12-25-15 Peace and Good Will

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:8-14 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

As lowly shepherds watched their flocks by night

The angel of the Lord shown suddenly,

And glory shined about the shepherds bright,

And they were so afraid from all that they did see.

“Fear not,” the angel said to calm their fright,

“Good tidings do I bring, great joy to all!

The Savior Christ the Lord was born tonight!

He’s swaddled in a manger plain and small.”

Then there appeared a multitude forthright,

A host from heaven praising God to say

“To God’s the glory, all to Him outright,

And peace on earth, good will toward men to stay!”

Those shepherds were the first to hear the news.

Such humble men in spirit Christ pursues.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: God took on a human body to bring peace and good will to the world through His inevitable sacrifice.

12-15-15 For You

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6-7 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born

Into this world of sickness, pain and death,

A helpless infant on that chilly morn

Who in His father’s arms took His first breath.

The God of all the universe cried out,

His body cold and naked, small and weak

Until His mother wrapped Him all about

And held Him close and kissed His tiny cheek.

The Savior soon was placed with love and care

Within a manger cleaned and filled with hay.

Had those within the inn been made aware

They might have traded places right away.

The Lamb of God was born with you in mind;

He came so you would not be left behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~

REMEMBER: Every breath Jesus took on this earth He gave to you.

8-12-15 Grace Through Faith

For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

You don’t deserve a single dot of grace,

For Hell is what you’ve earned for all your sin.

The best five minutes of your life’s disgrace;

The best of all the world would not begin.

Fall on your face and know you’re hopeless mud;

Repent and beg forgiveness for it all,

Believe that Jesus shed His precious blood

To pay for all your sins both great and small.

With all your heart accept Him as your Lord,

Then feel the Holy Spirit enter you!

God’s grace, and faith, His gifts you can’t afford,

And with Christ’s blood you’re covered through and through.

You’re saved by grace through faith and nothing more,

With Jesus as your Savior guarantor.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #434

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

~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #370

5-2-15 The Earth is the Lord’s

Although you think the world a wicked place,

So full of hate and pain and anguish, too,

Don’t blame the earth, it’s under God’s good grace,

But blame the lord of darkness and his crew.

The earth and everything that dwells therein

Belongs to Jesus Christ, He made it all,

But Adam disobeyed, and that is sin,

Forgetting it’s all His both great and small.

So Satan runs around without a care,

And tries to make us think it’s not his fault,

Yet as a child of God you must prepare,

To help Christ win the day with full assault.

To save the world, it helps to first save man.

The gospel brings us back to God’s great plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1 KJV

 

sonnet #348

5-1-15 Forgive

Forgive the ones who do you wrong today;

Forgive the ones who know not what they do.

Forgive each time you raise your eyes to pray;

Forgive them though they know they’re hurting you.

Forgive the ones who fill their hearts with hate;

Forgive the ones who want you hateful, too.

Forgive offenses both the small and great;

Forgive them though their words are all untrue.

Forgive the ones who won’t forgive you back;

Forgive the ones who go to court and sue.

Forgive although your honor they attack;

Forgive them though they break your back in two.

And when you so forgive your Father will

Forgive your trespasses and love you still.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And when ye stand praying, forgive,

if ye have ought against any:

that your Father also which is in heaven

may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 KJV

 

sonnet #347

4-20-15 God is Light

Here is, my brother, wisdom bold and true:

That God the Father of us all is light.

There is no darkness in Him, through and through;

He is both true and holy in His might.

The gloom of sin can’t hide from Him at all;

He sees within our hearts, there’s no disguise.

His light is life to all things great and small;

Illuminating both the earth and skies.

God turned the lowly shepherd boy to king;

He walked the earth as Jesus, two as one.

He makes the dead to live and angels sing;

He calls the second coming of His Son.

Our God’s the light of Grace and Mercy, too;

He is the light of love, and He loves you.

~~~~~~~~~~~

This then is the message which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5 KJV

4-8-15 How Great You Are!

As far as we can see are galaxies,

Yet when our eyes look to things very small

The atoms mirrors galaxies with ease,

And wonder fills our spirits and enthral.

O Lord, how great Your works in everything!

The flea, the sun, the rose, the forest deep.

Amazing more the insights that You bring;

How great Your thoughts, the wisdom that You keep!

You’ve known us since before we came to be;

Can look into the hearts of all at once.

The secrets of the universe You see!

The smartest of us all is just a dunce.

I dare consider all Thy hands have made,

That You can just say “BE” and it’s displayed!

~~~~~~~~~~~

O LORD, how great are thy works! 

and thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 92:5 KJV

2-20-15 Take It Up With Him

To follow Jesus, be prepared to die,

And more than that, to suffer pain and hate,

To see both wealth and health then pass you by,

To live with disrespect from small and great.

You can’t come after Christ and think of you;

Both prayer and service must fill up your day,

And don’t just say you will, but see it through.

You can’t walk halfway there; go all the way.

If you think taking up your cross is less,

Then you must think that Jesus compromised.

When God says ‘Follow Me,’ don’t second guess;

Take up your cross and don’t look so surprised.

Remember in whose steps you’re following;

To have your fill of love, start swallowing.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 KJV

2-3-15 He Hears You

Incline to Heaven both your head and heart;

It matters not the place or circumstance.

The only thing that counts is that you start;

A dialogue with God’s not happenstance.

The Lord is listening to every prayer

Regardless if you form a single word;

The groanings of your soul He is aware,

The achings of your heart have all been heard.

You think that God is mum – don’t be deceived!

He’s talking to you now; don’t use your ears.

He answers every prayer that you’ve conceived.

Just practice listening; your spirit hears.

The Lord receives your prayers both large and small

He loves to hear you talk to Him at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The LORD hath heard my supplication;

the LORD will receive my prayer.

Psalm 6:9 KJV