Walking on water

I’m not going down

I’m not sinking under

I feel the waves

I hear the thunder

I’m not falling to fear

I’m not loosing my grip

I feel the wind 

I’m out of the ship

Keeping my eyes fixed.

No looking down or around

I take a step, all are confound

This ocean is my battleground

I’m not going down.

I have my eye on the crown.

Let the rain fall

Let the wind gust

Let the waves rise

I can walk on water

When I look into His eyes

His heart is my prize.

I’m walking on water with Love.

I’m promised more than just keeping my head above

cjb

Worship is Warfare

What does one do when the enemy is up against your back

breathing, heaving, huffing and puffing, clinging and singing

mocking, and a boast, happy that they have gotten so close.

Stand still my daughter and do not move, I am here

closer than close is my Holy Ghost, living and breathing,

fighting and loving with you, in you, watch what I can do!

I am watching and looking for all your signs, eyes open

I am praying and talking to you through my day, mouth wide

I am listening and quiet to know and hear what you may say

How long will you let them stay? You know when they will go away!

How long will I be standing here, still? Silent. When will you speak?

Do not be fooled, who mocks the Living God? What is sown they will reap.

Who is greater than my God? Who can stand in your presence?

Why do we fear the power of man? Dust is not to be feared.

Shake off the dust from them! Praise Him alone, the Great I AM.

What does one do when the enemy is up against your back?

You praise, the one who saves! The Last Word! By him we’re made.

You praise! You praise! You praise! You praise! Worship is our warfare. 

YOUR VOICE

Shake out the wanderings of my desert,

Speak to the dry places of my soul,

bring forth water from these hard places

give discernment as judgement unfolds

Speak kinder than the voices around me

Speak clearer than the closest of friends

Speak louder than the grumbling masses

Speak for me before this Sanhedrin

Your voice is resounding like thunder

Your voice can divide the flames

Your voice can topple the oak trees

This voice has called me by name

Shake out the wanderings of my desert

Shake out the loneliness in my heart

Shake out the pain of man’s deception

Shake out all that hinders this new start

Your voice is as high as the heavens

Your voice, more powerful then the seas

Your voice is a whisper in my darkness

A reminder that you never leave me.

Speak kinder than the voices around me

Speak clearer than the closest of friends

Speak louder than the grumbling masses

Speak through me till you come again.

( written after a study of Psalm 29)

Let Me Paint!

Let me paint!

Why do these words 

Flood my head and heart

Spilling over on to paper

For all to see, to dismember?

Painting has no words

Yet speaks volumes

To those who know 

To those who can hear 

Can you read the brush?

Understand the colors?

Enter the picture?

Hear the whisper or the scream?

Painting can be judged

But only in composition and skill,

Not in its raw emotion

Dried to a canvas 

And still.

Words can be read into, 

Sentences, ideas expressed

They all dissect!!

Was it me? Was it them? Was it then?

 When were these words written?

Everyone has their own 

Interpretation

Of words and art

So out of the heart…

My mouth will not speak

Therefore,

Lord let me paint!

cjb

Prisoner of Hope

I didn’t want to love but my heart deceived me 

I didn’t want to hate but pain whispered in my ear

I didn’t want to cry but my tears kept on falling

I didn’t want to hope but I’ve been imprisoned here.

I am a prisoner of hope by the prayers that bind me

I am a prisoner of hope, I’m chained to His Word

I am a prisoner of hope, locked in by His goodness

I am a prisoner of hope in a mighty fortress of love

I didn’t want to believe but He has never let me down

I didn’t want to doubt but this world has spun me around

I didn’t want to wait but there is nowhere without Him to go

I didn’t want to hope but I’ve been a prisoner for too long

I am a prisoner of hope, taken captive by my faith

I am a prisoner of hope by one who never lets me go

I am a prisoner of hope, so you can throw away the key

I am a prisoner of hope this is the freedom that I know.

cjb

Zachariah 9:12

“Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; 

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”

God of Delivery

“Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD.
"Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.”
Isaiah 66:9 (NIV)



The moment, of the burning bush
The moment when the sea does part.
The manna falls, the floodgates open,
Walls come down, giants hit the ground
No more curses just blessings all around
These moments have happened.

