10-19-15 Advice From the Shepherd

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 KJV

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The wolves won’t hesitate to eat you up,

For you’re the Shepherd’s sheep sent forth to save.

They hate the One who drank the bitter cup

And now He lives within you strong and brave.

The children of the night now circle ’round

And wait for you to stumble in their midst.

Be wise, therefore, as serpents to confound,

And keep the mind of Christ when they persist.

You cannot last a moment on your own;

Depend upon the Savior all the time.

Be harmless, then, as doves – you’re not alone;

No matter what they do remain sublime.

With cunning Jesus rose above the hate.

In innocence He set the record straight.

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

5-6-15 Within

²⁰ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17:20-21 KJV

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The King of Kings was standing in the midst

Of all the Pharisees both dumb and blind;

They looked for things to prove it did exist,

When proof was there amongst them so refined.

We search for His return among the signs,

No better off than Pharisees or Scribes;

He lives within us now, His richness shines,

Yet we’re still counting coins and taking bribes.

Try casting off the pictures in your head,

For they will get you lost most every time,

And keep your thoughts on Jesus now instead;

He lives within the servant’s heart sublime.

When Christ returns no man can ever know,

But here’s the Holy Spirit: let it grow.

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3-19-15 Believe in the Light

The Son of God rode on a simple ass

Into Jerusalem the perfect Lamb.

He knew His sacrifice would come to pass;

This was no dress rehersal, was no sham.

The crowd did not yet grasp His prophecy

That He would soon be lifted from their midst.

“Walk in the light,” Christ said, “while you still see,

For when this light is gone, it will be missed,

And while you still have light, believe in Me,

That you may be the children of the light.”

O friend! If you believe Him now, He’ll set you free,

His light will be in you, His Spirit bright!

Though you can’t see His body, still believe;

Eternal life in Him you will receive.

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While ye have light, believe in the light,

that ye may be the children of light. 

John 12:36 KJV

2-10-15 Clearly

The wondrous power of our God is seen,

Invisible Himself beyond our ken,

But clearly known by nature’s noble scene

From supernova grand to simple wren.

But there are those who claim God can’t exist

Because He won’t provide a selfie shot,

Yet proof of Him is always in our midst;

It’s easier to say just what He’s not.

So when the Day of Judgment is at hand

And every knee shall bow before the Lord,

There will be no excuse that can withstand

The final resolution and reward.

You cannot see God sitting on His throne,

But all that He has made is clearly shown.

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For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made, 

even his eternal power and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20 KJV

12-25-14 In the Midst

He slipped into the world so quietly

That only shepherds in their fields were told,

And just a handful knew who He would be:

The one Messiah prophets had foretold.

Oh, how the earth itself did want to shout,

“The Savior’s here! Just look! He’s in our midst!”

The animals and plants could have cried out,

“The Lord of Lords is born! He does exist!”

Creation, though it strained to cheer with joy,

Was held in an abeyance purposely,

For evil men would then try to destroy

As Herod did when wise men sought to see.

O earth, be quiet, do not shout and tell.

O universe, that time will come as well.

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Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:

for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 12:6 KJV

7-18-14 In the Midst

You know that I am with you night and day,

Much closer than the pulsing of your heart;

So when there’s two or more of you to pray

Or gather in My name, I will take part.

My Spirit in your midst does magnify,

And with your eyes wide open you will see

Reflected in your faces I am nigh,

Attending to your needs; you’re part of Me.

I’m with a congregation or just two;

My Love brings you together now as one

To minister and lift each other to

A knowing that our Father’s Will be done.

Where two or more are gathered in My name,

So there I am among you like a flame.

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For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20 KJV

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