THE LIE

The King of Glory, Jesus Christ, does not dwell in inanimate objects.

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Isaiah 44:20 … Is there not a lie in my right hand?

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THE LIE

The palm tree, lovely, regal, tall,

The sculpture, most beloved by all,

The chamber, made of finest gold,

Their beauty do our eyes behold.

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Majestic though they seem to be,

They cannot hear, nor can they see.

Inanimate, things not alive,

Is not where Jesus Christ abides.

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In bread and wine He won’t be found,

Although these teachings do abound.

The Serpent, as in days of old,

Deceives the many, scores untold.

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God’s Spirit dwells in man alone,

Not in an object made of stone,

Not in the lifeless things of earth,

But by His Spirit, the new birth.

Cathy White 2019 ©

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Psalm 115:

4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Isaiah 44:

9They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

18They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

MY BIRTHDAY POEM

Just to be clear, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with singing Happy Birthday on any day of the week. But recently it was my birthday on the Lord’s day, and the Lord blessed me with this poem, a reflection of how I was feeling.

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MY BIRTHDAY POEM

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I’ld rather sing to Jesus,

Than you sing a song to me.

Back in ninteen eighty eight,

My Lord Jesus set me free.

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It’s Him I want to honor,

Because He created me,

And blessed me with salvation,

I’ve been born again you see.

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Three score and ten a milestone,

Many years upon this earth,

But my true celebration,

Is the day of my new birth.

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So let us sing to Jesus,

Singing praises to His name,

Who saved me from damnation,

And a life of sin and shame.

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Let’s praise Him all together,

Tell the world what He has done.

He shed His blood for sinners,

Tell them all about God’s Son.

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I’ld rather sing to Jesus,

Than you sing a song to me.

Back in ninteen eighty eight,

My Lord Jesus set me free.

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Cathy White 2019

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Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

THE DELAY – A Poem

Years ago I had a desire to become involved in Vacation Bible School (VBS), so I asked the Lord to open a door for me to do so. The years passed and no opportunity came. I all but forgot my prayer until one day, years later, it came to mind again and I asked the Lord why He didn’t answer my prayer, because I thought it was a good prayer. I also told the Lord that I accepted His ways in my life, and that He knew best, even though I didn’t understand. It was at that point that my prayer was answered. 

THE DELAY

Once upon a summertime past,

I talked to the Lord, and this I asked,

Remember my prayer for a VBS,

Lord, why did it never come to pass?

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A good prayer I thought, for the summer season,

But Lord I know you have a reason,

I will trust whatever comes from your hand,

But I must confess Lord, I don’t understand.

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A still small voice I heard in my spirit,

“Do it now” … I could hardly believe it!

The timing was perfect, this I now saw,

The children around me, the Lord would draw.

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I was so excited, all doubts were gone,

That very summer a VBS was born,

Neighborhood children, so many were they,

Gathered together they learned of God’s ways.

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The Bible was taught to these sweet little ones,

A beautiful work our God had begun,

They ate and they played, and sang many a song,

We had VBS for three summers long!

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The Lord hears all of the prayers we have prayed,

And in His great wisdom sometimes He delays,

To answer until the time is just right,

Giving us seasons of joy and delight!

Cathy White 2018 ©

The VBS lasted for three summers. The parents were very open to their children coming and some even asked if we would have another VBS when summer came around again the following year. I gave each parent a sheet of paper showing them what would be taught, and I asked them to sign a permission slip for their children to attend. I also asked the parents to list any food allergies their children had. (I used to work for a large church.) These were the children and families that I knew, and my grandchildren knew, from the neighborhood.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Delay is not denial…

John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

BORN AGAIN

The necessity of the new birth is a fact of life, a fact of Scripture, whether we believe the words of Jesus or not. Whether we are born again or not will determine our eternal destiny. There are many wonderful promises in the Bible, but “tomorrow” is not one of them. Time is short. Today is the day of salvation.

BORN AGAIN

Nicodemus was an old man

Who had some questions for the Lord

He saw His mighty miracles

And wanted to know more

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In the darkness, in the starlight

He made his inquiry

Hoping for some answers

To the signs that he had seen

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Surprised by the Lord’s answer

He said how can these things be

Be born again at my old age

Nicodemus could not see

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Yes, Nicodemus had some questions

He, an old man getting closer to the tomb

How could he be born a second time

Again, from his mother’s womb

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But Jesus was not talking

Of his flesh that soon would die

It was the Holy Spirit

That would give a man new life

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Except a man be born again

God’s kingdom he cannot see

Except a man be born again

In God’s heaven he will never be

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Jesus loved Nicodemus

Wanted salvation to bestow

Jesus loved Nicodemus

And He wanted him to know

Cathy White 2017

 

REMEMBERING TRACEY WITH A POEM ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSRY OF HER DEATH

This month, on April 19, 2017, was the anniversary of my sister-in-law’s death. It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by. She was only 48 years old when she died.

