9-14-15 A House Not Made With Hands

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV

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The end of life is not the end of life

For those whose faith is in the Son of God.

This earthly body’s filled with pain and strife

To crumble one day like a poor facade.

But we will not despair when that day comes;

You’ll see us smile upon our final breath.

The moment we’re evicted from the slums

We move into a mansion void of death.

In this eternal home not made with hands,

We’ll tarry in the presence of the Lord.

The family of the Spirit understands

This glorious domain’s our first reward.

Don’t grieve when we escape this earthen shell.

Our new estate’s in heaven – there we dwell.

4-22-15 Press Toward the Mark

If you believe the promises of God,

And of His only Son who spoke for Him,

By Grace will we be saved though we are flawed,

The blood of Christ alone atones the grim.

Then those of us whom Jesus Christ has called

Know well the crown of glory that awaits,

And all the things of earth no more than galled,

We keep our sight on Him and His estate.

Then let us hold the faith and move ahead,

To imitate the Savior’s life and love,

Remembering His blood for us was shed,

And all that we have now comes from above.

Press toward the mark: with Christ eternal life,

And be not so deterred through pain and strife.

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¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.

¹⁶ Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,

let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Philippians 3:14-16 KJV

sonnet #338

3-20-15 A Matter of the Mind

Without the grace of God hate does increase;

The world around you clangs cacophany,

But you who share the mind of Christ have peace,

Conducting your affairs in harmony.

Don’t fool yourself in thinking you’re the best;

The least among the least walk with the Lord.

Associate with those who are oppressed

For this is where God’s treasure will be stored.

If you think you are wise then think again;

Most children have more wisdom in their toes.

Put all your faith in Christ and keep thoughts plain;

The answers that you seek the Savior knows.

Submit your mind to God and keep it there

The key to your success is kept in prayer.

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Be of the same mind one toward another.

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.

Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 12:16 KJV

1-27-15 Nothing

The moment you were born you did not bring

A whit beyond the barest flesh and bone;

You do not really own a single thing

Belonging to this world of wood and stone,

And all the stuff that you accumulate,

No matter what it’s worth to mortal man,

Will still be here when you leave this estate;

In fact you’ll have the same as you began.

Be grateful for the things that you possess

For it can all be gone within a flash;

The only matter you should dare obsess

Is being more like Christ, His way suffice.

From nothing bodies come, to nothing go

Yet all you do between your soul will show.

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For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1 Timothy 6:7 KJV

11-16-14 For Richer or Poorer

Before complaining of your lot in life,

Consider this and take it to your heart:

The Lord knows all about your pain and strife;

He authors your estate from stop to start.

You may think you know better where to live

Upon the ladder of success and health,

But chances are you’d take more than you give

And spend all of your time with fame and wealth.

Just ask old Lot who gave him all he had

Both on his worst day and upon his best,

And he will look to heaven sad or glad

Then tell you that the Lord gave and supressed.

Before you gloat, before you bitch and moan,

Regardless of your lot, it’s all on loan.

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The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:

he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:7 KJV

101514 Not Worthy

Imagine that the first day of the year

Is filled with nothing but calamity,

But all the days that follow full of cheer;

To count the year a blessing you’d agree.

No matter how you suffer in this life,

If you’re a child of God it’s worth the grief.

It seems to last forever, but this strife

Compared to life eternal ’tis but brief.

And those unsaved that call this living hell,

If they think this is bad they’ve just to wait.

Anticipating joy, the saved know well

The promise God has made the next estate.

This life is full of pain, there is no doubt;

The bliss that lies ahead will make you shout.

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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy 

to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 KJV