2-23-16 On Faith

onfaith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

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You go to bed assured that you will wake;

A pregnant woman knows her child will come;

You drool just thinking of that chocolate cake;

Guitarists play the song before they strum.

Now, faith is not believing it will be,

It’s knowing that it is before it is.

I do not have to touch, don’t have to see

To know that Jesus lives; my heart is His.

It was by faith Christ calmed the tempest sea,

By faith He made the blind man see anew.

Within the grace of God you’ll find the key:

You live by faith in everything you do.

In faith you have the truth to set you free.

The tiny seed contains the mighty tree.

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REMEMBER: Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. (D. Elton Trueblood)

10-30-15 Alpha and Omega

Alpha-Omega

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:6 KJV

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When all the jots and tittles finally pass, 1

And Jesus testifies that it is done,

New heaven and new earth are seen at last; 2

‘Tis then the wedding feast shall have begun.

The Lord of Lords and King of Kings will stand:

I AM the Alpha and Omega, too,

Beginning and the end, sublime and grand;

The promises I’ve made have all come true.

To all who thirst for life I freely give,

Refreshing and delightful with no end.

When You are one with Me you truly live;

The things I’ve said you will now comprehend.”

And O! The cup of love that’s passed around

Will overflow forever and abound!

1 Matthew 5:18

2 Revelation 21:1

10-16-15 Hypocrite!

Hypocrite

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Romans 2:21-23 KJV

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Those Christians who don’t practice what they preach

Are like a blind man with a lamp in hand.

If they walk by just stay out of their reach

Else you be dragged with them into quicksand.

They’ve seen a lot but never really looked, 1

And love pretending they know what they don’t.

They serve the truth but it tastes undercooked;

Stay far away but be forewarned: they won’t.

We can be hypocrites though ignorant

Until the Holy Spirit checks our walk,

But woe to them who know but live a front;

They do no good and harm the future flock. 2

Call out your brother if he lives a lie.

In doing so make sure you too comply.

1Isaiah 42:20

2 Romans 2:24

8-7-15 Yet Believe

Faith in Christ

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:29 KJV

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When Thomas needed proof that Jesus rose,

It did not mean he loved the Savior less.

His faith, though slow, with all its highs and lows

Arrived when he saw Christ to then assess.

Christ could have scolded Thomas mightily,

But in His love He showed His hands and side.

Yet blessed are they, He said, who could not see

But still believed He lived after He died.

If you have faith that Jesus conquered death

And lives within you now in truth and love,

You should not fear your final mortal breath,

For life will then begin for you above.

So blessed are those not seeing still believe;

Through grace by faith ’tis heaven they’ll achieve.

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sonnet #429

2-15-15 On Seeing the Unseen

Eye on Jesus by Kritzlof

The universe we see with mortal eyes

Will not endure the patient tick of time.

The sun and stars are physical and dies;

An end will come to that which once was prime.

But we are not concerned with passing things;

The eyes we use were given us through Grace.

Our vision’s fixed instead on what faith brings;

Invisible to all in time and space.

Sublime and precious are the things we see

With hearts attuned to love straight from its source.

We know the empty tomb that set us free

Is more than just your average tour de force.

The Spirit shows eternity to those

Who died with Christ and from the cross arose.

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We look not at the things which are seen,

but at the things which are not seen:

for the things which are seen are temporal;

but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV

2-10-15 Clearly

Carinae Supernova

The wondrous power of our God is seen,

Invisible Himself beyond our ken,

But clearly known by nature’s noble scene

From supernova grand to simple wren.

But there are those who claim God can’t exist

Because He won’t provide a selfie shot,

Yet proof of Him is always in our midst;

It’s easier to say just what He’s not.

So when the Day of Judgment is at hand

And every knee shall bow before the Lord,

There will be no excuse that can withstand

The final resolution and reward.

You cannot see God sitting on His throne,

But all that He has made is clearly shown.

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For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made, 

even his eternal power and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20 KJV

12-16-14 Harvest Looms*

harvest looms

Oh, can you feel the day grow closer now?

Be sure the enemy can feel this, too!

He drags his claws across the earth to plough

And sows his evil seeds against us few.

Plant upon all hearts the Savior’s love,

And fertilize it well with works of good.

We need each other now to rise above;

The wheat of saints won’t be misunderstood.

Now come into the field with me; don’t shirk!

The harvest day approaches, see the signs?

Don’t try to pull the tares, that’s reaper-work!

Now quickly spread the gospel so divine!

A fire’s being stoked, His blade is keen!

Let’s help each other out; time to be seen!

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And let us consider one another

to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,

as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another: and so much the more,

as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24,25 KJV

(*Reference to Matthew 13:24-30)

10-2-14 Speak

speak

In Syria are Christians being killed

For not converting to the Muslim view,

And in the USA the schools are filled

With kids that don’t know Jesus to be true.

We didn’t see our Savior killed that day;

We didn’t see Him rise up from the tomb,

But all we see and hear He made this way

So we may know the Truth and not assume.

From prayer are miracles you can’t deny;

You’ve heard the Holy Spirit speak to you.

Speak boldly of these things though men may try

To kill the gospel and your freedom, too.

You know that what you’ve seen and heard is right;

Be brave! Defend the gospel truth forthright.

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For we cannot but speak the things

which we have seen and heard.

Acts 4:20 KJV

7-9-14 Liar, Liar

tellinglies11

How can you claim to really love the Lord

When hatred for your neighbor flows within?

Like claiming peace upon a bloody sword,

Such paradox reveals your filthy sin.

If you desire to show your love for God

You must forgive your brother all his faults.

If not, the flame that burns is but a fraud

Revealing that it’s you whom you exalt.

Look deep within your heart for enmity

And pluck it out at once this very day.

A Lover cannot harbour enemies;

As vinegar in wine, it does betray.

Tis better to confess a troubled soul

Than claiming to be well when you’re not whole.

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If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

For the person who does not love his brother he has seen

cannot love the God he has not seen.

1 John 4:20

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