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Monday, July 22, 2013

Freedom isn't Free

The cool evening breeze whispers it's lullaby telling the tale of the excitement filled day. All day long people have swam in the river enjoying their freedom with pleasure. The scene before me fades replaced with thought. Not many realize that our nation was founded on the cornerstone of the one we now deny. As a country we have turned away from our first love.
The one we escaped King James to seek. His name has been printed on what we consider power in this nation, IN GOD WE TRUST. A reminder of our forefathers' intent. George Washington the Father of our nation was quoted saying, "It is impossible to successfully rule the world without God and the Bible."

Many people have heard the saying Freedom isn't Free, yet few have contemplated the total cost of those three factual words. Many have bled and died for their flag, and for their God. They stood up in the line of duty as a country unified, as a nation should be. For this we have our freedom though the cost is great. Proving that freedom most certainly isn't free.

The rustling of the wind in the trees snaps me back to reality  and I settle down on the cool green grass and enjoy the night's whistling tune. I lay down and allow my hair to sprawl freely on the grass around me as I raise my hands over my head in a heart molded together. I rotate my hands, taking in the scene around me through my heart shaped hands my head filled with thought.
As the first firework begins I settle back  and watch it through the heart of my nation and the heart of my God.

                                                                                                                   Written By Riley Henderson

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Knowledge vs Wisdom

Is this all there is?
To live knowledge 
Gain knowledge
Create complex theories
Solve life's greatest mysteries
And then die knowledge?
Go on and break borders 
You are strong so move boulders!
That is the world speaking inside of your head
It will do you no good lying on your death bed
You will sigh and say so close yet so far
My knowledge just had to travel to wisdom /seventeen inches to my heart.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Time to Tell

It is time to tell a story 
Maybe one just for you 
It is one of many in the only league of true
It is one of passion, pain, and glory
So gather 'round and sit down
Its time to tell a story
It is one of a king, a prince, a knight
It is one of an age old fight
The trees still tell their tale
And the wind still whispers its tune
Of the day all was finished and the law broken in two
The story of a captive crying out for help
The story of a savior who always did well
The story of a hero with compassion He couldn't disguise
As you look deep into His pain filled eyes
The story of a darkness in the busy streets
A voice from a cross crying "why have you forsaken me?"
A life mourned
Blood poured
A curtain torn
A burial in place
A large stone 
Plenty of Rome
Where is God's grace?
Sin is defeated
Victory and freedom
Death where is your power?
Jesus Christ is risen!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Road To Damascus

I was a traveler, a weary traveler. A Pharisee of all Pharisee's of the line and tribe of Benjamin. I was just a popular guy on the long dusty road to Damascus. It wasn't a pleasure trip. Some might call it business. I tremble now at the thought.
I was filled with a zeal and hatred for those they called friends of Jesus of Nazareth. A cornerstone for the cause killing human beings... and souls.  I refused to see the truth, too blinded by the sole thought that the cause was honorable. In my hand I clutched a scroll granting me permission to do what I wanted with those friends of Jesus signed by the Sanhedrin. They trusted me to fix this rebellion and my strong will and stubborn streak refused to let me fail.
I was to blinded by religion and power to see the cold truth that I was the rebel not those who died an honorable death for a cause they knew to be true.
So here I was on the top of the religious world on that lonely road to Damascus. I gripped the thin scroll tighter in my hand and peered my face upward towards the blazing sun. All of a sudden the sky burst into a brilliant light. A blinding light. Before I realized what was happening I was on the hot desert floor with my hand shielding my face in a protective gesture. The voice that spoke was one of heart break and it tore my own.
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you Lord?" I asked fearing the answer.
"I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."
At those words my whole mask of power, religion, and illusion of righteousness melted.
It took three days of being physically blind for me to see my lifelong spiritual blindness.  Now as I sit here wondering how many more would travel that beautiful rugged road to Damascus my pen scratches
For me to live is Christ to die is gain.
The story of Saul's conversion can be found in Acts chapter 9.

                                                                                                                    Written by Riley Henderson

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Only a Year

A year to ponder
A year to think 
A year to question why not me?
A year to look back on memories, to laugh and to cry
A year to wish youths didn't have to die
A year to long for something more
A year to find your heart yearning for the One standing at the door
A year of joy and one of pain
A year of black as night rain
But the dawn only comes after the night
Victory is only won after the fight
So we trudge on down the tunnel toward the Light of all lights.

Isaiah 49 : 30 - 31
For Even youths will grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.

In remembrance of my eighth grade year and the events that happened therein.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Let it be...

