1-28-16 The Need for Thorns

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV

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Thank God for all the troubles you must bear:

Infirmities that keep you from your pride,

The weaknesses that drive you to despair,

That thorn within your flesh that won’t subside.

There’s not much worse within than arrogance,

For it takes your attention off of Christ.

It makes you boast of your great competence,

Some dollar souvenir way overpriced.

And but for your affliction you’d be lost,

Your halo bound so tight to make you dumb.

Be grateful to be saved at any cost,

For weakness makes you strongly overcome.

If Satan buffets you with trials enticed,

God may be telling you His grace sufficed.

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REMEMBER: Thorns humbles the rose.

1-22-16 Consider All God’s Done For You

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24 KJV

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Consider all that God has done for you!

With His eternal grace you’re given breath;

The joy of love that comes to you anew.

He gave His Son so you through Him’s no death.

So serve the Lord in truth with all your heart!

Submit your will to Him new every day;

Be humble in your duties from the start.

Remember He is all you need today.

With great affection only fear the Lord!

Now love Him as a child will love her Dad;

Simplistic awe and worship in accord,

In reverential yearning pure and glad.

Consider all God’s done with gratitude.

Give everything you do this attitude.

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REMEMBER: He is all you need today.

1-2-15 Arise, O Lord!

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

Psalm 10:12 KJV

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Arise, O Lord! Lift up Your hand today;

Rain down upon our enemies Your wrath.

The humble all around the world do pray;

Saints persecuted, killed on every path.

Arise, O Lord! The humble cry Your name;

The followers of Satan run amok.

The leaders of the world are put to shame,

While Christians everywhere die in the muck.

Arise, O Lord! Bring death to all our foes;

They murder us with raw impunity.

The armies of the world will not oppose;

O hear our cries, O Lord! Please hear this plea!

You are the Mighty God! None dare resist.

Lift up Your hand for us; our prayers persist!

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REMEMBER: Pray unceasingly for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted around the world.

12-25-15 Peace and Good Will

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:8-14 KJV

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As lowly shepherds watched their flocks by night

The angel of the Lord shown suddenly,

And glory shined about the shepherds bright,

And they were so afraid from all that they did see.

“Fear not,” the angel said to calm their fright,

“Good tidings do I bring, great joy to all!

The Savior Christ the Lord was born tonight!

He’s swaddled in a manger plain and small.”

Then there appeared a multitude forthright,

A host from heaven praising God to say

“To God’s the glory, all to Him outright,

And peace on earth, good will toward men to stay!”

Those shepherds were the first to hear the news.

Such humble men in spirit Christ pursues.

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REMEMBER: God took on a human body to bring peace and good will to the world through His inevitable sacrifice.

11-23-15 The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5 KJV

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Now, may you always have the mind of Christ,

Who showed us how to live in love’s embrace;

That love be willing to be sacrificed,

And then no matter what be full of grace.

He was the perfect pattern, free from sin,

A humble servant with a heart to give,

Obedient to God through thick and thin,

And even unto death chose to forgive.

The mind of Christ is constantly in prayer,

Submitting to the will of Abba God,

Unbroken intercession to repair

The brokenness of man which sin has flawed.

Think only of those things that love sufficed;

Yes, may you always have the mind of Christ.

10-28-15 Wise in Your Own Eyes

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Isaiah 5:21 KJV

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Whenever you should fancy you are wise,

That’s when you are the closest to a fool.

So shrewd and smart are you in your own eyes,

Like thinking you’re a steed when you’re a mule.

Such arrogance can only lead to woe,

So blind by self you step right off a cliff.

The only way to wisdom is to know

Compared to God your mind’s a hieroglyph.

How humble is a man upon his knees,

His head bowed to the One in tearful prayer.

Obedient and meek, he aims to please,

To do his Father’s will with every care.

The wisest man is one who listens well,

Subservient to God his mind does dwell.

9-9-15 Flee Youthful Lusts

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

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The lusts of youth don’t always mean the flesh,

But every one is meant to bring them down.

Their vanity and ego cannot mesh

With those who come to wear a humble crown.

There is a need to hear their peer’s applause,

But that lasts just a moment of their life.

Seek favor from the Lord in faith because

Unlike their friends God’s love remains through strife.

Contentions and contempt will mark their way

Unless they live in peace like Christ did show.

Abide with those whose righteousness won’t stray,

Whose charity defeats the biggest foe.

When youth resists the constant lustful lure,

They join the ranks of those whose hearts are pure.

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6-27-15 Hypocrisy

²⁷ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:27-28 KJV

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Hypocrisy is practiced more than not,

And chances are you practice every day,

Pretending you are wise and know a lot

When really you’re an ass that loves to bray.

That suit you wear on Sunday, crisp and clean,

Is like a coat of paint on rust and rot.

That Bible in your hand on Sunday seen

Back home is tucked away behind your pot.

Remember, were it not for God’s good Grace,

You would be bound for Hell for all you’ve done.

Get humble now and fall upon your face;

Repent and follow Christ, the perfect one.

If you don’t think you are a hypocrite,

You’re worse along than you care to admit.

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sonnet #400

5-11-15 Spread the Word

And as ye go, preach, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:7 KJV

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The time has come, the time is here, my friend,

To share the news of Jesus to all men,

And when you hear some mock Him, then defend,

For He will stand for you and them, amen.

The Savior is returning, be of haste,

And spread the Word as if He’s coming now,

Then bring them to the cross where sin was placed,

Where Jesus died for them with humble vow.

Now, be like Christ and preach to all you meet,

Pour out the living water for their soul.

If you bring one to Jesus on the street,

It will be worth the effort as a whole.

Don’t be so shy, recall how you were freed;

How someone let the Spirit take the lead.

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sonnet #357

3-12-15 Raise in Praise

Let’s raise our voice in praise of God above

With mighty congregations full of joy!

As we give thanks our hearts are full of love

For all the awesome works our Lord employ!

O God, You implement Your perfect plan,

Your Holy voice creating everything

To manifest redeeming sinful man

Through Jesus Christ our Savior, Lord and King!

Your Grace is such that we do not deserve;

O God, how marvelous are all Your ways!

With all our hearts and minds we gladly serve

And offer our whole lives in humble praise!

Let’s sing and shout devotion to our God!

Let’s raise the roof of worship and applaud!

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I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart;

I will show forth all thy marvelous works.

Psalm 9:1 KJV