2-22-16 Currency

²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:20-23 KJV

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If you’re a good soul, keeping every law,

You love your fellow man and God as well,

If you don’t follow Christ, this fateful flaw

Will drag you to the hoary gates of hell.

Don’t think if you’ve got money all is lost,

It’s where you place your trust and confidence.

Take up your cross like Him at any cost; *

Put all your hope in Christ at life’s expense.

The question’s this: what’s your priority?

What currency do you spend all your time?

It’s more than being willing that’s the key;

It’s what control your life’s the paradigm.

What drives your soul is what’s been sacrificed.

There’s power in the blood of Jesus Christ.

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REMEMBER: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

* Matthew 16:24

1-23-16 One Thousand Horns

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV

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The body of the Lord should work as one,

For schisms and divisions work against

The gospel and the work that should be done

To bring the lost sheep home who were dispensed.

If we’re to be one body and one mind

We ought to preach and teach the selfsame thing.

It does no good if we are misaligned

Like walking when one foot is in a sling.

There is but one true Savior, Jesus Christ;

His words and actions clearly lead the way.

His awesome love for us was well sufficed;

He told us to repent and then obey.

If there’s one thousand horns in battle blown,

Who knows which way to victory is known?

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REMEMBER: These days it is SO important to understand and follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

His Fisherman

¹⁶ Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

¹⁷ And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

¹⁸ And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Mark 1:16-18

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Engrafted child of God, look at yourself:

The light of Christ should shine from every pore.

When you were saved, you died to your old self.

You once were mute, now you must stand and roar!

Can’t you feel Jesus running through your veins?

With every pulse He bids you harvest souls.

The day grows short; so little time remains.

You’ve work to do to help Him reach His goals.

The day you dropped your nets to follow Christ,

You gave up all you had to be like Him.

He’s making you a fisher well sufficed

To cast the gospel wide with love and vim.

When you made Christ your Savior you began

To learn how to become His fisherman.

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REMEMBER: You are an active participant in the Great Commission. Now get to work.

10-31-15 Follow Him

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke 5:11 KJV

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The lives of Peter, Andrew, James and John

Transformed when Jesus said ‘Come follow Me.’

How can someone refuse when spirit’s drawn,

Just like a sailor’s hunger for the sea?

There comes a moment in each person’s life

When love demands you leave it all behind.

That call of soul that cuts you like a knife;

That death of self to which you were confined.

The Savior beckons – all else disappears;

The world that you once knew just falls away.

The life before was measured once in years

But now this moment is the only way.

Drop all that you are doing. Follow Him.

If your ship moves too slow, jump in and swim.

9-25-15 The Perfect Example

²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25 KJV

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There is no greater love than Christ has shown,

The perfect model for a perfect life,

Who chose to leave His bright celestial throne

To come and save His sheep through pain and strife.

He had no sin Himself but came for ours,

Enduring all the wrath of God and man,

Who could have freed Himself with awesome powers

But chose to bring salvation as His plan,

And all the torment that our Lord endured,

Reviled, threatened, beaten, crucified,

He did for you so you could be secured.

He loved you so He suffered, bled and died.

O friend, I know He thought of you that day

As He was hanging on the cross that way!

9-9-15 Flee Youthful Lusts

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

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The lusts of youth don’t always mean the flesh,

But every one is meant to bring them down.

Their vanity and ego cannot mesh

With those who come to wear a humble crown.

There is a need to hear their peer’s applause,

But that lasts just a moment of their life.

Seek favor from the Lord in faith because

Unlike their friends God’s love remains through strife.

Contentions and contempt will mark their way

Unless they live in peace like Christ did show.

Abide with those whose righteousness won’t stray,

Whose charity defeats the biggest foe.

When youth resists the constant lustful lure,

They join the ranks of those whose hearts are pure.

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8-29-15 Treacherous Times

And then many will be offended,

and shall betray one another,

and shall hate one another.

Matthew 24:10 KJV

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These are the latter days which Christ foretold

When brethren are offended by the Word,

And even those who used to be quite bold

Will turn their backs on those the Gospel stirred.

Though many fall away these shall be worse,

Who once did follow Jesus in the day

But now will stumble back to point and curse

The Christians they once loved yet now betray.

Such hatred shall arise from those thought saved,

With vehemence they’ll trample on the flock.

The lies apostates spread are so depraved

To make the world lash out in fear and shock.

Hold fast in Christ; your faith will long endure.

When they knock down your door His love’s secure.

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sonnet #451

8-21-15 He Calls Your Name

And the LORD came, and stood,

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 KJV

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If Jesus called your name what would you do?

How could you know the voice was from the Lord?

There is a way to tell if this is true:

Consider where your treasure has been stored.

To follow Him you’ll learn your Shepherd’s voice ¹

For He has gone ahead to lead the way.

His words will bring you peace to then rejoice; ²

Hold fast to what is good without delay. ³

If you have faith in Jesus do not doubt; ⁴

For doubt will wave at every restless wind.

The Holy Spirit lets the truth ring out; ⁵

He won’t tell you something and then rescind.

If Jesus calls your name I hope you hear;

Incline your heart to Him, His words are dear. ⁶

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sonnet #443

1 John 10:4

2 1 Corinthians 14:33

3 1 Thessalonians 5:21

4 James 1:6

5 1 John 5:6

6 2 Timothy 3:16

8-16-15 Let the Dead Bury the Dead

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

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Sonnet #438

7-9-15 Love and Light

¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:10-11 KJV

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The light of Christ is like a beacon bright,

Illuminating the environment,

And where it shines the darkness must take flight,

For light is love and love is heaven sent.

And he that loves his brother lives in light;

His heart is firmly planted in the Son

Enlightening him with authentic sight

To let him see the way God’s will be done.

To those who hate, the way is dark as night;

They stumble, trip and fall as if they’re blind.

Destruction marks the way of these souls’ plight,

And hate begets more hate, it’s so entwined.

If you would be like Christ the way is clear;

Now follow in His footsteps – love is here!

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sonnet #410