Saturday, July 12, 2014

Bitter or Better


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:
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?
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.

Die or Deny


Keep me by Your saving power
From that dark and dreadful hour
When the masses will deny
Their Lord, for whom they fear to die

Strengthen that which You began.
Hold me in Your loving hand.
I entrust my soul to You,
For that which I myself can’t do.

I have not come to save my life,
Defending self when faced with strife.
What good is it, the world to gain,
Yet stand before the Lord in shame?

For what we do He will reward.
Did we deny the Sovereign Lord?
O, Keeper of my wandering soul,
You alone preserve the whole.


– Charity, girl, age 16

Scriptural basis:
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Mat 10:28-34)

"But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luk 21:36)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2Co 5:10)

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Rev 22:12)

"Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." (Rev 3:10)

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jud 1:24-25)

More of our children's poems:
The Name of the Lord
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing

Related blogs:
The Mark of the Beast (666)
The End Has Come
Word of Warning for America
America’s Destruction is at Hand
Are you Rapture Ready?

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through sixteen. I provided minor input on the completed version of the poem published on this page.  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.

Who is Judge?


According to the standards
That we will judge another
So will we be judged,
The same way as our brother.

Let’s focus on the plank
That hinders perfect sight,
So we can see the speck
And judge a sin aright.

The Master judges perfectly.
He sees the sinful heart.
So just entrust the job to Him
And He will do His part.


-- Charity, girl, age 16

Scriptural basis:
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Mat 7:1-5)

"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." (Jas 2:12-13)

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door." (Jas 5:9)

More of our children's poems:
The Name of the Lord
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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.

Our Sympathizer


God's ears are not unable to hear
The cry of the afflicted.
God's arm is not too short to save
The righteous from the wicked.

God's hand is not too small to offer
Comfort that is needed.
God's heart is not too dull to feel
The pain of those mistreated.

The Lord can surely sympathize
With what a human feels:
Our sorrow, weakness, and our cares.
To the Father He appeals.


–- Charity, girl, age 16

Scriptural basis:
"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. " (Isa 59:1)

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  (Heb 4:15-16)

More of our children's poems:
The Name of the Lord
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB

Author's note The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through sixteen. I provided minor input on the completed version of the poem published on this page. 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.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Sin's Price



Sin will always keep you longer
Than you really want to stay.
The clutch of sin will grow the stronger
The more from Christ you drift away.

You will walk a slippery slope
The more that you embrace the grave.
The end will come without a hope.
Then comes the overwhelming wave.

If you are trapped in the mud and mire,
Call upon the Name Supreme.
Salvation being your desire,
Jesus Christ will then redeem.

-- Charity, girl, age 16

Related blogs:

More of our children's poems:
The Name of the Lord
The Sheep and the Goats
The Spirit is willing

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



Who has eyes that burn like fire?
Who has hair as white as snow?
Who can meet our heart’s desire?
Who has feet like bronze aglow?

Who has love as strong as death?
Who has power in His voice?
Who grants man his every breath?
Who is reason to rejoice?

Who is robed in spotless white?
Who is known for victories won?
Whose arms are set with chrysolite?
Who shines brighter than the sun?

In Whose Name is there all power,
The Name that can from sin release us?
Who is coming at this hour?
None other than our Bridegroom, Jesus.

-- Charity, Hope, and Faith, (ages 16, 13, and 11)

Related blogs:

Other children's poems:

Image credit: Image courtesy of Sid Roth, It's Supernatural, testimony of Tony Kemp.

Author's note The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages seven through fifteen . 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."  Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

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.