Christmas is...

Christmas is not an annual one-day event,
With a cheeky elf or Santa for entertainment.
Christmas is not just a generous festive feast,
Or buying gifts to satisfy a consumer beast. 

 
Christmas is not about a tree dressed with tinsel,
Or whether the tree top has a star or an angel.
Christmas is not merely the carols we sing,
Or visiting loved ones with gifts that we bring. 

 
For Christmas is something far deeper, far more —
A holy reminder of a good hope at its core.
Christmas is a season of warm-hearted giving,
Of goodwill and grace woven into our living.
Christmas is charity, mercy, and kindness,
Where love in our actions becomes our witness.
Christmas recalls our Saviour, humbly born,
The One we remember again at Easter morn.
Christmas is Jesus — God’s promise of peace,
The true heart of the season, our centrepiece. 

 
So let us celebrate Christmas with wholehearted glee,
Honoring Jesus Christ, who was born to set us free.
Let us hold fast to what makes Christmas bright,
And keep Him at the centre — our truth, our joy, our light.

Hope is like a Rope

Hope is like a strong rope to hold on tight to,

With all your strength and might.

Something to hang on to

When you feel hopeless or blue,

Hope is the cure for a future that’s unsure.

Hope is like the scarlet chord,

That hung from a window and saw a prostitute restored.

Our Hope is in the blood-stained rope of Christ,

That bound Him to the cross that sufficed.

To save us from eternal death

Finished and done in His final breath.

Hope is like a rope, that pulls you out of every pit,

Rescuing you when you’re tempted to quit.

It swings you to the other side,

Safe and securely tied.

Hope is like a three chorded knotted rope,

That can never be severed or fray and helps you to cope.

It offers you a refuge, a shelter from life’s storms,

It transforms your fears into peace,

And makes your strivings cease.

Hope is like a life rope to hang onto very tight,

It holds you stable and makes everything alright.

When you reach the end of your rope, Jesus will see you through,

So hang hope from your life, so you can help pull others up too.

Hope is your rope, so hold on tight with a steady grip,

For it is God’s life-saving weapon of worship.

 

Comfort Food

There is a kind of magic in the indulgence of tasty morsels of good food,
That has the power to make you feel good and lift any dark, defeated mood.
Whether it’s a pie, mac & cheese or a satisfying beef stew, to name but a few,
It can bring pure comfort to your soul, when you’re feeling sad or blue.

 The recipe for grief is often found at the end of a bowl or a plate,
When anger at death or loss eats you up and fills you with hate.
There’s a crunchy, creamy, smooth, sweet or salty bite,
That can dissolve your grief and calm your inner warring fight.

But comfort eating, when done too often, can become a habit,
Leaving you with your favourite clothes that no longer will fit.
And the comfort that food brings you, won’t sustain you for long,
It only fills your stomach, but it cannot make your heart strong.

Instead of turning to food, there’s a better source of comfort,
That can remove your every hurt and pain, with very little effort.
He is your Heavenly Father, whose arms are calling, open wide,
He waits for you to come to Him, so He can heal you from inside.

For His comfort brings peace and joy that cannot be gotten from food,
His abounding love and faithfulness will make your heart feel good.
So lay down your knife, your fork and spoon, with all your heavy burdens,
And open up your heart, your mind and soul to be healed of all your demons. 

 

Christmas

Christmas is not just a happy holiday,
Or a time for festive greetings.
It’s a very special occasion indeed,
To enjoy time in family meetings.

Christmas is not about the presents,
Or when Christmas Carols are sung.
It’s a time to spend in Jesus’s presence,
And think what His birth has done.

Christmas is not about the feast,
Of flowing spirits and luxury food.
It’s a time to remember His birth,
And remain in a peace-filled mood.

Christmas is not about decorating a tree,
Or sending cards to all we know.
It’s about a birth that sets us free,
And for this, our joy should show.

Christmas is not a time for fuss or stress,
Rushing to find the perfect presents.
We should think more of those we can bless,
And remain in Jesus’s presence.

So set a time on Christmas morning,
To take time and thank God for Jesus.
For when Jesus is the reason for the season,
Love, hope and peace will fill your Christmas

Do you Get it?

 

 

                   
Do you get it? Do you have it? Do you understand it?
Do you know the it you’re meant to get?
Do you get what Jesus died to give you?
That He paid the price for your debt
Do you get the power in His name?
Have you experienced His deliverance power?
Do you understand the reason for His fame?
Have you discovered the refuge in His tower?
Do you intimately know who Jesus really is,
Your Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit?
Are you living in the joy of your inheritance?
Are you enjoying His blessings that are immediate?
So what are you prepared to give up or risk to get it?
You’ve got to get through stuff, before you can get it
Get through your past, your pride, your shame, your mess
Then believe and receive and don’t settle for nothing less
Drive out, kick out and yell for things to get out, and then slam that door!
You have to be emptied, so you will have the space to receive more
Then wake up, get up, arise and discover you weren’t dead, just sleeping
For there are more important things in life that’s worth keeping
You will only be able to give it to others, once you have got it
So I ask you, have you got it yet?

