12-3-15 Not Like This Man

⁴⁵ Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? ⁴⁶ The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

John 7:45-46 KJV

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NOT LIKE THIS MAN

The guards who went to capture Christ that day

Would never be prepared for what they heard.

The things they heard that Jesus came to say

Compelled their hearts and minds to both be stirred.

Not any of the prophets spoke this way

With such authority and truth were graced.

Twas as if God Himself each word did weigh.

The very air itself His words embraced!

Not one of all the guards their charge obey,

For Jesus had not reached His fullness yet.

Perhaps their feet and hands did then betray;

Perhaps they drank from thirst and mercy met.

No man had ever spoken like this Man.

Thank God we have His words and know His plan!

5-12-15 Worth the Weight

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

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We strain beneath the stress of misery;

Our bodies and our minds begin to fail.

Though as we age we have our memory,

Yet also it plays tricks on us as well.

No matter what may happen to us here,

Disease or loss of limb or far much worse,

And even when we face men’s final fear,

We’ll know that we are not within the hearse.

The glory that awaits the child of God

Is worth all of the anguish of this place.

No matter how severe we’re crushed and clawed,

It can’t outlive the splendor of His Grace.

            If we knew all the joy this next life brings,

            We never would complain about a thing.

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sonnet #358

3-12-15 Raise in Praise

Let’s raise our voice in praise of God above

With mighty congregations full of joy!

As we give thanks our hearts are full of love

For all the awesome works our Lord employ!

O God, You implement Your perfect plan,

Your Holy voice creating everything

To manifest redeeming sinful man

Through Jesus Christ our Savior, Lord and King!

Your Grace is such that we do not deserve;

O God, how marvelous are all Your ways!

With all our hearts and minds we gladly serve

And offer our whole lives in humble praise!

Let’s sing and shout devotion to our God!

Let’s raise the roof of worship and applaud!

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I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart;

I will show forth all thy marvelous works.

Psalm 9:1 KJV