2-24-16 Passed Away

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

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You’re grieving now, I know. I’m grieving, too.

A soul we love so dearly’s passed away.

Our tears fall now and sadness pushes through.

We mourn our loss but know that one fine day

There will be no more death, no last embrace,

No sorrow, no more mourning, no more pain.

The love of Christ our Lord shall be in place,

The glory of His presence then shall reign,

And God shall wipe all tears from all our eyes;

Here crying is replaced with laughter’s song.

We’ll reunite with loved ones; joy will rise,

For we will all be where we should belong.

We’ve lost a friend and sister here today,

But soon these sort of things shall pass away.

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REMEMBER: Let us celebrate in Christ, for we will one day be reunited.

2-19-16 Like Night and Day

³ O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. ⁴ Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. ⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:3-5 KJV

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Depression drags your soul into the grave

And whispers that this pit is all there is;

Here hope is gone, here darkness does enslave,

Here death does pierce your heart and claims as his.

It seems as if the Lord has turned away,

As if His anger’s robbed your faith and dream.

But turn around, my friend, please don’t dismay.

He’s never left your side; you’re still a team.

Reach out to Jesus! Life is in His hand;

His love is like the morning over night.

He holds you in His arms, the dark is banned.

God’s grace shines all the time; the future’s bright.

When darkest night of soul weighs down on you,

The dawn is certain: Christ will see you through.

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REMEMBER: It is always the darkest before the dawn.

1-30-16 That Extra Mile

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

Matthew 5:41 KJV

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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.

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REMEMBER: Jesus went that extra mile for you.

1-16-16 Beware the Man

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV

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Beware the man who quarrels with the Word,

Who picks at tiny things and contradicts,

Who makes a show to have his feelings stirred,

Displaying traits the Spirit sure convicts.

He thinks that if you claim it, it is yours,

Especially the things that money buys;

He’ll tell a dirty joke beyond church doors

And never seems to look you in the eyes.

Stay far away as possible, my friend,

For all your wholesome words fall on deaf ears.

Associate with him to no good end;

He is a scourge among his friends and peers.

If Jesus isn’t in his repertoire,

The only thing to say is au revoir.

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REMEMBER: Pray for the contentious, but avoid them whenever possible.

1-13-16 On Tilling

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Proverbs 28:19 KJV

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If you would have success then go to school,

And plant the seeds of knowledge in your mind.

A fallow intellect becomes a fool,

Where weed and brier thinking is entwined.

If you would be in love then make a friend,

And cultivate affection and regard.

To blindly plow will meet with no good end;

Whatever grows most likely will be marred.

If you would know the Lord then practice prayer,

And water both your heart and soul with tears.

A parched relationship leads to despair;

You’ll just eat bitter fruit throughout the years.

The land that’s rightly tilled will yield good bread.

Don’t place the ass behind the plow instead.

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REMEMBER: Whatsoever a man sows, he shall also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

12-19-15 In Jesus’ Name

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:20 KJV

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IN JESUS’ NAME

We give to God our every gratitude;

Without Him we would not be here today.

He gave His firstborn Son with rectitude

So we could be His children, too, and stay.

The sacrifice Christ made has set us free,

And now we live by faith for all He’s done.

It is through Christ we go; He is the key

To open Heaven’s door, then Home we run.

A prayer is ended thus: “In Jesus’ name,”

For He is now the source of our new life,

The living advocate of all acclaim,

The High Priest of our soul in glory rife.

Give thanks to God our Father for all things,

In Jesus’ name, in whom our hope now springs.

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REMEMBER: When you give thanks to God in the name of Jesus, your heart stretches to hold more of the Holy Spirit.

12-8-15 The Strait and Narrow

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 KJV

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THE STRAIT AND NARROW

The path to Heaven’s like a razors edge,

‘Twill shred your flesh to ribbons on the way.

Too few will walk this fine and narrow ledge,

This sacrifice of self, no room to sway.

Then strait ahead is Jesus; He’s the gate.

There is no other way to get inside.

His blood will cover you, your sins negate

As you walk through the Door to then abide.

But many choose the wide and easy road;

The company is gay and jubilant

But leads to sinful ruin and Hell’s abode

Where all you hear is weeping and lament.

Eternal life is found through Christ alone.

You must go through the gate to reach the throne.

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.

10-30-15 Alpha and Omega

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:6 KJV

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When all the jots and tittles finally pass, ¹

And Jesus testifies that it is done,

New heaven and new earth are seen at last; ²

‘Tis then the wedding feast shall have begun.

The Lord of Lords and King of Kings will stand:

“I AM the Alpha and Omega, too,

Beginning and the end, sublime and grand;

The promises I’ve made have all come true.

To all who thirst for life I freely give,

Refreshing and delightful with no end.

When You are one with Me you truly live;

The things I’ve said you will now comprehend.”

And O! The cup of love that’s passed around

Will overflow forever and abound!

1 Matthew 5:18

2 Revelation 21:1

10-29-15 Awake!

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Ephesians 5:14 KJV

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The unregenerate cannot arise

Without the blood of Jesus on their soul,

So more than dead they head to their demise

Unless they’re sought and Christ they choose in whole.

Yet saints may be asleep among the dead

Who’ve wandered from the light with constant sin,

So blow the trumpet loud beside their bed, ¹

Remind them who they are and where they’ve been.

Awake, you sons and daughters of our God!

Stand up and Christ will surely give you light!

He’s coming soon, my friend, so don’t you nod,

Get oil for your lamp ² and keep it bright! ³

Awake from all the dead, you sleepyhead!

There’s no more time to doze, He’s just ahead!

1Joel 2:1

2Matthew 25:1-13

3Matthew 5:16