Life Changers Church - 'Who is this man?' by Gabe Philips https://fb.watch/7BxhOtUPFK/

Full sermon - 'Get it' by Gabe Philips https://linktr.ee/lifechangersct 

 

Life is like Rugby

 

I first wrote this poem after watching South Africa win against Scotland in Edinburgh in 2012, but I was inspired to edit it after hearing Mark van Pletsen include some Rugby phrases in his sermon 'Mine' on Sunday at Life Changers Church - Milnerton.

 

Life is like a Rugby game,
You need to play it as a team.
Keep your eyes on the ball,
And play it with self-esteem.

Claim the ball when it’s yours,
Hold it tight so you won’t drop it.
Rejoice when someone scores, 

Celebrate with praise and Spirit.

You can't control the ball's bounce,
Or where the ball will chose to land. 

But play it using God's rule Book,
Even when you don't understand.

 

When you’ve claimed the ball,
Look for an opportunity gap.
But if there’s none, just pass it on,
Don’t let selfishness be your trap.

Don’t let distractions block your view,  

Keep playing strong until the end.
Watch for your every blind-side,
Stand tall when you need to defend.

We all have our special talents,
Some score a try, and can convert.
Some are skilled for drop-kicks,
Whilst others can heal the hurt.

Don’t get weary or lose hope,
Keep sight of your game’s ball,
Be there for support as props,
And play your best in every maul.

God is our Head Referee,
But He never makes mistakes.
He alerts us of our penalties,
And redeems us with retakes.

Our Church leaders at our sides,
Help us to see all of our faults.
All our fouls we hide and mask,
And the opponents that we insult.

Let Jesus be your medic,
To help heal you when you're hurt.
He can teach you the right way to play,
And give you water when you thirst.

So engage your scrums and tackles,
With praise and worship prayers.

For that is how you win the victory,

When caught in the opponents snares.

There’s no such thing as luck,
For the game’s been set in stone,
You decide with which team to play,
For you don’t play the game alone.

Releasing your Offences

Have you been hooked by life’s silent killer
The devil’s easy lure of taking offence?
Do other people’s comments and actions
Always seem to put you on the defence?

These offences are life’s hidden enemy
That we feel so strongly, but cannot see
They steal your hope, destroy your future
And keep you bitter and bound in captivity

You can either be bitter or better
For those roots of bitterness will grow
They deceive us to only see the pain
And stops the Holy Spirit’s flow

When you carry the wounds of offence
You rob yourself of God’s good grace
They will deaden and harden your heart
And block you from seeing your destiny space

Don’t let any offence take a foothold
To make you a puppet to do Satan’s will
Watch out to not pick up any offences
For they each carry a heavy, bitter pill

Offences are not given but taken
The devil uses those closest to you
We cast them into media’s gossip
As our bitter roots fester and brew

It’s time to drop the weight of your baggage
To release and let your offenders go free
To unlock yourself of their robbing power
You need to give them God’s forgiveness key

We are called to pray for and bless
Our offending enemies and abusers
Not just once, but seventy times seven
Even our unfairest, harshest accusers

Increase your faith and not your feelings
Choose to become unoffendable
Stop living your life as a victim
Only with God’s grace is this possible

Stop waiting silently, for their apology
Lay your offence as the foot of the cross
Let Jesus heal your wounded heart
As you show the devil who’s boss!

Inspired by the sermon of Gabe Phillips from Life Changers Church - Milnerton : 

Are you watching this? -  https://youtu.be/8pl9XhRhADg

Water in the Wildnerness

Is your life dry and dusty from drought?
Are you thirsty and weary throughout?
Do you want to be watered and well?
Then drink deep from God’s Living well.

Don’t blame others for your dryness,
When you’re wandering in the wilderness.
Put a stop to all your feeble excuses,
That keep you from God’s presence.

The enemy is attracted to dry places,
He devours your dry, empty spaces.
Flood him out with God’s healing water,
For therein lies your wilderness answer.

God’s calling you to jump out of your boat,
Not just to walk on the water or float.
But to swim in deep and be fully submerged,
For it’s there that our dry places are purged.

Don’t let doubts and strongholds stop the flow,
Drink deep from God’s word, as you swallow.
His Spirit doesn’t fill us when we’re empty,
Only when we come, admitting we’re thirsty.

Drown your sorrows in His Living Waters,
Listen to God and not the enemy’s talkers.
Like a flood, the Lord’s grace washes us clean,
His Living water protects us, like a vaccine.

Drink of Jesus and you will never thirst,
Let His conquering love make your walls burst.
Open yourself to drink from His fountain,
Drink long, drink deep and drink often.

When you’re drowning in life’s storms,
Defeated by crashing waves that swarms,
Remember God is right there beside you,
It’s in deep waters that you find His rescue.

Let your Pool of Bethesda be well stirred,
By the healing waters of God’s Word.
Let His Spirit lead you beyond the water’s edge,
So He can clean you with His purifying dredge. 

 

God’s eternal waterfall holds great power.
Soak in it deep, under His anointing shower.
Refresh your spirit in His everlasting spring,
Come feel the quenching only God can bring.

