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.

12-22-15 SO

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV

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For God SO loved the world He gave His Son;

His One begotten Son the world He gave,

That whosoever shall believe the One

Shall never perish, never know the grave.

Christ took all of your sins onto the cross;

He gave His life for you and willingly.

Because He loved you SO He suffered loss,

But it was worth it all to set you free.

An everlasting life belongs to those

Who put their faith in God’s begotten Son,

Enduring death and in three days arose;

For God loved you SO much this all was done.

Claim Jesus as your Savior and believe

God sacrificed His Son for your reprieve.

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REMEMBER: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

6-19-15 Hope

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,

concerning them which are asleep,

that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV

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The marrow of your soul is thick with grief,

And sorrow’s made a home within your heart.

It feels as if the Lord’s become a thief

For making someone precious to depart.

This is the time to mourn, you’ve lost a friend;

The world seems so much colder than before.

Remember, though,that this is not the end;

Death’s just like walking through an open door.

Your faith confounds the others with no hope;

You know that life exists beyond the grave.

The Holy Ghost is here to help you cope;

Because of Jesus, you are not grief’s slave.

Your heart is heavy now, as it should be,

The day is coming, though, your friend you’ll see.

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sonnet #393

6-5-15 Age With Grace

² That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate,

sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

³ The aged women likewise,

that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,

not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things

Titus 2:2-3 KJV

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As much as you despise it you must age,

Until one day you feel the weight of years,

But with the wrinkles brings the knowing sage,

Experienced in laughter, calm and tears.

If you should ever act your age it’s now,

For younger eyes are looking up to you.

Let sober living shine upon your brow,

And all the words you say be sound and true.

You have a grave responsibility

To be the light of Christ in faith and love.

Endure the world each day more patiently,

And show us how to pray to God above.

To all the aged men and women saints,

Spend all your time in praise and not complaints.

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sonnet #380

6-3-15 Fire and Power

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8 KJV

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Before the Lord rose up into the clouds,

He spoke to His disciples full of love

About the Holy Ghost they’d be endowed,

And His great power come from up above.

When you accept the Savior as your Lord,

Believing that He died for all your sin,

The Holy Ghost will come with one accord

And enter you with power deep within.

Then in this fire you know that He is real,

That Jesus lives within you heart and soul.

The Holy Ghost abides in you with zeal;

You’ll tell the world how Christ has made you whole.

The power that rose Jesus from the grave

Resides within you like a tidal wave

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sonnet #378

2-21-15 Speak

Let not the fear of men hold back your tongue

When telling of your Savior, Christ the King.

The world’s not like your church where hymns are sung;

Its look is harsh, its words like bees will sting.

Be not afraid, but speak both bold and true;

With Jesus by your side He’ll see you through,

And even if they hold a knife to you,

With your last breath forgive them what they do.

Within a crowd there will be one to save,

But if you don’t speak up they may not hear.

The world may put your body in the grave;

The gospel, though, will never disappear.

Though Satan’s at your door and you feel weak,

The Savior’s here with you – stand up and speak!

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Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,

Be not afraid, but speak,

and hold not thy peace

Acts 18:9 KJV

11-26-14 A Matter of Life or Death

You’re born to die; that’s just the innate way,

For you can’t help but sin; it’s everywhere,

And for the sin you work death is your pay

It’s just what you deserve to your despair.

God loves us, so He offered you the means

To live and conquer death beyond the grave;

Sin is disease but He has the vaccines:

His grace through Christ’s blood sacrifice to save.

So Jesus took upon Himself your sins

Then died to take the wages meant for you,

But then He rose again and thus begins,

If you believe in Him you’ll live anew.

This really is a choice of life or death:

Please choose in faith His gift and Spirit’s breath.

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For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 KJV

9-11-14 Through the Valley

The valley of the shadow of my death

Is filled with hidden demons clawed with doubt.

Though evil may dissuade with ev’ry breath,

I have no fear: my Shepherd’s here throughout.

My soul draws nigh toward this journey’s end

And I stand facing my eternity,

But when I die my spirit will ascend:

My Shepherd’s face is all that I can see.

He holds the rod of strength, His Holy Word;

His staff is victory beyond the grave;

When I pass on, this body is interred,

Yet there’s no sting; my spirit He did save.

Though I must walk into the valley floor,

My Shepherd guides me through an open door.

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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 KJV

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