1-28-16 The Need for Thorns

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV

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Thank God for all the troubles you must bear:

Infirmities that keep you from your pride,

The weaknesses that drive you to despair,

That thorn within your flesh that won’t subside.

There’s not much worse within than arrogance,

For it takes your attention off of Christ.

It makes you boast of your great competence,

Some dollar souvenir way overpriced.

And but for your affliction you’d be lost,

Your halo bound so tight to make you dumb.

Be grateful to be saved at any cost,

For weakness makes you strongly overcome.

If Satan buffets you with trials enticed,

God may be telling you His grace sufficed.

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REMEMBER: Thorns humbles the rose.

11-23-15 On Spiritual Maturity

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

John 16:12 KJV

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When you were born you could not handle meat:

You had no teeth to chew, your stomach frail.

You had to start with milk, so warm and sweet,

And then work up to solid food in scale.

Don’t take up calculus if you can’t count,

Don’t write a book if you can’t spot a noun.

The heavy doctrine truths aren’t tantamount

To learning how your sins can drag you down.

If Jesus told you things you could not bear

Your soul would be too feeble to digest.

The Holy Ghost guides teachers to prepare

The food of Spirit that you can ingest.

Don’t be afraid to ask, but don’t forget,

The Savior may tell you “Not now; not yet.”

10-26-15 Wait – Don’t Hate

⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:8-9 KJV

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When someone does you wrong it’s natural

To let your anger get the best of you,

But wrath will be your wisdom’s funeral

And then the worst of you will soon break through.

Yet you’re no slave to sin: the old man died; ¹

He’s crucified with Christ when you are saved.

If you’ve been wronged let Spirit be your guide;

Just wait upon the Lord; let hate be waived.

When evil’s done to you first turn to prayer;

The patient love of Jesus will descend.

When you are meek the new earth’s yours to bear. ²

God cuts off evildoers in the end.

Serenity belongs to those who wait;

In Christ there is no room for those who hate.

1Romans 6:6

2Matthew 5:5

9-10-15 The Stain Remover

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

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Don’t be afraid, do not fall in despair;

You realize the hopeless state you’re in.

Death calls for you – it’s more than you can bear.

You can’t escape the stain of all your sin.

Just take the hand of Jesus, make Him yours.

He’ll wash your sins from scarlet red to white.

Although the stain has sunk into your pores

He’ll take the brand of Satan from your sight.

The Son of God loved you so very much

He took all of your sins upon the cross.

Accept Him as your Savior, feel His touch;

Believe He died for you and bore your loss.

Although your sins are crimson red and full,

The blood of Christ will make them white as wool.

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8-27-15 An Exhortation

Now we exhort you, brethren,

warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,

support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

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We have our own responsibilities,

And that includes a call to help the poor:

The poor in heart, in mind, in strength are these

That need some extra care we can’t ignore.

Admonish those that step across the line:

The busybody, troublemaking sort.

Teach discipline and selfless service fine;

These diamonds in the rough, do not sell short.

Uplift the ones who struggle with the cross:

The simple and the slow to understand.

The weak need love who cannot bear a loss;

Please help them with their faith and to withstand.

Have patience with the souls who trip and fall;

Be one to help them up. See Christ in all.

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sonnet #449

4-1-15 Fooled

There’s nothing worse than dealing with a fool,

Especially a fool consumed by lust or greed;

It’s easier to pull a stubborn mule

Than soon convince a fool to then concede.

A fool that’s in his folly please beware,

For he will pull you in then more and more;

It’s better to come cross a mother bear

Who’s had her babies stolen just before.

And then there is the fool with half a wit

That tries to separate you from your wealth.

If you refuse to give he’ll throw a fit

And stress you out so much you lose your health.

If you wear God’s full armor you’ll be tooled;

You’ll be prepared in Christ and won’t be fooled.

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Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,

rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 KJV

12-31-14 You’ll Surely Know

To know beyond a doubt if you love God,

Observe your life and see the fruit you bear.

If you shun His commandments you’re a fraud;

How can you claim to love if you don’t care?

God’s moral laws are still in place today,

And done sincere in faith, His light shines through.

Look to the edicts Jesus did convey,

Your neighbor should you love, your brother, too.

You must love God with everything you’ve got,

And if you do believe Christ died for you,

Submit your life to Him as Spirit wrought;

A new man will emerge: you’ll know it’s true.

You’ll know that you know Him without a doubt

If you keep His commandments all throughout.

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And hereby we do know that we know him,

if we keep his commandments

1 John 2:3 KJV