2-24-16 Passed Away

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

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You’re grieving now, I know. I’m grieving, too.

A soul we love so dearly’s passed away.

Our tears fall now and sadness pushes through.

We mourn our loss but know that one fine day

There will be no more death, no last embrace,

No sorrow, no more mourning, no more pain.

The love of Christ our Lord shall be in place,

The glory of His presence then shall reign,

And God shall wipe all tears from all our eyes;

Here crying is replaced with laughter’s song.

We’ll reunite with loved ones; joy will rise,

For we will all be where we should belong.

We’ve lost a friend and sister here today,

But soon these sort of things shall pass away.

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REMEMBER: Let us celebrate in Christ, for we will one day be reunited.

1-18-16 Known by His Fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 12:33 KJV

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To know a man just watch his words and deeds,

For he can’t hide the nature of his heart.

An evil sort’s revealed by his misdeeds;

A poisoned well its harm will sure impart.

A fruit will show what kind of tree it’s from;

You cannot harvest olives from the ground.

Guitarists bare their talent when they thrum,

And you can tell a good one from his sound.

True Christians will exhibit Christ within;

The body of their works His presence shows.

They cannot be successful in their sin;

The essence of His truth and love still flows.

The blind can tell a fruit by taste and feel.

See Jesus with His works in you reveal.

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REMEMBER: Jesus lives within you. Get out of the way so He can live through you.

12-21-15 Serve the Lord with Gladness

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2 KJV

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Let’s serve the Lord with gladness, joy and cheer!

Let’s worship Him with singing full and strong!

Now come before His presence, gather near,

And praise our God with labor and with song!

Assemble all you saints and harmonize

By lifting up your voice in gratitude,

For by His loving grace our souls arise

To worship Christ our Lord with certitude!

Let’s praise the Lord, for He has shown His love!

Upon the cross He sacrificed His life

So those of us with faith could soar above,

To serve Him here and in the afterlife!

Let’s magnify the Lord and share the Word!

Let Jesus work through us now undeterred!

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REMEMBER: When you serve the Lord with joy in your heart and a song on your lips, the unsaved will be more receptive to His light in you.

12-18-15 More Than Kin

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Luke 1:41 KJV

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MORE THAN KIN

When dear Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice,

Her baby John the Baptist leapt within.

The presence of the Lord made both rejoice,

For John and Jesus were much more than kin.

Then thirty years would pass until that day

When John did baptize Jesus to commence

The start of such a mission that would stay

Within the hearts of men forever thence.

Did they grow up as cousins sometimes do,

Together playing games and running ’round?

Most surely did they know then as they grew

The things they had to do were so profound?

One day upon the Jordan John would point

Toward the Lamb of God did God appoint.

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REMEMBER: The Holy Spirit will fill you with joy when you contemplate upon Jesus.

11-16-15 The Word of God Goes Forth

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV

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As rain brings life to all that drink it in,

So does the Word of God to list’ning ear,

Descending from the heavens to begin

His reign of grace and love to all that hear.

The presence of the Lord did walk the earth,

And everywhere He went good fruit would grow.

The gospel of His being promised birth,

Eternal life abundantly to flow.

When God said “BE” the universe emerged,

And how much more His Word within your heart!

Now open up your mouth as Spirit urged

And let His Word go forth with love impart.

God loved the world so much He gave His Son;

His blood like rain brings life to everyone.

10-1-15 Heart Burn

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Luke 24:32 KJV

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The fire of the Lord should burn your heart,

And if it doesn’t, you’re not close enough.

You have to be as one, not just take part;

Communion with the Lord is sturdy stuff

Consume the Word, that fiery flame of truth

Until the Holy Spirit sears your soul.

Remember all the passion of your youth?

This burning makes the past a winter stroll.

If you’re afraid the fire has gone out,

Just breathe the name of Jesus and repeat.

You’ll feel the heat begin, there is no doubt;

His Presence is a blaze that won’t deplete.

You know the Savior’s walking next to you;

His love is burning in your heart so true.

9-14-15 A House Not Made With Hands

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV

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The end of life is not the end of life

For those whose faith is in the Son of God.

This earthly body’s filled with pain and strife

To crumble one day like a poor facade.

But we will not despair when that day comes;

You’ll see us smile upon our final breath.

The moment we’re evicted from the slums

We move into a mansion void of death.

In this eternal home not made with hands,

We’ll tarry in the presence of the Lord.

The family of the Spirit understands

This glorious domain’s our first reward.

Don’t grieve when we escape this earthen shell.

Our new estate’s in heaven – there we dwell.

9-11-15 You Are Not Alone

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalm 34:15 KJV

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No matter where you go you’re not alone;

The presence of the Lord will see you through.

His eyes are on you now, His grace is shown:

The righteousness of Jesus dwells in you.

God’s eye of Providence: a blanket warm,

To comfort and protect you faithfully.

His eye of Love to see you through each storm,

A Father’s gaze upon His child set free.

He hears your cries within the tempest roar

When all the world is shouting out their sins.

He answers all your prayers and even more

Responds to every groan as it begins.

You put your faith in Christ upon the throne;

Now rest assured you’ll never be alone.

7-21-15 Angels in the Wings

Are they not all ministering spirits,

sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14 KJV

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Oh child of God, you’ll never be alone,

Though all your friends and family depart.

When dark despair has gripped you to the bone,

There is an angel working on your heart.

He ministers to you when you are down,

Sent forth by God to comfort and restore.

When all the world conspires to make you drown,

An angel’s called to pull you back ashore.

The presence of the Lord is with you now,

And there are angels waiting in the wings.

When grief and pain descends upon your brow,

You’ve got the help you need from where love springs.

Oh child of God, know Jesus lives within,

And angels serve to minister therein.

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sonnet #412

7-7-15 Thirst

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee

in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is

Psalm 63:1 KJV

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If you would seek the presence of the Lord,

You must be thirsty like a desert man,

Bereft and wandering, an empty gourd,

A single minded need without a plan.

When you awake, have God be your first thought,

So hungry He consumes you heart and soul

Until your neck is thin, your stomach taut,

Your tongue so thick with thirst and black as coal.

You cannot find the Lord while on your duff;

You must engage the world, but be aware:

When He is all you need, then sure enough,

You’ll find Him all around; He’s everywhere.

The intellect itself cannot find God;

You search with your whole life without facade.

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sonnet #408