12-7-15 Mocked

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

Job 12:4 KJV

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Beware, the days are here when you are mocked

For standing on your Christian principles,

And even other Christians will concoct

The wildest things about you from their skulls.

Don’t dare defend yourself from such a crowd,

For they are fools, and fools are hard to change.

Just listen to the Lord and don’t be cowed;

The godliest of souls have all been strange.

The sort who love to gossip matter not,

It’s those who love the Lord live in your heart.

It will not matter what the scorners thought

When all is said and done the truth impart.

Be bold, be upright and believe in Christ.

Your faith in Him is worth the sacrifice.

9-4-15 Render

¹⁴ And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

¹⁵ Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

¹⁶ And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him.

Mark 12:14-17 KJV

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We have an obligation to the world

To give unto the rulers what is theirs.

Whatever flag above us is unfurled,

Obey that government; give them their shares.

We can’t forsake this world while we are here,

And still employ the money of the land.

Rebel and soon officials will appear

Reminding us the debt we owe at hand.

So render unto Caesar what is his,

And render unto God what’s His as well.

If you think taxes are too high as is,

Then use the laws to change it where you dwell.

No matter what the levy is, just pay,

And give your heart to Christ without delay.

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5-5-15 The Love of God

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 KJV

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Of all of the uncertainties of life,

And there is nothing certain, not but one:

The love of God, through peace and change and strife,

Is absolutely true and not undone.

Not life or death will kill His love at all,

Nor angels, kings or principalities,

No power in the universe at all

Can stop His love in time or in degrees.

Not heaven, earth or hell can end God’s love,

No creature in the sky or earth below.

It’s easier to count the stars above

Than find one thing His love can’t overthrow.

The love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Is undeniable across the board.

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sonnet #351

12-7-14 Nowhere

Your spirit dwells within my blood and breath,

And binds the fabric of the universe.

You guide my birth and hold my hand in death,

And every moment in between traverse.

Your omnipresence guides the wind of change;

You mark the path of elephant and ant.

You move the atom, set the mountain range,

You make the tree frog peep, the monk to chant.

Where could I go to get away from You?

You’re even in my very soul and mind.

No matter where I run You are there, too.

There is no place to go that you can’t find.

Why would I ever want to run at all?

My God, forever more You are my all!

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Whither shall I go from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

Psalm 139:7 KJV

11-23-14 On Patience

As Christ begins to change your heart and mind,

The light of Spirit shines for all to see,

And this attracts more than those of your kind:

It draws the wolves who love to disagree.

They may be souls within themselves at war,

Or those who want to snuff the Christ-light out,

But they will want to drag you down and more

To prove you wrong or fill you full of doubt.

Rejoice, for these temptations help you grow!

The mind of Christ brings patience and restraint,

And born by much compassion you will know

Another soul the gospel can acquaint.

            The acid of adversity makes strong

            Dependence on the Savior all along.

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My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:2-3 KJV