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.

11-13-15 Speaking in Parables

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:13 KJV

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The Savior spoke in parables to most

Because they did not want the patent truth.

They wanted to go back to friends and boast

They’d seen a miracle and played the sleuth.

When Jesus showed His face He drew a crowd;

The vast majority went for the show.

They saw Him with their eyes but were not bowed,

They heard His voice but did not want to know.

He spoke in stories, fables, myths and tales;

Those hungry for the truth would understand.

The Spirit opened ears and took off scales

To those who sought the Kingdom here at hand.

To some the gospel seems like falsity;

You cannot get this kind to hear and see.

10-16-15 Hypocrite!

²¹ Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

²² Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

²³ Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Romans 2:21-23 KJV

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Those Christians who don’t practice what they preach

Are like a blind man with a lamp in hand.

If they walk by just stay out of their reach

Else you be dragged with them into quicksand.

They’ve seen a lot but never really looked, ¹

And love pretending they know what they don’t.

They serve the truth but it tastes undercooked;

Stay far away but be forewarned: they won’t.

We can be hypocrites though ignorant

Until the Holy Spirit checks our walk,

But woe to them who know but live a front;

They do no good and harm the future flock. ²

Call out your brother if he lives a lie.

In doing so make sure you too comply.

1Isaiah 42:20

2 Romans 2:24

9-28-15 Foolish and Weak

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV

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The wisdom of the ages gapes and drools

Compared to just a single word from God,

And all the things they teach in all the schools

Is nothing more than drivel dim and flawed.

If you should seek to know the mind of Christ,

Don’t listen to the babble of a sage.

The men who wrote the scriptures were sufficed

To listen to the Lord in every age.

Both men and empires boast about their might;

They strut across the stage of time to die,

And even when their strength is at its height

A bug can bring them down just passing by.

The man of God is neither fool nor weak

When he stands fast and turns the other cheek.

5-29-15 Serve

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Matthew 20:27 KJV

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If you would be a servant of the Lord,

Then be a servant now to all you meet,

But don’t serve others for some great reward;

Expecting something back just spells defeat.

The greatest of you thinks that they’re the least

And does not know that they are great at all.

You will not find them sitting at the feast;

You’ll find them washing dishes down the hall.

Give up your vain ambitions now, my friend,

For Hell would be the thing that you deserve.

There’s feet to be washed now until the end,

So roll your sleeves, get on your knees and serve.

The chief among you, let him give the most.

The more he gives the less he’s bound to boast.

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sonnet #373

4-28-15 Working Faith

A man may work in sweat both night and day,

A beneficial fellow great in deeds.

If he does not believe Christ all the way,

He’s like the Pharisee with knotty beads.

You can’t have faith in Jesus and stand still,

For when He lives in you, you have to serve.

Faith is an inner truth transcending will

That’s known by outer acts you can observe.

Performance may not show a faithful man,

But Godly men, in faith, don’t brag or boast.

The man who says “No faith can beat my plan,”

Will die, while men of faith live past the post.

Now show me works that faith did not begin,

I’ll show you faith by works that’s born within.

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Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith, and I have works:

shew me thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:18 KJV

 

sonnet #344