1-8-16 The Great Physician

¹⁶ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:16-17 KJV

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When you are sick you need a doctor’s care,

For he knows how to bring you back to health.

A broken bone can give you quite a scare;

He knows just how to mend it – that’s his wealth.

When Adam disobeyed it all began,

This plague called sin, a terminal disease.

It permeates the soul of every man,

And keeps us from our God despite our pleas.

The Great Physician came to make us whole.

He had to yield His life and shed His blood.

When we submit to Jesus Christ our soul,

Then we are healed beneath the cleansing flood.

The only way to Heaven’s to get well;

The only remedy: in Jesus dwell.

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REMEMBER: Jesus bore ALL your sins on that cruel cross so that you might be made whole through Him.

10-31-15 Follow Him

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke 5:11 KJV

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The lives of Peter, Andrew, James and John

Transformed when Jesus said ‘Come follow Me.’

How can someone refuse when spirit’s drawn,

Just like a sailor’s hunger for the sea?

There comes a moment in each person’s life

When love demands you leave it all behind.

That call of soul that cuts you like a knife;

That death of self to which you were confined.

The Savior beckons – all else disappears;

The world that you once knew just falls away.

The life before was measured once in years

But now this moment is the only way.

Drop all that you are doing. Follow Him.

If your ship moves too slow, jump in and swim.

10-20-15 Unclean Spirits

²³ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

²⁴ Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

²⁵ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

²⁷ And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 1:23-27 KJV

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An unclean spirit likes to sow discord

And seeks to own the weakest mind around.

Such fights and arguments are their reward;

Where trouble’s stirred this spirit can be found.

Unless the Holy Spirit fills your heart

Ask Christ to guard your soul or you’ll be next.

They spot a child of God and then will start

To try to tear you down and leave you vexed.

The Savior lives within so call His name!

The Holy Ghost will lead you through this scene.

He might have you rebuke it out in shame

Or lead the man possessed to Christ to clean.

You’re led to where you’re needed most of all.

Let Christ stay in control and heed His call.

10-15-15 On Mindedness

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 KJV

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The carnal mind is focused on the flesh

And all the things of flesh are doomed to die.

It may look good today while it is fresh

But it will sure be rotten by and by.

There’s nothing wrong with passion in its place:

Creative drive is needed to produce,

But passion gone awry is bankrupt grace,

Like tying knots until you’ve got a noose.

If you want peace and everlasting life

The mind of Christ is really what you need.

The Word leads where the love of God is rife;

Such passion of the spirit should you heed.

The carnal mind will take you soon to death.

The mind of Spirit brings eternal breath.

Call Now

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21 KJV

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It’s not too late to call upon the Lord,

Though you’re not promised you’ll be here tonight.

Your body’s death is coming; you’ll be floored,

And then it’s just too late to get it right.

The final days are here as you well know:

The Spirit of the Lord on flesh is poured,¹

Now prophesies and visions really flow,

And old men dream of things that once were stored.

Such wonders in the heavens oft explored,²

And signs upon the earth with blood and fire;

The sun grows dark, the blood moon’s not ignored,³

The Lord will soon return, His own acquire.

If you don’t know the Savior, Now’s the time!

Tomorrow might not come, but Now is prime!

1Acts 2:17

2Acts 2:19

3Acts 2:20

10-3-15 Walk the Walk

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:46 KJV

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Are you a follower by word or deed?

It matters when you reach the other side.

Most anyone can memorize a creed;

The words take on new meaning when applied.

What good are all the scriptures if ignored?

I tell you there are some who ‘know’ the word,

But when it comes to Jesus as their Lord,

They don’t know how to act and not be heard.

If you believe in Jesus, walk the walk;

A fruit is known by taste and not just form.

A plastic bird is nothing more than schlock;

An eagle rides the clouds above a storm.

He won’t know who you are when you cry ‘Lord’

If you don’t do His will. You’ll be ignored.

9-9-15 Flee Youthful Lusts

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

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The lusts of youth don’t always mean the flesh,

But every one is meant to bring them down.

Their vanity and ego cannot mesh

With those who come to wear a humble crown.

There is a need to hear their peer’s applause,

But that lasts just a moment of their life.

Seek favor from the Lord in faith because

Unlike their friends God’s love remains through strife.

Contentions and contempt will mark their way

Unless they live in peace like Christ did show.

Abide with those whose righteousness won’t stray,

Whose charity defeats the biggest foe.

When youth resists the constant lustful lure,

They join the ranks of those whose hearts are pure.

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9-1-15 On Speaking in Tongues

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4 KJV

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There’s nothing wrong with speaking unknown tongues,

Unless you’re teaching Sunday School in church.

God gave you vocal chords and also lungs

To worship Him, not leave us in the lurch.

The Spirit speaks the truth into the heart,

And sometimes whispers secrets unrevealed.

Such mysteries remain so from the start

Unless a translator is there to yield. ¹

If you’re to lead your brethren into war

It’s so important they know what you mean.

An unknown call in battle they’ll ignore, ²

So speak commands that’s understood and keen. ³

An unknown tongue’s for you and you alone.

If you’re to prophesy, let it be known.

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1 1 Corinthians 14:13

2 1 Corinthians 14:8

3 1 Corinthians 14:15

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

8-6-15 Whosoever

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 KJV

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If you would die today where would you go?

Would you be ready on that final day?

If you are sure it’s heaven you must know

That Jesus Christ can be the only way.[i]

So no man comes to God except through Christ;[ii]

You really must believe that this is true.[iii]

He died for all your sins and this sufficed;[iv]

Confess them now and He will forgive you.[v]

Then call upon His name and you’ll be saved;[vi]

It is a gift from God, His mighty Grace.[vii]

The Holy Spirit then becomes engraved,[viii]

To guide you to the truth you can embrace.[ix]

When you are saved you will be heaven bound;[x]

You once were lost but now you have been found.[xi]

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[i] John 14:6

[ii] John 14:6

[iii] Acts 16:31

[iv] 1 Peter 2:24

[v] 1 John 1:9

[vi] Joel 2:32

[vii] Ephesians 2:8

[viii] John 14:15-17

[ix] John 16:13

[x] John 3:16

[xi] Luke 19:10

 

 

Sonnet #428