Second chance

Once again I have felt led to repost something I wrote some years ago on my blog, to give all glory to God and His Son Jesus, and their presence in my life:-


The following is a song that I wrote after I had come to know Jesus as my Saviour, and was one of the songs I used to sing in the streets with a Christian friend.  I write this song on my blog as a testimony to the love and compassion that I have found in that Saviour.

Second chance

Listen all you people there's a story to be told
a wondrous tale of beauty talked about in days of old
It speaks about a mystery, a beautiful romance
how the God of all creation gave this world a second chance
A second chance to walk with God, to become His holy child
to be rescued from our wretchedness, and to Him be reconciled
by believing on Jesus, the lamb who was slain
that we might be accepted by the Father again
No more to be in torment, no more to be in shame
when we trust on our Saviour and the power in His name
Yes the Father sent Jesus just to save you and me
He's the bread sent from Heaven, He's the life-giving tree
So turn from your hard labour, come out from slavery
for the Son of God released you on that cross at Calvary
Don't let sin be your master, come shout sing and dance
for the Lord God of Heaven has given us a second chance

There are two other songs which I felt to put on this post.  The first one is a song in which I felt the Lord was speaking to me, and the second one is me speaking to God, in a prayer that I made, and still do make, for others.

Weep no more child

Lost in the world, I was entangled in sin and shame
Lord that was when I met You
Then from my grave I heard You calling, calling my name
with a voice that was gentle but true
'Turn around my child, and look at me'
were the words that were piercing my heart
'Turn around from your sin, be set free
come to me and make a new start'
Then water so pure and crystal clear
was washing away all my doubt and my fear
and the tears ran free, as you said to me......

'Weep no more child, I have bought your peace
I have suffered in your place
All the blows the world has dealt you
I have taken on my face
Turn around, turn around and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Strive no more child, I can bring release
I regained what you had lost
Righteousness was purchased for you
when they nailed me to that cross
Turn around, turn around, and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Sin no more child, turn and look at me
see that I have paid the price
So that you could have salvation
I became the sacrifice
Turn around, turn around and I will forgive
Turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
Turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Somewhere

Somewhere someone's hurting Lord
somewhere someone's hurting
A wife has left her husband
and he's crying in despair
he doesn't know there's a comforter
he doesn't know You're there
Lord reach out and comfort him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's dying Lord
somewhere someone's dying
The doctors shake their heads and say
' There's nothing can be done '
but they've never seen a miracle
performed by God's own Son
Lord reach out and heal him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love    

Somewhere someone's crying Lord
somewhere someone's crying
her tears are shed for all mankind
she knows the end is near
but she doesn't know there's a perfect love
that casts out every fear
Lord reach out and love her
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's waiting Lord
somewhere someone's waiting
They've heard there's hope in Jesus Christ
the name above them all
so they're waiting for their Lord's return
responding to Your call
Lord, you've reached out to us
God sent help from above
He sent help from His sanctuary
when He sent You, His perfect love

In my thirty five years of knowing Jesus, I have come to know, and am still learning about, that perfect love of God  that wants to change us into the image of His Son, but understands that we are flesh.  I have never come across anything so compassionate, longsuffering and powerful.  That love has the ability to change me, not by force, but by placing in me the knowledge that the change would bring about the most beautiful peace in my soul that I could ever imagine.

The Substitute

 I just feel led to repost a post I put up a few years ago, as I feel very strongly about this subject.

Where will You be Lord this Christmas

Where will You be Lord this Christmas

as far as the world is concerned

out of all that You've taught us these two thousand years

is there anything anyone's learned

Do they know that Your judgement is coming to all

do they know there's an end to Your grace

that Your Spirit will not strive forever with man

that there's always an end to a race

Can't they see all the signs of Your coming

how your truths are all being unfurled

of the earthquakes, the wars and disasters

and the lawlessness gripping this world

Have we chosen to each go our own foolish way

do we all sing our own selfish song

are we doing what's right in our own blinded eyes

even though we know You say it's wrong

Has the world turned its back on You Jesus

do they think the cross lies in the past

can't they see it was just the beginning

that the end's spinning close very fast

Yes where will You be Lord this Christmas

in a world full of darkness and sin

will Your light be shut out of so many homes

while a Santa and tinsel come in

Will they close their ears to Your knocking

while You stand at the door one more time

and will they still be stood at the chimney

when the clock makes its final chime?

 

' For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away;  so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'   Matthew ch.24 vs.38,39

 

Do we really recognize the wiles of SATAN (which rearranged spells SANTA), and have we really noticed how Jesus is being replaced at this time of year.