The moment, the kinsman redeems,
The scepter extended, the hem touched.
Water becomes wine and bread is broken.
Winds obey and He calms the sea
He raises the dead and the demons flee.
These moments can come upon us quickly.

The moment, when we know it’s spring
The moment when blue birds sing.
When the day is new and so are you,
The moment of our own deliverance.
He says your name, you're not the same
He shows His face, this is His grace
In these moments everything changes

In a moment, Gideon won the fight
In a moment, with a flash of light
In a moment, skies can open wide
In a moment, the sun again will rise
In a moment, trumpets will sound
In that moment, in him we’ll be found

Oh, God of delivery, God of new birth
Breakthrough, break-in, breakout!
In this moment! Hear us as we shout!
In this moment, immeasurably more!
We are asking! For this we war!
In our time, make yourself known.
In these moments, Your glory be shown.

cjb


“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
 Repeat them in our day,
 in our time make them known;
 in wrath remember mercy.”
Habakkuk 3:2(NIV)

Strike the rock

Strike up the rock
In the desert of our hearts
But donʼt be angry with us.
We are thirsty and dry
We turn to you on high.

Strike up the rock
Breakthrough, spring forth
Gush out, pour over us
Living water- bubbling joy
Ocean of love -fill us up

We want an outpouring
We need a release
We desire living water pouring out
in this place overflowing with grace

Strike up the rock
Breakthrough, spring forth
Gush out, pour over us
Living water- bubbling joy
Ocean of love -fill us up

Our help, our source
To quench all thirst
Refreshment we need today
We have wandered too long
But now sing this song

Strike up the rock!
Breakthrough, spring forth
Gush out, pour over us
Living water- bubbling joy
Ocean of love -fill us up

No complaints- just a plea
No complaints- you are our need
We are dry - thirsty for you.
Overflow with your grace
Pour out in this place
Strike the rock!
Let your Spirit flow through
cjb


"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."
Ezekiel 36:26
New Living Translation (©2007

Grace So Bright

The good doesn't outweigh the bad

The bad doesn't outweigh the good

Only grace can tip scales in my favor.

Only grace can make justice blind 

If righteousness can ever be mine.

I can't go back and change the past

I can't make tomorrow come quicker 

Only today to choose to live better

Only grace can make justice blind 

If righteousness can ever be mine. 

You're the judge of all my days 

You're the author of all time 

May Your Spirit for me, testify 

Shine like the dawn, light up the sky
Grace so bright! Justice made blind.

cjb

Hard Pressed

Roses pressed can make perfume.
Grapes pressed can bring us wine.

When I am pressed what comes forth?

Whatever is inside.


"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
1 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Dressed For Battle

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NIV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

What did you put on this morning? Are you dressed appropriately for this day?  We know life will have it’s challenges. We dress to protect ourselves against the weather. Some dress to impress or for “success”. Some wear their pj’s to the supermarket... What are you wearing today?

In spiritual warfare it is important to get dressed in the full armor of God. He provides us with our covering and we can see this in Ephesians 6:10-17

What does our heavenly Father tell us to wear? 

1. Helmet of Salvation – Jesus is our salvation -renew a right mind- giving our thoughts to Jesus. (1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8)
2. Breastplate of righteousness- Jesus is our righteousness- leads us in paths of righteousness for His name sake. ( Psalm 23:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 3:9)
3. Belt of Truth- He is the way, the truth and the life. ( John 1:14, John 8:31-32, John 14:6)
4. Feet fitted with the gospel of peace- He is The Prince of Peace. He is the Good news...the gospel that we take to others. ( Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27, Romans 5:1, Mark 16:15, Acts 8:35)
5. Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God... Jesus is the word and the word was with God and the word was God. In our defense we have the word of God. (John chapter 1)

Put on Jesus! On your head, over your heart, on your waist, on your feet...defend yourself and your own...you have the sword...The word which is also alive and active..Jesus! (Hebrews 4:12)

Put on Jesus. 

