ONCE UPON

When I was a child I felt so insecure and useless and wished I was someone else. I looked on at the cool kids, the ones who were popular with the girls and tried to be like them, but it never happened. We are all unique in Gods eyes and are precious to Him and it was when I became a Christian that my real self could come out and be accepted. God doesn’t want us to wear masks, just to fit in with others. They may well be wearing their own versions, so be real and let God finish your makeover.

Once upon a Godless time
I used to feel so thick
Looking on at normal kids
I wished that I could flick
A switch to change my outward cool
My worthiness to match
The ones who were so popular
Someone who was a catch.

Nothing changed until the day
That Jesus came to call
He told me I was precious
And I should be walking tall
Now I am a child of God
My self worth riding high
Praise The Lord for all He’s done
As in His arms I lie.

THERE ARE PEOPLE

There are Christians you meet during your walk with Christ who exude a glow and you can see Him shining out of them. When I became a Christian all those years ago, the first thing I noticed when walking into our church for the first time was how different the people were to a sinner like me. They glowed and after a while I noticed that they were far from perfect, but God was using them just the same. We are all a project in the making and will never be perfct, so let God use you as you are, you too can make a difference.

There are people on this earth
Who’s love of God comes shining through
Just knowing them is quite enough
To get enthusiastic too
What is the secret they contain
What makes them go beyond the line
To me the answers very plain
A love for Jesus, oh so fine.

So when you feel you’re not enough
There is so much more to do
Accept that what you’re doing now
Is helping many people to
Acquire a sense of what it is
That rules the fibres of your soul
Perhaps they’ll want the love you have
To fill their empty, God shaped hole.

FRUSTRATION

We all get frustrated when things aren’t going right and these can range from finding a car parking space to major traumas in our lives. I learnt a long time ago that The Lord wants to be involved with every aspect of our lives and there is nothing too small that He doesn’t want to help us with. He even has our photo on His mantelpice as Andrew Wommack says and I can quite believe it.

Frustration in the car park
You cannot find a place
Your anger’s boiling up inside
Distorted is your face
Why don’t you ask The Lord to help
He’d love to aid your plight
Quickly, say an arrow prayer
And all will turn out right.

Problems in your family
You have financial need
From the least unto the most
Your prayers He will heed
Involve Him in your journey
Let every twist and turn
Be offered up to He who cares
Trust Him with your concern.

LIVING STONES

When we joined our church, twenty three years ago, we were among the first people brought in to build a new church, not the building, but as a living congregation who God could use to start a new thing. After us came many new families who all had the gifts needed to do the work of reconstruction. Now, all these years later, we have grown into four churches with plenty of outreach going on in the community and although it took a long time, we are now seeing the fruits. If your church seems to be dying or insular, keep praying for some kind of new work or even better get involved whether it be starting a toddler group or helping with some thing that you’ve been gifted to do.

Church is made of people
A thriving rockery
We’re living stones brought in by God
To set The Spirit free
From all religious  claptrap
All things bound by the past
A wind that’s blowing through the place
Revival counterblast.

The devil doesn’t  like this
he loves the church to die
The ageing  flock cut off from life
Will perish, bye and bye
But where we are he’s had it
Unwelcome little toad
We claim the place in Jesus name
Send satan down the road.

ORPHAN

We are all born as orphans, some have two parents some have one, but then we have to go through early life depending on them and the way we are brought up. My parents had both been in homes and knew very little about love. I had to form my own views on love and relationships, which led to quite damaging results. when I became a Christian twenty three years ago God started the job of removing all my own ideas on life and has painstakingly given me a more balanced view on how a married relationship should be. He is the ultimate parent and if you find yourself damaged by your past, give Him the nod to start repairing you.

I used to be an orphan
But now I’ve got a Dad
He gives me everything I need
That I have never had
He smothers me with kisses
And tells me that I’m great
I’ll do most anything for Him
Cos He’s  my bestest mate.

My earthly father didn’t know
What love was meant to be
His upbringing was rather harsh
Which passed on down to me
The line was cut when I became
A Christian through and through
So now my family have a life
It’s all because of You.

