2-26-16 Seeking Riches

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 KJV

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Too much can not be said about the sin

Of seeking to be rich above all else,

For when the lust for gold within begin,

The love of God and Christ most surely melts.

A strong foundation builds a sturdy house,

So let the Rock of Ages cleft for you,

But if you build on greed you then espouse

The love for worldly things you should eschew.

A foolish man will do some hurtful things

In order to obtain abundant wealth.

It’s hard to stem the selfishness this brings

And easy to forget supernal health.

           Put all your faith in Heaven’s Kingdom now

           Don’t let the love of riches strike your brow.

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REMEMBER: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

2-22-16 Currency

²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:20-23 KJV

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If you’re a good soul, keeping every law,

You love your fellow man and God as well,

If you don’t follow Christ, this fateful flaw

Will drag you to the hoary gates of hell.

Don’t think if you’ve got money all is lost,

It’s where you place your trust and confidence.

Take up your cross like Him at any cost; *

Put all your hope in Christ at life’s expense.

The question’s this: what’s your priority?

What currency do you spend all your time?

It’s more than being willing that’s the key;

It’s what control your life’s the paradigm.

What drives your soul is what’s been sacrificed.

There’s power in the blood of Jesus Christ.

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REMEMBER: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

* Matthew 16:24

1-21-16 No Expiration Date

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:27 KJV

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A man must quickly eat the meat he buys

Or else it rots and does nobody good,

And he must live his life until he dies

And then his body’s done the best it could.

Don’t spend your days obsessing on the flesh;

It won’t endure beyond its meted time.

Work toward that meat that always will stay fresh

With everlasting life that’s so sublime.

What must you do to earn eternal food?

Believe in He whom God the Father sealed.

Let Jesus be the one your faith’s pursued.

Be hungry for the Word of Life revealed.

Seek first the sustenance that fills the soul;

The more that you consume the more you’re whole.

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REMEMBER: Be as hungry for the Word as one who hasn’t eaten in three days.

12-28-15 Lost and Found

¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Matthew 18:12-13 KJV

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You wandered lost within the wilderness

Before you even knew that you were lost,

And by the time you came to some distress

In jagged rocks and winter winds that tossed,

The Savior had pursued you all along

With such a love that can’t be full explained.

His outstretched hand was there your whole lifelong;

His mark upon your heart so deep ingrained,

And when you finally fall into His arms,

He’ll put you on His shoulders safe and strong,

To bring you Home where nothing hurts or harms,

Rejoicing all the way with cheer and song.

O can you hear Him calling out your name?

Just put your hand in His. That’s why He came.

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REMEMBER: The instant you make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior there is a celebration in Heaven that continues forever.

8-28-15 Family Ties

³² And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³ And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴ And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark 3:32-35 KJV

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No matter where you go you’re not alone:

The greatest network in the world exists,

The best connections that the world has known;

The family of Christ are in your midst.

O what a joy to meet a stranger here

Then find out she’s your sister in the Lord!

The loving Spirit linking us so dear

Is much too strong to ever be ignored.

This family of God transcending flesh

All find a common kinship to the cross.

The instant you submit to Christ you mesh,

One body in His Spirit knits across.

My brothers and my sisters, you are loved

More dearly than myself as my beloved.

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sonnet #450

8-22-15 Come See

⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye:

for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Matthew 28:5-6 KJV

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Imagine Mary’s fright that Sunday morn

When she arrived to see the Master’s tomb.

She thought that she would visit there and mourn;

Instead she was to see an empty room.

The guards lay as if dead upon the ground,

And there an angel sat upon the stone,

As bright as lightning, patient and profound

To say that Christ is risen, come be shown.

To know that He has risen from the dead!

He took with Him the bulk of all our sins,

And rose just three days later like He said,

And if we just believe new life begins!

Come see the empty tomb where Jesus lay.

He conquered death and hell upon that day!

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sonnet #444

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

8-16-15 Let the Dead Bury the Dead

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

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Sonnet #438

7-7-15 Thirst

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee

in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is

Psalm 63:1 KJV

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If you would seek the presence of the Lord,

You must be thirsty like a desert man,

Bereft and wandering, an empty gourd,

A single minded need without a plan.

When you awake, have God be your first thought,

So hungry He consumes you heart and soul

Until your neck is thin, your stomach taut,

Your tongue so thick with thirst and black as coal.

You cannot find the Lord while on your duff;

You must engage the world, but be aware:

When He is all you need, then sure enough,

You’ll find Him all around; He’s everywhere.

The intellect itself cannot find God;

You search with your whole life without facade.

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sonnet #408

6-22-15 Call

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God:

and he did hear my voice out of his temple,

and my cry did enter into his ears.

2 Samuel 22:7 KJV

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Thank God you have the Lord that you can call

When in distress and frantic for His aid.

Be sure that He will hear you when you fall;

He understood your voice each time you prayed.

Don’t be afraid to seek the Savior’s help

When all seems lost and you have gone astray.

You may feel like a homeless, helpless whelp,

But call upon the Lord though you dismay.

There never is a time when Christ won’t hear;

If you are His you’re linked eternally.

The groanings of your heart in pain or fear

Within the grace of God will set you free.

Your cries will reach the temple of the Lord

You will not be unheard nor worse ignored.

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sonnet #395