    6. And The Shield of Faith- This one is up to us. ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-7, Matthew 17:20, Acts 15:8-9)The enemy will try and throw things our way- shoot arrows of discouragement, doubt, fear, anxiety, disillusionment but our Faith...if we pick it up will guard us. The bigger our faith...the bigger our shield...the more protected we are from his schemes. (“I believe Lord help my unbelief” Mark 9:24)

 Get dressed in Jesus and pick up your faith!

Leap of Faith

Standing on the edge of sky

Been here long just getting by

I have a notion that I can fly

I’ve never come so far nor high

Ascending to descend

To drop or dive, to feel alive 

Or hit the ground without a cry

Or any sound by this I’m bound

Whoever’s truth is told or found

Ascending to descend

Please hear my thoughts, unspoken

Parachute, my plea to you is...open!

Faith! Be the leap to set me free?

Pull the cord and we will shall see.

Descending to ascend

cjb

Don't Give Me Roses

Don’t give me long stem roses

All full of themselves with poses 

It is love they claim to own

But none that I have known.

Pretense is another form of lying.

They remind me more of dying.

Lilacs are my favorite flowers

I know you didn’t ask.

Daffodils are happy

They look as if they laugh

“Forget-Me-Nots” say it straight

Leaving a heart awake to fate.

Flowers all have voices, please listen

Wisely chosen, an admirable ambition

Like words selected to share a thought

Are bouquets gathered for a heart.

As a word spoken can not be erased

Nor can that cut flower be replaced.

Pick kindness, speak with grace. 

What are the flowers in your vase?

Did you chose them well?

Do they have a story to tell?

The fragrance will fill a room

As your choices reach full bloom.

cjb

I like the little signs...

to read between the lines

a play on words, a clever pun

a lyric and a rhyme.

I like the little signs...

a lady bird, a butterfly

a bumble bee, a dragonfly

a fish, which maybe koi

I like the little signs...

a horse that’s white, an ocean’s view

a song that keeps my heart in tune.

birch trees in the snow

I like the little signs...

that life is good and hope still floats

a flower’s bloom, a mother’s womb

it lifts my heart, these little signs.

cjb

Picture your words

When I had no time to paint the Lord gave me words to share.

When words cannot be shared the Lord has given me paint.

Remember, that I am dust

Scripture reading: Genesis 2

Today’s text: Gen. 2:7 “ Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Dust collects overtime. If you are not careful or diligent it can become thick enough to write your name it in. Have you ever taken a book off a shelf and blown the dust off of it? Just the slightest movement of air across the surface and the dust goes flying everywhere. Dust has very little substance.

Until God breathed into the nostrils of man, Adam had no life within him. So it is in our walk through this life. We may live and breathe, wake and work but without the breathe of God, the Spirit of God living within us, we are dead. God not only gives life, he gives us himself, he gives us His Spirit.

Imagine God breathing into you new life. Imagine the dust from the old life being blown off by the breath of God. We, who are in Christ, can do more than imagine! It is a reality for all who ask. Have you asked God for His Spirit to be within you? Have you asked him blow the dust off of your old habits, to renew the spirit within you? The Holy Spirit which is the breath of God is available to all who ask. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 

fill me with life anew, 

that I may love what thou dost love, 

and do what thou wouldst do. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 

until my heart is pure, 

until with thee I will one will, 

to do and to endure. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 

till I am wholly thine, 

till all this earthly part of me 

glows with thy fire divine. 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, 

so shall I never die, 

but live with thee the perfect life 

of thine eternity. 

Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889 

Music: Robert Jackson, 1842-1914 

Prayer: Lord, You breathed life into Adam and made dust come to life. Breathe into me, I need your Spirit living in me. Remember that I am just dust without you. You are what gives me substance, “Breathe on me...till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.” 

Amen

The Walking Wounded

Put your good foot forward

walking wounded watch us go

limping, broken and on stilts

we perform, we perform

hide us, reject us, present us well

watch us, display us, our stories tell

limping, broken and on stilts

we move on, we move on

how we annoy the healthy

how we frustrate the well

our humiliation, so untidy

we limp on, we limp on

Why don’t we get better?

Why show this side to all

Is it what we’ve chosen?

All is well, All is well

Put your good foot forward

rise up, walk on, oh, wounded 

our pain won’t stop us now

We step out, We step out

cjb