2-9-16 Hear Hear

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Mark 4:24 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Attend to all the teachings of the Lord,

For they’re designed to bring you home to God.

Be diligent that what you learn is stored,

Then share them with all men near and abroad.

The more that you distribute of the Word,

A greater portion of the Word’s revealed.

Attune your heart to living what you’ve heard;

You’ll find the harvest brings a greater yield.

The Holy Spirit leads you to the truth,

Then tells you what it means if you just hear.

You do not have to be a brilliant sleuth;

Just listen with your heart and all is clear.

The more you give the more you shall be given.

This economic lesson’s Jesus-driven.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: The more you love unconditionally, substantially more love will return to you.

1-30-16 That Extra Mile

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Matthew 5:41 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

If some policeman stops you on the street

And makes demands that you might think unfair,

Don’t argue or complain, comply complete;

Respect the badge, forgive the man in prayer.

A friend might need some help on moving day,

And though you’ve got a game on the TV,

Be glad to help him move without delay

And don’t mention the game you didn’t see.

Treat every man as if the Lord has sent;

The Savior died for them as well as you.

You’re representing Jesus with intent,

So go that extra mile; He’ll see you through.

Whoever shall compel you go a mile,

Go twice as far, and share the Word awhile.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Jesus went that extra mile for you.

12-30-15 The Party Scene

And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

Isaiah 5:12 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

It seems as if the party scene is cool:

The thumping bass is felt down in your bones,

But if you don’t go with them you’re a fool;

Your name won’t be a contact on their phones.

The wings and pizza make up quite a feast;

The beer flows freely, so do all the drugs,

But they don’t know the Lord, they serve the Beast;

You mention Jesus, all you get are shrugs.

Those partyers are lost unless they yield

To Someone greater than their Insta friends.

If they don’t turn to Christ their fates are sealed.

Keep trying to get through; God’s grace transcends.

Don’t get caught up- you’ll surely get dragged down.

If you share Christ with them they may not drown.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Don’t get caught up in the party scene. To some of them, you might be the closest thing to Christ they’ll ever know.

12-21-15 Serve the Lord with Gladness

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Let’s serve the Lord with gladness, joy and cheer!

Let’s worship Him with singing full and strong!

Now come before His presence, gather near,

And praise our God with labor and with song!

Assemble all you saints and harmonize

By lifting up your voice in gratitude,

For by His loving grace our souls arise

To worship Christ our Lord with certitude!

Let’s praise the Lord, for He has shown His love!

Upon the cross He sacrificed His life

So those of us with faith could soar above,

To serve Him here and in the afterlife!

Let’s magnify the Lord and share the Word!

Let Jesus work through us now undeterred!

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: When you serve the Lord with joy in your heart and a song on your lips, the unsaved will be more receptive to His light in you.

12-10-15 On Ignorance

¹³ Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:13-14 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

ON IGNORANCE

Your ignorance is no excuse to sin

But is instead the well from which sin springs.

Before you made the choice and let Christ in

You drank the darkness, thought it everything.

You fled from all conviction like a thief;

The gospel words you heard picked up the chase,

And though your ignorance fed unbelief

The love of God was patient with His grace.

No matter who you were or what you did,

When you came to the cross, surrendered all,

The mercy of the Lord your sins did rid;

Abundant faith and love in Him sprang tall.

Your neighbor might be ignorant in sin.

Go share the gospel now; let it begin.

11-30-15 Love

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

John 15:17 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

LOVE

No simpler command there is than love,

Yet look at all the hate we’ve had since then,

As if we don’t know what He’s speaking of

Or it’s impossible, beyond our ken.

Just for today I beg you take this test

That all you meet is Jesus in disguise.

No matter what they do, how they’re expressed

They really are the Savior synthesized.

You must love everyone, not just pretend;

This is the reason why you still are here.

The Lord put you together for this end:

So you can share His love, each one endear.

It doesn’t matter if they love you back.

Your job is just to love without feedback.

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.

9-16-15 On Parables

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old

Psalm 78:2 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Jesus spoke in parables He tried

To teach the ways of God in simple terms.

The truth laid bare was too much to abide;

They would not understand much less affirm.

If people of the dark not knowing light

Were told about the sun’s life giving rays,

They’d scratch their heads at words like ‘day’ and ‘bright’

But comprehend a story’s paraphrase.

The deeper truths can’t rest within the mind;

It cannot grasp in whole the Trinity.

The Holy Ghost reveals such things in kind;

It speaks straight to the heart to help us see.

Go out and share the gospel to the world.

A flag is understood when it’s unfurled.

9-4-15 Render

¹⁴ And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

¹⁵ Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

¹⁶ And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him.

Mark 12:14-17 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

We have an obligation to the world

To give unto the rulers what is theirs.

Whatever flag above us is unfurled,

Obey that government; give them their shares.

We can’t forsake this world while we are here,

And still employ the money of the land.

Rebel and soon officials will appear

Reminding us the debt we owe at hand.

So render unto Caesar what is his,

And render unto God what’s His as well.

If you think taxes are too high as is,

Then use the laws to change it where you dwell.

No matter what the levy is, just pay,

And give your heart to Christ without delay.

~~~~~~~~~~~

8-13-15 Unconditional

But love ye your enemies, and do good,

and lend, hoping for nothing again;

and your reward shall be great,

and ye shall be the children of the Highest:

for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luke 6:35 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Savior shed His blood for good and bad;

Remember this when you’ve an enemy,

And anyone who’s lost should make you sad,

So share the love God has to set them free.

Not only lend expecting nothing back,

Give love in deed without thought of return.

Without God’s grace you would be ruin and wrack;

If He would take it back you’d surely burn.

To be this way is not so hard to do;

For all your faults the Lord still gives you love.

He’s kind to evil people, thankless, too;

You are a child of God, who rules above.

A child that wants to please his Father should;

Do this by loving all, both bad and good.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #435