1-19-16 One Eighty

¹⁶ But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, ¹⁷ And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehemiah 9:16-17 KJV

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You’ve sinned though saved and now are on your knees

Afraid salvation’s lost, God’s turned His back.

Conviction weighs up your chest to squeeze;

You think your white as snow has changed to black.

Repent! One Eighty what you’ve done right now,

Confess to God your sin with sorrowed heart.

He WILL forgive! God’s mercy will endow.

He loves you SO; you’ll never be apart.

Did He not send His own begotten Son

To pay for every sin on your behalf?

Renounce with all you are for what you’ve done

And know God’s written that sin’s epitaph.

He loves you more than you can ever know.

You are His child! Repent and let it go.

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REMEMBER: Look at all God’s chosen people did after He brought them out of bondage in Egypt. He did not forsake them. He likewise will never, ever forsake you.

11-20-15 From the Womb

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

Psalm 22:10 KJV

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God’s known you since before your mortal birth,

When you were being knitted in her womb. ^{(Psalm 139:13)}

In all the universe He sets your worth,

And watches over you from crib to tomb.

He’s been your God since you were just a dream;

He called you to be His before day one.

Predestined to be one whom Christ redeem,

And given full free will from do til done.

So now you are His child forever more,

Becoming more like Christ each passing day.

He has such wondrous things for you in store

And loves you more than words could ever say.

The God that formed the world formed you as well.

You always have been His; in God you dwell.

10-5-15 The Best of Friends

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:15 KJV

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A servant knows not what his Lord has planned;

Until he’s notified, he’ll stay the course.

A friend will share with friend intent firsthand

So there are no surprises, no remorse.

Companions seek to help each other out;

Good news to one will be good news to all.

When Christ becomes your friend there is no doubt

He’ll lead you Home Himself so you don’t fall.

Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus Christ!

He loves us more than we could ever know.

He is your confidant so rare sufficed;

Reveal your heart to Him and watch it grow.

With Jesus you have got the best of friends

Just take the hand that He for you extends.

9-30-15 What He Has Done

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Isaiah 12:5 KJV

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Behold the many things the Lord has done:

He made the universe and all within;

He came to earth the essence of the Son;

He’s offered us salvation from our sin;

He had the prophets write His holy word;

He gave us with His love such blessed grace;

He promised us He’d come back undeterred;

He’s gifted us the Spirit to embrace;

He loves us more than we will ever know;

He formed us in His image from the start;

He carries us with Him and won’t let go;

He’s conquered death and hell; He’s done His part.

The things the Lord has done are excellent!

The earth and all that’s in it give assent!

7-9-15 Love and Light

¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:10-11 KJV

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The light of Christ is like a beacon bright,

Illuminating the environment,

And where it shines the darkness must take flight,

For light is love and love is heaven sent.

And he that loves his brother lives in light;

His heart is firmly planted in the Son

Enlightening him with authentic sight

To let him see the way God’s will be done.

To those who hate, the way is dark as night;

They stumble, trip and fall as if they’re blind.

Destruction marks the way of these souls’ plight,

And hate begets more hate, it’s so entwined.

If you would be like Christ the way is clear;

Now follow in His footsteps – love is here!

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sonnet #410

4-24-15 So Well Defined

Once slave to sin, now servant of the Lord,

For as you died with Christ, with Him you rose,

And here eternal life can be explored,

The path to righteousness and where it goes.

The Grace of God sustains you as you move,

One fruit our holy Father loves to give;

So here you are with nothing left to prove,

Just pass the gift along, and so forgive.

Now that the Holy Spirit’s in your soul,

The Savior living in your heart and mind,

It is no longer you who’s in control;

Thank God for this, to be so well defined!

It started when you made a simple choice.

There’s victory in Jesus; now rejoice!

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But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

Romans 6:22 KJV

 

sonnet #340

2-3-15 He Hears You

Incline to Heaven both your head and heart;

It matters not the place or circumstance.

The only thing that counts is that you start;

A dialogue with God’s not happenstance.

The Lord is listening to every prayer

Regardless if you form a single word;

The groanings of your soul He is aware,

The achings of your heart have all been heard.

You think that God is mum – don’t be deceived!

He’s talking to you now; don’t use your ears.

He answers every prayer that you’ve conceived.

Just practice listening; your spirit hears.

The Lord receives your prayers both large and small

He loves to hear you talk to Him at all.

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The LORD hath heard my supplication;

the LORD will receive my prayer.

Psalm 6:9 KJV

12-28-14 Give

If all we had to do was give in alms,

How easy it would be to give at all,

We could go down the line of upturned palms

Then spend the day just hanging at the mall.

But each of us are different in our heart;

We don’t all have the means in wealth to give,

So let us do our best and do our part

To help each other up so we can live.

If you give ten percent of what you earn

Unto the Lord, you’ve made your tithe today,

But kindling starts the fire – to make it burn

Use everything you’ve got without delay.

Considering what Jesus sacrificed,

We should give all we have: our all, like Christ.

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Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, 

so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

12-26-14 Be First to Love

If God did love us so He sent His Son

To be a sacrifice for all our sins,

Then we should love each other barring none,

And those who understand it best begins,

For we should not just sit around and wait

Until the other fellow loves us first,

For that is just as bad as open hate.

All those who wait to drink will die of thirst.

God loves us so despite our wicked way;

Lord knows that we deserve eternal hell.

Begin to love your enemy today

If you should ever hope to Heaven dwell.

My friends, love one another without pause

By loving one another without cause.

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Beloved, if God so loved us,

we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:11 KJV