In Service to the Son By Brenda Drake

            The call of God is shunned many times for fear of losing freedom in our lives. In truth when we accept His invitation we are set free.  The world’s standards and God’s ways are completely opposite. To serve is the highest honor in God’s kingdom.  Those humbled are exulted to the highest place; forever to be in the presence of the Lord.

In Service to the Son

When you accept the call to service you align with God’s plan,
You are entering the Kingdom of God’s blessed holy land.
When self humbles to do God’s will,
 It is in service to His mission fulfill.
Willingly becoming a servant of God above;
Agreeing to be directed in the labor of love.
God places you in turn at His side,
So when the battle is over forever with Him you will abide.
God’s love is forever; when your earthly service is put to rest,
The Father shares all to with Him possess.
Angels rejoice at what they see done;
When the servant is raised up to be with God as one.
All creation strains to share in the rejoicing as they see man,
In the honorable place the Father has always planned.
They are marked as His and are plain to see.
Though they come in service, God declares “They are Son to me.”

Isaiah 1:19
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

I John 3:1-3
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not

Free or Not? By Brenda Drake

        In our world’s sad condition: with pandemic threat, civil unrest, our economic and personal woes; it is difficult to not feel apprehensive at the prospect of our future.  The key to our peace is to bring each of our concerns to the Lord in prayer and then to leave them in His care.  It is wise to get into the Word of God and begin to pray God’s promises.   What does the Bible say? The Word states we need to seek first the Kingdom of God.  It asserts we are just pilgrims passing through, and teaches us to love and care for others. We are instructed to go into the world and preach the Good News of Salvation.  Jesus showed us how to pray; for God’s Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  We learn from the Scriptures we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.  God’s Word assures He will never leave or forsake those that trust and have faith in Him. I agree that life can get a little messy but the Word says God is a very present help in time of trouble.  Are you free or not?  That is the question asked.

Free or Not?

When you worry and continuously experience bouts of fear
Are you free or not?….Will you this wisdom hear?
When you become angry and it stays and inside moves
Free or not is the question asked of you?
Are you easily discouraged and prone to depression?
Free or not is your confession?
Jesus sets the captive free;
These things should not be.
When you pray and place petitions before God’s Son
Do you believe your answer comes?
Or do you still walk with heavy burden on your back?
Free or not is again the question asked?
The earth displays turmoil’s and strife,
Do you live and stay upset with stresses in your life?
Do you speak only of the evils and give much thought to them?
Or do you speak the Word in the situations and rely on Him?
Are you free or not free from the heaviness of life?
You are free indeed when you have faith in the authority of Jesus Christ.

John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Joshua 1:5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Allow God’s Comfort Within By Brenda Drake

       

What a world we live in, there are many opportunities to get upset, worried and stressed, but what a God we have, He is well able to help us through whatever comes into our day. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to bring comfort to our soul. 

Allow God’s Comfort Within

It is a choice made each day,
To rush about and do things your own way,
Or to allow God’s comfort within,
As you do your best and rest in Him.
It starts with a simple prayer request,
That asks for God’s strength for you to do your best.
You will know when you have neglected this,
When you feel frazzled, upset, and stressed;
Do not worry it is never too late
Stop what you are doing do not hesitate,
The Lord is willing and able to help my friend.
He is close as a prayer; when you call to Him,
He is your comfort, hope, and strength,
He is the needed wisdom to help the way you think.
Think on things good, kind, and true.
Think on His promise to help you through.
Pray about the future that He holds
Remember He never leaves you and is in control.
Allow the comfort of God to rule your Day.
So you will have lilt in your step as He leads the way.

Psalms 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:
for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

When to Wait and when to Go By Brenda Drake

            I am a little rash and have been known to rush out and do something I thought was right to later find out it was a right thing done at a wrong time.  There is indeed a time to wait and a time to go.  I am learning, when I am asked to wait, to trust God to show me what I need to do until I need to step out in faith. We are in a battle in our world, in our country, in our families, and we need to put on the armor God has given us, listen for the battle cry with the Word as our sword, get ready, get set and then in Jesus name GO!