Inspired by the sermon of Gabe Phillips – Life Changers Church, Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa - 

 The Water and The Wilderness

Song to enjoy : Keith & Kristyn Getty - Living Waters - 

 Living Waters

What you Feed will Grow

We wake each day with a choice,
With what and who will we feed.
We can be miserable or rejoice,
Focus on our blessings or our need.

Our food is the fuel that grows us,
Transforming us into someone new.
Growing to become more like Jesus,
When we feed on what’s pure and true.

Our flesh and 5 senses keep calling,
To feed them with our selfish desires.
Whilst our spirit’s growth keeps stalling,
Getting choked out from what it requires.

We need to crucify our flesh,
And starve it’s needs to death.
So that our spirit can arise afresh,
And feed on our worship breath.

Our spirit’s willing, our flesh is weak,
We must look above and not around.
For the spiritual food that we seek,
Is where our maturing growth is found.

We need to feed on God’s Word,
To read it, listen and meditate.
Making sure that our spirit is stirred,
As we daily finish what’s on our plate.

We need to feed on earnest prayer,
To talk to and hear from our Lord.
Knowing that He is always there,
Offering us blessings as our reward.

We need to feed on joyful praise,
To worship our God with a song.
Take off our focus on what preys,
Feeding together makes us strong.

We won’t grow with fast-food junk,
Gobbled up in a hurry, on the run.
Savoring long, on a decent chunk.
Is where our best growth is done.

So wake up each day and choose,
To feed your spirit and not your flesh,
Resisting self, making no excuse,
Until your flesh becomes hungry less.

And as you feed your spirit well,
By abiding and snacking all day,
Others will soon be able to tell,
And will want to eat of your buffet.

Wash my Feet, Lord

Wash my feet, oh Lord,
My filthy, black, muddy feet,
With their smelly, stench of sin,
Ugly and wrinkled from the heat.

Cleanse my feet, oh Lord,
Will you wipe away their shame?
Let your grace rinse them clean,
By the Power in your Name.

Wash them with your blood, Lord,
Let your living waters pour on me.
Soften my cracked, coarse, callouses,
Unshackle me from the enemy.

Help me expose my ugly feet, Lord,
In close intimacy and with humility.
Stop me from covering up with barriers,
Or trying to make them look all pretty.

Help me Lord, to be a good example,
To wash the feet of my neighbour.
To help clean and heal their dirtiest parts,
And to share the load of their heavy labour.

Teach me Lord, to walk in your shoes,
To take off my coat of pride, yet feel secure.
To be a willing servant to wash and clean,
And co-administer Your healing pedicure.

Lord, let me shake off the dust of this world,
So I can leave deep footprints in their hearts.
Let me walk upright and in your righteousness,
As I learn to serve to clean their sinful parts.

Inspired from a sermon by Daniel van Schalkwyk – Shofar Church

Life is like a Vineyard

 Our lives are like a vineyard
We all grow fruitful like grapes
We need God’s full Son and Water
To make beautiful landscapes

Our diseased parts get healed
When we’re grafted to the true vine
It’s when our Spirits sap gets sealed
That helps us yield the best wine

Like grapes, we’re crushed and pressed
To bring out a better character
We can yield a bountiful harvest
That’s ready to pour and decanter

What kind of grape are you growing?
Are they sweet, smooth or full-bodied?
Or are they dry, bitter or sour to taste?
Were they ripened with patience or hurried?

Some grapes are grown to be wine
Whilst others are drunk or eaten as fruit
God knows which ones to dry for raisins
For it’s in Him that our branches take root

Are your fruits small or bountiful?
Do you have many seeds to offer?
When you are planted in the right soil
Your skin will ripen much softer

The fruits of our labor are juicier
When we grow clustered in a bunch
All kind of grapes can be delicious
When enjoyed together with lunch

We need training to grow upright
With supports that secure our roots
Our branches need watered and pruned
To yield the best kind of wine or fruit

Be sure to stay connected to the Vine
Drawing His strength to grow you best
Wait well, look up but hang low
As you wait on your eternal harvest

Not a Christmas Catastrophe

(WCWC Dec 2020 - Catastrophe, Elf & Tinsel Word Prompt)

T’was the night before Christmas, & all through the flat,

The family were asleep, even the dog and cat.

No stockings were hung, no presents by the tree,

No gifts for Christmas seemed quite a catastrophe. 

 

The years before there had been gifts aplenty,

But sacrifices had to be made in the year 2020.

With jobs lost, & no blessing of a Christmas bonus,

Would leave most people feeling sad & anxious. 

 

But not this family who knew the true Christmas spirit,

Wasn’t about the gifts or luxury food for a banquet.

It was about having family & friends & showing love.

And celebrating Jesus, their greatest gift from above.

 

So even though there’d be no gifts from Santa this year,

The family’s heart & home were still filled with good cheer.

Silver tinsel sparkled the edges of their bookshelf,

With plenty of ornaments, even Buddy the Christmas elf. 

 

The family awoke on Christmas, happy, singing Carols,

About Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem & Hark, the singing angels.

They hugged & they laughed & they still had food to eat,

Ready to spread the Christmas spirit to everyone they’d meet.