Taking Up My Cross ~

First thing in the morning,
before I get out of bed
I take up my cross . . .
so by Jesus I can be lead.

For, when I pick it up,
it gives me the grace
to keep my arrogance
in its rightful place.

First thing in the morning,
I disrobe myself of pride
I lift up my cross
and let it be my guide.

For when I pick it up,
it gives me liberty
from vanity holding me
in conceit’s captivity.

First thing in the morning,
before I get up and get dressed
I take up my cross . . .
so with humility I’ll be blessed!

~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 9:23

“And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily,
and follow me.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

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Sticky Note to God ~09.06.18 ~

The Hand of God ~

Sometimes my heart,
seems to just melt
when upon it . . .
the hand of God is felt.

His love for me,
defrosts the icy parts
as mercy and grace
into it He imparts.

Some times my mind,
just simply evaporates
when in it . . .
the hand of God penetrates.

The hope He has for me,
keeps me before Him humble
causing my pride an ego
to dissolve into a puddle.

Sometimes my heart,
and my mind liquidate . . .
when the hand of God
on them permeate!

~~~~~

1 Peter 5.6

“Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Good Morning Quote ~07.31.18~

Vanity, Oh Vanity ~

Vanity, oh vanity
what gain is there in
the charm of your lure
only covers our sin.

On lofty pedestal,
is where you put us
so that in ourselves
not in God we’ll trust.

You tease and play,
with our heart and mind
vanity, oh vanity
your pride makes us blind.

You lift us up high,
proud chin and all
so we can’t look down
on the cause of our fall.

Ego, oh ego,
vanities conceited kin
in you there is no good . . .
beyond your wicked grin!

~~~~~

Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Vanity of vanities,
saith the Preacher,
vanity of vanities;
all is vanity.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Afternoon Ponderings~04.21.18~

The Love of The World ~

The love of the world,
is but foolishness . . .
all it has to offer
is truly meaningless.

It’s full of vanities,
prideful, greedy lust
one day all it offers
will tarnish and rust.

The love of the world,
is empty, grim and grave
once you desire of it
to it you’ll be a slave.

It teaming with sin,
too godless to mention
it’s where satan reigns
with all his henchman.

The love of the word,
is foolishness for sure
and the Light of Jesus . . .
is it’s only saving cure!

~~~~~~~~

1 John 2:15-17

“Love not the world,
neither the things
that are in the world.
If any man love the world,
the love of the Father
is not in him.

For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father,
but is of the world.

And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will
of God abideth for ever.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Risky Business ~

It’s risky business,
thinking God can be mocked
it’s deceiving thinking
His wrath can be stopped.

It’s foolishness to think,
you won’t reap what you sow
it’s pure folly thinking
you sins, God will never know.

It’s ignorant to believe,
God sin will never judge
it’s hypocrisy
from your ways not to budge.

It’s unwise to keep on living,
conformed to this world
it’s arrogant to think
with God you can even quarrel.

It’s risky business,
thinking God you can mock
and on your sinful living . . .
it is time to take stock!

~~~~~~~

Galatians 6:7

“Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth
that shall he also reap.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Let Your Gentleness Ooze ~

When imperfections,
in others you see
don’t call them out
instead, like Jesus be.

For in your humility,
they’ll see their lack of
and for what’s not said
will be noted out of love.

When someone’s pride,
gets in your face
don’t go off on them
instead, show some grace.

For in your patience,
they will start to find
how their self-importance
rules their heart and mind.

When your own faults,
are pointed out to you
let it be your gentleness . . .
that oozes through!

~~~~~~

Ephesians 4:2

“With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love;”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

A Godly Intervention ~

Sometimes God,
has to do some afflicting
so our stubborn hearts
He can begin softening.

For, He wants to remove,
the hardness deep inside
so there will be the room
for Him to fully abide.

Sometimes God,
brings about suffering
so our prideful minds
He can start uncovering.

For, He wants to rid us,
of our self-centeredness
so we’ll have self-restraint
filled with temperateness.

Sometimes God,
has to get our attention
so with our stubborn hearts
He calls for intervention!

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

Job 23:16

“For God maketh my heart soft,
and the Almighty troubleth me:”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

I Will Strengthen You ~

I will strengthen thee,
how simple this sounds
but, it can be so hard
when our troubles abound.

For, often we fail to take,
a hold on God’s promise
perhaps because in us . . .
there’s a little doubting Thomas.

I will strengthen you,
how easy this would be
if our pride we’d let go
His strength we could see.

But, we are too busy,
keeping our ego’s inflated
that God’s strength and power
often becomes deflated.

I will strengthen thee,
is God’s promise to us
if only we would . . .
in Him place our trust!

~~~~~~~

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed;
for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand
of my righteousness.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Staying On the Righteous Path ~

I’ve traveled many roads,
much to my dismay . . .
I walked along the path
of sin and decay.

I’ve climbed over mountains,
in my own egotistical pride
I walked in valley’s deep
with conceit as my guide.

But, I grew so very weary,
on the pathway’s of leeway
and the latitude I gave myself
on my soul began to weigh.

So, I began a new journey,
one that was Spirit lead
and now all the other routes
fill me with fear and dread.