When to Wait and When to Go

There are times when you are urged to go; to step out in faith.
And then there are times when you are instructed to wait.
When you wait on the Lord you are empowered to do,
All that He asks of you
In the waiting time the heart is prepared,
Endowed with new strength to the good news share.
In the waiting-time the heart and mind may perceive,
The battle-plan of your commander-and-chief.
As you learn who you are in Christ,
And who He is in your life,
In the waiting time He is built strong within.
Then when you move ahead you successfully represent Him.
In the time you wait His light shines bright,
You receive His anointing to do what is right.
As you grow stronger in the Word the time you wait,
Become less as you step out in faith.
Step out into the water; touch the world in Jesus’ name.
Do as He has done, salvation’s good news proclaim.
Be careful to not become weary in your toil;
Come and rest in His presence for His anointing oil.

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore,
with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.

Do you Long for Good News By Brenda Drake

There is so much hate and division in our world; with so many opportunities and issues where we can disagree with each other.  I say let us agree on what we can agree on.   Sometimes even that seems to be an impossibility; but we can choose to think on good things.  What is good?  To me, good is God, God’s Word, and the beauty of His creation. In troubling times I choose to think on good things.  I search for and long for good news.

Do you Long for Good News?

Do you long for good new instead of bad?
Have you nearly lost all the faith you thought you had?
Does the promise of tomorrow mar your today?
Do you wish peace would return and evil chased away?
If so, there is some Good News you may have heard before;
The future is in the hands of the Lord.
He has conquered evil although the world does show it.
The day soon comes when everyone knows it.
Pray for peace in the land.
Pray eyes will see and will hear God’s plan.
Until the earth’s harvest is done,
Your job is to trust and watch and plan for the return of God’s Son.
He that lived and died and lives forevermore,
Is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He who rose to sit at the Father’s side,
Soon returns to collect His bride.
Do you long for peace and joy to touch the earth I ask?
Then steadfastly look for the good and do not turn back.

John 14:27
 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Luke 2:10
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people

 Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

By God’s Spirit Led By Brenda Drake

I want to be led by the Spirit of God.  I want to be soft and pliable in His hands.  I used to be stubborn and strong willed desiring my will.  My God wooed me, saved me, and now He leads me each day. To Him belongs all the glory.

By God’s Spirit Led

A ring in a bull’s nose is not there to look good.
It is there to enforce it acts as it should.
It will go when the master says go and it will stop too.
It is by force persuaded on what he is to do.
God does not desire the bullish man.
He does not fit in His plans.
He desires to be followed by those who desire to come,
Without force he willingly follows after God’s Son.
Love will place another first, love will willingly serve,
Love chooses to forgive even the undeserved.
Love will lead another by their testimony and light.
It is open, pure, and honest and Christ-like.
God so loved He sent His Son, to give His life for you.
So you that received are able to give your life too.
Not because of guilt or force is your sacrifice before God placed.
The bullish man or woman will not God’s grace embrace.
The one who sees and hears truth and God’s way accepts,
Will find he is not driven by love he is by God’s Spirit led.

Psalms 32:9-10
Be ye not as the horse,
or as the mule, which have no understanding:
whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,
lest they come near unto thee.
 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:
but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Angry Andrew By Brenda Drake

I am sharing a series of small poems titled…If emotions or attitudes had names.

 Can you recognize them when you get a glimpse of them in rhyme?  Perhaps even when you look in the mirror?  I can sometimes see them when I glance inside too.

If emotions and attitudes had names

 Angry Andrew

Angry Andrew has some friends, not the best to hang about
Strife and division are always nearby to help him out.
His fire is a deep burning inferno that can’t be satisfied.
But anger needs fuel to keep its flame alive.
You can be sure that strife and division will add to the flame;
To be wise you must not allow them to remain.
For anger is like a roaring lion, that will not be easily appeased;
Only by constant vigilance and will, can you live in peace,
For every little thing sets him up to blow again.
The angry man or woman needs the Prince of Peace to rule within.
Do you know this one I talk about in rhyme?
Pray that with the Holy Spirit’s help he will have peace of mind.

Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Activity By Brenda Drake

Our times are truly in an uproar.  It is not a time of rest and ease.  Although our world is in a widespread pandemic, with wars and rumors of war, with distrust and heartache, prejudices, and divisions on seemingly every side; there is still hope. If we can get a glimpse of the future God has planned for us, and will rest and rely on Him to answer our prayers, we will have a certain, steadfast confidence He is in full control.  God asks us to pray for His will to be done on the earth as it is in heaven.  Pray and watch for your peace and joy and faith to return.  One day it will be revealed the activity in the heavens when we prayed. I pray you get a glimpse of it now, for we need to pray now earnestly for God’s will to be done for our Country and its leaders. 

Heavenly Activity

Praise and prayer cause heavenly activity.
Angels rush to minister and to set free.
When you are weak and need rest,
An angel may be sent to assist.
When you are surrounded, and feel trapped,
The lifted prayer alerts them, to your enemy attack.
When you are sad and have lost hope in life,
God sends someone to encourage and to give new insight.
Many times when the enemy attacks;
It is an angel that fights them back.
Angels are present in the gatherings to observe,
The teacher and the Comforter, as they administer God’s Word.
They marvel at the proceedings and they work in accord,
As they do the work ordained by the Lord.
If eyes are opened; so great are the numbers seen,
That encircles God’s redeemed.
An angel’s purpose is to glorify God, and to serve mankind.
They are always, and will always, with God’s Word align;
They are never to be worshiped or to their wisdom seek.
Never, is it proper for men to pursue to with them speak.
They are always near – but rarely are they perceived;
But in your behalf; they work continuously.

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Not Like Flowers on a Page By Brenda Drake

I love flowers and always am amazed at their beauty.  I love to take pictures of them but I would not think it would be a gift to hand someone a picture rather than the flower.  We make our outside look as pleasing as we can for others to see, but the real gift we can give is the flower of God’s love He has planted within. 

Not Like Flowers on a Page

Flowers on a page may be pretty it’s true,
But they are unable to be picked and given by you.
They smell like musty old paper or resembling ink;
With not a hint, of aroma of blossoms red or pink.
An artist can capture a flowers beauty to pleasure the eye;
They can look very real and alive.
But they are just an image of the real thing,
A small amount of pleasure they can bring.
There are some people that are seen as good;
Attractive but their presence is misunderstood.
They are flat and lifeless too;
Unable to be selected; by God used.
The redeemed life is new, alive and whole;
With fresh aroma that proves a forgiven soul;
A fresh breath of air in a harsh dry land;
Picked and chosen to be sent by the Creator’s hand.
A great example of the One that died in their place,
At the foot of the Father because of His mercy and grace.
They are real, true believers in God’s Son;
Fully dedicated to get God’s Work done.

Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

With Heart in Hand by Brenda Drake

With Heart in Hand

All we really have to offer is our life.  Our offering is our reasonable service.  Our Lord has given us His life by His sacrifice in our behalf.  Sometimes with heart in hand we make our offering in our prayer of dedication again and again.

With heart in hand I set my face;
As I seek to rest in God’s embrace.
The world’s turmoil and upsetting ways;
Cannot steal away my words of praise.
All faults and failures are laid down at His feet to stay.
His robe of righteousness is upon me placed,
With heart in hand I give my life to Him,
To form, to shape and to mend.
He is my heart’s desire,
He sets it on holy fire.
He reads every inscription written inside.
He is the holy resident who within abides.
I will continue on this journey of the heart;
With Him at each days end and at each days start.
Every moment has its heart-beat and when my journey ends,
I will have arrived into His presence to a new journey begin.
With heart in hand again I say, Lord here I am
Help my life to fit perfectly in Your master plan.

Romans12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.