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.

1-16-16 Beware the Man

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV

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Beware the man who quarrels with the Word,

Who picks at tiny things and contradicts,

Who makes a show to have his feelings stirred,

Displaying traits the Spirit sure convicts.

He thinks that if you claim it, it is yours,

Especially the things that money buys;

He’ll tell a dirty joke beyond church doors

And never seems to look you in the eyes.

Stay far away as possible, my friend,

For all your wholesome words fall on deaf ears.

Associate with him to no good end;

He is a scourge among his friends and peers.

If Jesus isn’t in his repertoire,

The only thing to say is au revoir.

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REMEMBER: Pray for the contentious, but avoid them whenever possible.

12-22-15 SO

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV

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For God SO loved the world He gave His Son;

His One begotten Son the world He gave,

That whosoever shall believe the One

Shall never perish, never know the grave.

Christ took all of your sins onto the cross;

He gave His life for you and willingly.

Because He loved you SO He suffered loss,

But it was worth it all to set you free.

An everlasting life belongs to those

Who put their faith in God’s begotten Son,

Enduring death and in three days arose;

For God loved you SO much this all was done.

Claim Jesus as your Savior and believe

God sacrificed His Son for your reprieve.

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REMEMBER: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

12-2-15 Live by Faith

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38 KJV

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LIVE BY FAITH

Obedience to Christ is lived by faith,

A sober and regenerating love.

A child of God is not some flimsy wraith

Who always doubts salvation from above.

When justified, the saved will turn to Christ,

As natural as flowers turn to light.

Redemption’s not a treat that thinly sliced,

It’s paid for at the cross in full, outright.

If any man draw back from fear or shame,

To shrink away completely from belief,

Or think that righteousness is his to claim,

Perdition will be his with no relief.

Go boldly now in Christ with confidence;

Have faith in Jesus – He’s deliverance.

11-25-15 Even So

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:21 KJV

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EVEN SO

Our Father God sent Jesus to the earth

To save those who believe upon His name,

To bring about such miracles of worth,

There is no doubt at all upon His claim.

Our Father sent His Son to do His will,

To sacrifice His life to save His friends,

To take upon Him all our sins until

His blood could serve to cover and to cleanse.

And now the Savior sends disciples out

To save those who believe upon His name,

To show all that we meet there is no doubt

That Jesus died for them – that’s why He came.

If God sent down His Son to save mankind,

Are you not now His child and so inclined?

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.

8-03-15 Through Faith in Christ

¹ A Psalm of David:

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?

who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

² He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,

and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1-2 KJV

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When God came down to earth as Christ the man,

He showed you just how righteousness should be.

He walked uprightly, taught the Father’s plan

And spoke the truth, that it can set you free.

Though all these works are possible to do,

You must with faith believe in Jesus Christ,

That there upon the cross He died for you,

 Your sins He took and then was sacrificed.

Repent, and give Him all your heart and soul,

And claim Him as your Savior, King and Lord.

The Holy Ghost will lead you toward the goal:

Eternal life in Heaven there restored.

The righteousness you work through Christ fulfilled.

Through Him is victory; you’re glory filled.

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sonnet #425

7-23-15 O Lord of Lords!

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Psalm 8:1 KJV

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O Lord of Lords, Your glory shines above,

Illuminating Heaven and the earth!

Your power, truth and mercy rich with love

Was evident upon Your mortal birth!

How wonderful the grace you grant to man!

Unworthy though he is, You love him so!

You sacrificed Your life as was the plan

To bring salvation to the lost and low!

Jehovah, O how excellent Your name!

The universe in all its splendor fails

To demonstrate the grandeur that You claim

Upon a crown of thorns, a cross and nails.

Your glory is above the heavens heights,

But still Your spirit soothes our darkest nights.

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sonnet #414

6-12-15 Rule Number One

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3 KJV

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We like to think we keep the ten commands

That God gave Moses on Mount Sinai,

But we can’t even keep the one that stands

As first among them all, and some don’t try.

We push Jehovah back to make more room

For all the other gods we worship now,

Like money, food, the TV we consume,

And everything we claim to disavow.

Whatever stands between the Lord and you,

Whatever steals attention from His face,

Is just like cheating on a spouse that’s true,

And then to have the gall to seek His grace!

The way to keep the Lord your number one

Is follow in the footsteps of His Son.

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sonnet #387

5-25-15 White as Snow

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

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Don’t be afraid, don’t hide your head in shame;

No matter what you’ve done I still love you.

I’m not just made of vengeance as they claim;

You do not need to fear a harsh review.

Just lift your eyes and come to Christ in prayer;

It matters not if sins be crimson red.

My Son died for your sins, now don’t despair;

His blood will wash them white as snow instead.

I sent Him as the Lamb to sacrifice,

To die for all your sins both great and small.

Accept Him as your Lord, He paid the price;

Let Jesus in your heart, on Him do call.

On Judgment Day when you approach the throne,

You’ll have no sin, for Jesus did atone

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sonnet #370