2-13-16 Just Let It Go

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Your brothers and your sisters found in Christ,

No matter race or place or sect or creed,

Deserve a higher love more than sufficed,

For you are one in spirit guaranteed.

Forgive immediate their sins invoked,

Let nothing get between your heart and theirs,

Don’t rake up things that God has long revoked,

Don’t gossip of their personal affairs.

We know that Christ alone can cover sins;

His blood and righteousness makes pure as snow,

And where your patience ends His just begins;

Let tolerance and love among you grow.

Love one another as the Lord loves you;

Let go transgressions – don’t let them accrue.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Have a forgiving love especially to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

2-2-16 The Way of Hate

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 2:11 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The man who hates is dwelling in the dark;

The light of Christ is nowhere to be found.

He stumbles, trips and falls far off the mark,

For blindness steals his vision all around.

Both love and hate can’t share the selfsame space;

The heart of man is not designed that way.

Antipathy just shows a lack of grace,

And without grace the heart will fade away.

Call on the Lord the instant hate arrives;

He’ll lead you to forgive as He forgives.

It won’t be easy but you will survive,

And you will walk the path of light and live.

A hater does not know the way he goes.

A blind man in the dark has no repose.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Hate drags you down. Love lifts you up.

1-30-16 That Extra Mile

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Matthew 5:41 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

If some policeman stops you on the street

And makes demands that you might think unfair,

Don’t argue or complain, comply complete;

Respect the badge, forgive the man in prayer.

A friend might need some help on moving day,

And though you’ve got a game on the TV,

Be glad to help him move without delay

And don’t mention the game you didn’t see.

Treat every man as if the Lord has sent;

The Savior died for them as well as you.

You’re representing Jesus with intent,

So go that extra mile; He’ll see you through.

Whoever shall compel you go a mile,

Go twice as far, and share the Word awhile.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Jesus went that extra mile for you.

1-19-16 One Eighty

¹⁶ But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, ¹⁷ And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehemiah 9:16-17 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

You’ve sinned though saved and now are on your knees

Afraid salvation’s lost, God’s turned His back.

Conviction weighs up your chest to squeeze;

You think your white as snow has changed to black.

Repent! One Eighty what you’ve done right now,

Confess to God your sin with sorrowed heart.

He WILL forgive! God’s mercy will endow.

He loves you SO; you’ll never be apart.

Did He not send His own begotten Son

To pay for every sin on your behalf?

Renounce with all you are for what you’ve done

And know God’s written that sin’s epitaph.

He loves you more than you can ever know.

You are His child! Repent and let it go.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Look at all God’s chosen people did after He brought them out of bondage in Egypt. He did not forsake them. He likewise will never, ever forsake you.

1-9-16 One In All

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Colossians 3:11 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

There might be some surprised when heaven’s gained,

Observing others they had thought were lost.

The Catholic and Baptist have obtained

The victory that’s gained when Christ is crossed.

Denominations do not matter here,

For all who gave their lives to Jesus lives.

The differences we had will disappear;

When baptized in the Spirit grace forgives.

Those covered in His blood are one indeed,

For Christ is one with each who come to Him.

The CEO and pauper both are freed;

We all will sing the same celestial hymn.

Black, red or brown or yellow, tan or white,

We all are one in He who is the Light.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: From the moment you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, where He dwells you dwell also.

1-7-16 On Discipline

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

With faith disciples of the Lord do live,

Yet recognize responsibilities,

To love their neighbor and to quick forgive,

To represent the Lord by all degrees.

In common conversation speak your mind,

But make sure that your mind’s the mind of Christ.

No foolish, idle, vulgar words in kind;

Just speak the gospel truth and be sufficed.

The mind is like a monkey in a cage;

If it’s not on a leash it’s Satan’s pet.

With scripture and in silent prayer your gauge,

The mind of Christ will be your best asset.

The Lord is your redeemer and your strength;

Your thoughts and words should be in His wavelength.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Keep your thoughts and words on Jesus; lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance, comfort and understanding.

12-11-15 True Unbelievers

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ⁴⁶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:45-47 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

TRUE UNBELIEVERS

Some people will not hear the Word of God

No matter how they’re told or what is said.

You will not be believed and called a fraud,

As if you were the one with the thick head.

Forgive them for they know not what they do;

There is no spark of Spirit in their heart.

You speak the truth until your face is blue;

They’ll take your words and tear them all apart.

It’s more than just resistance to the Word;

How well you know, you’ve turned it down before.

You might as well be talking to a bird;

The Holy Ghost will tell you Try no more.

The Lamb of God was sinless yet accused;

Beware the ones who want you so abused.

11-23-15 The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, may you always have the mind of Christ,

Who showed us how to live in love’s embrace;

That love be willing to be sacrificed,

And then no matter what be full of grace.

He was the perfect pattern, free from sin,

A humble servant with a heart to give,

Obedient to God through thick and thin,

And even unto death chose to forgive.

The mind of Christ is constantly in prayer,

Submitting to the will of Abba God,

Unbroken intercession to repair

The brokenness of man which sin has flawed.

Think only of those things that love sufficed;

Yes, may you always have the mind of Christ.

11-7-15 Turn the Other Cheek

³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:38-39 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Jesus said to turn the other cheek,

The world has since ignored it out of hand.

Most people think it makes you look so weak

You’ll fall in line to anyone’s demand.

To turn the other cheek resentfully,

Your indignation makes you anger’s slave.

If you think you are grander morally,

Your haughty pride makes you a moral knave.

When someone strikes you, instantly forgive,

And turn the other cheek with mercy mild.

The Lord’s the only one to judgment give;

Through love you’re free: no sins have you compiled.

So turn the other cheek if you are struck,

And choose the way of grace; you won’t get stuck.

8-6-15 Whosoever

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would die today where would you go?

Would you be ready on that final day?

If you are sure it’s heaven you must know

That Jesus Christ can be the only way.[i]

So no man comes to God except through Christ;[ii]

You really must believe that this is true.[iii]

He died for all your sins and this sufficed;[iv]

Confess them now and He will forgive you.[v]

Then call upon His name and you’ll be saved;[vi]

It is a gift from God, His mighty Grace.[vii]

The Holy Spirit then becomes engraved,[viii]

To guide you to the truth you can embrace.[ix]

When you are saved you will be heaven bound;[x]

You once were lost but now you have been found.[xi]

~~~~~~~~~~~

[i] John 14:6

[ii] John 14:6

[iii] Acts 16:31

[iv] 1 Peter 2:24

[v] 1 John 1:9

[vi] Joel 2:32

[vii] Ephesians 2:8

[viii] John 14:15-17

[ix] John 16:13

[x] John 3:16

[xi] Luke 19:10

 

 

Sonnet #428