1-19-16 One Eighty

¹⁶ But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, ¹⁷ And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehemiah 9:16-17 KJV

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You’ve sinned though saved and now are on your knees

Afraid salvation’s lost, God’s turned His back.

Conviction weighs up your chest to squeeze;

You think your white as snow has changed to black.

Repent! One Eighty what you’ve done right now,

Confess to God your sin with sorrowed heart.

He WILL forgive! God’s mercy will endow.

He loves you SO; you’ll never be apart.

Did He not send His own begotten Son

To pay for every sin on your behalf?

Renounce with all you are for what you’ve done

And know God’s written that sin’s epitaph.

He loves you more than you can ever know.

You are His child! Repent and let it go.

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REMEMBER: Look at all God’s chosen people did after He brought them out of bondage in Egypt. He did not forsake them. He likewise will never, ever forsake you.

9-4-15 Render

¹⁴ And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

¹⁵ Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

¹⁶ And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him.

Mark 12:14-17 KJV

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We have an obligation to the world

To give unto the rulers what is theirs.

Whatever flag above us is unfurled,

Obey that government; give them their shares.

We can’t forsake this world while we are here,

And still employ the money of the land.

Rebel and soon officials will appear

Reminding us the debt we owe at hand.

So render unto Caesar what is his,

And render unto God what’s His as well.

If you think taxes are too high as is,

Then use the laws to change it where you dwell.

No matter what the levy is, just pay,

And give your heart to Christ without delay.

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8-12-15 Grace Through Faith

For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8 KJV

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You don’t deserve a single dot of grace,

For Hell is what you’ve earned for all your sin.

The best five minutes of your life’s disgrace;

The best of all the world would not begin.

Fall on your face and know you’re hopeless mud;

Repent and beg forgiveness for it all,

Believe that Jesus shed His precious blood

To pay for all your sins both great and small.

With all your heart accept Him as your Lord,

Then feel the Holy Spirit enter you!

God’s grace, and faith, His gifts you can’t afford,

And with Christ’s blood you’re covered through and through.

You’re saved by grace through faith and nothing more,

With Jesus as your Savior guarantor.

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sonnet #434

6-28-15 The Children of Wrath

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV

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The world is filled with sin up to the brim

And we think we are outside looking in.

I tell you, brother, things are looking grim,

But don’t pretend you’re perfect in your win!

Instead of pointing fingers at the rest,

Remember you were where they are right now.

Right now it is God’s grace that has you blessed;

Without it you’d have hell to pay, and how!

You may have been a step from reprobate

When you chose to accept the Savior’s hand.

Each day such people cross right by your gate.

Please give them love, it may be their last stand!

Don’t be judgmental, be compassionate.

Without Christ’s cleansing blood you’d be unfit.

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sonnet #401

5-30-15 Withhold Not Good

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,

when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Proverbs 3:27 KJV

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When payday comes around then pay your bills,

For this due to them you contract with.

When there are those in need don’t buy the frills;

Remember your poor past and give forthwith.

The Lord is full of grace beyond your ken;

The fact that you are here is proof indeed.

Extend that goodness out and now to men,

And when the Spirit tells you, then proceed.

Serve ministries and those who preach the Word;

It helps them bring the lost into the fold.

The means are in your hands, don’t be deferred;

Tomorrow is not yours to put on hold.

Withhold not good from them to whom it’s due;

Just think of all the good God’s given you.

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sonnet #374

5-17-15 Grace and Truth

For the law was given by Moses, 

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 KJV

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The Lord gave Moses laws defining sin,

And spelled the things that man should never do,

But laws don’t teach forgiveness there within,

And do not mention grace the whole way through.

So once a year a lamb was sacrificed

To pay for all the sins men did accrue,

Then came along our Savior Jesus Christ,

To be the truth and give God’s grace to you.

He taught the way of love to all who’d hear,

And lived the fullness of God’s righteousness.

He gave His life, a sacrifice so dear,

And through this perfect Grace God’s love confess.

The substance of the shadows of the law

Lived as the Lamb of God without a flaw.

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sonnet #363

4-4-15 Song of Expectation

Come join me in this song that has no end,

And we will praise the Lord forever more!

He’s our salvation, whom we can depend;

Our Savior Jesus, He’s worth living for!

Now, see this bloody pool on Calvary?

He died here on the cross just yesterday.

He sacrificed His life for you and me

Our sins He took upon Himself to pay!

Observe that giant stone before the tomb?

That’s where our Savior’s body then was laid.

Tomorrow that will be an empty room

For He will conquer death’s thin masquerade!

We sing, for Jesus Christ will soon be here!

Our resurrected Lord whom we revere!

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Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and not be afraid:

for the LORD is my strength and my song;

he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV

11-26-14 A Matter of Life or Death

You’re born to die; that’s just the innate way,

For you can’t help but sin; it’s everywhere,

And for the sin you work death is your pay

It’s just what you deserve to your despair.

God loves us, so He offered you the means

To live and conquer death beyond the grave;

Sin is disease but He has the vaccines:

His grace through Christ’s blood sacrifice to save.

So Jesus took upon Himself your sins

Then died to take the wages meant for you,

But then He rose again and thus begins,

If you believe in Him you’ll live anew.

This really is a choice of life or death:

Please choose in faith His gift and Spirit’s breath.

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For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 KJV