WORKS

WORKS

Within these verses you will see that works includes what you do to help others and what work you do with your hands.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matt. 3:7-8

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ... James 2:14-26

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. Proverbs 31:13

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31

The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. Isaiah 44:12 (Note that he shapes an idol. He gets no "points" for that.)

I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. Isaiah 57:12

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”John 6:28-29

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. John 7:3

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. Romans 4:4

THE PASSING OF TIME

THE PASSING OF TIME

As a child I lay on the cool, green grass;

The gentle breeze blew through my hair.

I had no worries or troubles.

I longed for Time to stop there.

But Time went on, ignoring my appeal,

Then I grew into a young miss.

I sang and danced and hung with my friends;

I enjoyed my youthful bliss.

But when I became an adult,

Time took me to a harder life;

I learned to find joy and happiness,

Amidst the world and its strife.

I watched my children playing,

Near my husband in his chair.

He was reading the Bible to them;

I wanted Time to stop there.

But Time just kept on going,

Until I found I was old.

My children hovered ’round my bed.

Time had taken its toll.

“Just give me this day with my children, Time.”

“Let me stay a little bit longer.”

Though Time ignored my final pleas,

I suddenly became stronger.

My pain had left; I felt such peace,

Then I heard a trumpet sound.

Christ held out His hand to me,

And the angels all gathered around.

One unfurled his wing to point,

To a mansion I knew would be mine.

I walked to my home on streets of gold,

In a robe and a crown sublime.

Time, God’s servant, brought me here;

He took me to heaven’s door.

Now I will live for eternity,

And Time shall be no more.

Becky Wall

Footnote: I wrote the essence of this, though not in rhyme, when I was 16 for no particular reason. It was just inspired. I am now 69 (2017) and have lived out most of my story, though not quite the same. But the best of life is yet to come (eternal life).

beckyowall.blogspot.com

SEASONS IN THE SON

SEASONS IN THE SON

Each person enters into life,

Like flowers in the spring,

Maturing and growing in stature,

Through all the storms life brings.

The fruits of the Spirit are then produced,

And on The Vine we flourish,

When we spend summers in the Son,

Our souls He will then nourish.

Life begins to ebb,

In the season we call “fall.”

For earthly death is drawing near,

“Come home” we hear Christ call.

Winter is the time of death,

When the body can take a rest.

Some think this season is the worst;

For others, it’s the best.

Though we return into the ground,

New life will then begin;

For every life lived in the Son,

Spring will come again.

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

LIVING ON A BATTLEFIELD

LIVING ON A BATTLEFIELD

Do you suffer battle fatigue,

From life on a battle front?

While you’d like to avoid trouble,

Your mate loves the thrill of the hunt.

Are you a hostage to his moods,

A prisoner of a mental war?

If you seek a plan of escape,

Does he tighten his hold even more?

Does he want you to surrender,

And bow to his every whim,

To give up all your hopes and dreams,

So that life revolves around him?

If he treats you as his enemy,

He can’t treat you like a wife.

His love is twisted and warped,

So neither of you have a life.

He may charge at you in anger,

With a coward’s display of power.

He may shout you down or beat you up,

Until before him you cower.

He is witty and charming to others,

As their approval he tries to win.

His acts of kindness are showy,

Overcompensating for his sin.

Each time you try to reconcile,

You get promises and excuses.

But they are always broken,

Just like your former truces.

Your ally during your courtship,

Your adversary after you wed.

From your protector you need protection,

Or you may wind up dead.

Becky Wall

NOTE: This was not written based on my own experience but is based on the experience of others I have known.

beckyowall.blogspot.com

Key words: #abuse #brokenvows #fearofspouse #narcissist #doublemindedman #domesticprisoner #warpedlove #falsecharm #passiveaggression

RIDING THE WAVES OF DISCOURAGEMENT

RIDING THE WAVES OF DISCOURAGEMENT

(Old Testament book of Ezra)

The Israelites were captives in Babylon,

Where God was punishing them.

When Cyrus, the king, inspired by God,

Let them go to Jerusalem.

He returned the golden vessels,

Carried off by a former king.

So 50,000 returned to their homeland,

Two hundred of them could sing.

The foundations were laid in the second year;

They were dedicated with joy.

But then their adversaries,

Made it their job to annoy.

Their enemies offered their help while saying,

They seek God and they sacrifice.

But the people were wise to their lies;

They knew they were not making nice.

Others discouraged the workers;

They said things to make them afraid.

They hired counselors to work against them,

As the stones were being laid.

