2-24-16 Passed Away

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

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You’re grieving now, I know. I’m grieving, too.

A soul we love so dearly’s passed away.

Our tears fall now and sadness pushes through.

We mourn our loss but know that one fine day

There will be no more death, no last embrace,

No sorrow, no more mourning, no more pain.

The love of Christ our Lord shall be in place,

The glory of His presence then shall reign,

And God shall wipe all tears from all our eyes;

Here crying is replaced with laughter’s song.

We’ll reunite with loved ones; joy will rise,

For we will all be where we should belong.

We’ve lost a friend and sister here today,

But soon these sort of things shall pass away.

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REMEMBER: Let us celebrate in Christ, for we will one day be reunited.

1-14-16 Faith in Action

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

James 2:14-16 KJV

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A couple poor as dirt with hungry child:

The husband says, “I’ve faith we’ll get some food.”

The wife replied, “O fool! You’ve got me riled!

Go get a job! We can’t eat attitude!”

Professing faith is easy; say the word,

But if your faith is real then it will show.

A kindness given first was faith that stirred.

When grace meets gratitude you can’t lie low.

When Jesus said “Your faith has made you whole,”

He knew that she believed that by her touch.

If she had not had faith both heart and soul,

She wouldn’t have reached out His cloak to clutch. (Matthew 9:20-22)

Declaring faith won’t keep you warm and filled.

Put action to those words and be fulfilled.

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REMEMBER: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)

8-28-15 Family Ties

³² And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³ And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴ And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark 3:32-35 KJV

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No matter where you go you’re not alone:

The greatest network in the world exists,

The best connections that the world has known;

The family of Christ are in your midst.

O what a joy to meet a stranger here

Then find out she’s your sister in the Lord!

The loving Spirit linking us so dear

Is much too strong to ever be ignored.

This family of God transcending flesh

All find a common kinship to the cross.

The instant you submit to Christ you mesh,

One body in His Spirit knits across.

My brothers and my sisters, you are loved

More dearly than myself as my beloved.

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sonnet #450

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

5-19-15 Well Pleased

⁹ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9-11 KJV

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When Christ emerged from Jordan full of love

The Heavens opened wide and He did see

Descending from the sky just like a dove

The Spirit came upon Him graciously.

Then God did say “You’re My Beloved Son,

In whom I AM,” He stated “so well pleased,”

And there the essence of the Holy One

Well marked His favor on the One appeased.

Beloved sister, now that Spirit’s Here!

O, my Beloved brother, He’s in you!

When you accepted Christ your Savior dear

You were baptized by Spirit through and through.

One day when you see Jesus face to face,

He’ll say God’s pleased with you with love and grace.

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sonnet #364

(artwork by David Zelenka)

5-8-15 Watch

³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh,

at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Mark 13:35-37 KJV

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My sister, wake! The Master’s coming soon!

My brother, keep a vigil by the door!

We must be ready under sun or moon!

He’s coming back! Wake up! No time to snore!

Our Savior said that He will come again,

And all that He has said, He’s kept His word.

The ones who treat this promise with disdain

Will wish upon His coming they had heard.

Now scour the earth with haste to save the lost!

Your neighbors, friends and family, save them too!

And while you work keep watch at any cost,

For Jesus will return, this much is true!

            Keep watch both day and night! Don’t go to sleep!

            Those dozing when He comes will surely weep!

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #354

1-10-15 Tittle

If Jesus said a thing would come to pass

By either the old prophets or himself,

It certainly would happen in its class

And not to be discarded on the shelf.

Then even the small dot above an ‘i’

Could not be cast away before its day,

Because the Lord has purpose to apply

A reason so we know it’s not cliché.

Then every prophecy of Christ came true,

A fact too large to just be swept away,

And even now they still do carry through

So those who know the scriptures know the way.

Be ready, friend, the rest is yet to come,

For Christ will soon return where he left from.

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For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,

one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,

till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18 KJV

1-5-15 At the Door

We’ve all been told ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged,’

Yet here we are in church with jaundiced eye.

She’s too agreeable, He won’t be budged,

They’re whispering again, I wonder why?

O hypocrite! You think I write to them.

It’s always someone else who has the fault.

The judge is at the door yet you condemn.

It’s not enough to try; you have to halt.

Remember, were it not for God’s good grace

The flames of Hell would lick against your feet.

Be humble in your heart, not just your face;

Consider yourself less than all you meet.

If you complain against your brother now,

When you face Jesus, He will disavow.

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Grudge not one against another, brethren,

lest ye be condemned:

behold, the judge standeth before the door.

James 5:9 KJV

10-11-14 Love One Another

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I think I understand what Jesus meant

When He said all the world would know we’re His,

If this love that we share does represent

The love He has for us and who He is.

You are my sister more than blood could share;

You are my brother more than DNA;

This bond we have mere physics can’t compare;

We share the same sweet spirit all the way.

And O this love has power multiplied!

By faith we know there’s nothing we can’t do.

We glorify His name when it’s applied;

By prayer and through God’s will all things are new.

The joy that fills my heart when you’re around

Reflects His love for us, great and profound.

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By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love one to another.

John 13:35 KJV