1-25-16 Millstone

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:6 KJV

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Whoever does offend a child of God

With hateful, hurtful words that’s evil drawn,

Or cause to stumble on the path he trod,

Or make his testimony be withdrawn,

Whoever leads away My sheep by guile,

To fool him into dropping his belief,

Or persecute him else by harm or trial,

Or bring My new disciple into grief,

It would be better for that wicked one

To hang a heavy stone around his neck

And jump into the sea to then be done,

Than cause My little one be harmed a speck.

Before you lead My little lamb astray,

You might just drown yourself and float away.

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REMEMBER: Treat the young in Christ with tenderness and love and proper discipleship.

1-20-16 Be Not Afraid

⁴⁸ And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: ⁵⁰ For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. ⁵¹ And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Mark 6:48-51 KJV

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When troubles come to push you off your path,

And if it seems you’re rowing ‘gainst the wind,

The struggle that you face in all its wrath

Might leave your efforts moot and you chagrined.

Look through the dark of night and see Me there!

I am not just a thought inside your head,

Not just some passing need when you despair,

Nor ghostly spirit filling you with dread.

Be of good cheer! Have courage! It is I!

Be not afraid, I’ve come to bring you peace.

I’ve been here all along, I won’t pass by.

I’m right beside you now; the wind will cease.

In life when conflict blows with its attack,

Be not afraid, my child, I’ve got your back.

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REMEMBER: Even in the darkest of nights you will see Him near.

1-2-15 Arise, O Lord!

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

Psalm 10:12 KJV

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Arise, O Lord! Lift up Your hand today;

Rain down upon our enemies Your wrath.

The humble all around the world do pray;

Saints persecuted, killed on every path.

Arise, O Lord! The humble cry Your name;

The followers of Satan run amok.

The leaders of the world are put to shame,

While Christians everywhere die in the muck.

Arise, O Lord! Bring death to all our foes;

They murder us with raw impunity.

The armies of the world will not oppose;

O hear our cries, O Lord! Please hear this plea!

You are the Mighty God! None dare resist.

Lift up Your hand for us; our prayers persist!

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REMEMBER: Pray unceasingly for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted around the world.

12-8-15 The Strait and Narrow

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 KJV

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THE STRAIT AND NARROW

The path to Heaven’s like a razors edge,

‘Twill shred your flesh to ribbons on the way.

Too few will walk this fine and narrow ledge,

This sacrifice of self, no room to sway.

Then strait ahead is Jesus; He’s the gate.

There is no other way to get inside.

His blood will cover you, your sins negate

As you walk through the Door to then abide.

But many choose the wide and easy road;

The company is gay and jubilant

But leads to sinful ruin and Hell’s abode

Where all you hear is weeping and lament.

Eternal life is found through Christ alone.

You must go through the gate to reach the throne.

9-3-15 Here We Go

⁹ That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

¹⁰ Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

¹¹ Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isaiah 30:9-11

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The day has come when evil’s in full bloom,

Completely unafraid of consequence,

Destroying children in their mother’s womb

And lacking any hint of moral sense.

The leaders of the earth are fraudulent;

The laws they pass promote such wickedness.

The young walk through the streets so discontent,

With heads replete with rage and wild distress.

The truth is now despised, it’s lies they want,

And any talk of God is shouted down.

The reprobate advance the cause they flaunt

While running God’s own children in the ground.

The day has come upon us, rife with sin,

But Christ is our Commander – we will win.

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6-28-15 God’s Loving Mercy

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 78:38 KJV

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The Lord is always ready to forgive;

His Mercy can subdue His mighty wrath,

For God in His great Love wants us to live

To walk along the true and righteous path.

God’s full of such compassion for us all;

It breaks His heart when we go so astray.

The sins that we persist to oft recall,

Without God’s clemency we’ve Hell to pay.

The richness of God’s Grace will long acquit,

Yet only through the blood of Christ atones,

For God set forth His Son we must submit

To lead us past our mortal skin and bones.

God made the universe – He made you, too.

Show gratitude – let Jesus live through you.

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sonnet #402

6-14-15 On Priorities

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus calls you come and follow Him

And He has set about you plans and goals,

Don’t step aside – don’t drop your voice mid hymn,

To do the work that’s meant for other souls.

You may think it important that you go,

And there are times appropriate for this,

But when Christ marks a path to undergo,

To look behind while plowing is to miss.

When Jesus lived He had no time to wait;

Disciples fell away and ne’er came back.

I pray when you’re with Him you keep His gait,

And let somebody else take up the slack.

The presence of the Master trumps the dead;

Let others do the burying instead.

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sonnet #389

5-28-15 On Wrath

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20 KJV

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An angry man is blind to love and light.

And deaf to every whisper Spirit makes.

How can he serve his brothers day and night

When all that he provides are bellyaches?

If you have anger that you can’t control,

Ask Jesus to remove it by its roots.

The weeds of wrath will choke the tender soul,

But Christ can pluck them out to bear good fruits.

Be swift to hear the Spirit when He calls,

And do not speak until He gives you words.

The man who’s led by Jesus never falls.

Obey the wind to fly among the birds.

The love of God will burn away your wrath.

His righteousness will keep you on the path.

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sonnet #372

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

4-15-15 Abstain

Once newly into Christ you don’t belong,

For Christ is into you: Home isn’t here,

And where you go the light will shine so strong

A pilgrim’s path shall form to drive sin clear.

Abstain from fleshy lusts, which fight the soul,

For they can drive a wedge ‘tween God and you;

They turn your vision from its Holy goal

And cause a stumbled fall to tarry, too.

The worldly world of lust is sensual,

Tempts sight and touch and sound and taste and smell.

It bids you come and join the festival,

Then pins you to the wall of death and hell.

Abstain from lust, my sister newly saved

You have a choice: be free or be enslaved.

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Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Peter 2:11 KJV