1-7-16 On Discipline

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

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With faith disciples of the Lord do live,

Yet recognize responsibilities,

To love their neighbor and to quick forgive,

To represent the Lord by all degrees.

In common conversation speak your mind,

But make sure that your mind’s the mind of Christ.

No foolish, idle, vulgar words in kind;

Just speak the gospel truth and be sufficed.

The mind is like a monkey in a cage;

If it’s not on a leash it’s Satan’s pet.

With scripture and in silent prayer your gauge,

The mind of Christ will be your best asset.

The Lord is your redeemer and your strength;

Your thoughts and words should be in His wavelength.

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REMEMBER: Keep your thoughts and words on Jesus; lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance, comfort and understanding.

NEW! IN TIME FOR THE NEW YEAR!

8-18-15 On Scripture

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

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The scriptures are a God inspired work,

It’s meant to bring salvation to the soul.

Within each page the Holy Spirit lurks

To break the heart and with God’s grace make whole.

The Bible is alive and breathes the Word,

The perfect source for teaching doctrine truth.

The way to righteousness is thus conferred,

And well designed to train us from our youth.

To those who go astray it brings reproof,

To prick the soul and cut sin to the quick.

Good works reflect on those who find the proof

That Jesus is the Savior of the sick.

This is the map to those who seek the Way,

A compass sent from God for all who stray.

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sonnet #440

AVAILABLE TODAY

8-31-14 On Pleasing

Assess your motives and reveal the truth.

Do you seek favour from your God, or man?

You’ve practiced needing praise of men from youth;

Perhaps you even now apply that plan.

When you come to the cross on bended knees

And give your life completely to the Lord,

You choose to worship Jesus and to please,

And leave behind the life you once adored.

But like all habits, you’ve been in the groove

Desiring man’s approval through the years.

Through prayer and scripture study you will move

To seek the blessings from a higher sphere.

            Serve Christ today with all you say and do

            And you’ll care less the path that men pursue.

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For do I now persuade men, or God?

or do I seek to please men?

for if I yet pleased men,

I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 KJV

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8-21-14 Approved

If you would be a worker for the Lord,

To spread the truth with confidence and joy,

You have to study with the word explored,

Prepared to face the world with faith deployed.

There is no shame to have the Holy Ghost,

To teach with Christ’s authority to all.

An able worker will not preen or boast,

But keep in mind the Grace of God installed.

Present yourself to God as one approved,

Dressed rightly for whatever job’s at hand.

Declare the gospel boldly and unmoved,

Obedient to all of God’s commands.

            Develop all the skills that you’ve been given

            And labour for the Lord as one who’s driven.

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

a worker who has no need to be ashamed,

rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

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8-18-14 A Lamp Unto Your Feet

The word of God is like a lamp unto your feet,

A shining light of verity and love;

With this within your heart it bears receipt,

A witness to the One it’s written of.

The Bible shows you how you ought to be

And brightens ev’ry step along the way;

It also lives and breathes so you can see

The Spirit moves all through it’s vast display.

O friend! Please read about the Lamb of God,

The things He said and how He died for you.

No greater love than this the path He trod,

And if you follow Him you’ll live anew.

            Within the Bible’s pages you will find

            The Way, the Truth, the Life, God’s Grace defined.

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Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105 KJV

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7-24-14 The Spirit of Truth

When Jesus walked upon the earth as man

He was the truth because from God He came,

And when Christ went back Home He had a plan

To gift the Holy Spirit in His name.

The Spirit guides us to the truth because

He hears it from our Father first of all;

No longer are you subject to the laws

That govern sin and death from Adam’s fall.

Now learn to listen to the Spirit’s voice

Through prayer and scripture read with open heart,

And when you know the truth you can rejoice,

For now you have God’s will and can take part.

“What is the truth?” the world cries all the time.

When you know Christ the truth is so sublime.

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When the Spirit of truth comes,

he will guide you into all truth.

John 16:13 NLT

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7-21-14 Sweet as Honey

As honeybees do labour all day long,

A minister researches scripture deep.

From flow’r to flow’r the bee draws nectar strong

Just like a preacher does sweet scriptures reap.

When full the bee brings all the nectar home

Within the hive where honey there is made;

The pastor, rich with words from scripture comb,

Turns them into a sermon, prayed and weighed.

The bee distributes honey into cells

And fills the honeycomb with sweet delight.

So does the parson share the Word so well,

To feed the congregation so outright.

The gospel is as honey to the soul

And healthy with His Spirit we’re made whole.

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Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,

sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

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