11-20-15 From the Womb

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

Psalm 22:10 KJV

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God’s known you since before your mortal birth,

When you were being knitted in her womb. ^{(Psalm 139:13)}

In all the universe He sets your worth,

And watches over you from crib to tomb.

He’s been your God since you were just a dream;

He called you to be His before day one.

Predestined to be one whom Christ redeem,

And given full free will from do til done.

So now you are His child forever more,

Becoming more like Christ each passing day.

He has such wondrous things for you in store

And loves you more than words could ever say.

The God that formed the world formed you as well.

You always have been His; in God you dwell.

11-3-15 Fight the Good Fight

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV

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The moment you professed that Christ was Lord,

Professed your faith to God and man alike,

The Spirit came upon you like a sword

And Satan came against you stone and spike.

Do not forget the enemy’s intent

To twist the mind of man against the Word.

You are a soldier from the Savior sent

To do the will of God with faith secured.

You’ve victory in Jesus, called to fight,

Delivering the gospel to the lost,

And love the Lord and men with all your might,

And keep the faith whatever be the cost.

Now Fight! Through Grace eternal life is yours.

A solider gird in faith will long endure.

10-17-15 Strength Renewed

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

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A bride, a child, a servant and a friend

All wait upon the One who’s worth the wait;

Anticipation breathes without an end,

And hope in confidence does actuate.

Beyond the veil all faith is magnified,

Baptized in love so deep and then returned,

Borne on the sigh of Spirit undenied

Back to the one who waits a grace unearned.

Climb heavenward on graceful eagle wings,

Called on by strength renewed the promised land.

Come now revived and run to arms that brings

Caresses to the soul at last in hand.

Devotion to the Lord brings fortitude.

Delivered with a kiss is love pursued.

10-5-15 The Best of Friends

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:15 KJV

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A servant knows not what his Lord has planned;

Until he’s notified, he’ll stay the course.

A friend will share with friend intent firsthand

So there are no surprises, no remorse.

Companions seek to help each other out;

Good news to one will be good news to all.

When Christ becomes your friend there is no doubt

He’ll lead you Home Himself so you don’t fall.

Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus Christ!

He loves us more than we could ever know.

He is your confidant so rare sufficed;

Reveal your heart to Him and watch it grow.

With Jesus you have got the best of friends

Just take the hand that He for you extends.

9-25-15 The Perfect Example

²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25 KJV

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There is no greater love than Christ has shown,

The perfect model for a perfect life,

Who chose to leave His bright celestial throne

To come and save His sheep through pain and strife.

He had no sin Himself but came for ours,

Enduring all the wrath of God and man,

Who could have freed Himself with awesome powers

But chose to bring salvation as His plan,

And all the torment that our Lord endured,

Reviled, threatened, beaten, crucified,

He did for you so you could be secured.

He loved you so He suffered, bled and died.

O friend, I know He thought of you that day

As He was hanging on the cross that way!

8-21-15 He Calls Your Name

And the LORD came, and stood,

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 KJV

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If Jesus called your name what would you do?

How could you know the voice was from the Lord?

There is a way to tell if this is true:

Consider where your treasure has been stored.

To follow Him you’ll learn your Shepherd’s voice ¹

For He has gone ahead to lead the way.

His words will bring you peace to then rejoice; ²

Hold fast to what is good without delay. ³

If you have faith in Jesus do not doubt; ⁴

For doubt will wave at every restless wind.

The Holy Spirit lets the truth ring out; ⁵

He won’t tell you something and then rescind.

If Jesus calls your name I hope you hear;

Incline your heart to Him, His words are dear. ⁶

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sonnet #443

1 John 10:4

2 1 Corinthians 14:33

3 1 Thessalonians 5:21

4 James 1:6

5 1 John 5:6

6 2 Timothy 3:16

6-24-15 First to Last

So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16 KJV

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The souls who are forgotten by the crowd:

The meek, the low, the bullied and the plain,

Are lost among the ego-driven proud

And last to find a post they can attain.

The Lord will not ignore the seventh son,

The shepherd boy who one day would be king.

The manger-born became the perfect One

To save a sinful world who hopeless cling.

We all are called to come unto the cross,

Invited to the wedding feast by Christ;

The proud will all be counted as a loss,

The chosen ones are those who’ve paid the price.

Down here we choose the leader of the pack;

If you would follow Christ, then serve in back.

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sonnet #397

6-7-15 SHOUT!

⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Mark 10:47-52 KJV

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The Son of David passes by you now,

And though you cannot see you know it’s Him.

The crowd’s as thick as nature can allow.

Would you still call His name, though chance is slim?

You know that you’re not worthy of His time,

And even if you yelled He’d never hear.

So here you sit amid your sin and slime;

Would you still shout His name and persevere?

Then SHOUT and beg for mercy! SHOUT His name!

You may not ever get another try!

Ignore the crowd’s rebuke and SHOUT the same!

If Christ is all you need He’ll hear your cry.

He calls – you throw your cloak of sin away;

Put all your faith in Christ – you’ll see today.

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sonnet #382

4-22-15 Press Toward the Mark

If you believe the promises of God,

And of His only Son who spoke for Him,

By Grace will we be saved though we are flawed,

The blood of Christ alone atones the grim.

Then those of us whom Jesus Christ has called

Know well the crown of glory that awaits,

And all the things of earth no more than galled,

We keep our sight on Him and His estate.

Then let us hold the faith and move ahead,

To imitate the Savior’s life and love,

Remembering His blood for us was shed,

And all that we have now comes from above.

Press toward the mark: with Christ eternal life,

And be not so deterred through pain and strife.

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¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.

¹⁶ Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,

let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Philippians 3:14-16 KJV

sonnet #338

3-15-15 No Longer Two

No matter where you go upon this world,

The Christian that you meet is one with you;

The differences you have are soon unfurled

As children of the Lord no longer two.

Now one in mind and heart and spirit dwell,

The faith you have in Jesus is your bond;

Such unity in love you both can tell,

So manifested from our Father donned.

As Christ shows us compassion, we should, too,

And we with one another be as He;

Now strengthened for the task we’re called to do,

To share the gospel truth for all to see.

Show mercy, grace and love to all you meet;

A brother now, or later saved so sweet.

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Be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

1 Peter 3:8 KJV