1-23-16 One Thousand Horns

fractured church

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV

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The body of the Lord should work as one,

For schisms and divisions work against

The gospel and the work that should be done

To bring the lost sheep home who were dispensed.

If we’re to be one body and one mind

We ought to preach and teach the selfsame thing.

It does no good if we are misaligned

Like walking when one foot is in a sling.

There is but one true Savior, Jesus Christ;

His words and actions clearly lead the way.

His awesome love for us was well sufficed;

He told us to repent and then obey.

If there’s one thousand horns in battle blown,

Who knows which way to victory is known?

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REMEMBER: These days it is SO important to understand and follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

1-6-16 Believe in Jesus

53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Mark 6:53-56 KJV

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While Jesus walked the earth He healed the sick,

And has been healing sickness since that time.

When people heard him ’round they gathered quick;

His name should do that now in our lifetime.

We don’t need scores of healers ‘cross the land

In vast revivals pitching tents in town.

We don’t need mega churches gold and grand,

Announcers telling cripples “Come on down!”

The only thing you need is to believe

That Christ can heal your broken heart and more.

A simple faith in Him will soon achieve

The healing that you need and cry out for.

The Savior hears you calling out His name;

Reach out to Him – you’ll never be the same.

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REMEMBER: Believe.

1-1-16 Please Let Him In

open up the door and let Him in

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 KJV

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O sinner, hear Him knocking at your door!

The hour is late; don’t let Him pass you by!

Please let Him in; He’s who you’re looking for!

The beating of your heart means He’s nearby!

O sinner, hear Him calling out your name!

Do you not recognize your Savior’s voice?

Please let Him in; you’ll never be the same!

Just open up your heart and you’ll rejoice!

O sinner, Jesus died that you might live!

When He was on the cross He thought of you!

Please let Him in with all His love to give!

Don’t let another moment pass you through!

O sinner, drink with Christ His cup of bliss!

Please let Him in! Eternity’s His kiss!

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REMEMBER: The choice is yours. Choose Christ!

10-21-15 Partiality

partiality (1)

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4 KJV

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In church we always want to look our best;

We’ve got our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes,

But there’s a fellow that’s so poorly dressed

His only suit’s so worn his elbows shows.

I promise you someone in church will gasp,

Will roll their eyes, then whisper to a friend.

Don’t be the one to shun the poor man’s grasp;

Please don’t compare him to the latest trend.

The Savior doesn’t see a rag from gloss;

A tattered shirt’s the same as Vera Wang.

It all is level at the bloody cross;

He only wore our sins when He did hang.

A judging heart is evil at its best;

See all alike and you’ll be surely blessed.

8-14-15 All for One

one for all

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 KJV

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A breeze wafts through a window open wide;

The curtain shudders, papers flutter, too;

A candle light makes shadows dance and glide,

And all these things a single breeze can do.

The Spirit moves ten million souls and more

As preachers, teachers, missionaries, clerks,

To prophesy, to write, to mind the store;

We serve a single Master in our work.

Discretion, grace and patience all are gifts

Bestowed by just a single, holy God;

The Father’s love that heals, reveals, uplifts

Can resurrect the dead and leave us awed.

Such wondrous grace upholds the universe

And shows in all we do as we traverse.

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sonnet #436

8-5-15 Two As One

Two as One

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mark 10:6-9 KJV

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A man should leave his parents for his wife

And she should cleave to him the same way, too.

Their marriage bond should last for all their life,

For they are one in essence, no more two.

God made both man and woman for this end,

To share a single love that’s greater still.

He fit them perfectly to then transcend

The normal bond of friendship and good will.

What God intended let no man pervert;

One woman and one man are meant to be,

And any other way would then subvert

The sovereign will of God, His set decree.

Then two as one becomes one with the Lord;

Beloved and beloved, one accord.

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sonnet #427

6-1-15 All For One – Part Two

holy ghost

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:8-12 KJV

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The Spirit gifts one saint with wisdom deep,

And gives another knowledge straight and strong.

The Spirit grants another faith to keep;

He knows just where His attributes belong.

The Spirit gives one pow’rs to heal the sick,

Another miracles to show the way.

The truth through prophecy to one He picks;

These gifts the Holy Spirit does convey.

He gives to one discernment of the heart,

Reveals the gift of tongues another speaks.

He then lets one interpret tongues apart;

They all are of one Spirit, but unique.

So many diff’rent members, though as one,

We all are of one body of the Son.

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sonnet #376

5-31-15 All For One – Part One

painting by Janet McKensie

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:8-12 KJV

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When you are saved by Christ’s atoning blood,

You then become much more than family;

The Spirit enters you just like a flood

And works on you uniquely by degree.

Just as the body is comprised of parts,

Each part designed to function for the whole,

Yet none can long survive when pulled apart

But thrives with all the others in their role.

The Holy Spirit knows your aptitude

And fashions you to serve in harmony.

It may not always be what you pursued

Before you came to Christ and was set free.

The gift the Spirit lays upon your heart

You’ll find in time was perfect from the start.

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sonnet #375

5-24-15 Forgive – and Forget

Forgiveness - Unchained

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Colossians 3:13 KJV

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When Jesus taught to pray He said this, too:

“O God, forgive me as I do forgive.”

As simple as it is it’s hard to do;

When someone does us wrong, we must relive.

You can forgive but you just can’t forget;

If that’s the way you want it, let it be.

You want your brother to forget your debt,

But if he owes you more, he’s never free.

As Christ atoned for you on Calvary,

He will not bring it back whene’er you sin.

Forgive and so forget and you’ll be free;

Do not expect the same and you will win.

            If you can so forget the food you ate,

            Don’t let wrongs eat you up, give Christ the plate.

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sonnet #369

1-27-15 Nothing

Mortality

The moment you were born you did not bring

A whit beyond the barest flesh and bone;

You do not really own a single thing

Belonging to this world of wood and stone,

And all the stuff that you accumulate,

No matter what it’s worth to mortal man,

Will still be here when you leave this estate;

In fact you’ll have the same as you began.

Be grateful for the things that you possess

For it can all be gone within a flash;

The only matter you should dare obsess

Is being more like Christ, His way suffice.

From nothing bodies come, to nothing go

Yet all you do between your soul will show.

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For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1 Timothy 6:7 KJV