1-18-16 Known by His Fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 12:33 KJV

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To know a man just watch his words and deeds,

For he can’t hide the nature of his heart.

An evil sort’s revealed by his misdeeds;

A poisoned well its harm will sure impart.

A fruit will show what kind of tree it’s from;

You cannot harvest olives from the ground.

Guitarists bare their talent when they thrum,

And you can tell a good one from his sound.

True Christians will exhibit Christ within;

The body of their works His presence shows.

They cannot be successful in their sin;

The essence of His truth and love still flows.

The blind can tell a fruit by taste and feel.

See Jesus with His works in you reveal.

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REMEMBER: Jesus lives within you. Get out of the way so He can live through you.

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!

8-5-15 Two As One

⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mark 10:6-9 KJV

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A man should leave his parents for his wife

And she should cleave to him the same way, too.

Their marriage bond should last for all their life,

For they are one in essence, no more two.

God made both man and woman for this end,

To share a single love that’s greater still.

He fit them perfectly to then transcend

The normal bond of friendship and good will.

What God intended let no man pervert;

One woman and one man are meant to be,

And any other way would then subvert

The sovereign will of God, His set decree.

Then two as one becomes one with the Lord;

Beloved and beloved, one accord.

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sonnet #427

7-30-15 Raise the Dead

¹⁰ And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

¹¹ He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 3:10-11 KJV

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You are alive within a lifeless land,

The essence of the Lord within your heart.

His love pumps through your veins, it guides your hand,

Compassion overflowing to impart.

With Christ a part of you the way is clear,

To do the will of God and raise the dead,

And this is done with selfless service dear;

To bring them back to life then share your bread.

So give what you can give to those in need;

A pantry sits unused until it’s shared,

Then clothe the poor and to the hungry feed;

It jars some dead to life because you cared.

If you’d be light and salt, then selfless give;

It’s love you’re handing out to help them live.

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sonnet #421

7-28-14 Every Good and Perfect Gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17 KJV

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If you should start to doubt God’s love for you,

Consider all the gifts He showers down,

A Father giving freely kind and true,

His blessings good and perfect so abound.

God sacrificed His Son so you may live,

And now Christ lives in you so bold and pure.

If you repent your sins He will forgive,

God wants you to come Home, of this be sure.

This light that’s in you, God’s the Father of,

The essence of the Word that’s always been,

Unchanging and eternal source of love,

The DNA of Spirit makes you kin.

God’s gifts, too many for this pen to trace

Are found upon the cross and in His Grace.

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sonnet #419

5-19-15 Well Pleased

⁹ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9-11 KJV

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When Christ emerged from Jordan full of love

The Heavens opened wide and He did see

Descending from the sky just like a dove

The Spirit came upon Him graciously.

Then God did say “You’re My Beloved Son,

In whom I AM,” He stated “so well pleased,”

And there the essence of the Holy One

Well marked His favor on the One appeased.

Beloved sister, now that Spirit’s Here!

O, my Beloved brother, He’s in you!

When you accepted Christ your Savior dear

You were baptized by Spirit through and through.

One day when you see Jesus face to face,

He’ll say God’s pleased with you with love and grace.

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sonnet #364

(artwork by David Zelenka)

3-9-15 Love Your Wife

The love a husband has for his own wife

Is true and tender, gentle, warm and wide,

Protecting her from harm with his own life,

Attending to her needs as can provide.

This love is as the Savior loved the church,

Unselfish, sacrificial, just and pure,

And if she lose her way then lead the search,

Or if she comes down ill then find the cure.

A husband loves his wife with all he has,

And as the Lord loves him, he has it all.

Forsaking everything exactly as

The Lord forsook His blood for Adam’s fall.

O husbands! Love your wives as Christ loves you,

Becoming then in essence one from two.

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Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ also loved the church,

and gave himself for it

Ephesians 5:25 KJV

1-19-15 In Spirit and in Truth

The very essence of our Father Is

Perfection both in spirit and in truth

And all that’s holy and divine is His,

Defies in understanding sage or sleuth.

God Is a Spirit and The Spirit’s God,

Then uncompounded, indivisible.

In spirit you must worship, and thus awed

Commune with Him, who is immutable.

In truth you also worship God the same,

For He is Truth eternal through and through,

And in the spirit truth you must proclaim,

Created in His image, Being too.

Approach the Lord in Spirit and be true

And you will know the Father’s will for you.

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God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24 KJV

1-14-15 Know It All

If God can count the hairs upon your head,

And see the sparrow as it falls to earth,

He also fathoms everything you’ve said,

Without exception knows your thoughts since birth.

There is not anything that God can’t do;

He sees within your heart, your soul, your mind.

He understands your essense through and through

And loves you just the same when cruel or kind.

Don’t be afraid to learn God knows it all;

He cares for you despite your every wart.

If you but listen you can hear His call:

“Come Home,” He says “My Son is your escort.”

Just take His hand, my friend, and you will find

Your thoughts and ways will soon become refined.

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I know that thou canst do every thing,

and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Job 42:2 KJV