2-22-16 Currency

²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:20-23 KJV

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If you’re a good soul, keeping every law,

You love your fellow man and God as well,

If you don’t follow Christ, this fateful flaw

Will drag you to the hoary gates of hell.

Don’t think if you’ve got money all is lost,

It’s where you place your trust and confidence.

Take up your cross like Him at any cost; *

Put all your hope in Christ at life’s expense.

The question’s this: what’s your priority?

What currency do you spend all your time?

It’s more than being willing that’s the key;

It’s what control your life’s the paradigm.

What drives your soul is what’s been sacrificed.

There’s power in the blood of Jesus Christ.

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REMEMBER: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

* Matthew 16:24

1-28-16 The Need for Thorns

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV

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Thank God for all the troubles you must bear:

Infirmities that keep you from your pride,

The weaknesses that drive you to despair,

That thorn within your flesh that won’t subside.

There’s not much worse within than arrogance,

For it takes your attention off of Christ.

It makes you boast of your great competence,

Some dollar souvenir way overpriced.

And but for your affliction you’d be lost,

Your halo bound so tight to make you dumb.

Be grateful to be saved at any cost,

For weakness makes you strongly overcome.

If Satan buffets you with trials enticed,

God may be telling you His grace sufficed.

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REMEMBER: Thorns humbles the rose.

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.

8-11-15 Repent!

And herein do I exercise myself,

to have always a conscience

void of offence toward God,

and toward men.

Acts 24:16 KJV

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The key to healthy living in the flesh

Includes avoiding sickness at all cost,

But if it does arise attack it fresh

Lest sickness turn to death then all is lost.

The Holy Spirit guides us on to God,

Convicting us if we should start to sin,

And when we sin, repent from what is flawed

Lest sin evolve and apathy begin.

Repent! Assault offence at every turn.

Admit it right away to God and man.

The fire of your repentance makes you burn;

You won’t touch it again, not if you can.

Stay honest with the Lord: repent and pray,

To keep your conscience clear from day to day.

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sonnet #433

7-20-15 Born Again

Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3 KJV

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A birth into this world means tears and pain;

Your mother can’t forget nor you recall.

But when you come to Christ you’re born again,

A new creation free from Adam’s fall.

Now quickened by God’s Spirit through and through,

The blood of Christ has washed your sins away.

No longer bound by flesh you live anew,

A citizen of Heaven now to stay.

Admit that you’re a sinner, dead and lost,

That Jesus paid the price for all your sins.

Put all your trust in Him whate’er the cost

And you will be reborn – your life begins!

Drink deep the Word as milk, then eat as meat,

And watch the Grace of God make you complete.

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sonnet #411

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!

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #354

4-21-15 Have Faith

Have faith when all the roads for you are closed,

When all the avenues you’ve tried have failed.

Your faith in Christ will have new ways exposed,

Will open boulevards where none prevailed.

Have faith when everyone has told you No,

When time and time again you face defeat.

Your faith in Christ will help success to grow,

Will show you how to win when you compete.

Have faith when hope is low and all seems lost,

When others walk away in dark despair.

Your faith in Christ will stand at any cost,

Will give you victory when none would dare.

Have faith when even you begin to doubt;

Your faith in Christ makes mountains move about.

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Then Jesus answered and said unto her,

O woman, great is thy faith:

be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 15:28 KJV

3-25-15 God, You are Holy

O Lord, my God, You’re holy, good and just;

There is not any wickedness in You.

You have no room for those who say they must,

No matter the excuse or point of view.

Sometime You do permit a sin to flower,

Although there is no pleasure on Your part,

To magnify Your Mercy, Grace and Power

To bring us to salvation in Your heart.

You loved us though we once were sinners lost;

That’s why You sent Your Son, a sinless man,

Becoming sin itself, His life the cost

To bring about Your perfect, steadfast plan.

There is no evil that can dwell with You.

With gratitude I worship You anew!

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For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:

neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Psalm 5:4 KJV

1-23-15 On Righteousness

You haven’t wanted righteousness enough

Until you thirst and hunger nigh to death,

Your limbs grown weak, your voice turned lean and rough

And righteousness as precious as your breath.

You argue that the times won’t stand for that;

You’d lose your job and end up on the street.

The cost of righteousness won’t leave you fat;

You won’t know hunger when you always eat.

This world’s a desert void of drink or food,

But there’s a well to slake the weary soul.

You cannot take a sip till you’re subdued

And righteousness becomes your only goal.

For few are chosen although many called;

To gain true righteousness one must have crawled.

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Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst

after righteousness:

for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:6 KJV

1-7-15 I Look Unto You

My God! I know that You will hear my prayer!

You know how cold and grey the world can be,

With bitter blood and hatred everywhere.

I look unto You, Lord; please help me see.

My enemies encircle night and day;

They hate the light and love from You through me.

Forgive them now, they know not what they say.

I look unto You, Lord; please hear my plea.

No matter what the cost, I’ll wait for You;

One day You will return and set me free!

The promises You made are coming true.

I look unto You, Lord, on bended knee.

O God of my salvation unafraid,

The love I have for You will never fade.

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Therefore I will look unto the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation:

my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7 KJV