The Armor of God

Posted on February 21, 2013 by dforchrist

A fresh one from God just finished a few minutes ago. Based of Ephesians 6:11-18, of course.

A pretty fun illustration - The Armor of God!

Graphic credit: © Paul Dallgas-Frey

The Armor of God

We must put on God’s armor
If we want to stand up strong
Against the wiles of Satan and
Make sure we don’t go wrong.
We wrestle not with flesh and blood,
But principalities
And powers, darkness, wickedness
On land and on the seas.
So take up all the armor that
You may withstand that day.
And stand before the evil in
A godly, righteous way.
Put on the belt of truth (not lies)
And then protect your heart
By putting on the breastplate made
Of righteousness to start.
For Jesus gave us righteousness
To clothe us every day.
So don’t neglect to wear this plate,
So righteous, you will stay.
Your feet should wear the shoes of peace
To spread the Gospel Word.
So lovely are the ones who share
With those who have not heard.
Above all take the shield of faith
To quench the fiery darts
Of wicked ones who love to wound
Or even kill our hearts.
The helmet of salvation to
Protect your mind and wits
From every weapon Satan aims.
(You know, he never quits!)
The Sword is vital, speak aloud
And let His Word be heard.
The Spirit can land mighty blows
With each inspired word.
And don’t neglect to pray to God
In Spirit for His aid.
In supplication for the saints
Who, for you too, have prayed.
If we are careful to put on
Each item here as warned,
We’ll stand up strong with Jesus and
By Him, we won’t be scorned.

© 2013 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Looking Toward Eden

Posted on February 20, 2013 by dforchrist

This was inspired by Pastor Colin Smith and his series, Unlocking the Bible. He basically told this story and it impressed me so much that I wanted to tell in rhyme.

The Flaming Sword

 

Photo Credit: Picstopin.com

Looking Toward Eden

We’re standing on the outside
Looking back at Eden’s gate.
We’d love to be back safe inside
But Sin says it’s too late.
For there are fearsome cherubim
With flashing, flaming sword
That bar us from the garden and
They cannot be ignored.
We’re helpless and so all alone,
At least that’s how it seems,
And then we see the Son of God
Come down as in our dreams.
He came to stand beside us;
He said we’d be redeemed.
And then He started forward
Into certain doom, it seemed.
He walked into the flashing sword!
I saw it cut Him down.
The King, who died for all my sins
Although He wore the crown.
But then I saw the flaming sword
Had broken in the act
Of cutting down the King of kings
And that had changed the facts.
He’d made a way for our return;
He’d opened up the door
So we could come through Him to God
And fellowship once more.

©2011 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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1st Psalm

Posted on February 18, 2013 by dforchrist

Here’s another psalm I rewrote in rhyme.

photo credit: Reflections In The Word

1st Psalm

Blessed is the man who does
Not walk the wicked road,
Who doesn’t stand with sinners nor
Let scornful words explode.
But his delight is in the law
He ponders day and night.
This man is planted like a tree
By rivers in the light.
He’ll bring forth fruit in season and
His leaf won’t shrivel up.
All that he does will prosper and
He’ll drink a blessed cup.
Ungodly men are not like this;
They are like worthless chaff,
The wind will scatter near and far
With every little draft.
They will not stand in judgment nor
Will sinners enter in
The congregation of the saints;
The righteous only win.
For God can see the way of them
Who follow righteous ways;
Ungodly men will perish in
Those final judgment days.

© 2013 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Be A God Reflector

Posted on February 16, 2013 by dforchrist

I wrote this one about a sermon that I heard where the pastor used a bicycle reflector to demonstrate how we are like that reflector and, though we can produce no light of our own, we can shine very brightly if we stay clean and allow God’s light to reflect off of us to guide others to Him. It struck me very strongly and the image stayed with me for a long time. As it says in Matthew: Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in Heaven.

bible god quotes 158 Let your light so shine before men

Be a God Reflector

It’s said we are the hands & feet
Of Jesus while on earth.
Our actions show the evidence
Of spiritual rebirth.
The world can only see in us
Reflections of His light.
So we must always strive to keep
That image pure & bright.
Do you reflect God’s Holy light
Of love to everyone?
Do you seek ways to share His gift:
His one and only Son?
When people look at us we want
For them to just see Him.
When we reflect God’s love to all
The light will not grow dim.

