12-24-15 Under the Law

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Galatians 4:4 KJV

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Before the earth was formed His time was set

To come into the world the perfect Lamb,

Fulfilling every prophecy and debt,

The son of woman and the great I AM.

He put a period upon the Law,

Conforming to it to the nth degree.

They all were made for Him and this He saw

Unto the cross, then there on Calvary

He bore the penalty of sin, His death,

By taking all our sins, the Law fulfilled,

Yet in three days He took a Holy breath

To bring eternal life with grace instilled.

The Law was satisfied; He broke its curse.

Believe in Jesus, let His love immerse.

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REMEMBER: Jesus said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17)

10-10-15 Bittersweet

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

James 3:8-11 KJV

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It’s easier for man to tame a rock

Than teach his tongue to stop its reckless ways.

A stone can learn to sit and stay and balk,

But not the tongue; it runs for days and days.

How many times have words jumped from your mouth

That you regret the instant it is done?

A friendly conversation’s headed south

With just an unplanned phrase or bawdy pun.

If you can hesitate to choose your words,

The tongue might find some worse to say instead.

Best cut it out and feed it to the birds

Or keep a clean, blank slate within your head.

The mind of Christ is possible to gain:

It takes complete surrender to attain.

8-29-15 Treacherous Times

And then many will be offended,

and shall betray one another,

and shall hate one another.

Matthew 24:10 KJV

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These are the latter days which Christ foretold

When brethren are offended by the Word,

And even those who used to be quite bold

Will turn their backs on those the Gospel stirred.

Though many fall away these shall be worse,

Who once did follow Jesus in the day

But now will stumble back to point and curse

The Christians they once loved yet now betray.

Such hatred shall arise from those thought saved,

With vehemence they’ll trample on the flock.

The lies apostates spread are so depraved

To make the world lash out in fear and shock.

Hold fast in Christ; your faith will long endure.

When they knock down your door His love’s secure.

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sonnet #451

8-16-15 Let the Dead Bury the Dead

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

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Sonnet #438

7-29-15 On Persecution

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12 KJV

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These days when you say Jesus best beware,

The chance is good you’ll meet a wall of hate.

Consider yourself blessed when they just stare,

For there are places killing us is great.

Just tell them Christ arose alive from death

And you’ll be shouted down and shown the door.

In some parts of the world give Christ your breath

And they will roll your head along the floor.

Rejoice when you are persecuted here,

For so the prophets suffered this and worse.

Count it a blessing when your pain’s severe,

For your reward in heaven’s worth their curse.

When persecution comes be glad in Christ

He’ll be there with you when you’re sacrificed.

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sonnet #420

3-28-15 Give Account

The final Judgment Day will come too soon

To those who did not think that it will be,

When every knee shall bow and tongue shall croon

With praises to the Lord for all to see.

Then we shall give account to Christ the judge,

Our secrets all laid bare before the Word,

The lustful thought, the hatred and the grudge,

The curse, the promise broken will be heard.

We’ll also be reminded of the good,

The helping hand, the love, the warm embrace,

The friends we led to Jesus when we could,

The times we were forgiving, full of grace.

We all will give account on Judgment Day.

It’s not too late: get right with Christ today!

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So then every one of us

shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 14:12 KJV

2-18-15 The Word

Before the world, our Savior was the Word;

Both God and with God, Logos was and is,

Who with His voice the new born heavens stirred,

And all creation rightfully is His.

We cannot scarce imagine this at all,

But God Himself came down and walked the earth,

To save us from the curse of Adam’s fall;

The Word as flesh was perfect from His birth.

How wonderful that God did love us SO

That He BE-came a man, this Word divine!

He sacrificed Himself so all would know

Just how to be the branch with He the vine.

Now, in the first beginning was the Word.

With God and God Himself, the Word is heard.

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In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

John 1:1 KJV

11-14-14 I Will Give You Rest

If you are burdened by the weight of sin

And tired of the loneliness inside;

If you have lost the way and hope within,

Come unto me and here you can reside.

I’ve loved you long before the universe,

And always will no matter what you do.

I died for you and thus reversed the curse

Come unto me, my child, I’ll make you new.

You need not walk alone afraid of death;

You need not worry now or be distressed.

I’ll be here long beyond your final breath;

Come unto me and I will give you rest.

Come unto me and I will give you rest

Lay down your weary head and then be blessed.

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Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 KJV

11-8-14 Bless Them

The world is full of bitterness and hate,

And if you live it will be thrown at you.

Your first reaction is to take the bait,

But Jesus says that love’s the thing to do.

Be kind and gentle though men curse and shout

Or call you every name that’s in the book;

This may be when the Spirit comes about

Convicting them to take another look.

When others use you pray that God forgive

Just as the Savior did upon the cross,

For if you seek revenge you cease to live;

A rolling stone of love will keep no moss.

So bless and pray for those who curse and use;

This is the Christian way and the Good News.

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Bless them that curse you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:28 KJV