I’M OPEN TO OFFERS

There is more for us to do, this was prophesised at our annual Christian camp and left me wondering what it could be. I am all for waiting and letting it come to me, but having had a dodgy patch lately, I’m looking at it as an opportunity for more healing of my past. Having been brought up in an old fashioned family as an only child, I had to make my own way in the journey of relationships, and they were far from healthy. This is bound to be directing me now, even though I am happily married, and I look forward to being sorted out but only if I offer up myself to God for Him to start the process. He needs our permission, He won’t barge in and take us over, so if you are in the same position as me, go for it.

I’m open to offers
To change my direction
I’m feeling quite cosy
Quite free of selection
So am I just standing
As still as can be
Or have You intention
To agitate me.

I’m using the gift
That You gave me to share
It seems to be working
I’ve plenty to spare
But still there is lacking
A personal touch
Perhaps I’m not seeking
Your presence so much.

So help me to clamber
Upon the next stair
To seek You intently
Cos You’re always there
To lead me quite gently
To where is the place
Where love oozes out
Every pore of my space.

RISK

We all wear masks of one sort or another and face the world with our secrets intact. I tried to be someone else for years but soon lapsed back to the real me and one day I woke up at three in the morning with I AM WHAT I AM going through my mind. It was time to take my mask off and be the real me. It took another year before going for counselling and having the poison drained, believing that the normal childhood I experienced was anything but. The devil wants us bound and chained with fear, but no one is perfect and all have sin.

Have you something on your mind
Secrets that you’re loath to bear
Would you shock another’s ears
As your deepest sin you share
It’s a risk to let it out
Another mask allowed to fall
Who’s to say the time is right
Maybe it’s not time at all.

We are all a fearful lot
Frightened of what people think
They might turn their backs on us
Probably they wouldn’t blink
It is better out than in
God is with us all the way
Go on, let the poison out
Take another step today.

NIGHT TIME

I’ve always believed that on our deathbeds we will get a visit from Jesus, who till the very last moment, will offer us the chance of choosing Him, for He hates the thought of losing a child to satan and I have heard people say that their dying relatives, who were non Christians, said the name of Jesus as they passed away. We will be amazed at who is up in heaven, people who we have judged to have no chance of entry, yet God sees things differently to us and we should make sure that we are going there, rather than worrying about others.

As night time falls upon your life
The days of pain and fear are up
You’ll get a visit from a friend
The One has come, with you to sup
He’ll tell you all about His world
A place where love and joy are rife
But first you have to let Him in
Discuss your earthly, hard worn life.

The choice is yours until you pass
Creators best or devils hell
Will you accept the heavenly hand
Only you and time will tell
Remember that the life you lived
Was not a patch on what could be
Repent of what you thought was right
And live for all eternity.

PLAYING FIELD

You can go ages without any problems then your mind begins to wander into dangerous territory and you tend to slip off the road you were following. It could be anything of the world and the answer is to realise quickly where you are heading and nip it in the bud before it spreads like a disease. No one is immune from this as we are all desended from Adam and the devil is constantly trying to draw us back to him, the longer we tarry the deeper we get, so decide  if what you had with The Lord is worth more than what you have now.

Life is a great big playing field
You choose the games you play
Your mind is hyperactive
As your thoughts begin to stray
The boundary that you’ve set yourself
Is pure and quite refined
Until you think of something that
Will creep up from behind.

As you linger on this morsel
Savouring it’s powerful taste
You remember, you’re a Christian
You know you should flee in haste
It’s a battle we face daily
One that we should try to win
For the road is very narrow
Easy to get knocked off through sin.

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

We tend to do most things in our own strength and we usually fail miserably. When we finally realise our folly and hand it over to God, things change and we have an ending that He has ordained. In fact, it says in Matthew that we are blessed when we are are meek and weak, He has all the strength and power we need in any situation but He needs our permission to act and that’s where we have to swallow our pride and let Him have it. If you are going through a hard time, don’t carry the load yourself but let Him take your weight, you will praise Him for it.

The Lord Is my strength
For I am quite weak
And I have the choice
If it’s Him who I seek
He’s ready and willing
To sort out my mess
But first I must humble
Myself and confess.

If I am clever
I’ll look to the past
To all the occasions
That He’s held me fast
Being an adult
I come as a child
To seek my deliverance
And be reconciled.