1-28-16 The Need for Thorns

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV

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Thank God for all the troubles you must bear:

Infirmities that keep you from your pride,

The weaknesses that drive you to despair,

That thorn within your flesh that won’t subside.

There’s not much worse within than arrogance,

For it takes your attention off of Christ.

It makes you boast of your great competence,

Some dollar souvenir way overpriced.

And but for your affliction you’d be lost,

Your halo bound so tight to make you dumb.

Be grateful to be saved at any cost,

For weakness makes you strongly overcome.

If Satan buffets you with trials enticed,

God may be telling you His grace sufficed.

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REMEMBER: Thorns humbles the rose.

1-27-15 Nothing

The moment you were born you did not bring

A whit beyond the barest flesh and bone;

You do not really own a single thing

Belonging to this world of wood and stone,

And all the stuff that you accumulate,

No matter what it’s worth to mortal man,

Will still be here when you leave this estate;

In fact you’ll have the same as you began.

Be grateful for the things that you possess

For it can all be gone within a flash;

The only matter you should dare obsess

Is being more like Christ, His way suffice.

From nothing bodies come, to nothing go

Yet all you do between your soul will show.

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For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1 Timothy 6:7 KJV