10-10-15 Bittersweet

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

James 3:8-11 KJV

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It’s easier for man to tame a rock

Than teach his tongue to stop its reckless ways.

A stone can learn to sit and stay and balk,

But not the tongue; it runs for days and days.

How many times have words jumped from your mouth

That you regret the instant it is done?

A friendly conversation’s headed south

With just an unplanned phrase or bawdy pun.

If you can hesitate to choose your words,

The tongue might find some worse to say instead.

Best cut it out and feed it to the birds

Or keep a clean, blank slate within your head.

The mind of Christ is possible to gain:

It takes complete surrender to attain.

5-28-15 On Wrath

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20 KJV

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An angry man is blind to love and light.

And deaf to every whisper Spirit makes.

How can he serve his brothers day and night

When all that he provides are bellyaches?

If you have anger that you can’t control,

Ask Jesus to remove it by its roots.

The weeds of wrath will choke the tender soul,

But Christ can pluck them out to bear good fruits.

Be swift to hear the Spirit when He calls,

And do not speak until He gives you words.

The man who’s led by Jesus never falls.

Obey the wind to fly among the birds.

The love of God will burn away your wrath.

His righteousness will keep you on the path.

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sonnet #372

040515 That Moment When

The guards beside the tomb were fast asleep;

The world itself was still, holding its breath,

Anticipating something great and deep

That it had never seen in life or death.

The morning sun was just a tick away;

The birds and crawling things stopped on their own,

When suddenly a brilliant light gave way;

An angel came and rolled away the stone.

Just then the morning sun’s first ray appeared

And shined into the tomb upon His face.

His eyes were open, linen cloth was cleared.

He stood then walked away from that dark place.

O Jesus, to be there that moment when

The angels ministered to You just then!

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² And they found the stone

rolled away from the sepulchre.

³ And they entered in,

and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:2-3 KJV

1-28-15 Celebration!

When you are freed by Jesus from all sin

And come down off the cross a new born man,

The joy that floods your heart will then begin

Like Jews from Babylon that homeward ran.

The chains of slavery are now removed;

You climb from darkness to a warming light.

The promise of salvation has been proved

For now you’re led with peace and fresh delight.

It seems the very hills sing out in glee,

And all the birds praise Jesus with one voice:

“Another soul is saved! Now glory be!”

The Holy Spirit swells and we rejoice.

That rustling sound you hear is clapping trees;

The news of your redemption’s on the breeze!

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For ye shall go out with joy,

and be led forth with peace:

the mountains and the hills shall break forth

before you into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 KJV

7-14-14 Nowhere to Lay His Head

If you would follow Jesus Christ the King,

You must be willing to lose all you own.

The Son of Man on earth owned not a thing,

Though ev’ry living creature’s home was known.

The Saviour was as poor as man can be

So that you might be rich as God’s elect.

He had no place to rest His head, you see,

To show there’s nothing here you should expect.

Believe that God will give you all you need

As Christ conforms to you both heart and soul.

Eventually you’ll learn as you concede

That pillows and a bed are not your goal.

To be like Jesus, drop all worldly things

To give your life to Him and all that brings.

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And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes,

and birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Luke 9:58 KJV

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