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.

1-14-16 Faith in Action

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

James 2:14-16 KJV

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A couple poor as dirt with hungry child:

The husband says, “I’ve faith we’ll get some food.”

The wife replied, “O fool! You’ve got me riled!

Go get a job! We can’t eat attitude!”

Professing faith is easy; say the word,

But if your faith is real then it will show.

A kindness given first was faith that stirred.

When grace meets gratitude you can’t lie low.

When Jesus said “Your faith has made you whole,”

He knew that she believed that by her touch.

If she had not had faith both heart and soul,

She wouldn’t have reached out His cloak to clutch. (Matthew 9:20-22)

Declaring faith won’t keep you warm and filled.

Put action to those words and be fulfilled.

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REMEMBER: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)

9-2-15 Consider the Lilies

²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:28-29 KJV

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We worry far too much on earthly things,

The ones of us who are not destitute,

And even indigents and poor who clings

Don’t walk around in their own birthday suit.

We color coordinate, accessorize,

Buy far too many shoes for our two feet,

And then we walk the mall with googly eyes,

And notice what is worn by those we meet.

Just step out side, the wildest flower calls

To show you what the Lord has dressed them in,

And O! their perfect beauty shames the malls,

Yet neither do they work, nor do they spin.

The more time that you spend on what to wear

Is less time that is spent absorbed in prayer.

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4-12-15 True Friend

If you would dare to want to know your friends,

Lose everything you own; be destitute.

The clique you used to know will show their ends.

Good luck if you don’t have a parachute.

A poor man’s house is not well visited,

For there is nothing there to want or claim,

And if his house burns down then God forbid

The crowd that knew him rich would douse the flame.

It matters not the things you own or owe;

With Jesus as your Friend you need no more.

With Him it doesn’t matter what you show,

If you have dirt or marble on the floor.

The Savior looks straight to your inner heart.

He knows just who you are but will not part.

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Wealth maketh many friends;

but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Proverbs 19:4 KJV