2-17-16 Hidden Treasure

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Matthew 13:44 KJV

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Those blinded by the god of this world fail

To find the gospel set within their reach.

When you show them this treasure might the scale

At last with Spirit’s nudge fall from the breach.

And then to see the light shine from their eyes

As they begin to feel their soul set free,

And, O, the Holy Ghost within them rise

As they come to the cross and like Him dies!

Then nothing in the world could buy them back

For they have given Jesus all they’ve got.

The Savior paid the price; though sins were black,

He made them white as snow, both sought and bought.

There is a man and woman stumbling ’round,

Just waiting for the gospel to be found.

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REMEMBER: Commit to telling at least one person today about this greatest of all treasures, the gospel.

8-28-15 Family Ties

³² And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³ And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴ And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark 3:32-35 KJV

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No matter where you go you’re not alone:

The greatest network in the world exists,

The best connections that the world has known;

The family of Christ are in your midst.

O what a joy to meet a stranger here

Then find out she’s your sister in the Lord!

The loving Spirit linking us so dear

Is much too strong to ever be ignored.

This family of God transcending flesh

All find a common kinship to the cross.

The instant you submit to Christ you mesh,

One body in His Spirit knits across.

My brothers and my sisters, you are loved

More dearly than myself as my beloved.

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sonnet #450

6-9-15 Good

See that none render evil for evil unto any man;

but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV

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You child of God, who’s more like Jesus now

Than yesterday, for He now lives in you,

Are so compelled by Grace to not allow

An evil for an evil to accrue.

Observe the Golden Rule more now than then,

For in you dwells the Spirit of the Lord,

And teach this way of life to those who ken;

No good can come when sword begats a sword.

So choose to always serve that which is good

Among your fellow saints and to all men.

If you can do it, anybody could;

The greatest good’s the gospel shared again.

Now promulgate the good, on love rely;

If you don’t feed what’s evil it will die.

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sonnet #384

5-29-15 Serve

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Matthew 20:27 KJV

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would be a servant of the Lord,

Then be a servant now to all you meet,

But don’t serve others for some great reward;

Expecting something back just spells defeat.

The greatest of you thinks that they’re the least

And does not know that they are great at all.

You will not find them sitting at the feast;

You’ll find them washing dishes down the hall.

Give up your vain ambitions now, my friend,

For Hell would be the thing that you deserve.

There’s feet to be washed now until the end,

So roll your sleeves, get on your knees and serve.

The chief among you, let him give the most.

The more he gives the less he’s bound to boast.

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sonnet #373

3-26-15 Greatest in the Kingdom

The greatest in the kingdom is the least:

A little child without pretentious claim

Who waits until the guests have left the feast

To have the smallest portion all the same.

A little child is humble, kind and shy,

Who lives to hear her Father’s loving call

Then runs into His arms not asking why,

Expecting no reward or gift at all.

The child of God thinks nothing of herself,

Without the selfishness of evil’s sting,

And leaves her own needs high upon the shelf,

Reliant on her God for everything.

            Whoever’s humble as a little child

            Is greatest in the kingdom, meek and mild.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,

the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:4 KJV

10-23-14 The Shoe Fits

The news each day is filled with hate and greed;

The leaders of the land evade and lie;

No matter where you go they all have need

To reach into your pocket, slick and sly.

And worst of all, you too have joined the crowd;

Your anger’s like a cloud around your head.

The wish for more and more is clear and loud;

You lie and cheat and steal your way ahead.

O friend! Repent right now and turn away!

This world of flesh and sin will bring you down!

Get on your knees this second, start to pray,

And give your life to Christ before you drown!

To separate yourself from sin and death

You must cede all to Jesus with each breath.

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For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them

every one is given to covetousness;

and from the prophet even unto the priest

every one dealeth falsely.

Jeremiah 6:13 KJV