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.

9-7-58 Made by His Hands

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psalm 119:73 KJV

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The Lord created every part of you;

That little sparked conception was His kiss.

Your life began that moment, rare and true;

There’s nothing more mysterious than this!

God made you in His image: wonderful;

He fashioned you with love and tenderness.

No matter how you look you’re beautiful:

There is no part of you He didn’t bless.

Now pray for understanding you may learn

All God’s commandments meant to bring you home.

The longing in your heart that makes you yearn

Is Spirit guiding you so you don’t roam.

God gave you life eternal through His Son

Who bled and died that you may be as one.

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6-26-15 Obedience

³ If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

⁴ Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:3-4 KJV

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There’s one true guarantee of your success:

Salvation comes when you accept God’s Son.

No other way will free you from this mess

Resulting from the sin we all have spun.

Obey the Lord in every way you can;

The scriptures and the Spirit show the way.

Be sure that He will bless you in His plan;

You’ll get just what you need from day to day.

Your tears may fall like rain in seasoned strife,

But they increase the yield of later joy.

By following the Savior in this life

The seeds of love bring fruit you will enjoy.

If you will walk the way of God’s commands,

The crops you plant today will soon be grand.

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sonnet #399

12-17-14 Hands Up!

I lift my hands in praise, O Lord and King,

Surrendering my will to You above!

Your name’s exalted, let the whole world sing

Eternal hymns of  glory, thanks and love!

And while I live Your presence fills my heart,

Directing every word that I should say!

Your Holy Spirit’s here, it won’t depart!

Thank God for You, my Savior, every way!

To me You are the way, the truth, the life,

The perfect Lamb that gave Your life for me!

The world may try to blind me with its strife,

But You just touch my eyes and I can see!

I lift my hands in praise, O Lord and King!

Your name’s exalted, let the whole world sing!

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Thus will I bless thee while I live:

I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalm 63:4 KJV

11-8-14 Bless Them

The world is full of bitterness and hate,

And if you live it will be thrown at you.

Your first reaction is to take the bait,

But Jesus says that love’s the thing to do.

Be kind and gentle though men curse and shout

Or call you every name that’s in the book;

This may be when the Spirit comes about

Convicting them to take another look.

When others use you pray that God forgive

Just as the Savior did upon the cross,

For if you seek revenge you cease to live;

A rolling stone of love will keep no moss.

So bless and pray for those who curse and use;

This is the Christian way and the Good News.

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Bless them that curse you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:28 KJV

10-13-14 Thoughts and Ways

The thoughts of God are not the thoughts of men,

For men’s are limited and God’s are limitless.

We think of God the Father now and then,

But God thinks of us constantly to bless.

We think that we can save ourselves with deeds;

God’s thoughts are full of grace and love so pure,

And while we work to earn our common needs,

Our God provides the ways we can endure.

Our ways are crooked, complicated, too;

The ways of God are plain, transparent, manifest.

We move among the shadows to subdue

While God is full of light unchained and blessed.

The thoughts and ways of men lead but to death;

God grants eternal life with Spirit’s breath.

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For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8 KJV