1 Corinthians 13 in verse

Here's a version of the famous chapter on 'Love' I found in the back of a huge falling apart ancient KJV. It's really worth a chew if you can stomach ye olde English :)

1 Corinthians XIII

Though perfect eloquence adorn'd
my sweet persuading tongue,
Though I could speak in higher strains
than ever angel sung;

Though prophecy my soul inspir'd
and made all myst'ries plain:
Yet were I void of Christian love,
these gifts were all in vain.

Nay, though my faith with boundless pow'r
ev'n mountains could remove,
I still am nothing if I'm void
of charity and love.

Although with lib'ral hand I gave
my goods the poor to feed,
Nay, gave my body to the flames,
still fruitless were the deed.

Love suffers long; love envies not;
but love is ever kind;
She never boasteth of herself,
nor proudly lifts the mind.

Love harbours no suspicious thought,
is patient to the bad;
Griev'd when she hears of sins and crimes,
and in the truth is glad.

Love no unseemly carriage shows,
nor selfishly confin'd;
She glows with social tenderness,
and feels for all mankind.

Love beareth much, much she believes,
and still she hopes the best;
Love meekly suffers many a wrong,
though sore with hardship press'd.

Love still shall hold an endless reign
in earth and heav'n above,
When tongues shall cease, and prophets fail
and every gift but love.

Here all our gifts imperfect are;
but better days draw nigh,
When perfect light shall pour its rays,
and all those shadows fly.

Like children here we speak and think,
amus'd with childish toys;
But when our pow'rs their manhood reach,
we'll scorn our present joys.

Now dark and dim as through a glass,
are God and truth beheld;
Then shall we see as face to face,
and God shall be unvail'd.

Faith, Hope, and Love, now dwell on earth
and earth by them is blest;
But Faith and Hope must yield to Love,
of all the graces best.

Hope shall to full fruition rise,
and Faith be sight above;
They are the means, but this is the end;
for saints forever love.

Surrender

"The problem with a living sacrifice is that is keeps crawling off the alter"

Here's a poem I wrote a while ago that mirrors that truth  :)




I feel a bit of a Jonah,
Like the prophet who tired to run
But where can I forfeit Your presence?
For everywhere's under the Son.
With all things considered
Yes, I feel I'm a bit of a git
For trying to do the impossible
I'm hopeless I can honestly admit!

I am rather pathetic
But You've got me where I am
And You are using me for Your purpose
Though just how I don't understand.
You see clearly I have this problem
That is amusing yet infernally dumb:
I have a flipping rebel heart that
Can't be bridled by a whack on the bum.

And You seem to have made it Your mission
To consume my every part
In a surrender of love, a sacrifice
That must start with my jolly heart.
You certainly cut to the quick, God
Doing things best Your way
In spite of my obsessed self and stubborn will
Despite my refusing and running away.

Flip it hurts, surrendering to You
When You take away things I have given
Verbally, but not physically when
Unwittingly after I've striven.
Yes, I've tried to delight myself in You
Enough to get them all back,
All the while You are waiting for me to be honest
To know You only, and then nothing lack.

I think countless times You've laughed at me
While I've been scheming to steal for myself
The things which once were blandly mine,
Unhealthy and musty as dust on a shelf.
Yes You laugh at me, and with me also
When finally I come to some sense
And see what an egg I've been to try
To take up dodgy self's defence.

And You love me, and are drawing me
After Yourself, giving Yourself extra work
Which I suspect You love, and know You
Excel in, victorious, while I feel like a dork.
For I cannot control will,
But I've heard all you need is need,
and I'm willing - again - to surrender my all
And with Your other returned rebel sheep feed.

I'm learning anew that You esteem patience
While I know my impulse get bored and quit
When things take longer than I want, but
Your will be done, God! Have at it!
I want all of YOU now,
Not enough of You to get what I want.
Your plans look great in the rearview
And in the present. And in the future.
Bring them on!

The New Sudan (30 minute short play version)

I Am A Disciple

I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power.
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Christ.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning,
smooth knees, mundane talking and cheap living.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience,
lift by prayer, and labour by His power.
My face is set, my steps are forward, my goal is Heaven,
My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,
my Guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back,
diluted, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I am a disciple of Christ. I must go until He comes, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He stops me.
And when He comes to for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
For we have walked together all the days of my life.
– Anon

My Best Friend Jesus

20 Facts About My Best friend Jesus Christ 

1. He never lets me down.. he always carries me when i am to weak..
2. His forgiveness cleanses me..
3. He knows me better the I know myself
4. waiting for him is never a waste of time
5. He holds the whole world in his hand yet he still cares about me
6. He guides me with love
7. He is proud of me and you
8. He died for me and you
9. He rose from the grave!
10. He has amazing plans for you and me!!
11. He will never forget about me!
12. His love is the purest and sweetest love there is
13. He washes me as white as snow in his forgiveness and love
14. He is my hope!
15. He can be your best friend to if you let him
16. He can give you and I the desires of our hearts!
17. He sees me as beautiful when I don't believe it about myself..
18. He sees when i am in pain and he cares.
19. He understands my pain
20. His name is Jesus Christ 
    
    

“Jesus does not look with pity, but with compassion. There is a fundamental difference. Whoever looks with pity says, ‘that's terrible,’ and walks on, forgetting it all in that same instant. Whoever looks with compassion is never able to walk on, forget, or ignore. That person says, ‘that’s terrible. I cannot allow this to happen.’ It was compassion that moved Jesus to go to the dark, death-ridden tomb, calling out 'Lazarus!', transforming the cries of mourning and misery into tears of joy. It was compassion that led Him to my tomb and yours, calling us by name. For ‘God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.’ If we want to follow Jesus, we must look at the world with compassion."

“Just as Jesus touched lepers and welcomed the outcasts, so must we. Just as He identified with the poor and the weak, so must we. He calls us to put our lives on the line for the suffering, the vulnerable, the victims of injustice. Loving the unloved is not just an optional extra. It is the heart and soul of the Christian gospel. Jesus did not mince words, yet even today many of His followers fail to understand. ‘Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me,’ He said. He is saying that, if we claim to love Him, we have to love them, the despised and downtrodden. To do this is not just to obey Christ. It is to minister to Christ Himself.”

-Matt Roper-

From the book, "Street Girls". A true life story set in Brazil of one man who God uses, and is using, saving girls from lifestyles of being used, and abused. It is a fantastic book to read to get a glimpse of how God may use YOU, if you are willing to be used, and willing to surrender your life totally to Him.

Jesus Is The One

Jesus is the only One who can see the deepest secrets in your soul and not love you any less.

Jesus is the only Friend who always seeks to be with you, even when you push Him away.

Jesus is the only Person who hangs onto every word you say, even when what you say reflects the inherent sinfulness of your soul.

Jesus is the only One who hangs on to your hand, even when you let go of His.

Jesus is the only Guide who gives direction even when you don't listen.

Jesus is the only Savior who died to save your soul, even when you were yet a sinner.

Jesus is the only Counselor who gives counsel even when you don't esteem His counsel highly.

Jesus is the only One who looks for you even when you aren't seeking to be found.

Jesus is the only God who never gives up on you even when you have given up on Him.

...Why, then, is it, that we, though being loved so marvelously, seek to find solace in the mediocre things in life?

Friends, Jesus is the One who satisfies all the cravings you will have in your lifetime!