God Fearing Praise ~

God-fearing praise,
releases in our life
wisdom to overcome
the world and its strife.

It frees us to be wise,
prudent and informed
so to the world ways
will not be conformed.

God-fearing praise,
gives a rightful place
to the redeeming value
of His mercy and grace.

It frees us to surrender,
our life to God each day
so on the righteous path
we will continue to stay.

God-fearing praise,
helps us to be . . .
from self-centeredness
finally set free!

~~~~~~~~~

Proverbs 15:16

Better is little with the fear
of the Lord than great
treasure and trouble therewith.

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2019
Deborah Ann Belka

If Our Right Eye Offends ~

If our right eye offends,
then why do we keep looking
if it’s not to desire things of the world
then why are they still so alluring?

If our right eye offends,
then why do we look with the left one
if it’s not to regard the lusts of the world
then why is it not focusing on the Son?

If the right eye offends,
then why do we seek what’s morally wrong
if it’s not to be conformed to the world
then why after it do we still long?

If our right eye offends,
then why do we not look the other way
if it’s not to seek the world’s riches
then why to them do we still sway?

If our right eye offends,
then why does it roam all about
if it sees things so alluring and deceitful . . .
then why don’t we just pluck it out!

~~~~~~~~

Mark 4:19

“And the cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the lusts of other things
entering in, choke the word,
and it becometh unfruitful.

Matthew 5:29

“And if thy right eye offend thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish,
and not that thy whole body should
be cast into hell.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

I Will Overcome ~

I will overcome,
I’ll have victory . . .
I will not be taken in
by satan’s trickery.

To the devil’s traps,
I will not go into
to his every lie
I will not pursue.

To temptation,
I will not fall
to false religion
I’ll not heed its call.

To worldly wealth,
I’ll not concede
to its evil ways
I will not proceed.

To lustful pleasure,
I will not give in
to vain ambition
I’ll not be driven.

To hollow friendships,
I’ll not be charmed
to immoral living
I’ll not be warmed.

I will have victory,
I will overcome . . .
to the world’s darkness
I will not succumb!

~~~~~~~~~~

1 John 5:4

“For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this
is the victory that overcometh
the world, even our faith.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Old Things Gone ~

Old things gone,
no more desire
for worldly wealth
to acquire.

No more need,
to seek greed out
satisfied now
to do without.

Old things dead,
no more pleasure
worldly practices
no longer treasure.

No more wants,
indulgences filled
to old thoughts
no longer thrilled.

Old things gone,
all things new
self removed . . .
Christ now in you!

~~~~~~~~~

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation.
The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Into the World ~

When I was younger,
to all, I must admit
unto worldly lusts . . .
I often did submit.

It use to be fun,
to go out and play
so much temptation
out there on display.

At times, I thought,
how could this be right?
But, in the darkness . . .
who can spot the light?

Looking back I can see,
what a mess I made . . .
for all those fun times
oh, how I have paid.

Now that I am older,
I’m on the narrow way
from its straightness
I pray never to stray.

So, to all the youth,
take this to heart
into worldly lusts . . .
don’t even start!

~~~~~~~~

Mark 4:19

“And the cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2015
Deborah Ann Belka

Breath of Life ~

I just want to breathe in,
nothing but fresh air . . .
pure, life-giving, clean
but, finding it is rare.

Instead, all I do is gasp,
at the smut, filth and muck
choking back the grime
in a world that’s gone amok.

At times, I take in a deep breath,
but find myself wheezing
so many things in the atmosphere
that to God,  are not pleasing.

The pollution man’s created,
makes it impossible to inhale
for lust, greed, and immorality
I constantly have to expel.

I just want to breathe in,
nothing but God’s fresh clean air
pure, life-giving, unpolluted
but, there’s so little left ~ out there!

~~~~~~~~~

Genesis 2:7
King James Version

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul.”

Copyright 2014
Deborah Ann Belka

Sin City ~

Jesus came not to condemn,
but to save us from our sin
to free us from the bondage
of the lusts that live within.

But, the flesh fights the spirit,
and sin often comes into our life
bringing the desires of this world
yet, leaving us with inner strife.

The works of the flesh are clear,
they are written in the Bible . . .
many of them are so difficult
for us to tame or even bridle.

But we’ve got to stay away from,
sexual immorality of any kind
jealousy, envy and indignation
must not fill the heart or mind.

We mustn’t bow to other gods,
or conjure up an evil host
and with drinking and partying
we’re no longer to be engrossed.

We must put away contention,
our anger and our wrath
and all of our selfish ambitions
we must send packing down the path.

The sins of the flesh are written,
for every eye to see . . .
and we must repent of them
or in sin city we’ll always be.

~~~~~~~~~~

Galatians 5:19-21
King James Version

“Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God.”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

Rusty And Corrupt ~

I am saving for the future,
got my treasures stored
I am investing in the day
when I will meet my Lord.

Though I may not be rich,
I give to God what I can
and I am always willing
to lend a helping hand.

I don’t own a lot of things,
go ahead and call me nuts . . .
but denying worldly pleasures
takes an awful lot of guts.

I’m keeping my life simple,
so little days to spend here
I’m just biding my time
till His trumpet call I hear.

Rusty and corrupt,
material things just decay
but when God you trust . . .
you’ll see resurrection day!

~~~~~

Matthew 6:19-20

“Lay not up
for yourselves treasures
upon earth,
where moth and
rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves
break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,
where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do
not break through nor steal:”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

What Seeds Are You Sowing?

Some scatter seeds of anxiety,
and harvest nothing but fear
some collect in their memory
the reason for all their tears.

Some spread seeds of gloom,
and collect grains of doubt
some gather up their losses
when there’s a spiritual drought.

Some cast seeds of excess,
and reap in what they sow
some collect worldly pleasures
thinking God will never know.

Some throw seeds of greed,
and amass envy and pride
some lose their hope and faith
when their will, with God’s collide.

Some scatter seeds of doubt,
and harvest nothing but fear
but those who mock not God
sow the seeds of repentant tears!

~~~~~~~~~

Galatians 6:7
King James Version

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

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka

Worldly Things

There is only one God,
in whom I put my trust
all of the other ones
have turned into rust.

I once relied on people,
to bring to me pleasure
but they couldn’t convey
love that I could treasure.

Everything is conditional,
nothing is without a cost
and now I can understand
why so many are truly lost.

I thought if I set my sights,
on the things of this world
that everlasting happiness
I would be able to unfurl.

But, they too soon corroded,
and all turned into dust
that is why it’s only God
in whom I now put my trust.

For His love is eternal,
and brings heavenly rewards
now being with Him one day
is all that I look towards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colossians 3:1
King James Version

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ sitteth
on the right hand of God”

Copyright 2013
Deborah Ann Belka