2-26-16 Seeking Riches

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 KJV

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Too much can not be said about the sin

Of seeking to be rich above all else,

For when the lust for gold within begin,

The love of God and Christ most surely melts.

A strong foundation builds a sturdy house,

So let the Rock of Ages cleft for you,

But if you build on greed you then espouse

The love for worldly things you should eschew.

A foolish man will do some hurtful things

In order to obtain abundant wealth.

It’s hard to stem the selfishness this brings

And easy to forget supernal health.

           Put all your faith in Heaven’s Kingdom now

           Don’t let the love of riches strike your brow.

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REMEMBER: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

1-6-16 Believe in Jesus

⁵³ And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. ⁵⁴ And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, ⁵⁵ And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Mark 6:53-56 KJV

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While Jesus walked the earth He healed the sick,

And has been healing sickness since that time.

When people heard him ’round they gathered quick;

His name should do that now in our lifetime.

We don’t need scores of healers ‘cross the land

In vast revivals pitching tents in town.

We don’t need mega churches gold and grand,

Announcers telling cripples “Come on down!”

The only thing you need is to believe

That Christ can heal your broken heart and more.

A simple faith in Him will soon achieve

The healing that you need and cry out for.

The Savior hears you calling out His name;

Reach out to Him – you’ll never be the same.

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REMEMBER: Believe.

12-17-15 Gifts of the Magi

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 KJV

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GIFTS OF THE MAGI

The Magi came by following a star

To pay their homage to the King of Kings,

For it was worth their traveling so far

To meet the Lord of Lords and what He brings.

They opened up their treasures and withdrew

Some frankincense and myrrh and precious gold,

These gifts they gave to baby Jesus true

As symbols of the mission He’d uphold.

The gold paid homage to His royalty;

The frankincense for His divinity;

The myrrh to signify humanity:

A King, a God, a sacrifice was He.

The Son of God was born so He could die,

Atonement for our sins to sanctify

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REMEMBER: The best gift you can give Jesus is complete surrender of your body, mind and soul to Him. Do this constantly.

Love in Deed and Truth

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 KJV

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LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH

There’s nothing wrong in giving love with words,

But that should not be all you ever do,

Like in your hunger getting some cheese curds

When what you really needed was hot stew.

If words were silver, actions would be gold,

And loving deeds like diamonds cut and new.

To truly love is often to be bold:

A selfless act will show your love is true.

When you love Jesus you become like Him,

And He came not to be served but to serve.

So go throughout your day a living hymn

And give to all you meet with loving verve.

An “I love you” is music to the ears;

To show it is a symphony for years.

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REMEMBER: What Jesus did on the cross for you proves that actions speak louder than words.

10-21-15 Partiality

¹ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

² For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

³ And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

⁴ Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4 KJV

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In church we always want to look our best;

We’ve got our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes,

But there’s a fellow that’s so poorly dressed

His only suit’s so worn his elbows shows.

I promise you someone in church will gasp,

Will roll their eyes, then whisper to a friend.

Don’t be the one to shun the poor man’s grasp;

Please don’t compare him to the latest trend.

The Savior doesn’t see a rag from gloss;

A tattered shirt’s the same as Vera Wang.

It all is level at the bloody cross;

He only wore our sins when He did hang.

A judging heart is evil at its best;

See all alike and you’ll be surely blessed.

8-17-15 Justice

¹⁹ Fret not thyself because of evil men,

neither be thou envious at the wicked;

²⁰ For there shall be no reward to the evil man;

the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 24:19-20 KJV

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These days the wicked dance and strut around

As if they own the theater and the stage,

And evil men around the world are bound

To be so honored for their public rage.

Corruption is the norm; they shout amen

With flashy golden teeth and endless cash.

Fret not yourself because of evil men:

The day is coming soon their teeth shall gnash.

The wicked will not live to see the Son,

When angels fill the sky with righteous swords,

So don’t be envious of all this fun;

I tell you they will get their just rewards.

The candle of the wicked will be snuffed;

When darkness settles in they’ll be rebuffed.

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sonnet #439

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

2-12-15 On Finding and Losing

If you think carnal life a splendid thing

Without acknowledging the Savior’s role,

If you admire your hedonistic fling,

You’ll find your life right here but lose your soul.

How tragic choosing tin instead of gold,

To throw away the altar for the gift!

Instead, stand up for Jesus and be bold,

For corporeal life goes by so swift.

Eternity is more than meets the eye

To those of us who choose the life divine.

We serve the Lord and seek the by and by;

To lose our lives for Christ’s the starting line.

What choices will you make this mortal blink?

The time has come; it’s later than you think.

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He that findeth his life shall lose it:

and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:39 KJV

12-5-14 Treasure

Of all the years the Lord has given you,

What have you spent your time preparing for?

Retirement and then an ocean view?

The time to then improve your golfing score?

Then when you have acquired stocks and gold,

A day will come when you’ll need it no more.

Prepare instead for things not bought or sold,

A treasure of the soul no vault can store.

Give love to all you meet, seek nothing back,

Pick up the Word of God and then explore;

Spend time in prayer, accept the Lord’s feedback,

And then tell all the gospel, let it pour.

What treasure will you store, what is your joy?

Will what you save can moth and rust destroy?

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19.“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal. 

20.“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust destroys,

and where thieves do not break in or steal;…

Matthew 6:19,20 KJV