When comes a test
Of righteousness
We have a choice in this.
To be transformed,
As Christ, conformed,
Or else be filled with bitterness.
The “I” must die,
Our flesh deny,
Through troubles hard to face.
If we will choose
Our life to lose
Then God will us grace.
A person bitter
Is just a quitter,
So fight the battle longer.
In God we trust
To work in us
And time will prove us stronger.
Sweet and sour,
Blossomed flower,
Or withered in the face of pain.
A bitter root
Or healthy shoot,
The spiteful heart will not remain.
– Charity, girl, age 16
When we go through trials and hardships, we can come out of them either bitter or better. It has been said that the difference between "bitter" and "better" is the "I". When "I" remains alive and well, we develop a bitter attitude. But when "I" is denied and the cross applied, then we become better by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptural basis:
"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Heb 12:15)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Js 1:2-4)
"Then [Jesus] said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" (Lk 9:23)
More of our children's poems:
Scriptural basis:
"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Heb 12:15)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Js 1:2-4)
"Then [Jesus] said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" (Lk 9:23)
More of our children's poems:
The Name of the Lord
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing
Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. Photo of boat washed up from the channel is taken from Wikimedia Commons.
Author's note: The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through sixteen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing
Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. Photo of boat washed up from the channel is taken from Wikimedia Commons.
Author's note: The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through sixteen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you
repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible
says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________
Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
