2-23-16 On Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

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You go to bed assured that you will wake;

A pregnant woman knows her child will come;

You drool just thinking of that chocolate cake;

Guitarists play the song before they strum.

Now, faith is not believing it will be,

It’s knowing that it is before it is.

I do not have to touch, don’t have to see

To know that Jesus lives; my heart is His.

It was by faith Christ calmed the tempest sea,

By faith He made the blind man see anew.

Within the grace of God you’ll find the key:

You live by faith in everything you do.

In faith you have the truth to set you free.

The tiny seed contains the mighty tree.

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REMEMBER: Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. (D. Elton Trueblood)

11-16-15 The Word of God Goes Forth

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV

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As rain brings life to all that drink it in,

So does the Word of God to list’ning ear,

Descending from the heavens to begin

His reign of grace and love to all that hear.

The presence of the Lord did walk the earth,

And everywhere He went good fruit would grow.

The gospel of His being promised birth,

Eternal life abundantly to flow.

When God said “BE” the universe emerged,

And how much more His Word within your heart!

Now open up your mouth as Spirit urged

And let His Word go forth with love impart.

God loved the world so much He gave His Son;

His blood like rain brings life to everyone.

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

5-7-15 He Hears

But verily God hath heard me;

he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

Psalm 66:19 KJV

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My enemies have painted me as vile;

An evil man, a phony hypocrite.

If this is true, could I then God beguile?

Would He then heed my prayers and thus commit?

Yet God has heard me, I who am His slave.

The love He has for me has changed my ways,

For He sent Christ His Son whose life He gave;

He died for all my sins. It’s He I praise!

If I were still the man I used to be,

I would not waste my time to spread the Word.

But my old self is dead on Calvary,

And now I follow Christ, His Spirit’s heard.

            My Father hears my prayers; I am His child.

            He answers every one so clear and mild.

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sonnet #353

4-21-15 Have Faith

Have faith when all the roads for you are closed,

When all the avenues you’ve tried have failed.

Your faith in Christ will have new ways exposed,

Will open boulevards where none prevailed.

Have faith when everyone has told you No,

When time and time again you face defeat.

Your faith in Christ will help success to grow,

Will show you how to win when you compete.

Have faith when hope is low and all seems lost,

When others walk away in dark despair.

Your faith in Christ will stand at any cost,

Will give you victory when none would dare.

Have faith when even you begin to doubt;

Your faith in Christ makes mountains move about.

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Then Jesus answered and said unto her,

O woman, great is thy faith:

be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 15:28 KJV

4-8-15 How Great You Are!

As far as we can see are galaxies,

Yet when our eyes look to things very small

The atoms mirrors galaxies with ease,

And wonder fills our spirits and enthral.

O Lord, how great Your works in everything!

The flea, the sun, the rose, the forest deep.

Amazing more the insights that You bring;

How great Your thoughts, the wisdom that You keep!

You’ve known us since before we came to be;

Can look into the hearts of all at once.

The secrets of the universe You see!

The smartest of us all is just a dunce.

I dare consider all Thy hands have made,

That You can just say “BE” and it’s displayed!

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O LORD, how great are thy works! 

and thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 92:5 KJV

3-30-15 Neither Fail Nor Forsake

I AM your God, and I will always BE,

I do not sleep, I do not slumber, too.

I watch a star evolve, I watch a flea,

I watch the universe; I’m watching you.

I will not fail you; you can count on Me.

I always keep the promises I make.

I know that life has its adversity;

I won’t abandon you when love’s at stake.

I did not leave when Adam fell from grace,

I never did forsake the prophets bold.

I was with Jesus til sin took His place;

I was with Him when death failed to take hold.

Relax, My child, You’ll never be alone

I AM your God, and you are all My own.

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I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 1:5 KJV

2-11-15 Simply Said

If you keep God’s commandments it will tell;

Let love for others grow until it’s whole;

Believe in Jesus, friend, and He will dwell,

His Spirit and His Love within your soul.

Put faith in Christ as Saviour and your King,

And as you go like Him you’ll grow to be;

In servitude, and with compassion bring

The gospel of salvation’s guarantee.

So as you dwell in Christ and He in you,

His Presence will be known within your heart.

There will be no denying this is true:

He’ll guide your way and never will depart.

            Remember God’s commandments simply said:

            Believe in Christ, His Son; give love widespread.

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²³ And this is his commandment,

That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,

and love one another,

as he gave us commandment.

²⁴ And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him,

and he in him.

And hereby we know that he abideth in us,

by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 3:23-24 KJV

2-8-15 Parable of the Flea

Recall the flea that landed on the wheel

And kicked up grains of dust beneath his feet;

How proud he was and shouted in his zeal:

“How powerful I am upon this street!”

Now were it not for God you would not be.

His Grace has carried you this very day,

So when you’re all puffed up think of the flea;

Perspective crushes ego gone astray.

Don’t think yourself more highly than you are,

But soberly reflect with gratitude.

God gave you everything to get this far;

The gifts you have He graciously imbued.

The measure of your faith was granted you,

So love with all you’ve got; He’ll see you through.

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For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 KJV

1-15-15 Be of Good Cheer

Whatever trouble has you far from shore,

Whenever you’re adrift in need of aid,

Wherever life has left you with no oar,

The Savior’s standing there; “be not afraid”.

There is no place that Jesus cannot go,

There is no problem that is too severe,

There is no question asked that He won’t know,

Don’t worry half as much; “be of good cheer”.

Just when you think that you are all alone,

Just when you sink your head and start to cry,

Just when your heart’s as heavy as a stone,

You’ll hear the voice of Jesus: “It is I”.

And as you dream of meeting Him one day,

He’s with you even now, not far away.

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And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,

walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,

they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit;

and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,

Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:25-27 KJV