Ephesians 2:4-7 

 

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,

5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—

6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

Journey

 

Our journey straight ahead

our destiny to reach.

To reach it joyful or just sad

and hope we don't get bleached.

 

Weather is beyond control.

Only by experience we fare.

Life will take its normal toll

and grace at times will spare

 

To some the journey is fun

and to others just a drag.

Some make it happen in full run

and some just crawl and beg.

 

No one travels all alone

even though the ones we pass

in days' or nights' endless syndrome,

become part of the cast.

 

We start with hope and strength,

which no one wants to damp

until the journeys' length

slowly drains us without end.

 

Is it our choice to start life's trip

or is it just thrown our way?

Is it possible to undo destiny's grip

and to escape it from today?

 

Sometimes to feel good and sound

enjoying the trip for a while.

Gathering strength between every round

by just breaking even in trials.

 

But what if your losing most every round?

Just being patched up at every break.

Battered and beaten by uncertainty's mount

that rises higher each step that you take.

 

Is it mental, detri-mental or fundamental,

the way we go through life?

Why is it that the effect of choices

travel ahead in direction of strife?

 

Is life than a matter of decisions

and if wrong ones are made all alone?

The effects and results are like incisions

cutting the meat from the bone.

 

If we were made perfect from the start

all our decisions would be right.

Our course would never run off the chart

and life would be an easy plight.

 

So if even reborn and newly shaped

with life  in a new mode,

results of past decisions made

would still travel ahead of our goals.

 

You cry and want to change somehow

and with God's help you will,

if you just keep your hand to the plow

and not look back on the trail

 

But when looking ahead, if all you can see

are results of wrongs of the past.

Just plowing and discing the weeds you've sown

ensure  your endurance won't last.

 

You get tired and sick of reaping the things,

which linger because of some wrong choice.

Is this than the thorn in my flesh that rings

constantly trying to muffle the Spirit’s voice?

 

Is the death that reigns in my flesh so shelved,

that it seems in whatever I do or try.

I never get to the point, that I'm at peace with myself

even though I know Jesus is mine.

 

My Lord says, that the things we endure

are compared with the Glory awaits,

nothing but just a side tracking cure

for the price in Love He paid.

 

So stay on the path, that is narrow and straight

even though when you look ahead

not every thing appears smooth and paved,

but be happy with your daily bread

 

Contentment and godliness is great gain,

but one without the other great loss.

So rejoice and be happy in your pain

and trust in Jesus your boss.

 

It easy to speak and express in rhyme

the things that you feel deep inside

But how to live ?... in Eternity's time

seated in Jesus on God's right side

 

Is impossible unless in obedience walk

Fully given to Jesus … I stay

and into actions I will turn my talk

following the steps my Savior has made

 

Jan Wienen