Breathless ©

Beautiful as a silken sunrise.
Remnants of last night's dreams now fading.
Eager to release their cold dark hold.
The day is slowly awakening.
A threshold of possibilities.
Holding my breath I take it all in.
I let it out in a thankful sigh.
The ebony night has gone for now.
The promise of a new day is here.
For today I will walk with my Lord.

MJ Flack

I enjoy writing poems. Send me a DM if you would like me to write a poem for you.

The PrayerMate app has been available for fifteen years. I find it easy to use for organising my prayers.

You may want to try it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.geero.prayermate

Where do you live?
Share your city and county.

Me: Lithgow, Australia

Shadow ©

People look through me.
As if I'm not there.
They miss who I am.

They don't know my life.
And what I can do.
They do things that hurt.
Say things that Aren't true.

I trust in the Lord.
Who has walked with me.
He has seen my pain.
Yet still holds me close.

The world can ghost me.
Leave me on life's road.
Another victim.
Of it's poison rage.

I will still stand strong.
For my saviour sake.
I will hold my faith.
In the Lord of life.

MJ Flack

I've been blocked by Facebook for posting against Islam. Has anyone else had this done to them?

I was thinking; with all the talk of aliens would the world explain the rapture as an alien abduction?

Hello,

I'm looking for new friends. Please add me as a friend so as Christians we can share the journey.

Prayer Warriors

What do you think of when someone mentions the word Prayer? For some the concept or relationship between God and Prayer is that of a Magical Genie who grants their every wishful prayer. While others have the opinion that God only answers prayer after a set of conditions are met along with highly formulated rituals. Yet then there are others who half heartily pray to the either or the god (little letter intended) that may or may not bother granting their request. So what do you really think of when someone mentions the word Prayer?

I have organised the above scripture in the order they are to highlight the important aspects of what I may call guided prayer and the dangers of what I equally call misguided prayer.

To begin with, God is not a genie or bell hop that answers all our prayers. We should approach God not with a long list of prayers that we feel He should answer regardless. The relationship between us and God is not structured in that way. For we owe everything to God while he chooses to reach out to us and seeks us to return to him; he does not have the same obligations that we have. So what does 1 John 5:14 14 tell us? In this we find the significant words "if we ask anything according to his will". In these few words we may ponder on the way that God is able to see the big picture. Not just the request but the outcome of the many variable answers to it. Where as we, being mortal, can only see the immediate urgency of our request, God can see beyond this and knows that there are some prayers that are not in keeping with either His will or His ultimate intention for us and those we pray for. So when we pray we should think first of the depth and importance of God's will. Then we may find that instead of directly stating "I pray someone gets better" we may find ourselves learning that strength and truth in saying "I pray that if it be your will that someone gets better". Always keep in mind that God created all things and that all things work towards the fulfillment of His grand design and we are His creation and can pray for just about anything as long as we recognise that God is the final judge as to the purpose and outcome of all prayer.

The next step looks at the way we actually pray. Some prefer to kneel while some prefer to lay prostrate on the ground. The physical position is not important. What is import is the spiritual position of the heart. The words in 2 Chronicles 7:14 14 tell us several important facts that will create the correct position for prayer. There are words that help us understand where we should be in regards to God. To begin we are told that the Lord tells us that we are "called by my name" and that we should approach as we "will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways". There's so much packed in these words. We are to recognise that we are called by God through Jesus Christ and that we are to humble ourselves before God in our prayer and to seek His Face. Sadly some approach God in prayer as if they somehow have a privilege or that they have done so many good deeds that God will just have to answer their prayer. Neither of these will work as they both lack true humility. Then there is the tricky question of sin. Once again we look at the many who pray earnestly in the hope of answers yet who live outside of God's Grace by the fact they continue to do the very sins that keep them apart from God's Grace. How can a Holy God answer someone's prayers if they ask for something, no matter how seemingly noble, yet turn around and sin? To do so is the same as treating God as either a fool who doesn't know their true heart or a God that doesn't care. Sin separates us from God and negates our deepest prayers. Think about where you are in relation to God's Grace before entering prayer.

In Ephesians 6:18 18 we are told to pray in the Spirit and to pray all sorts of prayers. What might this mean? Well to begin with we are told that we are filled with the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. God promised this to the Disciples and has promised this as our Comforter throughout the generations of Man. If we are indeed Born Again and following in the Lords Steps we will acknowledge the Holy Spirit working in our lives. So when we pray we should do so also acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us focus and find the words we may need. If we do we will find it easier to form a range of prayers for all God's people and not just those we care about. We may even find ourselves praying for those difficult people at Church. Feeling uncomfortable? Seek God's Grace to help you through it.

There is something that we may return to in John 14:13 2. The words "that the Father may be glorified in the Son". When we pray we can often forget that all things should glorify God through His Son Jesus Christ. Even our prayers should speak of the wonders of His Grace towards us. So to try and make this clearer, when we pray we are not just seeking the Will of God but also that the answer to our prayer will work towards the magnifying of Jesus Christ in all His Glory.

