1-26-16 Because

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

Ruth 2:10 KJV

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Who am I, Lord, that You bestow such grace?

I’m just a lowly sinner bound for hell.

There’s no redeeming value, not a trace.

I’m here within the dust where Adam fell.

How can You love me, God, in all my shame?

I am not worthy of Your love at all.

You gave Your only Son, who then became

The ransom for my sins both great and small.

Your Holy Word tells me You love me so;

You showed Your love for me on Calvary.

You made me for a reason, this I know,

To be Your child to love as You love me.

O Abba! You are all I ever need,

And by Your grace, O Father, I’ve been freed!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember: God IS love.

12-2-15 Live by Faith

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38 KJV

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LIVE BY FAITH

Obedience to Christ is lived by faith,

A sober and regenerating love.

A child of God is not some flimsy wraith

Who always doubts salvation from above.

When justified, the saved will turn to Christ,

As natural as flowers turn to light.

Redemption’s not a treat that thinly sliced,

It’s paid for at the cross in full, outright.

If any man draw back from fear or shame,

To shrink away completely from belief,

Or think that righteousness is his to claim,

Perdition will be his with no relief.

Go boldly now in Christ with confidence;

Have faith in Jesus – He’s deliverance.

111415 Show Us Something Good

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen (helped) me, and comforted me.

Psalm 86:17 KJV

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SHOW US SOMETHING GOOD

O Lord, it seems the wicked rules the day;

I see my brother’s blood upon the ground.

Please show me something good from this, I pray,

To fill my enemy with shame profound.

You’ve helped me, Lord, when I have called on You,

You’ve soothed me with the comfort of Your love.

Console the suffering, help see them through

Please show us something good from up above.

Reveal to those who hate us You are God,

Cause them to be disgraced among their friends.

Lay bare their evil hearts here and abroad;

Humiliate them to the furthest ends.

Please show us something good so all may see

The righteous will prevail; in You we’re free.

10-20-15 Unclean Spirits

²³ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

²⁴ Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

²⁵ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

²⁷ And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 1:23-27 KJV

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An unclean spirit likes to sow discord

And seeks to own the weakest mind around.

Such fights and arguments are their reward;

Where trouble’s stirred this spirit can be found.

Unless the Holy Spirit fills your heart

Ask Christ to guard your soul or you’ll be next.

They spot a child of God and then will start

To try to tear you down and leave you vexed.

The Savior lives within so call His name!

The Holy Ghost will lead you through this scene.

He might have you rebuke it out in shame

Or lead the man possessed to Christ to clean.

You’re led to where you’re needed most of all.

Let Christ stay in control and heed His call.

9-22-15 On Addiction

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:14-15 KJV

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We’ve all been tempted; still we’re tempted now

For Satan pays attention to our lusts.

Then when we fall and break most every vow,

His demons ride our shame, feed our disgust.

Then like a horror movie sin’s revived

As if it will not die by force or will,

Until your prayers seem wooden and contrived,

And then when you give up death has its fill.

Cry out unto the Lord though you feel dead,

And pray until your tears have soaked the ground.

He leads you to the help you need ahead;

Just trust in Jesus – grace much more abounds.

It seems like all is lost; don’t be deceived.

Salvation comes to those who first believed.

6-20-15 Judge Not

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,

who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,

and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts:

and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV

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If you perceive a man whose wicked ways

Are hidden by a mask of godliness,

Or if a sister speaks of peace and praise

But beats her children more and loves them less,

Don’t judge them in your heart, though it may be

The hardest thing you’ll ever have to do.

The Lord will come one day, then all shall see

The hidden things of darkness coming through.

There will be no more secrets, no more lies;

The hearts of men exposed without a doubt.

When Jesus peers within our mortal eyes,

We’ll either weep with shame or jump and shout.

Though men may cover up their sinful way,

There are no hidden things on Judgement Day.

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sonnet #394

5-25-15 White as Snow

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18 KJV

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Don’t be afraid, don’t hide your head in shame;

No matter what you’ve done I still love you.

I’m not just made of vengeance as they claim;

You do not need to fear a harsh review.

Just lift your eyes and come to Christ in prayer;

It matters not if sins be crimson red.

My Son died for your sins, now don’t despair;

His blood will wash them white as snow instead.

I sent Him as the Lamb to sacrifice,

To die for all your sins both great and small.

Accept Him as your Lord, He paid the price;

Let Jesus in your heart, on Him do call.

On Judgment Day when you approach the throne,

You’ll have no sin, for Jesus did atone

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sonnet #370

5-13-15 Be Counted Worthy

And they departed from the presence of the council,

rejoicing that they were counted worthy

to suffer shame for his name.

Acts 5:41 KJV

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you prepared to suffer in His name,

The Son of God who died on Calvary?

Would you then follow Jesus just the same

If all your kin and friends should disagree?

The Christians in Iraq are being killed,

And in Somalia are flogged and flayed,

But if believers here are slightly grilled

They hide their crosses for they’re so afraid.

No matter what the world may do to you,

Remember what it did to Christ the King.

So count as worthy what you’re going through;

It’s only temporary what they bring.

            Are you prepared to suffer in His name?

            Are you prepared to suffer death or shame?

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #359

3-16-15 No Longer Slave to Sin

Before you came to Christ you were a slave,

So hopelessly involved in sin and shame,

A victim to desire that bodies crave;

The passions of the flesh are all the same.

And then convicted by the Holy Ghost,

You fell before the cross as Spirit slain,

Declaring Christ your Lord, the final host

You rose a son of God no sin to stain.

Your flesh was crucified: the lust, the thirst,

No longer slave to sin and all its ways,

You now have conscious choice as Spirit nursed

To fall to such temptations and malaise.

Call out to Jesus when seduced by sin;

Have faith in Christ and love will always win.

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And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

Galatians 5:24 KJV

12-29-14 With Just a Touch

If you believe that Jesus is your Lord,

Don’t hesitate to call upon His name.

You must let go your will, you must be floored;

Believe with all your heart He’ll cure your shame.

Be like the leper, fall upon your face:

The door to Heaven’s shaped like one in prayer.

You must surrender everything to grace;

Put all your faith in Christ, your soul laid bare.

Confess your sins to God; He will forgive.

God’s mercy heals contrite and broken hearts.

You must prepare to die before you live;

 When Jesus touches you, your sins depart.

O Lord, if it’s Your will, then make us clean.

Our sins keep us from You, please intervene!

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¹² And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city,

behold a man full of leprosy:

who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him,

saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

¹³ And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,

I will: be thou clean.

And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

Luke 5:12-13 KJV