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.

9-22-15 On Addiction

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:14-15 KJV

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We’ve all been tempted; still we’re tempted now

For Satan pays attention to our lusts.

Then when we fall and break most every vow,

His demons ride our shame, feed our disgust.

Then like a horror movie sin’s revived

As if it will not die by force or will,

Until your prayers seem wooden and contrived,

And then when you give up death has its fill.

Cry out unto the Lord though you feel dead,

And pray until your tears have soaked the ground.

He leads you to the help you need ahead;

Just trust in Jesus – grace much more abounds.

It seems like all is lost; don’t be deceived.

Salvation comes to those who first believed.

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

6-9-15 Good

See that none render evil for evil unto any man;

but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV

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You child of God, who’s more like Jesus now

Than yesterday, for He now lives in you,

Are so compelled by Grace to not allow

An evil for an evil to accrue.

Observe the Golden Rule more now than then,

For in you dwells the Spirit of the Lord,

And teach this way of life to those who ken;

No good can come when sword begats a sword.

So choose to always serve that which is good

Among your fellow saints and to all men.

If you can do it, anybody could;

The greatest good’s the gospel shared again.

Now promulgate the good, on love rely;

If you don’t feed what’s evil it will die.

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sonnet #384

5-4-15 On Hunger

But he answered and said,

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4 KJV

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The food you eat will satisfy the gut,

Until it cries again more frantically.

The hungrier you are the more you glut

Until you grow so big the moon can see.

If you would only hunger for the Word

A fraction of the time you think of food,

The words within your Bible would be blurred,

The letters faded from the times they’re viewed.

The Lord provides whatever that you need,

So don’t be stressed, He’s pulled you through before.

If manna’s what God gives for you to feed,

Be grateful and thank Him forever more.

The words proceeding from the mouth of God

Will give you life eternal filled and awed.

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sonnet #350

1-22-15 To the Elders

The elders of the church have thus been tasked

To shepherd well the members of their church,

To volunteer their time and not be asked,

To be assessible without a search.

This is not any job from nine to five;

Responsibilities are round the clock,

To act not with constraint but always strive

To help all with their needs without a squawk.

The love of Christ is present in you all,

Regardless of your status in the fold.

Not one of you are too high not to fall;

Not one of you are too set to remold.

To oversee the flock you have to be

A servant to them all and happily.

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Feed the flock of God which is among you,

taking the oversight thereof,

not by constraint, but willingly;

not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

1 Peter 5:2 KJV