 

The Substitute

 

He's trying to take Your place Lord

he's been at it for many years

he says 'I come with gifts for all

I'll wipe away your tears'                          

He wears a robe of scarlet

and a smile is on his face

but no one would guess the heartache

he will bring to many a place

He shows himself late November

in each home he will surely appear

he demonstrates toys on the tele

and says 'Christmas is nearly here'

Each year they get more expensive 

a computer or chemistry set

he slowly puts pressure on parents

who are tempted to go into debt

All children are told 'Santa's coming

he's got a great bag on his back'

but nobody seems to be bothered

that daddy has just had the sack

'I'll start with the youngest children'

says the 'Tempter' in disguise

never mind if mummy is crying

as to make ends meet she tries

He's trying to take Your place Lord

as he sits inside every store

and shouts a loud 'Merry Christmas'

to each person that comes through the door

But the spirit he drinks is not Holy

and the hands he holds out do not heal

the words that he speaks bring no wisdom

and the love that he shows is not real

 

How strange he should come at Christmas

and offering gifts like You do

and he's known to many as 'father'

while a baby child represents You

But for me there is only one Father

and of Him alone will I sing

while His Son is no longer a baby

He's a two thousand year old king!

Yes he's trying to take Your place Lord

'though he knows that his time is short

but the presents he brings can never compare

to the wonderful gift You have brought

For whatever disguise he may come in

and whatever good thing he might bring

the one thing he never will offer

is salvation through JESUS the king

So never a red robed Santa

will ever adorn my front door

it's the blood of my Lord on my doorpost

brings me peace and goodwill evermore

' They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of His hands. '              
 Isaiah ch.5 v.12


Oh light of Heaven - Holy king

of whom the hosts of angels sing
rekindle flame in darkened Earth

by stirring those of second birth
to speak with boldness of the love

sent by the Father from above
                       ********
When on a night so dark and cold

was prophesy fulfilled of old
a child to maid of no renown

was born to wear man's thorny crown
to bear the shame and take the place

of mankind fallen from God's grace
                        ********
Who now, with sin beneath His feet

stands at the side of God's own seat
declaring peace forever more

to those who enter through the door
of righteousness gained by God's Son
.......the Father's gift to everyone

 

 

'and the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah ch.9 v.6

How far will you follow me?

About a week ago, early one morning, there was a loud knock on our front door (we were actually still in bed 😍).  My husband put his jeans quickly over his pyjamas and went downstairs.  A builder was at the door, with his van parked outside.  'You want a new staircase' he said.  My husband told him that it appeared he was at the wrong house.

Later, after I had got up, I noticed that the builder was two doors down, carrying equipment from his van into that house. 

As usual with me, I began to see a spiritual reference to what had happened regarding the needing of a new staircase.  It reminded me of Jacob's ladder and his connection with God.  One sentence in this story stood out to me.   God says to Jacob:-'for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'  These words reminded me of God's promise to me of healing and His revealing to me that all His promises are 'yes' in Jesus, and increased my trust in what He has promised me.  They were showing me that in order to receive from God, and for His words to me to prove themselves true, I have to stay connected to that Word spoken (as in the 'stairway to Heaven' connection Jacob had with God), and not allow the spiritual enemy in the carnal mind to rob me of it coming to pass.
The day before yesterday I saw the words 'Don't quit' come up on the television screen, and I believe that this was a sign to encourage me in this area.  God can speak in the most amazing ways - even through an ass.
 

Yesterday morning I came down into the living room and put the television on.  I scrolled through the channels and came to a Christian channel where a man called pastor Shelley was speaking about having faith, and the importance of not giving up on that faith.  Every word he spoke and every scripture he referred to was  speaking about what I have been given by the Lord concerning my faith and the trial I have been going through for many years.  I was absolutely amazed.

I listened to him for about half an hour and then I heard my husband coming down the stairs.  There was conflict in my thoughts, part telling me to continue watching and part telling me that my husband would want something else on the television.  I allowed myself to be influenced to turn the program off and put another one on that I knew my husband liked.  Immediately I felt it was wrong, that I should carry on listening, but I had not taken note of which channel it was.  The number 587 came straight into my mind, I pressed those numbers and was taken back to pastor Shelley's programme. 

What he spoke from then to the end of the programme was all about not letting anything of man cause us to stray from the faith that God is building within us, which reminded me of myself not continuing to listen to what I believe God wanted me to listen to by being influenced to listen to what I believed my husband wanted to listen to.

 

Jesus says in Luke ch. 8 v. 10 that it has been given to His disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and goes on to explain the parable of the sower.

The parable speaks of those who hear the Word of God - there are four different 'hearers' of that Word. 

