11-18-15 Trying Times

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 KJV

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Whenever someone speaks the ‘truth’ to you,

You want within your heart to just believe,

For if you think that all men say is pooh,

You’d be so bitter all your friends would leave.

Sometimes a speaker thought they really knew;

Sometimes they’re outright lying so severe.

How do you know if what you hear is true?

There is a way to try the spirits here.

The scriptures will reveal what is askew;

It’s so important, studying the Word.

The Holy Spirit surely sees you through;

If you’re in tune with Him, the truth’s ensured.

False prophets are a dime a dozen now;

It’s easy to know truth if you know how.

7-29-15 On Persecution

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12 KJV

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These days when you say Jesus best beware,

The chance is good you’ll meet a wall of hate.

Consider yourself blessed when they just stare,

For there are places killing us is great.

Just tell them Christ arose alive from death

And you’ll be shouted down and shown the door.

In some parts of the world give Christ your breath

And they will roll your head along the floor.

Rejoice when you are persecuted here,

For so the prophets suffered this and worse.

Count it a blessing when your pain’s severe,

For your reward in heaven’s worth their curse.

When persecution comes be glad in Christ

He’ll be there with you when you’re sacrificed.

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sonnet #420

5-12-15 Worth the Weight

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

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We strain beneath the stress of misery;

Our bodies and our minds begin to fail.

Though as we age we have our memory,

Yet also it plays tricks on us as well.

No matter what may happen to us here,

Disease or loss of limb or far much worse,

And even when we face men’s final fear,

We’ll know that we are not within the hearse.

The glory that awaits the child of God

Is worth all of the anguish of this place.

No matter how severe we’re crushed and clawed,

It can’t outlive the splendor of His Grace.

            If we knew all the joy this next life brings,

            We never would complain about a thing.

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sonnet #358

2-22-15 Rejoice in the Lord!

Though all my wealth be filched by criminals,

My life be threatened by a killer’s sword;

Though I be chained against a pirate’s hulls,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

Though famine strikes my crop from year to year,

My business looted by a passing horde;

Though all my friends start treating me severe,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

Though pain may wrack my body night and day,

My reputation ruined, my face abhorred;

Though cancer eats my skin and bones away,

I will rejoice in Jesus as my Lord.

The God of my salvation will I praise!

He set me free and set my heart ablaze!

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Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18 KJV

1-15-15 Be of Good Cheer

Whatever trouble has you far from shore,

Whenever you’re adrift in need of aid,

Wherever life has left you with no oar,

The Savior’s standing there; “be not afraid”.

There is no place that Jesus cannot go,

There is no problem that is too severe,

There is no question asked that He won’t know,

Don’t worry half as much; “be of good cheer”.

Just when you think that you are all alone,

Just when you sink your head and start to cry,

Just when your heart’s as heavy as a stone,

You’ll hear the voice of Jesus: “It is I”.

And as you dream of meeting Him one day,

He’s with you even now, not far away.

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And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,

walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,

they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit;

and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,

Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:25-27 KJV