I want to run through the kings courts
and go through the lions den.
I want to have the faith like Noah
and the strength of Samson
Let it be as you have said
I want to have the heart like yours of David
and the wisdom of Solomon.
Let it be as you have said
I want to fight pure and true 
and build a temple for you.
Let it be....

                                                                           Written by Riley Henderson

A Letter From God

In the beginning I created the heavens and the earth. I saw that everything was good. I formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils My breath of life. I told Adam and Eve that they were welcome to eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But the serpent, oh that crafty little animal, he gave Eve the “did he really, well is that so?” business, and she and Adam took the bait. It tore my heart out to punish them but I had to discipline my son for in that there is hope, I could not be a willing party to his death. I told them that they would have to leave the garden, our evening walks could be no more. I was saddened, yet I also knew that all was not lost. Through them came many great men of the faith. Heroes under Me like, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The fact remained that the human race had fallen, and a close intimate relationship had ended. Through this I raised up a powerful nation. Oh She is my joy! When they stand with Me I will never let them fall. Then there was David, a man after my own heart that little guy was! He was a good watcher of my people. Solomon was a good man, he asked for My wisdom, making him the wisest in the land. My prophets, I used in My timing when I wanted to bring people back to Me. Though, enough about them what I wanted to talk about is you. I loved you so much that I sent My only begotten Son that if you believe in Him you shall not perish but will have everlasting life. You have sinned and fallen short of My glory, but you are justified by My grace through the redemption that came through My son, Christ Jesus. For there is no other name given to men by which you must be saved. You all like sheep have gone astray, each in His own way. For those of you who believe in Me, I am the: Alpha and the Omega,  The Ancient of Days, The I AM, The Sacrificial Lamb, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Your Abba, I am your Shalom. My love is better than life. My arms are open always. For even youths will grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in Me will find  new strength, they will soar high on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.  You are poor and needy, but I have answered you. I will continue to guard the lives of those who are devoted to Me. I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Do not fear, I love you. So come to Me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Until we meet again My child,
                                                                                                                              - God 

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Truly Grand Canyon

A breath of Peace
A moment of silence

As you gaze out 
Something inside of you mounts 

At the sight of one of the seven wonders  
which leaves your mouth open to ponder...

At the red rocks that show signs of a perfect mold
The tips of the canyon showing brush strokes of gold
And how in His handy work God is so bold

Everyone says that see this you must
Though to me it truly looks like God drew His finger through the dust
For it is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob that I trust


                                                 Written By Riley Henderson

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Monuments

An attachment for buildings I have never felt more
Though these are not just mere structures

They stand for what I believe and who I am 
They stand for what this nation was founded on and what it has been

They stand not just for men but for their creator 
Not just  "we the people" but “In God we Trust" for He is greater

He was the common strength in what these great men had 
He was there through the good and He was there through the bad

He strode beside them in the flawless times 
And bore their burdens in the difficult

Though all from different times 
I find their strongest bind

was found on their knees in prayer
for they knew no one could compare
And that He was the only one that could daily bear
Their burdens

                                   Written By Riley Henderson

Monday, March 18, 2013

America The Beautiful

On Thursday of last week my family and I embarked on a road trip across the country. We are in the process of traveling   from northern California to Albany New York. On the way we have seen some amazing sights. Just to name a few: Salt Lake City, The Salt flats, The Rockies, and Mt. Rushmore. We went to Mt. Rushmore on Saturday, where we discovered that it  was snowing in giant flakes, which could have proven to make traveling difficult. Though we were worried about that, and the fact that we wouldn’t be able to see the faces of our nations presidents, it turned out perfect. There was hardly anyone there, and the snow that fell softly all around us made the faces of our nation's heroes look magical in front of the grey sky. The snow was a special kind called sugar snow that was so soft and sweet that it melted on the tip of my tongue.  The faces etched flawlessly in the side of the mountain brought a thrill after hearing so much about them. The light in their eyes brought out the liveliness and character of these brave men who dedicated their lives to serving their country.
George Washington was the Father of his country served his men during the war, and during his presidency the people of the nation. He believed in God and that He loved us. He was quoted saying,  “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Thomas Jefferson was  responsible for the writing of the declaration of independence. He was a congressman, a vice president, and later on a president himself. He was quoted saying, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”
Abraham Lincoln was our sixteenth president. He abolished slavery and maintained that all men were created free and equal. He led the north to victory shortly before his assassination. He was a strong christian and was quoted saying, “The Bible is the best gift God has given to man, but for it we could not know right from wrong.”
Theodore Roosevelt was a christian and depended on the Bible for his decision making, He was quoted saying, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than any college education.”
All these men recognized all had sinned, that God is just and can’t live with sin, and that he loves us enough to send His son down to earth to die for our sin and be the perfect sacrificial lamb.
John 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who called on his glorious name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
 I thank God for these men who stood up for Him and chose to take the narrow, and sometimes hard road. Without Him working in them I am certain our country would not be what it is today.

