2-23-16 On Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

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You go to bed assured that you will wake;

A pregnant woman knows her child will come;

You drool just thinking of that chocolate cake;

Guitarists play the song before they strum.

Now, faith is not believing it will be,

It’s knowing that it is before it is.

I do not have to touch, don’t have to see

To know that Jesus lives; my heart is His.

It was by faith Christ calmed the tempest sea,

By faith He made the blind man see anew.

Within the grace of God you’ll find the key:

You live by faith in everything you do.

In faith you have the truth to set you free.

The tiny seed contains the mighty tree.

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REMEMBER: Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. (D. Elton Trueblood)

9-30-15 What He Has Done

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Isaiah 12:5 KJV

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Behold the many things the Lord has done:

He made the universe and all within;

He came to earth the essence of the Son;

He’s offered us salvation from our sin;

He had the prophets write His holy word;

He gave us with His love such blessed grace;

He promised us He’d come back undeterred;

He’s gifted us the Spirit to embrace;

He loves us more than we will ever know;

He formed us in His image from the start;

He carries us with Him and won’t let go;

He’s conquered death and hell; He’s done His part.

The things the Lord has done are excellent!

The earth and all that’s in it give assent!

9-3-15 Here We Go

⁹ That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

¹⁰ Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

¹¹ Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isaiah 30:9-11

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The day has come when evil’s in full bloom,

Completely unafraid of consequence,

Destroying children in their mother’s womb

And lacking any hint of moral sense.

The leaders of the earth are fraudulent;

The laws they pass promote such wickedness.

The young walk through the streets so discontent,

With heads replete with rage and wild distress.

The truth is now despised, it’s lies they want,

And any talk of God is shouted down.

The reprobate advance the cause they flaunt

While running God’s own children in the ground.

The day has come upon us, rife with sin,

But Christ is our Commander – we will win.

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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

6-6-15 No Peace

There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 48:22 KJV

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Today the wicked roam the earth with glee

Without a sense of consequence or care.

They take what isn’t theirs and say it’s free;

Depravity and death stink up the air.

Don’t think that they are getting by with this,

Although it seems that now it is the case.

A reckoning will come that they can’t miss;

The wicked won’t have peace – no, not a trace.

The evil that men do will haunt their souls

If they don’t turn to Jesus and confess.

When death arrives they’ll see then He controls

And it will be too late: there’s no redress.

Eternity’s forever without peace.

Serenity in Christ will never cease.

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sonnet #381

6-3-15 Fire and Power

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8 KJV

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Before the Lord rose up into the clouds,

He spoke to His disciples full of love

About the Holy Ghost they’d be endowed,

And His great power come from up above.

When you accept the Savior as your Lord,

Believing that He died for all your sin,

The Holy Ghost will come with one accord

And enter you with power deep within.

Then in this fire you know that He is real,

That Jesus lives within you heart and soul.

The Holy Ghost abides in you with zeal;

You’ll tell the world how Christ has made you whole.

The power that rose Jesus from the grave

Resides within you like a tidal wave

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sonnet #378

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

5-21-15 Every Eye Shall See

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7 KJV

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Then like a thief at night will Jesus come,

Surprising all but those who are prepared,

And all with eyes to see will then become

To know that He is here, His presence bared.

The dead in Christ shall rise from in the ground;

The righteous all will know and so rejoice.

The terror of His enemies abound,

And they will wail and weep as if one voice.

He’ll come to judge the quick and judge the dead,

Including those who harmed the ones He chose.

His presence in the clouds will make some dread:

The final days are coming to a close.

Oh, how magnificent that day will be!

The Savior will return for all to see!

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sonnet #366

5-11-15 Spread the Word

And as ye go, preach, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:7 KJV

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The time has come, the time is here, my friend,

To share the news of Jesus to all men,

And when you hear some mock Him, then defend,

For He will stand for you and them, amen.

The Savior is returning, be of haste,

And spread the Word as if He’s coming now,

Then bring them to the cross where sin was placed,

Where Jesus died for them with humble vow.

Now, be like Christ and preach to all you meet,

Pour out the living water for their soul.

If you bring one to Jesus on the street,

It will be worth the effort as a whole.

Don’t be so shy, recall how you were freed;

How someone let the Spirit take the lead.

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sonnet #357

5-8-15 Watch

³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh,

at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Mark 13:35-37 KJV

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My sister, wake! The Master’s coming soon!

My brother, keep a vigil by the door!

We must be ready under sun or moon!

He’s coming back! Wake up! No time to snore!

Our Savior said that He will come again,

And all that He has said, He’s kept His word.

The ones who treat this promise with disdain

Will wish upon His coming they had heard.

Now scour the earth with haste to save the lost!

Your neighbors, friends and family, save them too!

And while you work keep watch at any cost,

For Jesus will return, this much is true!

            Keep watch both day and night! Don’t go to sleep!

            Those dozing when He comes will surely weep!

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sonnet #354