9-29-15 Lighten Up!

³⁴ The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

³⁵ Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

³⁶ If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Luke 11:34-36 KJV

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Your body would be lost without your eyes;

They take in light to get you to and fro.

Take in the light of Christ and darkness dies;

You’ll see the Savior everywhere you go.

Make Jesus your Redeemer and His blood

Like light eradicates your shadowed sins.

His love is an illuminated flood

To guide you on this new life that begins.

Be sure your eyes are single on the Lord

For if you look away you’ll surely stray.

If lost don’t fear, you’re both of one accord;

Just call on Jesus, He’ll turn night to day.

God gave you eyes so you can see His Son;

You’ll see His love is brighter than the sun.

9-9-15 Flee Youthful Lusts

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

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The lusts of youth don’t always mean the flesh,

But every one is meant to bring them down.

Their vanity and ego cannot mesh

With those who come to wear a humble crown.

There is a need to hear their peer’s applause,

But that lasts just a moment of their life.

Seek favor from the Lord in faith because

Unlike their friends God’s love remains through strife.

Contentions and contempt will mark their way

Unless they live in peace like Christ did show.

Abide with those whose righteousness won’t stray,

Whose charity defeats the biggest foe.

When youth resists the constant lustful lure,

They join the ranks of those whose hearts are pure.

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8-18-15 On Scripture

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

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The scriptures are a God inspired work,

It’s meant to bring salvation to the soul.

Within each page the Holy Spirit lurks

To break the heart and with God’s grace make whole.

The Bible is alive and breathes the Word,

The perfect source for teaching doctrine truth.

The way to righteousness is thus conferred,

And well designed to train us from our youth.

To those who go astray it brings reproof,

To prick the soul and cut sin to the quick.

Good works reflect on those who find the proof

That Jesus is the Savior of the sick.

This is the map to those who seek the Way,

A compass sent from God for all who stray.

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sonnet #440

Cease From Anger

An angry man is one who’s lost his way,

Adrift within a storm of wrath and hate.

The steady wind of spirit does not sway

To gently guide him through the narrow gate.

We all know someone quick to stew and scowl,

A powder keg just waiting for a spark.

Please love them though their grace has gone afoul,

But don’t let them pull you into their dark.

If you’re an angry person there is hope;

Submit yourself to Jesus all the time.

He’ll lead you to the ways that help you cope;

He is the rope thrown down to help you climb.

The evil men commit is anger made

And leads to certain death where Hell is laid.

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Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Psalm 37:8 KJV

3-18-15 Temptation

Temptation is a tawdry, painted whore

Seducing you into her bed of death;

How well she knows afflictions always pour

And promises respite within her breath.

We all must suffer hardships in our life;

They are a gift from God to help us grow,

But if we are enticed to dodge our strife

We soon can not endure its ebb and flow.

Our trials are meant to draw us to the Lord,

Temptation, though, does claim a better way.

In Jesus do we find our true reward:

He suffered unto death and did not stray.

Say “Get behind me, Satan! Out the door!

With Christ I can endure it all and more.”

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Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,

which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:12 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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9-7-14 The Lord Is My Shepherd

The pasture is alive with fellow sheep;

We pass the day by grazing in the sun.

My Shepherd watches as I browse and sleep.

He keeps me safe; His work is never done.

He knows just what I need; I shall not want.

And if I start to stray He brings me back.

Sometimes distracted I go on a jaunt.

My Shepherd always gets me back on track.

He loves me, I can tell the way He cares;

When wolves or brambles near He draws me in.

Then when the day is done I won’t despair;

He leads us home where sheltered nights begin.

            There is no other place I’d rather be

            Than close beside my Lord who shepherds me.

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The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1 KJV

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