12-28-15 Lost and Found

¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Matthew 18:12-13 KJV

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You wandered lost within the wilderness

Before you even knew that you were lost,

And by the time you came to some distress

In jagged rocks and winter winds that tossed,

The Savior had pursued you all along

With such a love that can’t be full explained.

His outstretched hand was there your whole lifelong;

His mark upon your heart so deep ingrained,

And when you finally fall into His arms,

He’ll put you on His shoulders safe and strong,

To bring you Home where nothing hurts or harms,

Rejoicing all the way with cheer and song.

O can you hear Him calling out your name?

Just put your hand in His. That’s why He came.

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REMEMBER: The instant you make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior there is a celebration in Heaven that continues forever.

12-5-15 Shew Me Thy Ways

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Psalm 25:4 KJV

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SHEW ME THY WAYS

Please show me, Lord, Your countless holy ways,

The many mysteries beyond this mind.

When I have left this world with all its days

I’ll have eternity to be inclined.

Until I’m there with You, teach me Your paths,

I’ve faith You’ll shepherd me the whole way Home.

I’ll need Your guidance through the aftermath;

While I’m still in this body I may roam.

Beloved Savior, keep me ‘neath Your wing;

I know Your loving Spirit lies within.

You are my Teacher, Counselor and King:

Please show me, teach me, lead me out and in.

But most of all, have mercy on me, Lord!

I want so many things, this smorgasbord!

10-19-15 Advice From the Shepherd

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 KJV

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The wolves won’t hesitate to eat you up,

For you’re the Shepherd’s sheep sent forth to save.

They hate the One who drank the bitter cup

And now He lives within you strong and brave.

The children of the night now circle ’round

And wait for you to stumble in their midst.

Be wise, therefore, as serpents to confound,

And keep the mind of Christ when they persist.

You cannot last a moment on your own;

Depend upon the Savior all the time.

Be harmless, then, as doves – you’re not alone;

No matter what they do remain sublime.

With cunning Jesus rose above the hate.

In innocence He set the record straight.

9-25-15 The Perfect Example

²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25 KJV

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There is no greater love than Christ has shown,

The perfect model for a perfect life,

Who chose to leave His bright celestial throne

To come and save His sheep through pain and strife.

He had no sin Himself but came for ours,

Enduring all the wrath of God and man,

Who could have freed Himself with awesome powers

But chose to bring salvation as His plan,

And all the torment that our Lord endured,

Reviled, threatened, beaten, crucified,

He did for you so you could be secured.

He loved you so He suffered, bled and died.

O friend, I know He thought of you that day

As He was hanging on the cross that way!

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

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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

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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

6-24-15 First to Last

So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16 KJV

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The souls who are forgotten by the crowd:

The meek, the low, the bullied and the plain,

Are lost among the ego-driven proud

And last to find a post they can attain.

The Lord will not ignore the seventh son,

The shepherd boy who one day would be king.

The manger-born became the perfect One

To save a sinful world who hopeless cling.

We all are called to come unto the cross,

Invited to the wedding feast by Christ;

The proud will all be counted as a loss,

The chosen ones are those who’ve paid the price.

Down here we choose the leader of the pack;

If you would follow Christ, then serve in back.

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sonnet #397

4-3-15 It’s Now or Never

The battle lines are drawn, the challenge made

That who is not with Christ is now His foe.

All those who hate the Word will taste His blade;

The blood of evil will begin to flow.

The Shepherd that is Good now gathers near

The sheep that hear His voice and heed His call,

But wolves still scour the Earth fomenting fear,

To scatter with their lies the ones who stall.

There is so little time to save the rest:

Your friends and family and strangers, too.

More knees should bend and sinners be confessed;

Today might be the day it all comes true.

The Shepherd calls your name across the field.

Please harken to His voice and gently yield.

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He that is not with me is against me;

and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Matthew 12:30 KJV

9-12-14 My Cup Runneth Over

Now through the valley on to open plains

I follow in the shadow of my Lord.

Though evil wants to tie me up with chains

He makes a feast for me before the horde.

My faith consumes the sacred bread and wine,

While Satan stands defeated once again,

And grace anoints my head e’en while I dine;

No longer do I serve the likes of men.

My Saviour do I praise forever more!

This cup of joy will always overflow.

His Presence makes my blissful spirit soar,

And where He leads is where that I must go.

My enemies do watch and gnash their teeth;

My Shepherd’s love surrounds me like a wreath.

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Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:5 KJV

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9-11-14 Through the Valley

The valley of the shadow of my death

Is filled with hidden demons clawed with doubt.

Though evil may dissuade with ev’ry breath,

I have no fear: my Shepherd’s here throughout.

My soul draws nigh toward this journey’s end

And I stand facing my eternity,

But when I die my spirit will ascend:

My Shepherd’s face is all that I can see.

He holds the rod of strength, His Holy Word;

His staff is victory beyond the grave;

When I pass on, this body is interred,

Yet there’s no sting; my spirit He did save.

Though I must walk into the valley floor,

My Shepherd guides me through an open door.

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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 KJV

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9-10-14 His Name’s Sake

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

Along the rugged straight and narrow way.

This is the route of truth and holiness

And where my Shepherd taught me how to pray.

There is just one more place I’d rather be,

Though now He bids me heed each step I take.

He guides me to the place I long to see

My Home on Heaven’s shore for His name sake.

Obedience is needed on this trek

For I am prone to stray and surely fail,

So here I track His marks and hear Him beck;

My Shepherd is the way along this trail.

            I follow as He shepherds me along

            And walk in faith to where I so belong.

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He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 KJV

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