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My Lord and I Divine Communiques
I. The Nostalgic Cry of a Vexed Child of God
II. A Bruised Reed
III. A Smoking Flax
IV. Be Still
V. Glimpses in the Night
VI. Glimpses in the Light
VII. Lead Me to the Rock
VIII. To Open the Door
IX. I Must Carry On
X. My Times are in Thy Hands
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I. The Nostalgic Cry of a Vexed Child of God
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1st Peter 1:3-9
"Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest…As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice…Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalms 55:1-8,16-17,22
Nostalgic cries heard in my soul The pain I feel, the hurt I know
I'm so empty inside, the flesh I hate I must shake myself, for the hour grows late
What's become of me, have I lost my way? The past it seems, was my brightest day
Test and trials, unknown before Or maybe depression, upon me pours?
In mysterious waters, with depths unknown I must be still but wonder, am I reaping what I've sown?
Persecuted and vexed, they're so full of hate I sometimes feel so trapped and hexed, as the hour grows late
Such carnal cares seek to arise From their expectations, thus my life is despised
Satan's attack, perhaps I’ve self incurred My enemies seek my soul and wish me hurt
From this vicious cycle, I must break free Lest my heart becomes fertile ground, for a bitter seed
This battle's for life, I must stand having done all Or this coal could be quenched and my soul could fall
There's no love for Jesus, in the children of night Yet only in Thee and Thy Word have I found the true light
Their spiritual death I've touched, Thus ''Unclean'' I cry I have a Leprous heart and I'm so unsatisfied
A friend of the world, no longer am I So I ask O Lord Jesus, why do I feel so empty inside?
Undone I am, I'm such a corrupted soul Thus Thy Blood I plead, to confess all my woes
If Thy Son's love offended? My Father, if I? Please forgive me I pray, because for Thy mercy I cry. © 1994 Raymond Bolton Pena
"I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." Psalms 40:9-17
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II. A Bruised Reed
"He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust." Matthew 12:19-21
When I was born again Life it seemed I then understood The bad things of old just passed away And all things were new and good
But as the years have come and gone I've found life not quite the same Dog eats dog without a heart And life is filled with such sharp pain
I look into the mirror now And all I see is a wasted life There's been strife and tears beyond compare I see a dead soul in my eyes
Just existing now I can not feel Betrayals hurt so much I died I do not hate, but I fear to love Because it's such a painful sacrifice
No one knows my agony And I doubt that anyone even cares I've lost my vision and my dream And I live in such deep dark despair
I've seen too much and I've felt too much To carry onward still Oh God above please rescue me I'm even scared to pray and kneel
Yet I just heard His still small voice Speaking comfort to my soul My God has been faithful and oh so true To let me know He knows
He said: "Hush My child, do not fear I'm with you in the dark I have all things in My command and I will never leave you or depart
Just turn your eyes unto Me and I will make your darkness light For I am He who has conquered death I am your resurrection and your life
You said no one cares, but My child I do I've had you in My sight I've even brought you through death and hell safely through the night
Look unto Me and pray My child take hold of My two edge Sword And I will create in you a clean soft heart renewing your spirit by My Word
For I am yours and you are Mine My mercy shall never fail You need not fear Satan, demons or men neither past failures threatened from hell
Thus walk in the light and not in the darkness work out thy own salvation with trembling & fear Keeping thyself in the fear and love of thy God they that hath ears to hear; thus, let them hear." © 2001 Raymond Bolton Pena
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and a smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." Isaiah 42:1-7
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1st John 1:5-9
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III. A Smoking Flax
"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust." Matthew 12:9-21
O God above Which Art on High I must confess that I have lived a lie
In waxing cold I have sinned Adrift in this world my soul descends
For my first love I have left And I have become so lost in this my quest
How it all happened I must confess I know And like a smoking flax so is this my soul
Now with not a spark without a prayer With not a shimmer it smolders there
With not a flicker of the slightest light With not a seeming hope still it does not die
Behold the grace of Christ our God Who keeps His own by such great love
For there are fallen soldiers along the way In snares so deep from whence they pray
Art thou a child of the light? Who has fallen in the dark of night?
With fiery trials so dark and strange? Twisting your mind to think that you're insane?
With no power left to carry on Do you sometimes feel you're doomed all alone?
Like the sheep that fell on that Sabbath Day? Like the withered hand they forbade to pray?
He felt without a hope and without a prayer Until Jesus Christ appeared standing there
Surrounded by scornful religious hate and strife Yet Jesus spoke the Word and brought him new life
Art thou surrounded by malicious strife? Do hypocrites despise thy very life?
Art thou dying unto death? Back slidden in turmoil and in deep regret?
Art thou confused undone and lost? Like a drowning man whom a storm has tossed?
Art thou unsecure to the Rock of thy life? Or does the anchor still hold secure, fixed and tight?
The everlasting mercy of God forever shall endure And His unconditional love is still mine and yours
Yet we must keep ourselves in the love of God Against the false security lie of a one sided love
For Jude has warned us against lascivious grace And of the angels who kept not their first estate
Thus it seems to me that while God's love is true Yet the question still remains: Is our love also too?
For how can I lie when deep down I know I have lost my way and my love has waxed so cold?
