12-26-15 Do It For Him

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men

Ephesians 6:7 KJV

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Whatever service you are tasked to do,

Your attitude reflects its quality.

If you work as for man your point of view

Will be to please a transient degree.

But if you act as if it were the Lord

Who will receive the fruit of your employ,

You’ll strive for excellence to one adored,

With love, devotion, gratitude and joy.

To be just good enough’s not good enough.

You represent the Lord of Lords today.

Your work now demonstrates more noble stuff

Than what can be produced then cast away.

With good will do your work as to the Lord,

And not to men, who seek their own reward.

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REMEMBER: Whatever you do in the name of Christ, in the spirit of His love, He will sanctify. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Love in Deed and Truth

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 KJV

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LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH

There’s nothing wrong in giving love with words,

But that should not be all you ever do,

Like in your hunger getting some cheese curds

When what you really needed was hot stew.

If words were silver, actions would be gold,

And loving deeds like diamonds cut and new.

To truly love is often to be bold:

A selfless act will show your love is true.

When you love Jesus you become like Him,

And He came not to be served but to serve.

So go throughout your day a living hymn

And give to all you meet with loving verve.

An “I love you” is music to the ears;

To show it is a symphony for years.

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REMEMBER: What Jesus did on the cross for you proves that actions speak louder than words.

8-27-15 An Exhortation

Now we exhort you, brethren,

warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,

support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

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We have our own responsibilities,

And that includes a call to help the poor:

The poor in heart, in mind, in strength are these

That need some extra care we can’t ignore.

Admonish those that step across the line:

The busybody, troublemaking sort.

Teach discipline and selfless service fine;

These diamonds in the rough, do not sell short.

Uplift the ones who struggle with the cross:

The simple and the slow to understand.

The weak need love who cannot bear a loss;

Please help them with their faith and to withstand.

Have patience with the souls who trip and fall;

Be one to help them up. See Christ in all.

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sonnet #449

7-30-15 Raise the Dead

¹⁰ And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

¹¹ He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 3:10-11 KJV

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You are alive within a lifeless land,

The essence of the Lord within your heart.

His love pumps through your veins, it guides your hand,

Compassion overflowing to impart.

With Christ a part of you the way is clear,

To do the will of God and raise the dead,

And this is done with selfless service dear;

To bring them back to life then share your bread.

So give what you can give to those in need;

A pantry sits unused until it’s shared,

Then clothe the poor and to the hungry feed;

It jars some dead to life because you cared.

If you’d be light and salt, then selfless give;

It’s love you’re handing out to help them live.

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sonnet #421

6-30-15 In Truth and Deed

My little children,

let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 KJV

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To love with words alone is like a bowl

So finely made without a bite within.

A love with empty words soon takes its toll;

A promised rain will starve the flower thin.

An act of love speaks volumes by itself;

In service is the truth that can’t be told.

A dictionary sits upon the shelf;

The Living Word does miracles so bold.

To minister to others is sublime,

So do all that you can in truth and deed.

These words upon your screen is just a rhyme;

True poetry is helping those in need.

Enough with words! Your vocal chords can break.

The best love in the world’s the love you make.

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poem #403

2-20-15 Take It Up With Him

To follow Jesus, be prepared to die,

And more than that, to suffer pain and hate,

To see both wealth and health then pass you by,

To live with disrespect from small and great.

You can’t come after Christ and think of you;

Both prayer and service must fill up your day,

And don’t just say you will, but see it through.

You can’t walk halfway there; go all the way.

If you think taking up your cross is less,

Then you must think that Jesus compromised.

When God says ‘Follow Me,’ don’t second guess;

Take up your cross and don’t look so surprised.

Remember in whose steps you’re following;

To have your fill of love, start swallowing.

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Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 KJV

7-26-14 Let Us Show Gratitude

If we are cleansed due to the blood of Christ,

And have the Holy Spirit in our veins,

A kingdom made from God’s good grace unpriced

Is waiting for us now in His domain.

With gratitude held fast eternally

Our daily life should so reflect His love

That when a stranger meets us he will see

The light of Jesus Christ as known above.

In reverence and awe our hearts stay full,

So we must give as He has given us;

As we pour out our love we feel the pull

Of Spirit flowing to the world as thus.

The gifts awaiting there on golden shore

Reflect the gifts we give and so much more.

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Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken,

let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God

an acceptable service with reverence and awe…

Hebrews 12:28

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5-29-14 On Being a Servant (a Sonnet)

Our Saviour soon would face the bitter cross

And finish all His Father wanted done;

Just as a servant low He came across

And washed the dirty feet of His loved ones.

The King of Kings had now become the least

To show how we should serve our fellow man;

In humble servitude our love’s increased

To lift the souls of others is God’s plan.

This simple task revealed a lesson great:

We must give all with no thought of reward.

With service unrequited is Christ’s state;

Our love for others shows we love the Lord.

When Jesus washed their feet He showed us all

Within humility we heed God’s call.

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³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands,

that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.

⁴ So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe,

took a towel, and tied it around Himself.

⁵ Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet

and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

John 13:3-5 (HCS)

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