In closing I mention what I termed misguided prayer. In Hebrews 11:6 we are hit with the epic truth. How can some who half heartily believe that a god (little letter intended) of some sort of general nature yet not quite defined or really completely believed in will somehow pop in and make the request come true? For far too many the very image of God has become a mystery too deep and heavy to ponder so they take a liaise-fare attitude towards God and ask for and request things without any conviction that either God exists or their prayer will be answer. If the prayer seems to be answered they seldom return to thank God and if the prayer is left unanswered they tend to shake their fists in anger at what they deem an uncaring God. Just like my observation to a question that was posed by Richard Dawkins asked Cardinal Pell "Can an Atheist go to Haven". Cardinal Pell seemed to fail when he said yes. My reply would have been that although an Atheist can go to Heaven you would not find and Atheist in Heaven. Simply explained that for an Atheist to enter Heaven they would need to accept that God exists, Heaven exists, and that Jesus Christ is the only way to Salvation and entry into Heaven. Once they do all this they may enter Heaven and would of course no longer be an Atheist would they. So how can someone who either doesn't truly believe in God or only has a vague concept ever expect their prayerful requests to be answered? It boggles the mind how some people think let alone survive day to day.

Prayer:

I pray in the name of my Saviour,
Jesus the Christ God begotten Son,
That I may hold fast to the Holy Spirit.
Following the gentle leading of Grace,
Towards the true Will of God.
That all my thoughts, prayers and actions,
Will continue to seek ways of Glorifying
God and Jesus in all that I do in their names sake.

Amen

Of Good Works?

If you did a survey of Christians you may be surprised at the divisions. One group will state that faith is sufficient. While another group will state that faith alone is of no use without good works. Then there is a third group that will say that you need to keep doing works to prove you're worthy. I will attest that the Bible clearly tells us that we are saved not by our works or anything that we can do: But by our acceptance of the gift of grace given to us from God. That is through His Son Jesus the Christ. Our works though are important. Not as any form of justification but as our way to please God. For it's by our acts of kindness and works of mercy that we can live as examples of Gods' grace in a cold and indifferent world.

The Bible tells us that we are saved by God's grace through our faith in Jesus and not because of anything we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). It's all about God's grace and our faith in Jesus. God's love, forgiveness, and salvation are all because of Christ's work, not because of our own actions. The only action we take part in is by admitting our sins and accepting the gift of grace. So we can see that it's God's grace that saves us, not our own efforts. It's all about what Christ has done for us, not about what we can do. We can never earn salvation on our own, but through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous by God. It's not about following rules, but about trusting in God's grace. Our salvation is a gift from God, and that's the Good News of the Gospel. I could repeat this numerous times. Yet there will always be someone who finds this difficult to grasp or comprehend. They will continue to 'work' for salvation.

A short story expresses this rather well:
There were five brothers who lived with their father the king in a kingdom on comfort and plenty. There was a river that flowed through the kingdom. The water was treacherous as the surface hid a dangerous undercurrent. So the brothers were told to never go swimming in it. Yet one day four of the brothers were playing near the river. One of them threw a ball that splashed and landed on a small rock in the middle of the river. One of the brothers said he could reach the rock and get the ball if the other three held hands together in a sort of rope. They did this and the brother made it to the rock and had grasped the ball; when the undercurrent dragged them all away.

Status: The brothers struggled to stay together and above the water. When the current finally slowed they found themselves on a rocky bank along the river. The climbed up and built a fire and waited to be rescued by their father the king. While there they talked about what things they could do while there. The next day three of them woke up and found their older brother had left them. When they found him he was building a house. When asked he told them he wanted their father to see what a great palace he had built. Nothing would convince him to return to the fire.

Legalism:
The next day another brother had gone away. The remaining two brothers found him on a small hill watching the first brother. When asked what he was doing he told them he was watching all the bad things the older brother was doing. He planned to tell their father all about it. No amount of talk would make him leave his place so the two brothers returned to the fire.

Works:
The next morning the youngest brother woke up to find he was alone. He looked and found the brother who was with him the last night in the river. Taking stones from the bank and making a rocky jetty. Sadly as soon as he set a rock and went for another the first rock would get washed away. He explained he would build a bridge himself to return home. And, just like the other brothers, he refused to return to the fire.

Patient Faith:
The youngest brother returned to the fire and waited. Until one day the eldest brother was seen walking down the river. He was the biggest and strongest of the five brothers. So the current didn't drag him away. He found the youngest brother and asked where the others were. The youngest showed him were they were. The oldest brother asked the first one to return. He bragged that his house was better than anything their father had seen and how pleased he would be. The second brother listed all the crimes the brother had done and would stay and continue watching. While the last brother swore he would build his bridge and return without anyone's help. So the eldest brother picked up the youngest one and they entered the river and returned home.

To this day the other brothers are still doing what they believe will get them back home. In each case the brother took t on himself to do something to assure that he would find his way home. Yet they should have known that there was nothing they could do; regardless of their meaningful intentions. No amount of earthly status will make one appear great. No amount of legalism will make one appear to be religious. And no amount of work will bridge the gap between them and their father. How true this is with Christians. We are in many ways like the brothers. We struggle to make what 'we think' is the best thing to do. Yet in the end it comes down to three things that we can do.