This trip has been an amazing experience so far and I am so thrilled God gave us this  opportunity to see more of His beautiful creation.


Friday, March 1, 2013

In Memory of Marysa Nichols who is now Home

As death creeps up
The truth sinks in
We are momentarily blinded by this world.

We reach out for our Savior's hand
And beg Him to guide us through this forsaken land

We pray and ask the question why
some old live... and some young die
Why bad things happen to good people
Why some are vibrant and others feeble

We know God isn’t willing for any to die
He offers us all the gift of eternal life.
The truth is Jesus Christ cries when we cry.

After a time of mourning the Lord lifts up our head
Saying look up! see now I am not dead!
the loved ones and family that are mine, you will see again

In a place that I am preparing for you
I hope you will choose to live life with me too 

Only I know the hour, the time, and the place
The time will come when all will have to face 

A choice between the world and me
The love I have for you, you must see

All that will be in my kingdom forevermore
I am waiting, knocking, standing at the door

I only need an invitation 
I bring the promise of eternal life in
I love you and will carry you through the thick... and the thin.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

In memory of Marysa Nichols who went home.
                                                   
Riley Henderson       

Friday, February 15, 2013

I AM

Who is the Great I AM?
Some may say He is a judge who looks at everything we do as wrong. I disagree. Yes, I AM is a holy judge who can’t dwell with sin, but that is only a piece of Him. He is also the Atoning Sacrifice for sin, the Creator, the architect of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, He clothes each lilly, and breathes His strong breath of life into each of us.  I AM knew who you were before He created the foundations of the world. The Psalmist David said “You knit me together in my mother’s womb and I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” He knew your story and He was there. Through the heartache and joy I AM carried you, when you were lonely He walked beside you. When you were afraid, He was the Lion of Judah. When you wept, He wept. When you rejoiced He rejoiced. I AM knew each milestone in your life from your birth, to career, to family, to death and as John 1:12 says...
“Yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God.” In other words if you received Him He will be waiting to welcome you home at heavens gates.
I AM also can’t live with sin. Romans says 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” So you may ask “Where does that leave us? All of us have sinned no one is perfect, so what do we do?” The Bible has an answer for that. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life.”
So God loved us so much that he gave his son to live in this pig stye of a world, lead a perfect life and die at the end to free us? Yes, the Bible even says that “It pleased the Father to crush the Son.” It may sound cruel, but again the Great I AM was thinking of us. He was thinking of all the people that could now walk into heavens gates and say “I knew your Son and He said that through Him you would accept me as family.” (John 14:6) “Jesus answered I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” In Romans it says “The punishment for sin is death BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” The “but” in there is similar to the infomercial’s “But wait, theres more!” The verse continues to spell out God’s rescue plan. We got a get out of Jail free card from God, all we have to do is take it.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Pondering...

As I sit here pondering the question
What would life be like 
For those who don't have a hope a home or life
For those whose sorrows minus out their joy
For those who have no faith in that precious baby boy
They do not believe in the perfect Son of Man
Nor that He is living and active the Great I AM
I wonder to myself how they could not see
God's love for them so great even a sinner like me!
As I sit here pondering..

Written By Riley Henderson

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Heroes



Those men who were so ready to fight 
Those souls so brave and true
Who stood held up their banner high
They fought for me and you
They paid the price by and by
To save Red White and Blue

I pray and pray every day their cause was not in vain
That their families hearts won't break 
For their souls God did take

So let us all take a stand 
And fight for our land
We must form a band 
And give them a hand

We must push ahead
For the cause isn't dead

God bless you America O' Land that I love
We are all in need of help from above.


Written By Riley Henderson

Redemption


Three crosses stand on a hill called the skull
A crowd gathers as the men moan and groan
The man in the middle suffers more than the rest
For a war of heartache rages deep within His chest
He knew this hour would come before he reached thirty-five
For this man came not to live, He came to die
A swell of emotion catches in his throat 
For He looks down to find men gambling for his cloak
This man longed for his father in heaven 
Who knew the truth of the charges He’d been given
He’d been given a mission from the birth
To die for all within the earth
So He could save the human race 
The Son of man would have to face 
The punishment for sin which we call death 
The lone thought of setting people free rang in his head
The crown made not of gold but thorns
Was for us so that people could be reborn
The way to Heaven can not be bought 
It can only be given as a gift of love 
You see this man was Jesus Christ the Son of God


Hebrews 9:22 
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all  unrighteousness.

John 1:12
Yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God.

Written by Riley Henderson