12-28-15 Lost and Found

¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Matthew 18:12-13 KJV

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You wandered lost within the wilderness

Before you even knew that you were lost,

And by the time you came to some distress

In jagged rocks and winter winds that tossed,

The Savior had pursued you all along

With such a love that can’t be full explained.

His outstretched hand was there your whole lifelong;

His mark upon your heart so deep ingrained,

And when you finally fall into His arms,

He’ll put you on His shoulders safe and strong,

To bring you Home where nothing hurts or harms,

Rejoicing all the way with cheer and song.

O can you hear Him calling out your name?

Just put your hand in His. That’s why He came.

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REMEMBER: The instant you make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior there is a celebration in Heaven that continues forever.

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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6-8-15 Through a Glass Darkly

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

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The evening crowd is gone, and streets are dark

And in our joyful state we roam the night.

Ahead the temple of the Lord we mark

And soon peer in it’s windows with our sight.

We think the glass is dark, but it’s our eyes;

We think we know it all, but it’s in part.

Yet O the wonders seen when we grow wise!

Yet O the things we’ll know when heaven smart!

We journey far to see a lion close;

The final twenty yards will make us sweat.

The glass is dark until the light draws close;

You know in part until the Savior’s met.

When we’ve the mind of Christ through Love and Grace

A servant we become then, face to face.

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sonnet #383

4-22-15 Press Toward the Mark

If you believe the promises of God,

And of His only Son who spoke for Him,

By Grace will we be saved though we are flawed,

The blood of Christ alone atones the grim.

Then those of us whom Jesus Christ has called

Know well the crown of glory that awaits,

And all the things of earth no more than galled,

We keep our sight on Him and His estate.

Then let us hold the faith and move ahead,

To imitate the Savior’s life and love,

Remembering His blood for us was shed,

And all that we have now comes from above.

Press toward the mark: with Christ eternal life,

And be not so deterred through pain and strife.

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¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.

¹⁶ Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,

let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Philippians 3:14-16 KJV

sonnet #338

2-6-15 Call for Strength

When voices round you say it can’t be done,

And Satan whispers ‘Give it up, you fool!’

When both your legs are screaming that you run,

Then call for strength from God and keep your cool.

Sometimes it feels that you should just give up,

Just let go of your hope and walk away,

And even Jesus asked to pass the bitter cup,

But call for strength from God and don’t dismay.

Now God was there when Noah built the ark,

And He told Moses how to part the Sea;

The Lord was there when Paul dared make his mark.

Just call for strength, He’ll be there, just you see.

Just trust in God and harken His commands;

You can’t go wrong when God strengthens your hands.

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Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:9 KJV