12-18-15 More Than Kin

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Luke 1:41 KJV

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MORE THAN KIN

When dear Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice,

Her baby John the Baptist leapt within.

The presence of the Lord made both rejoice,

For John and Jesus were much more than kin.

Then thirty years would pass until that day

When John did baptize Jesus to commence

The start of such a mission that would stay

Within the hearts of men forever thence.

Did they grow up as cousins sometimes do,

Together playing games and running ’round?

Most surely did they know then as they grew

The things they had to do were so profound?

One day upon the Jordan John would point

Toward the Lamb of God did God appoint.

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REMEMBER: The Holy Spirit will fill you with joy when you contemplate upon Jesus.

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

8-16-15 Let the Dead Bury the Dead

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

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Sonnet #438

7-28-14 Every Good and Perfect Gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17 KJV

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If you should start to doubt God’s love for you,

Consider all the gifts He showers down,

A Father giving freely kind and true,

His blessings good and perfect so abound.

God sacrificed His Son so you may live,

And now Christ lives in you so bold and pure.

If you repent your sins He will forgive,

God wants you to come Home, of this be sure.

This light that’s in you, God’s the Father of,

The essence of the Word that’s always been,

Unchanging and eternal source of love,

The DNA of Spirit makes you kin.

God’s gifts, too many for this pen to trace

Are found upon the cross and in His Grace.

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sonnet #419

5-13-15 Be Counted Worthy

And they departed from the presence of the council,

rejoicing that they were counted worthy

to suffer shame for his name.

Acts 5:41 KJV

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Are you prepared to suffer in His name,

The Son of God who died on Calvary?

Would you then follow Jesus just the same

If all your kin and friends should disagree?

The Christians in Iraq are being killed,

And in Somalia are flogged and flayed,

But if believers here are slightly grilled

They hide their crosses for they’re so afraid.

No matter what the world may do to you,

Remember what it did to Christ the King.

So count as worthy what you’re going through;

It’s only temporary what they bring.

            Are you prepared to suffer in His name?

            Are you prepared to suffer death or shame?

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #359

2-14-15 Lambs Among Wolves

Have faith in Christ to move you through your day,

For you will go as lambs amongst the wolves.

You may think you are safe in all your ways,

But suddenly you’re under Satan’s hooves.

Yet as disciples of the living God

We’re sent to find the gems among the rough,

And where we go some angels fear to trod,

But we’ve been sent by Christ, and that’s enough.

Dear kin in Jesus, do not be afraid;

No matter what, you’re safely in His heart.

Don’t worry what to do against the blade;

He died for everyone, so do your part.

The wolves of hate and scorn are all around.

Be like the Lamb of God; let love abound

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Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Luke 10:3 KJV

1-11-15 Be Kind

Treat all you come across as if your kin

No matter what their attitude to you;

Affection’s manufactured with a grin,

And kindness feeds the heart with love anew.

If you would soon forgive your child’s mistake,

Then do the same for everyone you meet,

For God will soon forgive you for Christ’s sake,

Yet if you pick and choose you’re incomplete.

A man who’s cordial only to his friends

Will miss the need for Christ in stranger’s eyes.

Should we not share the love til journey ends,

And are we not all friends in some disguise?

Be kind to all you meet just as your guest,

It might be you who’s needing to be blessed.

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And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 KJV