2-1-16 Of Light and Love

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

1 John 2:10 KJV

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If you abide in light you know the source;

That light did not originate in you.

That under God’s good grace there is, of course,

The love of Christ that wants to pass it through.

Since Jesus is the light of all the world, (John 8:12)

If you believe in Him, you are that light as well. (Matthew 5:14)

The lifting wings of love cannot stay furled

If you within the arms of Jesus dwell.

So, naturally, your light’s revealed as love,

And love will radiate to all you know,

And even strangers feel the light you’re of

And be attracted to its giving glow.

With light like this there is no stumbling.

There’s so much love around it’s humbling.

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REMEMBER: Christ helps you see every step of your journey.

12-8-15 The Strait and Narrow

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 KJV

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THE STRAIT AND NARROW

The path to Heaven’s like a razors edge,

‘Twill shred your flesh to ribbons on the way.

Too few will walk this fine and narrow ledge,

This sacrifice of self, no room to sway.

Then strait ahead is Jesus; He’s the gate.

There is no other way to get inside.

His blood will cover you, your sins negate

As you walk through the Door to then abide.

But many choose the wide and easy road;

The company is gay and jubilant

But leads to sinful ruin and Hell’s abode

Where all you hear is weeping and lament.

Eternal life is found through Christ alone.

You must go through the gate to reach the throne.

10-02-15 These Stumbling Times

¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:10-11 KJV

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There is no question these are darker times

Than all the days this world has ever known.

The moral structure failed, there are more crimes,

The stench of sin makes all the earth to groan.

There’s so much hate we see it in the air;

The people that you pass won’t look at you.

Sweet life has lost it’s value; most don’t care,

As if we’ve all gone blind and can’t see through.

The only hope we have is Jesus Christ;

He lights the way with nothing less than love,

And here the grace of God is so sufficed;

Believe in Him and see the way above.

It’s not so hard to love our brother when

We have the perfect light of Christ within.

9-16-15 On Parables

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old

Psalm 78:2 KJV

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When Jesus spoke in parables He tried

To teach the ways of God in simple terms.

The truth laid bare was too much to abide;

They would not understand much less affirm.

If people of the dark not knowing light

Were told about the sun’s life giving rays,

They’d scratch their heads at words like ‘day’ and ‘bright’

But comprehend a story’s paraphrase.

The deeper truths can’t rest within the mind;

It cannot grasp in whole the Trinity.

The Holy Ghost reveals such things in kind;

It speaks straight to the heart to help us see.

Go out and share the gospel to the world.

A flag is understood when it’s unfurled.

9-9-15 Flee Youthful Lusts

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

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The lusts of youth don’t always mean the flesh,

But every one is meant to bring them down.

Their vanity and ego cannot mesh

With those who come to wear a humble crown.

There is a need to hear their peer’s applause,

But that lasts just a moment of their life.

Seek favor from the Lord in faith because

Unlike their friends God’s love remains through strife.

Contentions and contempt will mark their way

Unless they live in peace like Christ did show.

Abide with those whose righteousness won’t stray,

Whose charity defeats the biggest foe.

When youth resists the constant lustful lure,

They join the ranks of those whose hearts are pure.

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8-03-15 Through Faith in Christ

¹ A Psalm of David:

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?

who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

² He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,

and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1-2 KJV

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When God came down to earth as Christ the man,

He showed you just how righteousness should be.

He walked uprightly, taught the Father’s plan

And spoke the truth, that it can set you free.

Though all these works are possible to do,

You must with faith believe in Jesus Christ,

That there upon the cross He died for you,

 Your sins He took and then was sacrificed.

Repent, and give Him all your heart and soul,

And claim Him as your Savior, King and Lord.

The Holy Ghost will lead you toward the goal:

Eternal life in Heaven there restored.

The righteousness you work through Christ fulfilled.

Through Him is victory; you’re glory filled.

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sonnet #425

7-27-15 Dumb

³² As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

³³ And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Matthew 9:32-33 KJV

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The Devil prowls the earth with rancid breath,

Befouling souls with lies and hate and pride;

His simple goal: to lure us all to death,

To bring us down with him and there abide.

 

When Satan wraps his talons round our throat,

He robs us of our hope and leaves us dumb.

But there is One of whom the prophets wrote,

Who casts all demons out and leaves them mum.

 

When we have faith in Jesus, we reach out

And put our hand in His, then with that touch,

Our lives are changed forever with a shout!

Our tongues are then set free to praise Him much.

 

If you can’t say you’re saved and glory bound,

You’ll find your voice in Christ a loving sound.

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sonnet #418

6-4-15 You’re in Good Hands

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

John 10:27-29 KJV

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You heard the gospel, how He died for you,

And something stirred within your barren heart;

You recognized His voice and then you knew

You had to follow Him or fall apart.

He knows you, child, He calls you to His side,

And no one can remove you from His hand.

Eternally in Jesus you abide

A gift of Grace no evil can withstand.

Our Father, who gave you to Christ our Lord,

Is mightier than all and loves you so;

Secure within His grasp you’re safely stored,

Assuredly protected to and fro.

No matter what you go through while you’re here,

Remember in Their hands you’ve naught to fear.

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sonnet #379

6-3-15 Fire and Power

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8 KJV

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Before the Lord rose up into the clouds,

He spoke to His disciples full of love

About the Holy Ghost they’d be endowed,

And His great power come from up above.

When you accept the Savior as your Lord,

Believing that He died for all your sin,

The Holy Ghost will come with one accord

And enter you with power deep within.

Then in this fire you know that He is real,

That Jesus lives within you heart and soul.

The Holy Ghost abides in you with zeal;

You’ll tell the world how Christ has made you whole.

The power that rose Jesus from the grave

Resides within you like a tidal wave

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sonnet #378

5-26-15 Great Gain

Peaceful place

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6 KJV

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A Godly soul is really hard to find

Unless you go where Godly folk abide.

The place where these great ones are so inclined

Is where the Lord has told them to reside.

You cannot find them on a simple plat;

No GPS can lead you to their side.

You’ll find them so content just where they’re at

Because they are attune with Christ their guide.

A man can be content and not know God,

But deep in his contentment he must hide,

For only Jesus leaves you calm and awed;

Without the Savior peace can’t be applied.

Contentment in the Lord will bring great gain

No matter where you go His Grace will reign.

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sonnet #371