One is the hearer who has the Word taken away from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved.  He goes on to say that there are those who hear the Word, receive it with joy, but have no root and fall away in a time of testing.  Also there are those who hear the Word but are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, whose fruit does not mature.  The last ones He speaks about are 'those who hold fast the word they hear, in good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.'

 

I have to say that it is the fourth 'hearer' that I wish to identify with, and these verses are the perfect Words, especially the Words 'patient endurance', to encourage me to listen to and act on the Words God speaks to me so that my faith might increase.

 

The following  are words that I felt were spoken to me through the Holy Spirit to encourage me long ago to follow the Lord,  and to do what I believe He has called me to do, knowing that all things are possible with Him:-

How far will you follow Me
along this narrow track
When the path becomes too lonely
will you think of turning back
Will you yearn for the things you left behind
when I called you to be apart
Are there things that belong to your world of sin
lying dormant within your heart　

How far will you follow Me
along this lonely road
When you suffer man’s rejection
 will it prove too great a load
Will you stand within my guiding light
no matter where it leads
and will you listen to my Father’s voice
saying ‘ Child, go plant the seeds’　

Yes how far will you follow me
along the path to life
Will the trials be too much for you 
 of sickness and of strife
Or will you hold on fast to faith
remembering what I have said
that faith in your Lord has a power
that can even raise the dead
 

Father, I ask You in Jesus' name to continue to cause me to trust in the Words that You guide me with, keeping my eyes focused on them and not on what the carnal mind is telling me.
I pray also for brothers and sisters that may be going through trials, that Your Word will be their strength.  Amen and thank You Lord.

 

 

 

Joined as one in the Spirit

The only way we can be one with God is to be joined in the Spirit.

If we look at a crowd of people they are many, not one, because they all have separate minds which can differ immensely according to what thoughts are in those minds.  If we look at a cloud of smoke, if it separates into many pieces  by being blown by the wind in various directions it is still one, as it does not have the same issues.

This is an example to me of the difference between the carnal mind and the mind of Christ.

Something that speaks of God's promise in the scriptures is the rainbow.

In Genesis ch. 9 vs. 15-17 God says:-

'and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.' And God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.'… 

 

We now have a new covenant which is God's promise of eternal life if we believe in Jesus being the Word of God made flesh,  Who became the sacrificial lamb that enabled us to become children of God, and act on what is spoken to us daily from that Word as we work out our salvation.

I was looking out of the window of my workroom yesterday, down onto refuse bins in the street.  On top of the large bins are house numbers.  There were two on opposite sides of the road, a number 6 and a number 7.   Number 6 in the Bible symbolizes  'man', and human weakness, while number 7 represents 'completeness'.  The large number 7 on the one bin was made up of rainbow colours, and I immediately saw a message here. 

 

It is no good relying on sinful man to get rid of the spiritual rubbish inside us, we need to rely upon the promises of God (symbolized by the colour of the rainbow on the bin), which are all 'yes' in Jesus  (2 Corinthians ch.1 v.20), to get rid of the rubbish inside us.

Paul the apostle said in 2 Corinthians ch. 1 vs.18-22.

'But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.   For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.   For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.   Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,   who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.'

There is a warning in Colossians ch.2 vs.8-12:-

'Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power: In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, in which also you are risen with Him through the faith of the working of God, Who has raised Him from the dead.'

The two previous verses in this chapter -Colossians ch. 2 vs. 6 and 7 read:-

'As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.'

'Walking' in Jesus is a process that we have to work out gradually as we learn God's ways in Him through the Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth (John ch. 16 v.13), and although we can  error as we travel on this journey (sometimes through the trickery of the enemy) God is merciful and understands we are flesh.  This was portrayed to me through an incident in my life recently.

I had been to a church about five miles away and was returning home.  As I am not used to the roads here yet I accidentally missed a turning and carried on down the road.  I came to a turning which I thought was the one which led back to our house and there was a sign saying 'Diverted traffic'.  I thought 'Oh, the road must be closed for some reason'.  I carried on down the country road following more signs saying 'Diverted traffic'  and finally came to a seaside town.  I asked a man how I could get back to where I lived and he gave me directions.

 

This incident reminded me of how we can all make mistakes on the road to salvation by missing what the Lord is saying to us sometimes.  There can be two types of diversion.  One can be that the Lord diverts us away from sin, but the other can be that the enemy diverts us from the Lord, and this is why we have to learn God's ways.  Our mind is being renewed in Christ and this is a process, not an immediate action.  However, we are all given gifts of the Spirit in the Lord and they are for a reason.





1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 4-11 tells us:-                       

'There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.   There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.   And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.   But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:   for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,   to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.   But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.'

