2-5-16 Built on Sand

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7: 26-27 KJV

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How many of us like a foolish man

Who listens to the Word and nods his head,

But keeps instead his own distorted plan

And builds his house without foundation bed.

Just knowing Christ’s commands is not enough;

He needs to be within our hands and feet.

A fancy car without four tires rides rough;

A house built on the sand the floods defeat.

If Jesus is your Lord, then serve Him well;

A servant is no good laid up in bed.

When trouble comes all you can do is yell.

The storms of life will tear your house to shreds.

A tree with meager roots is doomed to fall;

The first time winds descend the tree will sprawl.

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REMEMBER: A strong foundation is built by exercising the will of Christ.

12-4-15 Fount of Your Ways

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Job 34:11 KJV

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FOUNT OF YOUR WAYS

If you are turning daily toward the One,

Your mind and words and hands reflect His love.

There is no question what His grace has done;

There is no doubt at all what you’re part of.

Good deeds themselves does not a good man make;

God knows the kind of water that you drink.

You may in all your works sure take the cake

But if you guzzle sin you still will sink.

Through grace you’re born in Christ, by faith you live;

Your acts, though meager, show a water pure,

And from this living fountainhead you give, ^{(John 7:38)}

And it will multiply and long endure.

God will not judge a man by works alone. ^{(Ephesians 2:9)}

The source of nourishment will soon be known.

9-14-15 A House Not Made With Hands

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV

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The end of life is not the end of life

For those whose faith is in the Son of God.

This earthly body’s filled with pain and strife

To crumble one day like a poor facade.

But we will not despair when that day comes;

You’ll see us smile upon our final breath.

The moment we’re evicted from the slums

We move into a mansion void of death.

In this eternal home not made with hands,

We’ll tarry in the presence of the Lord.

The family of the Spirit understands

This glorious domain’s our first reward.

Don’t grieve when we escape this earthen shell.

Our new estate’s in heaven – there we dwell.

9-7-58 Made by His Hands

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psalm 119:73 KJV

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The Lord created every part of you;

That little sparked conception was His kiss.

Your life began that moment, rare and true;

There’s nothing more mysterious than this!

God made you in His image: wonderful;

He fashioned you with love and tenderness.

No matter how you look you’re beautiful:

There is no part of you He didn’t bless.

Now pray for understanding you may learn

All God’s commandments meant to bring you home.

The longing in your heart that makes you yearn

Is Spirit guiding you so you don’t roam.

God gave you life eternal through His Son

Who bled and died that you may be as one.

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8-7-15 Yet Believe

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:29 KJV

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When Thomas needed proof that Jesus rose,

It did not mean he loved the Savior less.

His faith, though slow, with all its highs and lows

Arrived when he saw Christ to then assess.

Christ could have scolded Thomas mightily,

But in His love He showed His hands and side.

Yet blessed are they, He said, who could not see

But still believed He lived after He died.

If you have faith that Jesus conquered death

And lives within you now in truth and love,

You should not fear your final mortal breath,

For life will then begin for you above.

So blessed are those not seeing still believe;

Through grace by faith ’tis heaven they’ll achieve.

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sonnet #429

5-30-15 Withhold Not Good

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,

when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Proverbs 3:27 KJV

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When payday comes around then pay your bills,

For this due to them you contract with.

When there are those in need don’t buy the frills;

Remember your poor past and give forthwith.

The Lord is full of grace beyond your ken;

The fact that you are here is proof indeed.

Extend that goodness out and now to men,

And when the Spirit tells you, then proceed.

Serve ministries and those who preach the Word;

It helps them bring the lost into the fold.

The means are in your hands, don’t be deferred;

Tomorrow is not yours to put on hold.

Withhold not good from them to whom it’s due;

Just think of all the good God’s given you.

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sonnet #374

4-8-15 How Great You Are!

As far as we can see are galaxies,

Yet when our eyes look to things very small

The atoms mirrors galaxies with ease,

And wonder fills our spirits and enthral.

O Lord, how great Your works in everything!

The flea, the sun, the rose, the forest deep.

Amazing more the insights that You bring;

How great Your thoughts, the wisdom that You keep!

You’ve known us since before we came to be;

Can look into the hearts of all at once.

The secrets of the universe You see!

The smartest of us all is just a dunce.

I dare consider all Thy hands have made,

That You can just say “BE” and it’s displayed!

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O LORD, how great are thy works! 

and thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 92:5 KJV

2-6-15 Call for Strength

When voices round you say it can’t be done,

And Satan whispers ‘Give it up, you fool!’

When both your legs are screaming that you run,

Then call for strength from God and keep your cool.

Sometimes it feels that you should just give up,

Just let go of your hope and walk away,

And even Jesus asked to pass the bitter cup,

But call for strength from God and don’t dismay.

Now God was there when Noah built the ark,

And He told Moses how to part the Sea;

The Lord was there when Paul dared make his mark.

Just call for strength, He’ll be there, just you see.

Just trust in God and harken His commands;

You can’t go wrong when God strengthens your hands.

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Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:9 KJV

1-28-15 Celebration!

When you are freed by Jesus from all sin

And come down off the cross a new born man,

The joy that floods your heart will then begin

Like Jews from Babylon that homeward ran.

The chains of slavery are now removed;

You climb from darkness to a warming light.

The promise of salvation has been proved

For now you’re led with peace and fresh delight.

It seems the very hills sing out in glee,

And all the birds praise Jesus with one voice:

“Another soul is saved! Now glory be!”

The Holy Spirit swells and we rejoice.

That rustling sound you hear is clapping trees;

The news of your redemption’s on the breeze!

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For ye shall go out with joy,

and be led forth with peace:

the mountains and the hills shall break forth

before you into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 KJV

1-13-15 God or Bust

Unless the Lord is present count it dead

Whatever that is built with human hands;

It may exist a thousand years ahead

But might as well be built with desert sand.

A city that’s forgotten God is doomed

Like Sodom and Gormorrah full of sin;

Then soon by wickedness it is consumed,

As dead inside as though it’s never been.

Invite the Lord to sanction all you do,

And let His Spirit guide your heart and mind;

The earthly things that honor God are true,

And all without His love will fall behind.

Let God build both your church and family,

And everywhere you go, there He will be.

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Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127:1 KJV