Therefore I must repent and flee from this my sin Even the sin of compromise with my family and friends
To take up my cross and my self to deny Even though by doing such is a painful sacrifice
For I sometimes feel like Christian in the story of old A Pilgrim fighting to make Progess as this journey unfolds
In this town doomed for destruction I can no longer stay Being so vexed to death by their worldly ways
To be hated by all in such malicious strife To be brought to proverty by persecution and lies
To be trapped in a world where dog eats dogs Where men live like beast and behave like greedy hogs
Where doing what's right when self must be denied Will cost you far more than your dignity and pride
Where all live a lie to their own selfish gain While still attending Church like hypocrites in vain
Where truth has fallen in the streets Where they sell out their own Mother's For a piece of meat
Where sometimes you must suffer instead of walking away To protect the innocent and helpless and to keep them safe
Thus things are not always as they might appear When Christians are slandered and their names are smeared
When the wicked in hatred seek to self justify Their own evil injustice by the telling of lies
When all men revile you and persecute your soul When they curse and condemn you against the truth they all know
When life is a struggle from one day to the next When the attacks are all unrelenting as they inundate and sore vex
How can I stand strong? Or must I take flight and flee? O God where can I go now? in this dilemma I plead!
Peace be still for thy God still reigns Thou shalt not die but thou shalt live again
For I was blind but now I see Dumb in spirit but now I speak
Not blind in eyes but in heart and soul I Could only speak about the pain I had known
With Faint Heart, Mistrust and Guilt within I had such little faith to fight and win
To steal, to kill and to destroy they came Faint Heart demanded all of my earthly gain
Mistrust took my silver until I had none Then Guilt it smote me so that I could not run
Were it not for Grace I would have died For they took not my spiritual jewels or my Birthright
Still yet doubt and fear consumed my life Thus I slandered my enemies for my pain and plight
Therefore condemnation became my chosen fate For the stronghold of resentment I could not break
Afflicted was I for all my loss In poverty and troubles I turned and tossed
For these thieves had a master who fought for them And against their evil king I could not win
Because I had fallen in my own sin By allowing their root of bitterness to enter in
Yet greater grace abounded still Though I could not see or no longer feel
For I carried on against hope unseen And when I should have died God did intervene
Numb and in shock from being ransacked Browbeaten and oppressed by their unrelenting attack
Subjugated to endure their cruel spiteful hate To demoralize my soul in the way I feel and think
Thus from bad to worse I seemed to go Until my flax gave not the slightest glow
And through many sleepless and troubled nights I tried to pray and make things right
I even went to the Churches to seek help in vain Yet they had sold out God just to entertain
And the ones which stood against such worldly things Were just too self righteous to comprehend my pain
For they had no compassion or Christly love Thus theirs was not a wisdom from up above
Because they only judged me for the sins of my past And upon my soul their own sins they cast
I have traveled long and I have journeyed far Seeking a place of rest for mind and heart
But standing there He always was In the patient grace of His undying love
Yet without true faith He is not pleased Thus He must wait until we again believe
So to Faint Heart we must say goodbye If doubt and fear are to be denied
For Mistrust and Guilt shall go on their way Once we repent in truth and in faith we pray
For there is now no condemnation to such as you or I Who live by our faith in Jesus Christ
Who walk not after the cares of this life But who walk in the Spirit of Jesus Christ
Thus ABBA Father whereby we cry Bears the witness of God's Word to be heard on high
And the Spirit's groanings though unuttered heard Maketh intercession to God by the promised Word
And so thus thereby we know all things Work together for us to be rearranged
According to the purpose of our God For the good of them who have been called
Who love their God and were foreknown Unto the image of His Son to be conformed
What can we say then to these things? For if God be for us then we shall be changed
For who is he that condemns our souls? When it was Jesus who died and Jesus who rose?
Thus who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or the distress of life?
Shall persecution for God's Word? Or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
For we are more than conquerers through God's love By the power of His grace through His cleansing blood
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life..." "...shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus..."
"...nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers..." that be Can keep us from being restored if only we believe
"...nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth," No not any thing or one
"...nor any other creature..." that has been made For the mercy of God endures to forgive and save
Unto the uttermost to those who repent in faith Who walk in His light by His Spirit's grace
Thus it is Thy precious blood that I must plead When I am tossed and turned in most desperate need
For Thy grace is astounding and so unsurpassed It is indeed amazing and without a match
As Thy loving kindness and Thy mercies love Descends upon Thy Remnant from on high above
A smoking flax Thou shall not quench To be set ablaze only if we repent! © 2008 Raymond Bolton Pena
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:1-39
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IV. Be Still
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire." Psalms 46:1-9
Sometimes through life I move so fast And from day to day I fail to grasp The fleeting moments that quickly pass Which leave me longing in their shadow's cast
O God above still my soul Calm my heart and take control For only in Thy presence can I really know True peace of mind down here below © 1996 Raymond Bolton Pena
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." Psalms 46:10-11
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V. Glimpses in the Night
"Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:27-31
Sometimes in the night I awake to catch a glimpse Though semi-conscious another realm I sense
Reality as I've known it becomes a delusion in vain Then I reckon a fearful thought Now I too am spiritually unsane
For though I catch a glimpse of the other side beyond I stand wretched, lost, without Blind, naked and undone
I can not tell you what I've seen for what it is I do not know |