10-22-15 On Giving

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

Deuteronomy 16:17 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Which one of us can’t say that we’ve been blessed,

For life itself is worth all worldly wealth,

And if you contemplate I’m sure you’ve guessed

Two dozen blessings more including health.

If you’ve been given much then give a lot;

If you’ve not much to give, give what you can.

There’s more than money that a blessing brought;

God’s given certain skills to every man.

A church is not the only place to give:

Look ’round your neighborhood for one in need,

Then be anonymous and help them live;

The secret giver lets more hearts be freed.

So tithing is just one way giving’s done.

First give your all to Christ, God’s first born Son.

7-3-15 Secret Faults

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psalm 19:12 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The times that we meander from the Lord

Cannot be counted with our mortal mind.

No matter how we keep our virtue stored

The thieves of sin get in and steal us blind.

Some vain and shameful thoughts just can’t be stopped,

And oh, the words we wish we could take back!

Tis easier to have the ocean mopped

Than to recall the times we’ve gone off track.

Dear God, forgive us of our many sins,

The endless march of wrongs we perpetrate.

Your Grace, sufficient done, our prayer begins

With faith upon the cross to set it straight.

We can’t remember all the sins we’ve done.

Please cleanse us of our faults, Lord, through the Son.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #404

4-10-15 The Secret Part

There is a secret part of you that laughs,

An inward spark of love and happiness,

Connected to the Savior, free from gaffes

Or other outward games that bring us stress.

The Lord desires the truth and all that brings,

And deep within the Holy Spirit shares

To all God’s children, not to priests and kings,

The wisdom of the ages asked through prayer.

Oh, happy soul, where Jesus loves to dwell,

Is there not any greater joy than this,

To share the gospel and save one from hell,

To see the Light come on and feel their bliss?

The secret part of you that is at peace

Was born to share the love and never cease.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:

and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Psalm 51:6 KJV

3-21-15 Thou Shalt Not Steal

Do not take anything that is not yours

Against another’s will by fraud or force.

If there was no more theft in all the stores

The price of everything would fall, of course.

Just know that when you tell someone a lie

You’re robbing them quite plainly of the truth,

And when you break a vow then trust will die;

You cannot get it back just like lost youth.

The things you do in secret will be shown,

So don’t think that you’re clever, smooth and deft.

Some day you will face Jesus on the throne,

And there will be exposed your every theft.

If you would be forgiven then repent;

Restore all that you took with ill intent.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus 20:15 KJV

10-29-14 Prayer Closet

What Father doesn’t love it when his child

Wants just to be alone to talk awhile,

To seek advice without the world so wild,

Away from selfish efforts to beguile?

In private prayer with God your heart is true,

Less liable to hypocrisy and pride,

He knows your silent groanings through and through;

He knows when you need help or just abide.

Such closet talks can happen anywhere;

For covert prayers defy the laws of man,

And God, who is in secret and aware,

Rewards you openly as is His plan.

Your Father loves it when you step aside

To seek Him out to comfort and confide.

~~~~~~~~~~~

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,

and when thou hast shut thy door,

pray to thy Father which is in secret;

and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 KJV