Forget the Noun, Do the Verb

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In a simple definition, a noun is a word used to give a name to things. Example: chair, table, box, etc. And the verb is related to the action. Examples: walk, do, think, etc.

I just finished a book that spoke about the creative process, and this book made me think about Christian life. The book's name is ‘Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Austin Kleon)’. The author teaches some methods to awaken and keep creativity.

One of the chapters' names is “Forget the noun, do the verb”. In this chapter, the author reflects on the work (verb) of an artist and their title (noun). The work of a painter is to paint, and the work of a writer is to write. The whole chapter is a lesson about the importance of work to obtain the title related to the work. The author says that many people want to be recognised, but do not work to get recognition.

At this point, I suppose you must be asking yourself what all of this has to do with Christian life. I answer that it is more connected than we can imagine.

Let us think together, the term Christian is a noun that identifies those who profess the Christian faith, those who believe in Jesus Christ. And in the same logic of the book, what are the verbs related to the noun Christian? What is needed to be a genuine Christian?

Believe

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And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

The first verb of a Christian is to believe. Each one must believe in God and have faith in the promises that He made. I am not speaking about prosperity promises, I am speaking about the greatest blessing God has given us and his greatest promise: his love and eternal life. If we believe in God and his promise, we will seek to please him in everything we do. We will live our lives assured that God is with us in all situations. And this certainty changes everything.

Work

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14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

Another verb very important is to work. This verse is very famous for expressing in a very clear way the relation between faith (to believe) and deeds (to work). Everyone must believe, and at the same time, work to show their faith. Unfortunately, most of us, Christians (I include myself in the group), think that only believing in God and Jesus is enough. We think there are too many people working for God, and our help is not needed or will be useless. But the truth is each worker is essential. Each of us has unique skills, and God can use us powerfully. But for this to happen, we need to be willing to go to work.

Love

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This is my command: Love each other. John 15:17

I believe the verb to love is the most complicated of all, and also one of the easiest to be noticed. Returning to the text about faith and deeds, imagine yourself in an ordinary place, and someone asks you for money or something to eat. One person who loves will do their best to help the person, even if they have no resources, they will pray for the person and ask God to bless that life. And if the person has resources, they will help. The one who observes a situation like that will think: “Certainly that person is a Christian.”

Think about the contrary now. The person does not pray, or then, they have resources but do not help. The one who observes will think: “There is no way someone like this person is a Christian. They saw someone asking for help and mistreated them. Those who love do not do this to their neighbour”.

In Brazil, there is a situation that demonstrates a lack of love. Many “Christians” get happy when they see news about criminals' death, and some of these people celebrate and repeat the phrase: “A good criminal is a dead criminal.” I understand that all actions have their consequences; however, who am I to celebrate the death of another person? Before God, what makes me so better than others? As Christians, we must get sad after knowing about people's death, especially when they die in sinful situations. That one who died was also created in the image of God.

I suppose that at this point, you already understood the relation between the chapter of the book and Christian life. Summarising, only declaring ourselves as Christians does not make us true Christians. Remember the saying: “Actions speak louder than words.” This certainly holds true for the Christian life.

All day, we must do our best to be practitioners of the commandments and Christian principles.

Forget the noun, do the verb

News

Since I have created this blog, I have always published only poems. I have always thought of this blog as a channel to share the Christian poems that I write.

The time passed…

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And now, it's time to change, it's time to evolve because I evolved.

At the beginning of this blog, in 2014, I wrote only poems in Portuguese, but today, in 2023, I write poems, short stories and novels. I write in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

For some time, I have been thinking about my personal calling and the mission that God commanded me. I know I can and must do more than publish some poems. I can use my writing gift to speak with people through my texts.

From this month, May, I will start publishing texts and reflections about the Christian life. I do not have a specific format or subject for the texts, I will write about what I feel the need and what seems appropriate for each time.

I hope you like what's to come…

New Reform

Many Christian churches need to be reformed,

Basic sound doctrines must be remembered.

Christians need to come back to Scripture,

Everyone must return to doctrines that are pure.

 

Pure doctrine is what Jesus taught in his days,

The gospels narrate the things He has said.