© 2012 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Salvation’s Song

Posted on February 14, 2013 by dforchrist

This is another one I can hardly claim authorship of at all. The words came to me on the drive home from work. I was very grateful for voice recognition on my phone, as I dictated most of this on my phone before I even got home. It is a totally different rhythm and rhyme scheme than I have ever done before. It came to me via a still, small voice.

Childrens Music Camp logo

Graphic credit: SCBC

Salvation’s Song

When this world tries to get me down
Grind me down into the ground,
Where on earth can hope be found?
I turn eyes to the maker of
The heavens filled with stars above,
Who offers His eternal love,
The One who loves me as I am,
The sinless One, the spotless Lamb,
Ancient of Days, the great I Am.
I thank You, Lord, for giving me,
Your word, your grace, which sets me free.
Your child and heir I’ll always be.
I give my life to You alone,
I offer heart and blood and bone,
But this for sin could not atone.
Your blood was shed to cleanse each sin,
To bring me back from where I’ve been
And make me right with God again.
Your mercy, love and saving grace,
Your sacrifice to take my place
Removed my sins without a trace.
All I can say is, “Thank you so
For helping me to learn and grow.”
You’re all I need. Lord, this I know.

© 2012 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Trust Him

Posted on February 12, 2013 by dforchrist

I wrote this several years ago when a cousin died. I need to go back and look up the exact year. Rereading this, I realized that this works for more than just the death of a loved one. We walk by faith at all times, whether we understand where He’s leading us or not.

bible god quotes 700 Things happen for a reason

Trust Him

Although sometimes things happen that
We cannot understand
We always must remember that
We’re guided by God’s hand.
Some paths that he may lead us down
We’d just as soon not go,
But we must trust His reasons for
The pain He makes us know.
His methods can’t be understood
While we are here on earth.
We simply have to trust that He
Will lead us all from birth
Through life until we breathe our last
And join Him by the throne.
Until that day we travel blind,
By faith in Him alone.

© Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Footprints

Posted on February 9, 2013 by dforchrist

Most people have seen the story about the Footprints in the Sand (Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson). I decided to retell it in rhyme. I added a little at the end, as well. So what do you think?

Footprints

Footprints

One night I had a dream I walked
A beach with soft, wet sand.
Beside me was my Savior as
We walked there, hand in hand.
Just like a giant movie screen
Stretched out across the sky,
I watched as all the many scenes
Of my life flashed right by.
I saw the games, the laughter and
The triumphs and the tears.
I felt again the joys of life,
The pain and many fears.
When we had reached the end I turned,
Wait! What is this I see?
One set of prints in places!?!
Well, that really troubled me.
“My Lord, You made a promise that
If I would follow You,
You’d always be there with me and
Would help me make it through.
But as I look, I see one print
In times when I was weak.”
His eyes were sad, His voice was soft,
When He began to speak.
“Where is your faith? You’ve felt my love,
My precious, precious child.”
Though I could see my charge hurt Him
His voice was soft and mild.
“You know my promise, that I said
I’d always stay with you.
And I would be your shield and strength
If you would just be true.
The times you look and see just one
Clear print there in the sand,
I carried you, for in those times
You were too weak to stand.”
Though this was just a dream I knew
His every word was true.
Remember, as He carried me
He’ll also carry you.
So in your life if you look back
At one print in the sand,
You’ll know it’s when He carried you
Because you could not stand.

©2012 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Big Problems

Posted on February 7, 2013 by dforchrist

Always remember that your biggest problems aren’t problems to God. He can handle anything.

I was listening to a podcast (can’t remember now which one, sorry) and they told a story about someone who had told her pastor that she didn’t “bother God” with little things, only big problems. His reply was to ask her what was a “big problem” to God! I have also seen a saying on Facebook, “Instead of staying up all night worrying, give your worries to God tonight. He’ll be up anyway.” These two were the inspiration for the following poem.

