Buy The Truth

Poems Presented In Church In 2021 to 2022, for about 10 months in the two main Sunday services, I presented poems in church as a ministry. Usually I shared an introduction to the poem (perhaps the story behind it if it was one of mine or if I knew of the events surrounding it), then I presented the verses behind it and a Biblical exhortation to draw closer to the Lord.  While we were recording the sermons preached each service, we did not think to actually record the poem presentations until about the last four months. The poems were a blessing to share and God's hand was definitely upon that ministry, as the poems and challenges I read often went with the theme of the sermons preached, the songs chosen, and many times both - yet the hymns chosen each day and the Pastor's themes or passages were not announced to me in advance. It was a ministry wholly dependent upon the Lord's guiding, and His hand was very evident for all those months. For various reasons, the Lord guided ...

  The Furnace Of Affliction  - Part Two Come Forth As Gold Isaiah 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 1) Man's Outward Trials.  A) Mankind In General:   It is obvious, from the overall testimony of Scripture, from beginning to ending, man’s lot on this earth is full of trials, troubles, afflictions, sufferings. Ever since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden, the curse of sin has affected all of our lives. The furnace of affliction has affected all of us.  Psalms 90:3, 5-10  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in...

The Lion Of God’s Word I love how the Apostle Paul used many images and comparisons in his preaching and writing to get the truth across to his readers, like in the following verse: 2 Timothy 2:8-9  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Vine’s Expository Dictionary  says this about the word  “bound”  as used in this passage: “…its ministry, course and efficacy were not hindered by the bonds and imprisonment suffered by the apostle.” Even though Paul was imprisoned and bound, the Word of God was not. “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” - Charles Spurgeon “The Word of God can take care of itself, and will do so if we preach it, and cease defending it. See you that lion. They have caged him for his preservation; shu...

The Touch Of Faith Matthew 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Mark 5:25-34 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but...

A Psalm Of Guidance (Psalm 25) - Part One This is the first of seven Acrostic Psalms (see also Psalms 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145), where each verse (or each section of eight verses in the case of Psalm 119) begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalms 25:1 A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, refers to various people lifting up their hands, their eyes, their voices, but here we have the Psalmist lifting up his soul to the Lord. Instead of choosing to focus on the vain things of this world (see Psalm 24:4), David resolved to focus only on the Lord. Truly, that is the secret of finding out God's will for your life – having a heart and soul focused steadfastly on the Lord. “With poetic passion, David cried out to God how that he laid his very soul before the Lord. Truly, this is fervent prayer. His heart was bared. His soul was offered up in prayer to God. God pays heed to such prayer.” (David Sorenso...

Just A Little Sparrow (Poem and Testimony) Something tonight reminded me of one poem I wrote for those involved in children's ministries. Rereading the testimony behind this poem was a blessing. I am no longer involved in the Sunday School bus ministry (though I was for four years) - I moved to another part of town and am unable to get to where the bus leaves in the morning, plus changes in work schedules hinder me from becoming involved again - but there are many blessed memories of this ministry. Just A Little Sparrow (Dedicated to all the little children) I’m just a little sparrow – Oh, please don’t forget me, Lord! I’m trusting in Your promises, Still believing in Your Word. I’m just a little sparrow – With these tears, it’s hard to see, But I know my Heavenly Father Is always watching over me. I’m just a little sparrow – So small and scared, I know; But Jesus died for all my sins, He washed me white as snow. I’m just a little sparrow – But one thing I know is true: Jesus loves...

The Fountain Of Living Waters Jeremiah 2:5-9 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead. The Lord God led Israel out of Egypt, pro...

At The Feet Of Jesus One of my favourite Bible characters is Mary of Bethany, Lazarus' sister. Every time we see her, she is at the feet of Jesus. The circumstances of each situation are different, and we can glean some principles from them. 1) Sitting Submissively Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Here we see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His Word and learning from her Lord. Jesus comme...