 

When one of us makes a mistake, as we all do on our spiritual journey 'through the wilderness to the promised land', then just as I was physically directed back to the right road by the man  who knew the direction I needed to go on my journey home from the church, we can all  be directed spiritually back to the road to salvation by one another through each of us activating the gifts that God has given to  us.  The gifts must all be used to build one another up.

Peace perfect peace

In my last post I included the song about the prodigal.  We too as individuals within the church can be drawn away from the Lord  by not following the Biblical instructions for the church when they come together,, as stated in 1 Corinthians ch. 14 v. 26:-
'What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.'

Also, we can deceive ourselves by not acting on that Word spoken to us as individuals, and go to the world or allow the traditions of man to make void the Word of God.
James ch. 1 v. 22 states:-
'But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.'

1 Corinthians ch. 10 v.6 states that the things written in  the old testament were examples for us that we might not desire evil as they did:-

'Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.'

Just as John the Baptist went in the spirit of Elijah, we can be spiritually in the state of a character portrayed in the old testament - sometimes good, sometimes bad.  The warfare is spiritual and not physical and God has a wonderful way of directing and correcting us through that Word.

2 Corinthians ch. 13 v. 5 states:-

'Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!', and we must do this daily to ensure that we are in the right spirit.

Jesus said 'In me you have peace',  He also said . 'Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me , and I am in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.…'

These words have proved, and still are proving, true in my life.

The following is a poem I wrote years ago when I was in a writer's circle and we were asked to write on the letter P, and it reflects to me the peace we have in the Lord when  we follow the Lord's instruction.

P.......s Perfect P.......s

Perhaps  I can share some things learned in my life
portray to you how I have coped
place things in perspective, past ease and past strife
while preparing for that which I've hoped

Pretending you're happy just does not work out
pleasing folk to keep peace is not right
For though problems will surface to darken good times
perfect light is our guide through each night 

Protection will come from our Father above
wisdom written in His precious Word
saying peace beyond measure and purest love
follows acting on His precious Word

So persevere in pursuing perfection
plant God's precepts deep down in your heart
prove His Word through pure  choice and selection
let God's power in your life play it's part

For people will try to persuade you
that pleasure, position and fame
are the things in this world that must guide you
but they're all just a slow burning flame

a paralyzing paradox that can't make things right
a way that cannot bring release
For it's only God's justice - that pure, perfect light
that can bring us true peace ....... perfect peace

John ch. 8 v. 12  reads:-
'When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." '

I say in response to this:-


Thank You Lord for Your mercy so tender
thank You Lord for a love pure and true
thank You Lord for revealing the Father
so that I might be fashioned like You
Thank You Lord that I'm part of Your body
thank You Lord we're becoming Your bride
thank You Lord for Your Spirit of comfort
sent to lead me back home to Your side
Thank You Father that You loved and forgave me
thank You Father that You sent Your dear Son
thank You Lord that You died to redeem me
thank You Lord for the battle You've won

The prodigal returns

This morning I awoke to find myself singing in my mind two songs I wrote some time ago, so I thought I would put them up as a post.

 

 

I'm on a cloud

 

I'm on a cloud above the world
a cauldron boils below
I see beneath me on God's earth
a tale of dread and woe
of how so very long ago
a man was formed from clay
and given life from God above 
but sin led him astray
- sin led him astray






He questioned what the Father said
and lost eternal life
so now he struggles in this world
in self-destructive strife
-in self-destructive strife

He tries to shape his future by the power of his own hand
his cry 'I'm my own master' - it echoes through the land
but while this proud confession is still upon his breath
the worldly life for which he strives has now become a death
-has now become a death

He stumbles in the darkness - his eyes have gone quite blind
'What have I done?' he questions - 'I've lost my peace of mind
-I've lost my peace of mind'

But wait! I look towards the east - a ray of hope I see
a second Adam sent to earth to set all mankind free
Put down your heavy burdens - this Saviour comes with love
come drink the waters of new life - sent down from God above
sent down from God above
He brings salvation to the world 
 your sins have all been pardoned
come learn of Him the Father's ways
don't let your hearts be hardened
-don't let your hearts be hardened

'Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'  Acts ch 2 v. 38


The prodigal returns
 
Lord I’m lost in the darkness         
lost alone and forlorn
my garments are tattered and filthy
my sandals are battered and worn　
Lost, I’m injured and frightened
with wounds all open and sore
the life that I thought I had wanted
has left me rejected and poor　

Lord I’m sorry I hurt You
now pain is the path that I roam
discovered when I chose to desert You
Father I want to come home　
Now as I lay on my pillow
my slumber is broken by fears
my shelter is the ash and the willow
my friends are repentance and tears　

Father I’ll never deserve You
You love me in spite of my shame
I run to You now longing to serve You
proud to be wearing Your name
Yes I run to You now longing to serve You
I’m so proud to be wearing Your name