9-16-15 On Parables

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

Psalm 78:2 KJV

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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.

7-3-15 Secret Faults

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psalm 19:12 KJV

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The times that we meander from the Lord

Cannot be counted with our mortal mind.

No matter how we keep our virtue stored

The thieves of sin get in and steal us blind.

Some vain and shameful thoughts just can’t be stopped,

And oh, the words we wish we could take back!

Tis easier to have the ocean mopped

Than to recall the times we’ve gone off track.

Dear God, forgive us of our many sins,

The endless march of wrongs we perpetrate.

Your Grace, sufficient done, our prayer begins

With faith upon the cross to set it straight.

We can’t remember all the sins we’ve done.

Please cleanse us of our faults, Lord, through the Son.

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sonnet #404

6-1-15 All For One – Part Two

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:8-12 KJV

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The Spirit gifts one saint with wisdom deep,

And gives another knowledge straight and strong.

The Spirit grants another faith to keep;

He knows just where His attributes belong.

The Spirit gives one pow’rs to heal the sick,

Another miracles to show the way.

The truth through prophecy to one He picks;

These gifts the Holy Spirit does convey.

He gives to one discernment of the heart,

Reveals the gift of tongues another speaks.

He then lets one interpret tongues apart;

They all are of one Spirit, but unique.

So many diff’rent members, though as one,

We all are of one body of the Son.

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sonnet #376

4-12-15 True Friend

If you would dare to want to know your friends,

Lose everything you own; be destitute.

The clique you used to know will show their ends.

Good luck if you don’t have a parachute.

A poor man’s house is not well visited,

For there is nothing there to want or claim,

And if his house burns down then God forbid

The crowd that knew him rich would douse the flame.

It matters not the things you own or owe;

With Jesus as your Friend you need no more.

With Him it doesn’t matter what you show,

If you have dirt or marble on the floor.

The Savior looks straight to your inner heart.

He knows just who you are but will not part.

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Wealth maketh many friends;

but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Proverbs 19:4 KJV

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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9-9-14 Restoration

Conceived into a realm of sin and pain

There was no hope for me until His call.

I recognized my Shepherd’s telling strain,

Releasing my poor soul from evil’s caul.

Sometimes I leave the straight and narrow way,

Distracted by temptation’s bright allure,

And when I realize I’ve gone astray

My Shepherd then restores my soul for sure.

He turns me from the darkness into light;

His steady love revives me when I doubt.

Despite my roaming ways He sets me right

And through His grace my faith becomes devout.

            When He renews my spirit I become

            A bright example of His Kingdom come.

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He restoreth my soul

Psalm 23:3 KJV

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