They tried to frustrate their plans;

Accusations were made against them.

Then they took their case to the king,

And managed to deceive him.

God's people waited for a new king,

Then the situation was repeated.

This time the king found Cyrus’s decree,

So they were no longer mistreated.

He decreed they must not be disturbed,

And exempted them from tributes.

He supplied all their needs for offerings,

For the people to distribute.

God is a God of forgiveness;

He offers hope and restoration.

When remorse and repentance are shown,

He responds to the man or the nation.

Becky Wall

NOTE: This story happened thousands of years ago, but it seems the same scenarios have repeated through the ages. We may run into situations like this at work, while trying to do a good deed, even at home. Discouragement can even happen at church. As a matter of fact, the devil's primary target are church people that love the Lord. He doesn't have to worry as much about those outside the church. He has them where he wants them. Within the church, he focuses on the weak ones to stunt or eliminate any growth in their relationship with Christ. That's why it is important to stand firm, no matter what.

MISERY FROM A - Z

Jeremiah used the 22 Hebrew letters to shape the first four chapters but not the 5th chapter. It compares to using our alphabet from A-Z to express the extent of his misery.

MISERY FROM A to Z

(Based on Lamentations)

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet,

Had reason to be melancholy;

He foretold Jerusalem’s demise,

A result of the people’s folly.

He warned and warned the people,

Though to them he was an outcast.

Mistreated, despised and rejected,

Before the Lord he stood fast.

His warnings lasted for 40 years,

But now it was too late.

The Babylonians conquered them;

Jerusalem had met its fate.

God’s remnant became rebellious,

And their sins God needed to purge,

So the prophet Jeremiah wrote five laments,

As for a funeral dirge.

He wrote of their suffering from A to Z,

For themselves and their ruined city.

Though they had behaved very wickedly,

He still had sorrow and pity.

Seventy years in captivity,

For the covenant they did not keep.

The city would rise and fall again,

But this time Jesus would weep.

IDOL MINDS BRING WRATH

IDOL MINDS BRING WRATH

Moses was up on Mt. Sinai,

With two tablets made of stone.

On them the 10 Commandments were written,

By the finger of God alone.

He was on the mountain 40 days,

Meanwhile the people grew restless.

They pressured Aaron, brother to Moses,

To make gods, to which he said “Yes.”

Aaron asked the Hebrew people,

For the jewelry they had worn.

All of the people complied,

And a golden calf was born.

Aaron took a tool,

And cast the idol into a calf.

He called the calf their rescuing idol,

But the idol would bring God’s wrath.

He built an altar in front of the calf,

On which people could sacrifice.

It was all done in the name of the Lord,

But their sin would cost a great price.

The next day was a festival day;

It began with a round of offerings,

Then came eating and drinking and revelry,

Which would end in a series of sufferings.

The Lord sent Moses down from the mountain,

When he saw what the people had done.

He told Moses to leave Him be,

He was about to spoil their fun.

His anger burned against the people,

He was ready to destroy them all.

But Moses appealed to the Lord to relent,

For the fathers of Israel.

The Lord relented, and Moses descended,

And when he reached Joshua’s stand,

He was told about the sound of war,

While holding the law of the land.

Moses responded to Joshua,

It’s not the sound of victory near,

It is also not the sound of defeat;

It is the sound of singing I hear.”

When Moses approached the camp,

And saw the calf and the people’s lewd dancing, 

His anger burned and he threw down the tablets,

Which resulted in the laws breaking.

He burned the calf in the fire; 

Ground the idol into powder with a stink.

He scattered the gold dust on the water,

Which he made the Israelites drink.

He said to Aaron, “What did people do to you, 

That you led them into such sin?

Aaron began by telling the truth,

Which turned into a half truth then.

“I asked for gold and they gave it to me,

I threw the gold into the fire, 

Miraculously, out came this calf!”

At that point he became a full liar.

Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, 

“Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” 

All the Levites rallied to him.

Those who didn’t were a thousand times three.

Each Levite was to strap a sword to his side. 

And Go back and forth through the campsite,

Killing even those they loved;

The Levites did right in God’s sight.

Moses commended the Levites for this,

And their quick obedience spared them.

Though God’s anger had dwindled,

Many others he would condemn.

God expects obedience,

For obedience is an act of love.

When flagrant sin runs out of control,

He will punish the sinners thereof.

Becky Wall

PLAGUES & PANDEMICS

PLAGUES & PANDEMICS

(Exodus 7:14-11:9)

Moses went to Pharoah,

And said, “Let my people go.”

Pharoah refused and so God sent,

Ten different kinds of woe.

First, water was turned to blood;

The Nile became a red river.

For Egypt worshiped water gods,

Instead of the true Life Giver.

Next came the plague of frogs,

On a frog-goddess Egypt relied.

Since frogs were a sign of fertility,

God made sure they multiplied.

Third came the plague of gnats,

The first not repeated by a magician.

Since none was able to mimic it,

 God’s finger got recognition.

The fourth plague inflicted was flies,

The fly-god and ours were compared.

All of Egypt was afflicted,

But the Israelite people were spared.

The death of livestock was the fifth plague,

They could truly say “Where’s the beef?”

The people were made vegetarians,

Which still didn’t cause enough grief.

Painful boils was the sixth plague;

Even the magicians had boils.

The goddess of epidemics and the gods of healing,

Couldn’t help the lowly or the royals.

The seventh plague was hail,

Not weather they would commonly find.

Pharoah confessed his sin with this plague,

But he later changed his mind.

When God sent a plague of locusts,

Pharoah tried to negotiate.

His offer was rejected and once again,

He repented but then would negate.

Plague number nine was darkness.

Sent to scare the stubborn monarch.

God’s people had light in Goshen,

But Egypt was left in the dark.

The tenth and worst of the plagues,

Was the death of each firstborn son.

This is the plague that broke Pharoah down,

For Pharoah himself lost one.

Most of the plagues had to do with gods;

The true God made fools of them.

He displayed His power over all their gods,

And left Egypt in total mayhem.

Pharoah finally relented.

And his people begged them to go.

They gave the Jews anything they desired;

They were tired of suffering woe.

‘Tho Pharoah saw punishing miracles,

Which he thought that he could outsmart,

God had given him over,

To the hardness of his heart.

Becky Wall

Note: Each plague was based on the worship of a god which made the one true God very angry. We still have gods today but in America they are not statues; they are things we worship: money, sports, games, movies, music, booze, drugs, etc.

EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A CLOUD

EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A CLOUD

(Genesis 39)

Joseph’s life took a positive turn,

While working as Potiphar’s slave.

He won the respect of his master,

For the faithful service he gave.

But his silver lining still had a cloud,

For eventually things got worse.

His master’s wife told a lie on him,

Then at Joseph her husband would curse.

She said he forced himself on her,

Tho’ it was the other way ‘round.

Joseph was totally innocent,

Yet “Guilty” he was found.

He was put in a prisoner’s cell,

With several other men.

There he was treated terribly,

Though he was without sin.

Joseph began to interpret the dreams,

Of Pharoah’s employees in jail.

He asked the freed men to mention his gift,

They promised they would without fail.

But promises are only words,

Tho’ this one they could fulfill,

There was nothing in it for them,

So Pharoah’s employees kept still.

When Pharoah himself dreamed dreams,

The employees had sudden recall.

Joseph’s knowledge impressed the ruler,

Who then made him second over all.

Becky Wall

Key words: #fromgreattoterrible #falselyaccused #dreams #silverlinedcloudagain #steadfast #mistreated

PROMISES FROM HEAVEN

PROMISES FROM HEAVEN

(Genesis 28)

Jacob deceived his brother,

Out of fear, his home he fled.

When the sun had set for the night,

Jacob made his bed.

Using a stone for a pillow,

Jacob slept on the ground.

He must have really been tired,

Because his sleep was so sound.

While fast asleep, he had a dream,

In which he saw a stairway.

It rested upon the earth,

And the top reached heaven’s fairway.

The ladder had lots of traffic;

Up and down it angels traveled.

Above the ladder stood the Lord,

When He spoke, His plan unraveled.

He reminded Jacob who He was,

From high up in the sky,

Then God told Jacob he'd one day have,

The land upon which he lie.

The Lord promised to fill the earth,

From north, south, east and west,

With Jacob’s many descendants,

And they would all be blessed.

God vowed He would watch over Jacob,

No matter where he went,

And that He would never leave him,

Until all promises were spent.

When Jacob awakened, he thought,

“The Lord is in this place.”

He was gripped with fear at the awesomeness,

And honored because of God’s grace.

He took the stone upon which he slept,

And anointed it with oil.

He set it up as a marker,

For it stood on holy soil.

Jacob promised God a tenth,

Of all that he was given.

But he would also pay for his ways,

And the lies that he had been livin’.

God can use a sinner,

If he turns his life around.

Though earthly punishment will remain,

He can still be heaven-bound.

Becky Wall