I want to thank my wonderfully patient husband for his help and critiques that helped me really improve this poem greatly. He never gets impatient (though I’m sure sometimes he mentally rolls his eyes) when he hears, “Listen to this and tell me what you think,” or “Listen now and see if this is better.” Thanks, Dave!

bible god quotes 607 Don’t worry about anything

Big Problems

“I shouldn’t bother God with this
It isn’t big enough.
I’ll save my prayers to ask for help
When things are really tough.”
If you’ve said this, or if you’ve feared
That this thought might be true,
I’m here to say that I don’t think
You’ve really thought it through.
Please tell me what is tough to God?
He made the stars and sun;
He made the earth and you and me.
Just think what He has done!
For the creator of the world,
It’s not too big or small.
For He can count the grains of sand
And knows when sparrows fall.
It’s all small stuff to God and yet
He truly cares for you.
Give all your cares—whatever size—
To God to see you through.
It’s not too small to God and so
Just place it in His hands.
Don’t let your cares be driven by
This broken world’s demands.
In anything that bothers you,
What really bothers God
Is that you keep it to yourself.
Your logic here is flawed.
If worries are a burden and
They hold you back today,
Then give them up to God tonight.
He’ll be up anyway.

©2013 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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God’s Light

Posted on February 6, 2013 by dforchrist

I got this idea about how the closer we are to God, the more flawed we see ourselves in comparison. I started comparing it to light, like a sun/star that when dim and far away, doesn’t reveal much, but as it gets closer, it is brighter and you can see more. Star light compared to noonday sun. It seemed to me that the closer you get to Him, the more He reveals to you about yourself. This is like a two-edged sword and can sometimes make you want to shrink away, like Isaiah when he saw the glory of the Lord, but the warmth also draws you continually closer. So out of these ponderings, came this poem.

 

Photo credit: Jesus Dust

God’s Light

When you are standing far from God,
His light is like a star:
It doesn’t help dispel the dark
Or let you see too far.
It seems so insignificant;
How could it light your way?
It’s just a tiny dot of light;
Your world is dark and gray.
Yet as you walk up closer, you
Can see a bit more light.
His beams are now more like the moon:
Still dim but growing bright.
You start to see the things around;
Your world is larger now.
But they still look just so unreal
And colorless, somehow.
But if you’ll give your life to Christ
You’ll find the Son is bright.
Like morning peeking through the clouds,
He fills your world with light.
New wonders show up every day;
New colors all around:
Brown earth, red rose, green grass is seen
On what seemed barren ground.
And if you walk up closer still
God is the noonday sun.
You cannot look directly there;
It’s brightness you will shun.
It shows up all your hidden flaws;
Your faults are laid in view
You feel so naked and exposed.
You know He’s seeing you.
Yet still, you feel His warmth and love.
You see no shadows there.
There’s nothing dark or dirty left
When He has laid you bare.
Your world is brighter now by far
Than it has ever seemed.
It’s filled with color, love and hope,
With overflowing dreams.
You can’t contain the love and light,
Reflecting in your eyes.
It’s too much for you all alone
So big, it fills the skies.
I ask, How bright is God to you?
Does He light up your day?
If so, please share with everyone,
His love in every way.

© 2012 Denise McKenney

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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Deuteronomy 29:29

Posted on February 4, 2013 by dforchrist

I wrote this a couple of years ago for a young woman who had been through several tragedies in a very short period. Today, I learned of another young woman who tried to end her life. I pray that God will speak to her and even more importantly, that she will listen. I pray these words will help someone else who might need to hear them because he or she is going through a rough time. Please turn to God.

Deuteronomy 29-29 alt

photo credit: ReflectionsInTheWord.org

Deuteronomy 29:29

(Deu 29:29 KJV)  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The secret things belong to God;
Not all has been revealed.
We have to stumble in the dark
With many things concealed.
At times like this, the only thing
That we can really do
Is try to find the Blessed Light
To help us make it through.
You’ve gone through dark and tortured times
You cannot understand
But if you trust that God sees all
And reach out for His hand
He’ll guide you safely through the dark.
In time, you’ll find the Light.
The morning sun will shine again;
You’ll see the end of night.

©2011 Denise McKenney

May God bless you and comfort you.

Feel free to print, share or repost anything on this blog. I do ask that you let me know if you use one of my poems on your blog or at your church somehow. It might give me an idea of better ways to spread His words, which I am always looking to do. And of course, always keep the copyright symbol and my name with the poem so I continue to have the right to use them. You may not realize that if something is posted enough times without the copyright notice, I could lose the copyright and then someone else could conceivably file for a copyright and I would no longer be able to use my own poems! It has happened, so please make sure the (c) is always on the poem whenever you repost. Thanks!

God bless,
Denise McKenney

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