12-2-15 Live by Faith

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38 KJV

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LIVE BY FAITH

Obedience to Christ is lived by faith,

A sober and regenerating love.

A child of God is not some flimsy wraith

Who always doubts salvation from above.

When justified, the saved will turn to Christ,

As natural as flowers turn to light.

Redemption’s not a treat that thinly sliced,

It’s paid for at the cross in full, outright.

If any man draw back from fear or shame,

To shrink away completely from belief,

Or think that righteousness is his to claim,

Perdition will be his with no relief.

Go boldly now in Christ with confidence;

Have faith in Jesus – He’s deliverance.

6-24-15 First to Last

So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16 KJV

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The souls who are forgotten by the crowd:

The meek, the low, the bullied and the plain,

Are lost among the ego-driven proud

And last to find a post they can attain.

The Lord will not ignore the seventh son,

The shepherd boy who one day would be king.

The manger-born became the perfect One

To save a sinful world who hopeless cling.

We all are called to come unto the cross,

Invited to the wedding feast by Christ;

The proud will all be counted as a loss,

The chosen ones are those who’ve paid the price.

Down here we choose the leader of the pack;

If you would follow Christ, then serve in back.

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sonnet #397

5-25-15 White as Snow

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

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Don’t be afraid, don’t hide your head in shame;

No matter what you’ve done I still love you.

I’m not just made of vengeance as they claim;

You do not need to fear a harsh review.

Just lift your eyes and come to Christ in prayer;

It matters not if sins be crimson red.

My Son died for your sins, now don’t despair;

His blood will wash them white as snow instead.

I sent Him as the Lamb to sacrifice,

To die for all your sins both great and small.

Accept Him as your Lord, He paid the price;

Let Jesus in your heart, on Him do call.

On Judgment Day when you approach the throne,

You’ll have no sin, for Jesus did atone

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sonnet #370

12-14-14 The Servant

The Lord of Lords, God’s only Son came here,

Deserving all our pomp and circumstance,

But took upon Himself the life austere,

To give His all so we have half a chance.

This lowly man the heavens did create,

Deserving of a throne right next to God

And worship from us all both small and great,

Took on the servant’s role with no facade.

And Jesus made His life a sacrifice,

A meek and perfect Lamb, obedient.

The debt for all our sins He paid the price

With His own humble blood and His consent.

If we are here to serve our Lord and King,

We must be servant to just everything.

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Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28 KJV

10-19-14 The Lord’s Prayer 04: Forgive Us

O Father God, forgive us each our sins,

Not that we do deserve it but through grace,

And when in our repentance then begins

With faith to know that Jesus took our place.

We had a debt to You that Christ has paid,

Then understand that we should be like Him

To thus forgive the sins against us made,

No matter how mundane, how much, how grim.

Let us not think when we forgive a debt

That we should be forgiven just the same,

But with no strings attached to then beget,

Forgiving as You do, no more to blame.

O God, forgive us now on bended knee,

As we forgive our brother faithfully.

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And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 KJV