Tracey had cancer. She was a real trooper during her years of suffering, keeping her emotions in check when they began to drift towards self pity because of all the hard things she had to endure. One of her frequent exclamations was “Only Jesus!”. Jesus was the One she called upon and the one who gave her the strength to carry on that was so evident in her life.

Though Scripture forbids communication with or prayer for those who have died, we can still “hear” Tracey’s voice by remembering the words she said when she was still here with us.

Tracey loved her husband and family immensely. I can attest to that. She once told me that maybe if she was healed of her cancer then her sister would get saved.

But even seeing a miracle does not guarantee salvation or move a person to seek truth. The Bible records the great miracles of Jesus and it also tells us that in spite of those miracles his Word was rejected by many. But there were some who did seek the Lord. Nicodemus, to his eternal benefit, was one such person. More on him later.

I also remember Tracey telling me back in the Spring of 2014 that she felt the Lord tell her to “speak up”. I was thinking that perhaps the Lord wanted her to be more direct in evangelizing our family.

I wrote the following little poem for the one year memorial of Tracey’s death. I believe that this is what she would want said to those she loved so much. The poem is taken from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3.  Therein we have preserved in Scripture, and for our benefit, what transpired between Jesus and a very religious man named Nicodemus more than 2000 years ago.

BORN AGAIN

Nicodemus was an old man

Who had some questions for the Lord

He saw His mighty miracles

And wanted to know more

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In the darkness, in the starlight

He made his inquiry

Hoping for some answers

To the signs that he had seen

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Surprised by the Lord’s answer

He said how can these things be

Be born again at my old age

Nicodemus could not see

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Yes, Nicodemus had some questions

He, an old man getting closer to the tomb

How could he be born a second time

Again, from his mother’s womb

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But Jesus was not talking

Of his flesh that soon would die

It was the Holy Spirit

That would give a man new life

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Except a man be born again

God’s kingdom he cannot see

Except a man be born again

In God’s heaven he will never be

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Jesus loved Nicodemus

Wanted salvation to bestow

Jesus loved Nicodemus

And He wanted him to know

Cathy White 2017

The necessity of the new birth is a fact of life, a fact of Scripture, whether we believe the words of Jesus or not.

Whether we are born again or not will determine our eternal destiny.

There are many wonderful promises in the Bible, but “tomorrow” is not one of them.

Time is short.

Today is the day of salvation.

So what do I believe Tracey would have me say on her behalf?

If heaven is to be your eternal home … “You must be born again” … and we will see each other again, we will meet again one glorious day.

Oh, what a promise!

1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

FAMILY – A Poem

This poem is about our family, our family that we love so much, and what transpired way back in the year 1988 when my husband and I were first saved and began sharing the Gospel with our loved ones.

FAMILY 

When we were saved, we told them all,

That they were products of the fall,

And that they needed to be changed,

But they all thought we were deranged.

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Born again, we were made anew,

Wanted them to be newborn too.

They closed their ears, said we are fine,

Don’t tell us more, don’t cross the line.

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There’s nothing we could say or do,

Convince them that God’s Word was true.

A word of warning and of love,

We must all be born from above.

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So here we are, the years have passed,

Who would have thought, who would have guessed.

Nothing has changed, but we still pray,

And hope they’ll all be saved one day.

Cathy White 2016 © 

John 3

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

IF I COULD VISIT DAYS GONE BY – A Poem

When our parents are alive we somehow think they will always be around.  We take them for granted.  My mother went to be with the Lord 9 years ago yesterday.  She was saved, so I know that I will see her again one day, even so  …

IF I COULD VISIT DAYS GONE BY

If I could visit days gone by,
I know what I would do.
I would go into my mother’s home,
And show my love anew.

I would kiss her cheek, hold her hand,
And tell her she’s the best.
I would listen to her carefully,
And know that I was blest.

I would comfort her in sorrow,
And keep her company.
I would bless her any way I could,
And share this world’s journey.

If I could visit days gone by,
I know what I would do.
I would go into my mother’s home,
And show my love anew.

Cathy White 2016 ©