2-16-16 Give and Take

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Luke 8:18 KJV

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This is a warning to you lukewarm soul

Who merely ponders Jesus on a whim:

You say you are a Christian, play the role.

You think you’ll skate on in; your chance is grim.

If you will truly give your life to Christ

And use with grace the gifts He gives to you,

The salt you are will then be double spiced;

The love you have, much more will you accrue.

If you believe that you have got it made,

Your show of knowledge now will disappear.

What little faith you claim will soon be swayed;

Your mediocre worship won’t cohere.

Be careful how you hear: from heart or head.

The one will find the Lord, the other’s dead.

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REMEMBER: You cannot fake your way into the kingdom of heaven. If you don’t think you’re saved, you’re likely not. Go to the cross right now. You’ll gain a lot.

1-18-16 Known by His Fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 12:33 KJV

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To know a man just watch his words and deeds,

For he can’t hide the nature of his heart.

An evil sort’s revealed by his misdeeds;

A poisoned well its harm will sure impart.

A fruit will show what kind of tree it’s from;

You cannot harvest olives from the ground.

Guitarists bare their talent when they thrum,

And you can tell a good one from his sound.

True Christians will exhibit Christ within;

The body of their works His presence shows.

They cannot be successful in their sin;

The essence of His truth and love still flows.

The blind can tell a fruit by taste and feel.

See Jesus with His works in you reveal.

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REMEMBER: Jesus lives within you. Get out of the way so He can live through you.

1-5-16 Time to Confess

³² Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. ³³ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 KJV

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As much as you confess you should believe

That Jesus is your Lord and Savior, too,

For words themselves are easy to achieve,

But let your being shout your love anew.

Your silence is denial as profuse

As claiming Jesus was then just a man.

Lip service is itself a lame excuse;

Now be a true believer, not a fan.

A Christian is in truth a ‘Little Christ,’

A living, breathing representative.

You should be one with He who sacrificed;

He took on all your sins so you may live.

Confess to all He’s Christ, He’ll confess you.

Deny Him and He will deny you, too.

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REMEMBER: Ask Jesus to give you courage, strength and boldness. He certainly will.

New Release by Jay T Harding

Devotions for the Child of God: A Year of Sonnetized Scriptures is austere in form but powerful in substance. This perennial daily devotional is designed with scripture, prayer and a sonnet specifically crafted to help the reader better understand a verse from the Holy Bible each day of the year. It will be a favorite for both the newly saved as well as serious Biblical scholars.

12-9-15 The Perfect Bond

And above all these things put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness.

Colossians 3:14 KJV

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THE PERFECT BOND

Of all the aspects of a Christian heart,

Of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind,

Of meekness, patience, tolerance impart,

Forgiving one another so refined,

Above them all is charity and love;

Without it all the others are a show.

Agape’s like the stitching in a glove,

The letters in these words you’ve come to know.

Love is the perfect bond of unity,

The source of all that’s beautiful and true.

The way to run a just community

Begins with selfless love from me and you.

The fountainhead of love is God Himself.

His Spirit lies in Christ and in yourself.

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.

11-12-15 Lukewarm

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15-16 KJV

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LUKEWARM

If you’re to be a Christian, do your best!

Don’t claim to follow Christ but wander ’round.

Your Bible gathers dust while you attest

To study scriptures daily so profound.

You wear a sliver cross around your neck,

But gossip, cuss and lie for all to see.

You smile at church and tithe with some bad check;

You blew it all on Friday’s gambling spree.

It would be better were you ignorant;

At least a heathen knows just where he stands.

If you’re to be a Christian let’s be blunt:

You’d better ask for help; your time’s at hand.

It’s never good to be a lukewarm saint;

He’ll spew you from His mouth without constraint.

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

Sonnets for Christian Toddlers: A Year of Devotion by jay t harding ~ Available Thanksgiving 2015

8-10-15 Intercession

³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Luke 22:31-32 KJV

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The enemy of God wants you to fail;

He wants to drag you ‘cross the threshing floor.

He wants you to deny the Lord and wail,

To lose your faith and bother him no more.

If you’re a child of God you’re valuable,

For you can share the gospel of the Lord.

If Satan makes you unapproachable,

You’re one more Christian that can be ignored.

But Jesus wants your faith to grow and thrive,

So you can thwart the Devil in his plan.

Your strength will help Christ bring more souls alive,

Help lift your brethren from the sifting pan.

Christ prays for you this moment out of love,

That your faith will not fail, but rise above

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sonnet #432