Admit that we are a sinners
Accept Jesus the Christ as Saviour
Live in faith in Gods' grace

For by faith we are saved and through works in praise of Gods' grace should we live.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
You have blessed me with many things,
None of them should I ever brag about.
For you and you alone I use these gifts.
To praise and worship your holy name.

Precious Lord Jesus the Christ,
It's by your atonement that I am saved.
Nothing I can say or do can ever match,
The redemption that you have given me.

May I always live in the grace of my God.
Ready to admit where my salvation comes from.
Prepared to give a witness to the gospel truth.
As I shine a light in an ever darkening world.

Amen

Fight the Good Fight ©
a paraphrased found poem

Fight the good fight of the faith.
The sound of distant thunder.
Rumours of bloodshed and smoke.
Are you ready Christian Knight.
To take up the cross and fight.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh.
They are forged in fire, blood and the prayers of saints.
Sharpened and readied to fight dark unearthly foes.
Blessed by angels to cut the night from the day.

For we do not wrestle against mere flesh and blood.
See how Satan has assembled his dark forces.
His corrupted twisted evil spirit puppets.
They that feverishly thirst for innocent blood.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith.
As well as the sword of the spirit for battle.
Girded with the belt of perfect truth in all things.
The armour of God protects you from fiery darts.

The word of God is far sharper than any sword.
So be sure to read and remember the scripture.
For the truth you speak will cast out every evil.
It is God Himself who has given you His word.

Now in all these things we are more than conquerors.
We are emboldened by our Lord and saviour king.
Standing side by side with an army of angels.
We will overcome the rank armies of darkness.

For I have fought the good fight.
Let your words be true and pure.
So on that day you can say.
That you fought bravely for God.

MJ Flack

I invite you to visit my Christian website where I post Scripture and poetry. All original content.

http://benediction.au

Am I Good Enough

Scriptural Reference:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10

"you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies."
1 Corinthians 6:20

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:8-10

Reflection:
I find it sad that many Christians, when they face mortality and death, often ask friends if they have been "Good enough". As if somehow they might have failed to be good enough for God. Have I done enough good works? Reached enough people with the Gospel message? Given enough to the needy and the poor? Gone to church often enough? Prayed hard enough? Has my life been lived as I should have?

Sadly if they are asking these questions they may either have failed to have lived the life they earnestly believe they should have lived. Or they have missed the message in the Bible that tells us that we can not in any way work towards acceptance into heaven. Or in many cases they may have failed on both points. As we are purchased and redeemed at a great price. And not by our works or our words that we are saved. Lest we should become proud and boastful. Bragging to others at how perfectly blessed we are based on our life and our works. The Pharisees and Scribes, even many ministers today, where fond of publicly pronouncing their worthiness. I remember being asked to leave a small New Years Eve luncheon. Where a man of the cloth kept pontificating. Say such things "as the most worshipful minister my congregation look up to me", "being the high priest of my church my congregation listen to me" as well as "my congregation look up to me their worshipful minister". It seems he took exception to being called out for being a arrogant. He has had his rewards here on earth. What awaits him in heaven is anyone guess. Though I feel confident he will be shocked and surprised it doesn't live up to his expectation. One of my personal quotes goes well here.

"Some people are legends in their own minds"
MJ Flack

So what can we say about the et al of the family of Christ? Those who, faced with death, and ask if they had been good enough to be accepted by God. Well we can remind ourselves that none of us could ever be good enough. That we were all born into sin. Yes, that none are worthy (Romans 3:9-20). But that we are only saved by the Grace of God and through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. That as we call on the name of Jesus the Christ (Romans 10:13) we are saved. That's a fact. It's through the redemption of the Lord that we can be transformed and made acceptable to God. We find reconciliation with our creator God only through the Lord.

Another way of answering the curious question posed by someone of the faith is to consider their view of Jesus the Christ. How firmly do they believe that Jesus is the Son of God? How firmly do they believe that Jesus the Christ is perfect and holy? Do they believe that Jesus is up to the challenge of preparing us for that day when we will all stand before God in judgement? I refer here to 2 Corinthians 12:9. Where we read that our weakness is made strength through our Lord. That it is His Grace that is sufficient for each of us. I'd say this should reassure anyone who is wavering in their faith. Feeling somehow inadequate for acceptance into heaven. So once again I reiterate that it is only by the grace of God through His beloved Son Jesus the Christ that we can be admitted into heaven. To share in fellowship with the angels as we worship our creator face to face.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
I humbly submit my life as,
A living sacrifice for you,
A tribute of your grace,
A messenger of your gospel,
A comfort to the destitute,
A commitment to love.

I recognise in humility that,
No works by me is sufficient,
No words spoken of value,
No examples ever perfect,
No payment ever final,
No act made by me true.

But that only through you,
I am made acceptable,
I am made presentable,
I am made clean before God,
I am welcomed into heaven,
I am saved and redeemed.

Amen

Question: In the Mobile App there's an option to read text. Such as Text to Speech (TTS). I don't see that option with the website version. How might I be able to activate it?