9-23-15 Side by Side

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6 KJV

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When Eve and Adam lived in Eden land,

There were no predators, no blood was spilled.

The glory of the Lord was full and grand,

And everything that lived was love fulfilled.

Then sin arrived, corrupting all it touched

And flesh once sacred now became just meat.

The earth was soaked in blood and death was clutched,

And man became the worst to kill and eat.

The Son of God was born to bring God’s love;

His miracles wrought Eden bit by bit,

And when the Lord returns from up above

The Garden fills the world and sin will quit.

The lion and the lamb lay side by side,

And childlike love will be the earth’s new guide.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #429

6-14-15 On Priorities

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 calls you come and follow Him

And He has set about you plans and goals,

Don’t step aside – don’t drop your voice mid hymn,

To do the work that’s meant for other souls.

You may think it important that you go,

And there are times appropriate for this,

But when Christ marks a path to undergo,

To look behind while plowing is to miss.

When Jesus lived He had no time to wait;

Disciples fell away and ne’er came back.

I pray when you’re with Him you keep His gait,

And let somebody else take up the slack.

The presence of the Master trumps the dead;

Let others do the burying instead.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #389

6-12-15 Blessed Be He

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:

we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Psalm 118:26 KJV

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Had Jesus lived and taught when David ruled,

The King would bless Him from the temple grounds.

But Christ came when the Priests their hearts were cooled,

And all He heard from them were angry sounds.

But we disciples of the risen Lord

Sing out “Hosanna!” with a single voice.

We worship Jesus whom we’ve long adored;

With blessings loud and strong we do rejoice!

In adoration from a faith full house,

Accept the Savior’s presence in your life.

The temple of your heart and mind espouse

The High Priest Christ whose perfect love is rife.

O blessed be the One who conquered death!

We live for Him and praise Him with each breath!

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #388

5-17-15 Grace and Truth

For the law was given by Moses, 

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 KJV

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lord gave Moses laws defining sin,

And spelled the things that man should never do,

But laws don’t teach forgiveness there within,

And do not mention grace the whole way through.

So once a year a lamb was sacrificed

To pay for all the sins men did accrue,

Then came along our Savior Jesus Christ,

To be the truth and give God’s grace to you.

He taught the way of love to all who’d hear,

And lived the fullness of God’s righteousness.

He gave His life, a sacrifice so dear,

And through this perfect Grace God’s love confess.

The substance of the shadows of the law

Lived as the Lamb of God without a flaw.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #363

10-17-14 The Lord’s Prayer 02: Thy Kingdom Come

O, Father, when Your kingdom came as man

Upon the form of Jesus Christ Your Son,

He did all things according to Your plan;

He lived and died that Your will would be done.

Your kingdom is made know to these who gave

Our faith to Christ as Saviour in our lives,

And with Your grace You choose our souls to save

To tell the world Your kingdom will revive.

O God, let now Your will be done on earth

As it is done in heaven perfectly;

We seek Your will with all our heart and worth

That it be done with love and constantly.

The fullness of Your kingdom’s coming soon;

Your will on earth as heaven both in tune.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 KJV