

To love Him with all of one’s heart, mind, strength, and soul

For “there is no greater commandment”, that is the real goal

In John thirteen, a new command Jesus Christ did share

We should “love one another” in both actions and prayer

He told his disciples to love each other as he loved them

By doing so, others would know them and not condemn

God’s chosen people, Paul wrote in Colossians three

Should clothe themselves with compassion and humility

Paul continued with “and over all these virtues put on love”

“Which binds them all together in perfect unity” from above

In Exodus thirty four, “the Lord came down in the cloud”

He stood with Moses and said his own name out loud

“I am a compassionate and gracious God”, He did proclaim

“Forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin” all the same

Yet God does not leave unpunished the guilty nations

The punishment can carry on through several generations

“For God so loved the world that he gave his…only Son”

Per John 3:16, this supreme act of love cannot be undone

So “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish”

“But have eternal life” which is everyone’s wish

In Romans five, something similar Paul did write

“Christ died for us” sinners to make things right

Paul was convinced, per Romans chapter eight

That from the love of God nothing can us separate

Per First John three, “God is love” is a kind of synonym

For “whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him”

25 January 2014 - The Names of God (part two)

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords”

He is “mighty and awesome”, showing no partiality to the hordes

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow”

That is what Deuteronomy 10 verses 17 and 18 show

“How majestic is your name in all the earth”, David did state

In both the first verse and the last one of Psalm eight

If someone confesses “Jesus is Lord” from their heart

Romans ten says that God has already done His part

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

For God richly blesses both Jew and Gentile, Paul raved

Colossians two says to continue to live in Christ as Lord

Overflowing with thankfulness that faith in Him does accord

Psalm forty six starts with “God is our refuge and strength”

It then talks about His power over the earth at some length

Psalm ninety two says to praise the Lord, O Most High

And to proclaim His love and faithfulness to the sky

Verse four says “for [He] makes me glad by [His] deeds”

“How great are [His] works”, verse five then proceeds

Ecclesiastes chapter twelve verses one through seven

Talk about the earth’s one God, who resides in heaven

 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth”

“Before the days of trouble come”, that is the truth

Isaiah forty asked why Israel continued to complain

Thinking that its cause was looked at with disdain

“The Lord is the everlasting God” is what they should know

And, per verse twenty eight, tired and weary He will not grow

For “He gives strength to the weary” and also helps the weak

“They will soar on wings like eagles” if the Lord they do seek

In First Timothy one verses fifteen to seventeen, Paul did say

He was shown mercy so unlimited patience Jesus could display

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible” God in heaven

Paul proclaims “be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen”

Psalm 22 says that God “was enthroned as the Holy One”

David said his ancestors were saved by what God had done

From Proverbs nine these sage words do come

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”

In Luke four, there was a man possessed by a demon

Even he knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the Holy One

“The Lord reigns forever”…on “his throne of judgment”

Psalm nine says justice and righteousness are His intent

“Rise up, O Judge of the earth” requests Psalm ninety four

“Pay back to the proud what they deserve” and more

In Isaiah chapter eleven verses one through five

Prophesied about when Jesus would come alive

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him” in many a way

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, power every day

He will judge with righteousness, not by what He hears

Relying on his pure heart rather than His eyes or His ears

“For the Lord is our judge” says Psalm thirty three

As our king, He will save us, as we so often see