2-11-16 Coming to Know Christ

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18 KJV

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If you would be like Jesus know Him well

Through study of the scriptures every day,

And feel His spirit with you as you dwell

Upon the word of God and as you pray.

But words are merely symbols on a page

Until they come alive within the heart.

God’s gifts of grace release them from their cage:

With faith and hope and love does grace impart.

The knowledge of our Lord and Savior grows

As all these gifts of grace mature and thrive.

You come to be more like Christ and it shows;

The things you say and do proves He’s alive.

In knowledge and in grace your soul implores,

To Jesus be the glory evermore!

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REMEMBER: Commit yourself to studying the scriptures daily if you desire to know Christ.

11-18-15 Trying Times

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 KJV

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Whenever someone speaks the ‘truth’ to you,

You want within your heart to just believe,

For if you think that all men say is pooh,

You’d be so bitter all your friends would leave.

Sometimes a speaker thought they really knew;

Sometimes they’re outright lying so severe.

How do you know if what you hear is true?

There is a way to try the spirits here.

The scriptures will reveal what is askew;

It’s so important, studying the Word.

The Holy Spirit surely sees you through;

If you’re in tune with Him, the truth’s ensured.

False prophets are a dime a dozen now;

It’s easy to know truth if you know how.

11-12-15 Lukewarm

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15-16 KJV

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LUKEWARM

If you’re to be a Christian, do your best!

Don’t claim to follow Christ but wander ’round.

Your Bible gathers dust while you attest

To study scriptures daily so profound.

You wear a sliver cross around your neck,

But gossip, cuss and lie for all to see.

You smile at church and tithe with some bad check;

You blew it all on Friday’s gambling spree.

It would be better were you ignorant;

At least a heathen knows just where he stands.

If you’re to be a Christian let’s be blunt:

You’d better ask for help; your time’s at hand.

It’s never good to be a lukewarm saint;

He’ll spew you from His mouth without constraint.

10-3-15 Walk the Walk

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:46 KJV

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Are you a follower by word or deed?

It matters when you reach the other side.

Most anyone can memorize a creed;

The words take on new meaning when applied.

What good are all the scriptures if ignored?

I tell you there are some who ‘know’ the word,

But when it comes to Jesus as their Lord,

They don’t know how to act and not be heard.

If you believe in Jesus, walk the walk;

A fruit is known by taste and not just form.

A plastic bird is nothing more than schlock;

An eagle rides the clouds above a storm.

He won’t know who you are when you cry ‘Lord’

If you don’t do His will. You’ll be ignored.

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.

9-30-15 What He Has Done

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Isaiah 12:5 KJV

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Behold the many things the Lord has done:

He made the universe and all within;

He came to earth the essence of the Son;

He’s offered us salvation from our sin;

He had the prophets write His holy word;

He gave us with His love such blessed grace;

He promised us He’d come back undeterred;

He’s gifted us the Spirit to embrace;

He loves us more than we will ever know;

He formed us in His image from the start;

He carries us with Him and won’t let go;

He’s conquered death and hell; He’s done His part.

The things the Lord has done are excellent!

The earth and all that’s in it give assent!

9-28-15 Foolish and Weak

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV

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The wisdom of the ages gapes and drools

Compared to just a single word from God,

And all the things they teach in all the schools

Is nothing more than drivel dim and flawed.

If you should seek to know the mind of Christ,

Don’t listen to the babble of a sage.

The men who wrote the scriptures were sufficed

To listen to the Lord in every age.

Both men and empires boast about their might;

They strut across the stage of time to die,

And even when their strength is at its height

A bug can bring them down just passing by.

The man of God is neither fool nor weak

When he stands fast and turns the other cheek.

7-26-15 Diligence

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2 Peter 1:5-10 KJV

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If you would come to know of Christ our King,

Then work with diligence these attributes:

Keep faith so strong it stands through anything,

And build your virtue as an absolute.

 

Increase in knowledge of the scriptured word,

Conduct with temperence your words and ways,

Be patient to endure all trials incurred,

And strive toward godliness without delays.

 

With kindness treat your brother as yourself,

And move with charity in all you do.

Without these things you’re blind upon a shelf,

Forgetting what Christ’s death has done for you.

 

            Give diligence to make your calling sure

            And you will never fall as immature.

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sonnet #417

6-26-15 Obedience

³ If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

⁴ Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:3-4 KJV

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There’s one true guarantee of your success:

Salvation comes when you accept God’s Son.

No other way will free you from this mess

Resulting from the sin we all have spun.

Obey the Lord in every way you can;

The scriptures and the Spirit show the way.

Be sure that He will bless you in His plan;

You’ll get just what you need from day to day.

Your tears may fall like rain in seasoned strife,

But they increase the yield of later joy.

By following the Savior in this life

The seeds of love bring fruit you will enjoy.

If you will walk the way of God’s commands,

The crops you plant today will soon be grand.

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sonnet #399

6-23-15 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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To walk with Jesus while Emmaus bound,

And listen as He opened scriptures wide!

To hear Him speak the mysteries profound;

My heart ablaze with Jesus by my side!

Amazing as it was that awesome day,

How truly wonderful it must have been,

My soul still leaps with joy with such display,

Just knowing that His presence grows within!

Here dwells the Holy Spirit like a fire,

It burns with love I scarcely can contain!

The Savior speaks and fuels my one desire

To do the will of God and thus remain.

His fiery words are whispered in my ear,

And that’s the only voice I truly hear.

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sonnet #396