2-5-16 Built on Sand

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7: 26-27 KJV

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How many of us like a foolish man

Who listens to the Word and nods his head,

But keeps instead his own distorted plan

And builds his house without foundation bed.

Just knowing Christ’s commands is not enough;

He needs to be within our hands and feet.

A fancy car without four tires rides rough;

A house built on the sand the floods defeat.

If Jesus is your Lord, then serve Him well;

A servant is no good laid up in bed.

When trouble comes all you can do is yell.

The storms of life will tear your house to shreds.

A tree with meager roots is doomed to fall;

The first time winds descend the tree will sprawl.

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REMEMBER: A strong foundation is built by exercising the will of Christ.

8-27-15 An Exhortation

Now we exhort you, brethren,

warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,

support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

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We have our own responsibilities,

And that includes a call to help the poor:

The poor in heart, in mind, in strength are these

That need some extra care we can’t ignore.

Admonish those that step across the line:

The busybody, troublemaking sort.

Teach discipline and selfless service fine;

These diamonds in the rough, do not sell short.

Uplift the ones who struggle with the cross:

The simple and the slow to understand.

The weak need love who cannot bear a loss;

Please help them with their faith and to withstand.

Have patience with the souls who trip and fall;

Be one to help them up. See Christ in all.

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sonnet #449

3-11-15 Acceptable

So often times you feel it’s not enough,

Your prayers seem weak, your walk is not His walk,

You read the Word until your eyes feel rough,

And when the chance to witness comes you balk.

In times like these just call upon the Lord,

Be honest and admit you’re weak and lame.

Ask Christ for help and you won’t be ignored;

He is your strength, your Savior – praise His name!

Reach deep within, there’s gratitude in store,

Think of the sacrifice He made for you;

Your heart will swell and you will love Him more,

Then when you speak and act it will be true.

O Lord, I pray my words and thoughts are Yours!

There’s nothing you can’t do when Spirit roars.

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Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,

my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 KJV

2-14-15 Lambs Among Wolves

Have faith in Christ to move you through your day,

For you will go as lambs amongst the wolves.

You may think you are safe in all your ways,

But suddenly you’re under Satan’s hooves.

Yet as disciples of the living God

We’re sent to find the gems among the rough,

And where we go some angels fear to trod,

But we’ve been sent by Christ, and that’s enough.

Dear kin in Jesus, do not be afraid;

No matter what, you’re safely in His heart.

Don’t worry what to do against the blade;

He died for everyone, so do your part.

The wolves of hate and scorn are all around.

Be like the Lamb of God; let love abound

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Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Luke 10:3 KJV

1-23-15 On Righteousness

You haven’t wanted righteousness enough

Until you thirst and hunger nigh to death,

Your limbs grown weak, your voice turned lean and rough

And righteousness as precious as your breath.

You argue that the times won’t stand for that;

You’d lose your job and end up on the street.

The cost of righteousness won’t leave you fat;

You won’t know hunger when you always eat.

This world’s a desert void of drink or food,

But there’s a well to slake the weary soul.

You cannot take a sip till you’re subdued

And righteousness becomes your only goal.

For few are chosen although many called;

To gain true righteousness one must have crawled.

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Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst

after righteousness:

for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:6 KJV

1-20-15 Angels Among Us

Treat everyone as if they are a friend,

For they are just a friend you have not met.

The stranger at your door the Lord may send

As angels in disguise or better yet.

Yet are we all not angels in God’s time

When someone we don’t know just needs a hand?

Your soothing voice may be a welcome chime;

A smile from you may be both warm and grand.

Indeed, an angel may be at your door

Disguised as one dressed like a vagabond,

Or not with two legs but instead with four;

They may seem rough at first til you respond.

Are angels not around you night and day?

So practice love with all you do and say.

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Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2 KJV

11-11-14 Forged

Your life is full of hardship,tears and pain;

You feel as if you’ve poverty of soul.

It seems your every effort’s been in vain,

And you are nothing more than lump of coal.

A diamond starts as coal that’s under stress,

Amid great heat and pressure over time,

And you are far more precious in egress,

Refined by life’s hot furnace whence you climb.

Who wants a soup with vegetables too coarse?

You’ll want them cooked until they taste just right.

Affliction turns the raw to the main course,

Delicious morsel of the truth and light.

God needs a mighty sword annealed and keen,

One forged from hard affliction rough and mean.

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Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver;

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10 KJV