11-30-15 Love

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

John 15:17 KJV

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LOVE

No simpler command there is than love,

Yet look at all the hate we’ve had since then,

As if we don’t know what He’s speaking of

Or it’s impossible, beyond our ken.

Just for today I beg you take this test

That all you meet is Jesus in disguise.

No matter what they do, how they’re expressed

They really are the Savior synthesized.

You must love everyone, not just pretend;

This is the reason why you still are here.

The Lord put you together for this end:

So you can share His love, each one endear.

It doesn’t matter if they love you back.

Your job is just to love without feedback.

11-16-15 The Word of God Goes Forth

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV

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As rain brings life to all that drink it in,

So does the Word of God to list’ning ear,

Descending from the heavens to begin

His reign of grace and love to all that hear.

The presence of the Lord did walk the earth,

And everywhere He went good fruit would grow.

The gospel of His being promised birth,

Eternal life abundantly to flow.

When God said “BE” the universe emerged,

And how much more His Word within your heart!

Now open up your mouth as Spirit urged

And let His Word go forth with love impart.

God loved the world so much He gave His Son;

His blood like rain brings life to everyone.

11-6-15 All is Vanity

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:8 KJV

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Don’t get caught up in all this world displays;

You’ll soon forget the reason you are here.

Most everyone you know is in a daze

Believing these illusions are sincere.

The moment you are born the show begins,

And all the lights and sounds will mesmerize;

You’re told the more you have the more you win,

And told the more you know will make you wise.

It’s vanity; all this is meaningless,

For Jesus is the only thing that counts.

He’ll guide your way around this awful mess;

There’s nothing in this world He can’t surmount.

This place is not your home – you’re heaven bound!

Now spread the gospel – help the lost be found!

8-9-15 Be Not Ashamed

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 KJV

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Too many times we’ve put our tongue in check,

But only when we’re sharing The good news.

We stumble in our thoughts, our mind’s a wreck,

Afraid that we’d offend some lady’s views.

Don’t be ashamed to talk about the Lord,

He saved your life; without Him you’d be dead.

If you’re attacked, assailed, or just ignored,

They must be told there’s glory just ahead.

You are a rebel in a hostile land.

The battle’s being fought most everywhere.

You sabotage the Devil’s grand command

Each time you share the gospel anywhere.

Salvation comes to all who do believe

That Jesus is their Savior, ne’er to leave.

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sonnet #431

6-25-15 Every Thing

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

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Give thanks unto the Lord for everything!

Without His grace then nothing would exist.

The fact that you’re alive is cause to sing!

Each time that you inhale, that air God’s kissed.

No matter what the scene, have gratitude.

Your bus breaks down in route? Meet someone new.

If you hate what you eat, thank God you’ve food.

If you drive off a cliff, enjoy the view.

With Jesus as your Savior you are blessed,

For home is where the Lord wants you to be.

Your very life is gratitude expressed,

So share the Word with everyone you see.

In every thing give thanks, this is God’s will

In Jesus Christ concerning you, fulfill.

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sonnet #398

5-23-15 Grace-Full Gifts

⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:6-8 KJV

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We all have talents given us by grace

According to the nature of our soul;

Just as the body has each part in place

That has a special function toward the whole.

The ones with prophesy speak truth so bold,

With ministry to aid the poor and weak;

The teachers lay the doctrine out as gold,

Exhorters urge, advise and so critique.

To those who give do with simplicity,

And those that rule are earnest in their care;

The merciful attend the anxious plea,

And everyone above immersed in prayer.

The gifts that God has given us to use

Should be to serve the Savior, not abuse.

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sonnet #368

4-30-15 Our Advocate

Have faith in Jesus and His precious blood,

For He that died for you is still at work;

He knows that you while here walk through the mud

And can’t avoid all sin when in this murk.

So justified by Christ’s own righteousness,

The Spirit will convict you of your sin;

Then go to God in prayer your sin confess,

And Christ, the Perfect One, will step right in.

He bore the sins of you and everyone,

And took them to the cross for all our sake.

We have an advocate with God: the Son;

The feast in Heaven we can then partake.

When you give Christ your heart He’ll vouch for you;

His word’s as good as gold, He’s tried and true.

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¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:1-2 KJV

 

sonnet #346

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

2-14-15 Lambs Among Wolves

Have faith in Christ to move you through your day,

For you will go as lambs amongst the wolves.

You may think you are safe in all your ways,

But suddenly you’re under Satan’s hooves.

Yet as disciples of the living God

We’re sent to find the gems among the rough,

And where we go some angels fear to trod,

But we’ve been sent by Christ, and that’s enough.

Dear kin in Jesus, do not be afraid;

No matter what, you’re safely in His heart.

Don’t worry what to do against the blade;

He died for everyone, so do your part.

The wolves of hate and scorn are all around.

Be like the Lamb of God; let love abound

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Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Luke 10:3 KJV

1-11-15 Be Kind

Treat all you come across as if your kin

No matter what their attitude to you;

Affection’s manufactured with a grin,

And kindness feeds the heart with love anew.

If you would soon forgive your child’s mistake,

Then do the same for everyone you meet,

For God will soon forgive you for Christ’s sake,

Yet if you pick and choose you’re incomplete.

A man who’s cordial only to his friends

Will miss the need for Christ in stranger’s eyes.

Should we not share the love til journey ends,

And are we not all friends in some disguise?

Be kind to all you meet just as your guest,

It might be you who’s needing to be blessed.

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And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 KJV