But the people forgot all of this,

They forgot Christ's teachings.

 

Each one follows his own wisdom,

The basis of evangelism is no longer Bible instruction.

Each one says that received a new revelation,

Amid this, each one creates a new religion.

 

People get lost amid so many new things,

Every day is a church stating it has true preaching.

The truth is something that nobody wants to find,

Each one follows the doctrine that produces delight.

 

The person wants an easy source of prosperity,

Their religious life is not rooted in true teachings.

The person does not worry about Jesus Christ,

And it does not want to know about his sacrifice.

 

These churches urgently need to reform,

To the Gospel of Christ, they need to return.

People need to rise for this to happen,

And the truth in the Bible, they must proclaim.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume V.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/m0JKpA

Out of the Way

Those who walk in the Lord's ways,

Receive his love every day.

From all devastation, God protects them,

Delivering all the enemies in his hand.

 

There is nothing that could touch the anointed one,

The Lord protects him from everything and everyone.

The Lord is ahead of him in all his ways,

Holding his hand and protecting him night and day.

 

If the person leaves that good direction,

God will not be pleased with this action.

He will remove his protection over that person,

It will cease his mighty protection.

 

About him, all the enemies will come,

They will take off all his possessions.

The person will not be able to do anything,

God is no longer protecting him.

 

It is terrible to deviate from the Lord,

Nothing is worse than living without his love and favour.

For those who do this, there are painful ways,

And he will be mocked because of his disgrace.

 

There is a manner to stop all bad happenings,

The person must show regret for his sins.

And he needs to confess them to God,

The person will be forgiven and blessed by the Lord.

 

To the ways of the Lord, it is needed to come back,

So every kind of evil will turn back,

And from all evils, the Lord will always protect.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume V.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/m0JKpA

Demonstrating Gratitude

We have to be faithful to the Lord,

He already has blessed us a lot.

He gives us life every day,

He gives us daily bread all day.

 

To God, we can promise something,

As was said, we must do everything.

We cannot promise things in vain,

We must not have falsehood in our heart.

 

If a grace the Lord has given you,

And a commitment with God was made by you,

Everything that your heart said, you have to do,

On the commitment to the Lord, you must be faithful.

 

We must give the best for the vote to the Lord,

We did not receive the worst from God,

A pleasant sacrifice, we must do,

Being honored in the time to be grateful.

 

The thanks are very important,

Because it shows that we are not arrogant.

It shows that from the Lord, we are dependent.

And we are conscious of all our commitments.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume III.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/3nG5R5

The Birth

Two thousand years ago, something very special happened,

In a small town, Bethlehem, a child was born.

It was not a usual birth,

It was the greatest event in the history of the Earth.

 

One new star came to enlighten the world.

It was Jesus Christ, our Lord.

He came to teach us the truth.

The truth is that only He can save us!

 

God has sent Him to free us.

We are freed from eternal death through Jesus,

He forgives all our transgressions,

Then, with God, we have a true connection.

 

All praise and glory be given to the Lord,

Even though we are flawed, He loved us.

Giving his only son to rescue us,

He has paid a very high price,

To do the will of the Father.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume I.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/mg5w0z

Forgiveness at the Last Hour

On your side, I was been crucified,

I was a bandit condemned.

I had no hope about anything,

I was only sure that my death was coming.

 

Nothing would change for me,

Of the condemnation, I could not flee.

They will put to end my life,

I thought no one could save me at that time.

 

On my side, I saw a lord.

Some people called him Saviour,

And others charged him as an evildoer.

I saw something different in that man.

Even if being crucified,

He did not abandon his love for them.

 

I gave attention to this man,

I felt he was not an ordinary man,

He seemed to be a great king!

I said, ‘Lord, remember me,

When in your kingdom you to get in,’

And from him came the answer:

‘Today in paradise, you will be with me.’

 

My hope was revived,

Something good, that man promised,

He did not want to condemn me,

He preferred to forgive and save me.

 

For the glory of Christ, I am going,

I will be together with the great King,

Because my soul pleased Him,

He forgave me for all my sins,

To thee, I deliver my spirit, Lord.

To eternal life, I will go with you.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume II.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/mg5w0z