7-25-15 Least in the Kingdom

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19 KJV

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A doctor telling patients they should smoke

Would soon not have a practice left to hold.

A man who works for Pepsi selling Coke

Won’t have a job for long to be enrolled.

If you’re a Christian teach the Christian way:

You meet the Father only through the Son. *

To tell that other ways to God’s okay

Will find that in the end you’ve come undone.

The least of God’s commandments should be kept;

Don’t break one and then teach that this is good,

For if you do, you’ve really overstepped;

The least belongs to you, as well it should.

It’s bad enough that you should go astray;

It’s worse if you lead others on that way.

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* John 14:6

 

sonnet #416

5-29-15 Serve

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

Matthew 20:27 KJV

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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

3-20-15 A Matter of the Mind

Without the grace of God hate does increase;

The world around you clangs cacophany,

But you who share the mind of Christ have peace,

Conducting your affairs in harmony.

Don’t fool yourself in thinking you’re the best;

The least among the least walk with the Lord.

Associate with those who are oppressed

For this is where God’s treasure will be stored.

If you think you are wise then think again;

Most children have more wisdom in their toes.

Put all your faith in Christ and keep thoughts plain;

The answers that you seek the Savior knows.

Submit your mind to God and keep it there

The key to your success is kept in prayer.

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Be of the same mind one toward another.

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.

Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 12:16 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

7-22-14 Epic Fail

Today you walked toward me on the street,

Unshaven without shoes, some homeless guy.

We were so close we could not help but meet,

But I turned down my eyes and passed you by.

I went inside a restaurant for lunch

And there you were, a woman with her kids.

You shared a piece of toast and one fruit punch,

But I ignored you all with squinted lids.

You were a man I worked with ev’ry day,

Someone I barely noticed but to yak.

You went to prison wrongly, so they say,

And asked for help but I did not call back.

A thousand times we met upon life’s breeze,

But I refused to help the least of these.

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42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:

naked, and ye clothed me not:

sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying,

“Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger,

or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?”

45 Then shall he answer them, saying,

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these,

ye did it not to me.”

Matthew 25:42-45 KJV

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