For in God’s Word,
I discovered the path
guaranteed to keep me
from knowing God’s wrath!

~~~~~~

Proverbs 2:20

“That thou mayest walk
in the way of good men,
and keep the paths
of the righteous.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2017
Deborah Ann Belka

The Landmine of Pride ~

The landmine of pride,
we all step on it
we all think at times
God we can outwit.

We fall into the snare,
of becoming self-reliant
but, what we really are
is being to God defiant.

The landmine of pride,
is  satan’s human trap
he knows it will go off
when our ego’s we tap.

We don’t see the danger,
until after it explodes
and all of our arrogance
God in our life exposes.

The landmine of pride,
will blow up in our face
unless we let God defuse it
with His saving grace!

~~~~~~~~~

Proverbs 16:18

“Pride goeth before destruction,
and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2017
Deborah Ann Belka

Cast Your Cares Upon Jesus ~

Cast your cares upon Jesus,
direct your soul His way
give Him all your worries
find true peace for the day.

Hold and keep not a burden,
let Him ease the strain
give Him all of your fears
and His peace you will gain.

Cast your concerns upon Him,
your every want and need
to His leading and guiding
let your heart be willing to cede.

Grasp and hold onto Jesus,
let not pride get in your way
for Satan is alive and well
and wants to ruin your day.

Cast your cares upon Jesus,
is something you must do
for Jesus has promised . . .
to take your cares from you!

~~~~~~~~~~

1 Peter 5:7

“Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2016
Deborah Ann Belka

Look Into My Heart ~

Heavenly Father,
look into my heart
peel back whatever
is keeping us apart.

Reveal the layers,
of my selfish pride
remove any vanity
still living inside.

Heavenly Father,
pare from my soul
all that’s keeping You
from having control.

Take away anything,
holding me back
where I am weak
take up the slack.

Heavenly Father,
unveil all keeping me
from truly knowing
the fullness of Thee!

~~~~~~

Psalm 131:1

“Lord, my heart is not haughty,
nor mine eyes lofty: neither
do I exercise myself in great
matters, or in things too
high for me.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2016
Deborah Ann Belka

Our Heart’s Desire ~

If we want God to give,
the desires of our heart
then from His own heart
we cannot be far apart.

For what may be in ours,
might not be in His own
as ours wants and needs
are often selfish prone.

If we want God to grant,
us our heart’s longings
then after worldly things
we mush stop yearning.

For the lusts of the flesh,
our sinful fancies
will only bring to us
eternal penalties.

If we want God to give,
the desires of our heart
then to His ways we must . . .
delight in and never part!

~~~~~~~~

Psalm 37:4

“Delight thyself also in the Lord:
and he shall give thee
the desires of thine heart.
King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2016
Deborah Ann Belka

Lord, Empty Me ~

Lord, empty me of me,
so, I can be filled with You
drain my soul of my pride
the stubbornness in it too.

Remove my self-importance,
take my smugness away
get rid of the very thought
I can do things my own way.

Lord, empty me of me,
the arrogance and conceit
to my own selfish will . . .
may I declare, a sound defeat.

Take out any lust or greed,
the need for self-indulgence
to any unrighteousness . . .
give me a zero tolerance.

Lord, empty me of me,
anything keeping me from You
so into my very soul . . .
the Holy Spirit can get through!

~~~~~~~~~~

Romans 8:9

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his.”

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2014
Deborah Ann Belka

The Beam of Pride ~

One day in the mirror,
I was shocked at what I saw
I had not seen it before
but now I saw the flaw.

How long it had been there,
I really did not know . . .
I was really surprised
it took this long to show.

Now that I’m getting older,
my eyesight isn’t very good
but it was looking at me
right there where I stood.

It wasn’t a pretty sight,
in other’s I’ve noticed it
but in my own eye . . .
I didn’t think it would fit.

One day in the mirror,
I saw something broad and wide
and on it was written . . .
“this is beam of you own pride!”

~~~~~~~~

Matthew 7:3-5
King James Version

“And why beholdest thou
the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,
but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye?”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

What is This Unruly Thing ~

What is this wild thing,
that my mouth has inside
what causes it to lash about
in its smugness and its pride?

How can it sing praises to God,
then chant ~ its curses to man
what is this wild thing . . .
that says whatever it thinks it can?

What causes it to be so untamed,
without a bridle or a rein
what can I do to control this thing
that has its own heart and brain?

Why does it speak such evil,
and at times act out so bad
what is this wild thing . . .
that gets so angry and mad?

Who can restrain this unruly thing,
that is filled with poison and fire
who can tame this beastly thing
that’s filled with worldly desire?

What is this unruly thing,
that my mouth has inside
what causes it to lash about . .  .
other than my own selfish pride!

~~~~~~~~~

James 3:8
King James Version

“But the tongue
can no man tame;
it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison.”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

The Pill of Bitterness ~

Bitterness is a caustic pill,
that at times we all swallow
causing a pool of self-pity
where misery loves to wallow.

At first the acid taste,
doesn’t bother us too much
for we feel justified in our pain
and to our anger we still clutch.

As we take our daily dose,
sweet revenge turns a little tart
but we don’t seem to notice
the spite budding in our heart.

We take our correct measure,
each morning when we awake
for we are not willing to forgive
and aren’t wanting to forsake.

The remedy for bitterness,
can’t be found in any pill . . .
but you can find a cure for it
when forgiveness you instill!

~~~~~~~~~

Ephesians 4:31
King James Version

” Let all bitterness,
wrath, anger, clamor, and
evil speaking be
put away from you,
with all
malice. “

Copyright 2012
Deborah Ann Belka