Backslidden One ~

Backslidden one,
God wants you home
He no longer . . .
wants you to roam.

He wants you back,
more than you know
He promises the way
to restoration He’ll show.

Backslidden one,
God wants you back
He knows the faith
the trust you lack.

He wants to shower,
you with mercy fresh
if your sins to Him
you will confess.

Backslidden one,
today hear God’s plea
return my wanderer
come back to me!

~~~~~~

Jeremiah 3:22

Return, ye backsliding children,
and I will heal your backslidings.
Behold, we come unto thee; for thou
art the Lord our God.

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2020
Deborah Ann Belka

Just One ~

If everyone would bring,
back just one . . .
there would be more sheep
returning to the Son.

If for just one,
everyone would pray
there would be more sheep
on the narrow way.

If for just one,
everyone would go after
there would be more sheep
in heaven’s hereafter.

If for just one,
everyone would pursue
there would be more sheep
returning God to You.

If everyone would bring,
back to Jesus just one . . .
there would less sheep
lost and on the run!

~~~~~

James 5:19-20

“Brethren, if any of you do err
from the truth,and one convert him;

Let him know,that he which
converteth the sinner from
the error of his way shall
save a soul from death, and
shall hide a multitude of sins.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2017
Deborah Ann Belka

Time to Come Home ~

Are you that prodigal,
have you’ve run away
from the truth you knew
in your younger days?

Have you left your Father,
pursued a different life
has your lust and greed
stirred up only strife?

Did you chase after money,
to live the “American Dream”
are your plans to succeed
coming apart at the seam?

Are you at the bottom,
destitute and broke
does your worldly lifestyle
have on you a death choke?

Are you tired of making,
excuses for your  shame
are you running out of people
on whom you can blame?

So if you’re that prodigal,
return to God today . . .
He will show you back
to the Life, Truth, and Way!

~~~~~~~~~

Jeremiah 24:7

“And I will give them
an heart to know me,
that I am the Lord:
and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God:
for they shall return
unto me
with their whole heart.”

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2014
Deborah Ann Belka

Free Indeed ~

He sets the captive free,
from the blindness within
releases the binds of guilt
the shamefulness of our sin.

He loosens the chains,
makes love out of hate
unshackles our burdens
eases the heavy weight.

He heals the backslidden,
freedom is now in sight
the yoke of oppression
we no longer have to fight

He scours out the darkness,
in His light, there is power
with grace and mercy
our lives, He empowers.

No longer are we slaves,
to man and his laws
now we come before God
with holy fear and awe.

Oh, what a privilege,
no longer are we bound
free indeed at last . . .
our liberty in Jesus found!

~~~~~~~~~~

John 8:32
King James Version

“And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”

Copyright 2014
Deborah Ann Belka

 

This Heart of Stone ~

He took this heart of stone,
with its coldness deep within
hammered away the hardness
that was embedded with my sin.

He chipped away my conceit,
chiseled at all the greed
until my soul was ready
to accept the sower’s seed.

It fell upon such fertile soil,
I was ready to receive
the truth sown before me
was so effortless to believe.

My new-found faith in grace,
turned into wavering’s of doubt
I soon began to wander . . .
to shut the Lord’s Word out.

For years I denied it,
the sin, the lust, the greed
for years I defied it
the truth, the way, the need.

But this refined heart of stone,
finally saw its reckless ways
and God knew I’d return
from my drifting all those days.

And now I am a faithful sower,
I understand the heart of stone
so, I pray if you;re wandering
you too, will find your way back home!

~~~~~~~~~

Psalm 56:8

“Thou tellest my wanderings:
put thou my tears into thy bottle:
are they not in thy book?”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

In The Valley ~

In the valley dark and deep,
amid the shadows of despair
the beast of the world hides
looking for those he can snare.

On rebellions valley floor,
where misery loves to sleep
in the fields of hopelessness
lies the defiant little sheep.

Pastures once green and lush,
now covered with sin’s sludge
the wayward one is frightened
to meet its eternal Judge.

The rush of life-giving waters,
arouses the backslidden one
a soul entrenched in darkness
sobs for the light of the Son.

In the valley dark and deep,
the errant one turns to God
the beast of the world flees
to find another soul to trod.

Out of the shadows it emerges,
into pastures once more green
the wayward sheep now rests
on His mercy, it now leans.

In the valley deep and dark,
lies more defiant little sheep
and for each one of them
the Good Shepherd weeps.

If you are a rebellious one,
if you too have lost your way
come to where His mercy flows
and return to Him today!

~~~~~~~~~

Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep
have gone astray;
we have turned every one
to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

Smoking Flax

Smoking flax, weak little things,
needing reminders, of what faith brings
bruised and hurting, smoking flax
fragile souls, trust in God is what they lack.

Smoking flax, where is your spark,
have you hidden it, deep within your heart?
Backslidden ones, blown all about,
by the winds of self-proclaiming doubt.

Smoking flax, fearful ones of the flock,
stumble upon, each stumbling block
chomping on temptation’s cunning lure
going off with Satan, on His earthly tour.

Smoking flax, beaten and broken down,
you can’t see His goodness all around
pride and ego, gets in your constant way
to make room for God, in your busy day.

Smoking flax, you have no strength,
to go the distance, to go the length
but try you will, always on your own
the longer it takes, the more you roam.

Smoking flax, weak, noxious things,
return to Christ, see what renewed faith brings
smoking flax, He’ll not quench or put you out
but, He will rid you of your crippling doubt!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew 12:20
King James Version

“A bruised reed shall he not break,
and smoking flax shall he not quench,
till he send forth judgment unto victory.”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka