2-5-16 Built on Sand

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7: 26-27 KJV

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How many of us like a foolish man

Who listens to the Word and nods his head,

But keeps instead his own distorted plan

And builds his house without foundation bed.

Just knowing Christ’s commands is not enough;

He needs to be within our hands and feet.

A fancy car without four tires rides rough;

A house built on the sand the floods defeat.

If Jesus is your Lord, then serve Him well;

A servant is no good laid up in bed.

When trouble comes all you can do is yell.

The storms of life will tear your house to shreds.

A tree with meager roots is doomed to fall;

The first time winds descend the tree will sprawl.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: A strong foundation is built by exercising the will of Christ.

1-11-16 Live to Serve

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

To be an imitation of the Lord

You must become a servant through and through,

To give love with no thought of a reward,

To minister to all, this must you do.

Christ gave His life a ransom for your soul,

Was beaten, bled and died for all your sin.

He did this for He dared assume the role

A servant with the key to let you in.

Can you do any less than minister

To everyone around you all the time?

Let Christ become your Lord so deep and pure;

He’ll then begin His work through you sublime.

Christ came not to be served, but came to serve.

Work with Him serving others – don’t conserve.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Treat everyone as if you would treat Jesus.

11-23-15 The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, may you always have the mind of Christ,

Who showed us how to live in love’s embrace;

That love be willing to be sacrificed,

And then no matter what be full of grace.

He was the perfect pattern, free from sin,

A humble servant with a heart to give,

Obedient to God through thick and thin,

And even unto death chose to forgive.

The mind of Christ is constantly in prayer,

Submitting to the will of Abba God,

Unbroken intercession to repair

The brokenness of man which sin has flawed.

Think only of those things that love sufficed;

Yes, may you always have the mind of Christ.

111015 Well Done!

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:21 KJV

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When we have fin’lly crossed the finish line,

When we at last this mortal race has run,

No greater words could meet us then so fine

Than when we see the Lord and hear “Well done!”

Good servants have the grace of God within,

The faithful few know Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

The few things we are faithful to therein

Will be revealed when Jesus says “Well done!”

Then though the things we rule is God’s reward,

And though eternity has long begun,

Though we’ve embraced the full joy of the Lord,

No sweeter words will we hear but “Well done!”

When we take our last breath the race is won;

The Lord will meet us first and say “Well done!”

10-17-15 Strength Renewed

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

A bride, a child, a servant and a friend

All wait upon the One who’s worth the wait;

Anticipation breathes without an end,

And hope in confidence does actuate.

Beyond the veil all faith is magnified,

Baptized in love so deep and then returned,

Borne on the sigh of Spirit undenied

Back to the one who waits a grace unearned.

Climb heavenward on graceful eagle wings,

Called on by strength renewed the promised land.

Come now revived and run to arms that brings

Caresses to the soul at last in hand.

Devotion to the Lord brings fortitude.

Delivered with a kiss is love pursued.

10-5-15 The Best of Friends

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:15 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

A servant knows not what his Lord has planned;

Until he’s notified, he’ll stay the course.

A friend will share with friend intent firsthand

So there are no surprises, no remorse.

Companions seek to help each other out;

Good news to one will be good news to all.

When Christ becomes your friend there is no doubt

He’ll lead you Home Himself so you don’t fall.

Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus Christ!

He loves us more than we could ever know.

He is your confidant so rare sufficed;

Reveal your heart to Him and watch it grow.

With Jesus you have got the best of friends

Just take the hand that He for you extends.

8-21-15 He Calls Your Name

And the LORD came, and stood,

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

If Jesus called your name what would you do?

How could you know the voice was from the Lord?

There is a way to tell if this is true:

Consider where your treasure has been stored.

To follow Him you’ll learn your Shepherd’s voice ¹

For He has gone ahead to lead the way.

His words will bring you peace to then rejoice; ²

Hold fast to what is good without delay. ³

If you have faith in Jesus do not doubt; ⁴

For doubt will wave at every restless wind.

The Holy Spirit lets the truth ring out; ⁵

He won’t tell you something and then rescind.

If Jesus calls your name I hope you hear;

Incline your heart to Him, His words are dear. ⁶

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #443

1 John 10:4

2 1 Corinthians 14:33

3 1 Thessalonians 5:21

4 James 1:6

5 1 John 5:6

6 2 Timothy 3:16

7-6-15 On Obedience

⁵¹ And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

⁵² Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

⁵³ Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:51-53 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The sacrificial Lamb, obedient,

Stood ready to be given up for you,

Could call for legioned angels to be sent

To save Him from the death that would ensue.

But no, this was not time to wield a sword;

The days of ‘eye for eye’ had passed away.

Christ came to yield His life, our sovereign Lord;

The pure unspotted Lamb would have His day.

The sins of all the world would soon be borne

Upon the shoulders of the Lamb of God,

Then beaten, bloody, His whole body torn

Was bound for victory with love to laud.

The sword was put away as so much dross

And in its stead was glory on the cross.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #407

6-8-15 Through a Glass Darkly

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The evening crowd is gone, and streets are dark

And in our joyful state we roam the night.

Ahead the temple of the Lord we mark

And soon peer in it’s windows with our sight.

We think the glass is dark, but it’s our eyes;

We think we know it all, but it’s in part.

Yet O the wonders seen when we grow wise!

Yet O the things we’ll know when heaven smart!

We journey far to see a lion close;

The final twenty yards will make us sweat.

The glass is dark until the light draws close;

You know in part until the Savior’s met.

When we’ve the mind of Christ through Love and Grace

A servant we become then, face to face.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #383

5-29-15 Serve

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Matthew 20:27 KJV

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would be a servant of the Lord,

Then be a servant now to all you meet,

But don’t serve others for some great reward;

Expecting something back just spells defeat.

The greatest of you thinks that they’re the least

And does not know that they are great at all.

You will not find them sitting at the feast;

You’ll find them washing dishes down the hall.

Give up your vain ambitions now, my friend,

For Hell would be the thing that you deserve.

There’s feet to be washed now until the end,

So roll your sleeves, get on your knees and serve.

The chief among you, let him give the most.

The more he gives the less he’s bound to boast.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #373