John the Baptist

John
A prophet
Prophesied about by Isaiah
announcing the coming Messiah
Preaching: Prepare your hearts
Repent from sins
Baptizing those who sincerely
Repent and believe
Warning all: Bear fruit
The axe is already at the root
The son of a Priest
Pointing to the crowds
The Perfect Sacrifice
The Lamb of God that takes away
the sin of the world
Once for all
Believe in Messiah


****************

Riana Odendaal
April 2020

Nicodemus

Nicodemus


Teacher of Israel
Searching
for the Giver of Life Eternal
Waiting
for the Messiah
Seeing prophecies fulfilled
Seeing the Man of God
but taking longer to understand
this Man is God
This is the long-awaited Messiah

May the Holy Spirit blows into the hearts
and opens the eyes
of the Nicodemuses of this world
May they find the Messiah

I am Barabbas

I am Barabbas

I am Barabbas
I am guilty
a Prisoner
liar
Murderer
sinner
But set free
One Who is called Christ
took my place
took the punishment for my sin
and I am set free

But also I am not Barabbas
I received grace
I was adopted as son
By the One who took my place

I am set free and i am God's son
By grace



* Ephesians 2: 1-10
*Romans 8: 14-17
* Matthew 27:15-23

Rest from burdens

Jesus offers rest
No more burden
working trying to earn grace
Rest for your soul
Jesus and disciples walk through grainfields
on the Sabbath
At some to still their hunger
The Pharisees on the prowl
crying out foul foul
They break our laws
your law but our burdens added on
"I desire mercy and not sacrifice!"
What don't you understand?
On they go to the synagogue
There, a man with a withered hand
Pharisees again ready to accuse
Jesus ready to help and heal
The man's hand restored
the Pharisees refuse to believe
Evidence they received
but this Messiah doesn't fit in their puzzle

Matthew 11:25- 12: 14

Shepherds in the field

Shepherds in the field

So there we sat out in the field

our sheep were grazing in the grasses

They need to be well-tended

to be without blemish for the sacrifices.

The sun has long gone to bed.

Suddenly

The nightsky is brighter than day

An angel is standing with us

"Do no fear!" to us he says

Our hearts tremble nonetheless

The heavenly visitor shares his news

"I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all people!"

The Long-awaited Messiah is born today

An angelic choir burst in chorus

"Glory to God in the Highest

and on earth peace among those

with whom He is pleased"

we left the sheep in the field

to sacrifice them

will no longer from sin shield

Our Messiah is born today

We ran to Bethlehem in a hurry

and found Joseph and Mary

holding divinity and salvation packaged in a baby

we glorify and praise God

for fulfilling His Word

One day three decades later

this baby was the Lamb on a cross

the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world

Rose again three days later

-The Perfect Sacrifice

not like the sheep we looked after in the field

sacrificed, and died, just for the next sheep to die later on

The Messiah is alive

His sacrifice perfect

we can rejoice on that day He was born

We rejoice even more today

Until forever

Hallelujah!

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

Where do you draw the line between

where do you draw the line between

- useful symbolic rituals/gestures and blindly following traditions

where do you draw the line between:

- blowing your own trumpet and saying "Look what I did!"

and needing to simply be accountable and state this is the facts of the project I'm busy with. 

where do you draw the line between

- giving up 

and - realizing this is not for me, I need to do something else. 

where do you draw line between

- being worried and not trusting, and being concerned for something but trusting God for the outcomes still. 

Where do you draw the line between

- encouraging someone to be part of a project, and manipulating them to be part of it even if they are too busy already, or can't see their gifts/talents being useful in this project

where do you draw the line between

- being a health freak, and simply being healthy and taking care of your body's need with nutrition and exercise. 

where do you draw the line between

- being lazy, and simply resting and recharging your batteries for the week/s ahead. 

where do you draw the line between

- being selfish, and being honest with "I really do not have the financial/ mental/ emotional/ physical resources to be able to help you with whatever help you need, Or I believe these resources that I am willing to share would be more helpful, and is more needed elsewhere. 

where do you draw the line between

- being naive and being ignorant and being gullible

where do you draw the line between

- paranoid, and simply being watchful and careful where you are/ what you do/ what you show/ being aware of your surroundings. 

where do you draw the line between

- being a church-goer christian (pharisee) and being a follower of Jesus Christ

where do you draw the line between

- not paying attention, and being distracted because your mind is focused on something else (which could be/ could not be more important)

where do you draw the line between

 - being a friendly courteous good-mannered person, and being flirty friendly

where do you draw the line between

- simply taking care of your property, and spending so much time and effort and money in upgrading/ cleaning/ maintaining/ etc it that it becomes an idol and not really serving a purpose

where do you draw the line between

- real hope and naive optimism

where do you draw the line between

 - convincing someone of the truth, and manipulating them to see your viewpoint

The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16)

The Philippian jailer (Acts 16)

Paul and Silas

Sharing the gospel

Demon in slave-girl proclaims

these people have the truth

Harassment for many days

Paul Commands

In the name of Jesus

Demon flees

The owners furious

their questionable gain gone

Paul and Silas thrown in jail

Feet in stocks, Doors locked

At midnight jailer shocked

He never heard singing prisoners before

Suddenly the earth shook

Jail doors opened

The jailer in fear

almost his life he took

Paul stops him

Do not harm yourselves

we are all still here

Trembling with fear

He begs them

"sirs what must I do to be saved?"

The gospel shared with his household

Jailer believed, and baptized

Everyone rejoiced

Riana Odendaal

October 2019