2-23-16 On Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV

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You go to bed assured that you will wake;

A pregnant woman knows her child will come;

You drool just thinking of that chocolate cake;

Guitarists play the song before they strum.

Now, faith is not believing it will be,

It’s knowing that it is before it is.

I do not have to touch, don’t have to see

To know that Jesus lives; my heart is His.

It was by faith Christ calmed the tempest sea,

By faith He made the blind man see anew.

Within the grace of God you’ll find the key:

You live by faith in everything you do.

In faith you have the truth to set you free.

The tiny seed contains the mighty tree.

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REMEMBER: Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. (D. Elton Trueblood)

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)

1-6-16 Believe in Jesus

⁵³ And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. ⁵⁴ And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, ⁵⁵ And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Mark 6:53-56 KJV

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While Jesus walked the earth He healed the sick,

And has been healing sickness since that time.

When people heard him ’round they gathered quick;

His name should do that now in our lifetime.

We don’t need scores of healers ‘cross the land

In vast revivals pitching tents in town.

We don’t need mega churches gold and grand,

Announcers telling cripples “Come on down!”

The only thing you need is to believe

That Christ can heal your broken heart and more.

A simple faith in Him will soon achieve

The healing that you need and cry out for.

The Savior hears you calling out His name;

Reach out to Him – you’ll never be the same.

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REMEMBER: Believe.

11-19-15 Cross This Bridge

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV

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When Adam ate the fruit forbidden him,

He then began ‘tween man and God a rift,

An endless ocean that no man could swim

Composed of slimy sin no limb could lift.

Yet God so loved the world He sent His Son

To build a bridge of grace to Heaven’s shore,

And only Jesus Christ could be the one

To take upon the sin for us He bore.

Christ spans the gulf, His body and His blood

The solitary bridge from man to God.

If we but step across in faith the flood

Will never touch us as we walk abroad.

Christ is the only one to mediate,

A bridge to intercede and advocate.

9-10-15 The Stain Remover

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

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Don’t be afraid, do not fall in despair;

You realize the hopeless state you’re in.

Death calls for you – it’s more than you can bear.

You can’t escape the stain of all your sin.

Just take the hand of Jesus, make Him yours.

He’ll wash your sins from scarlet red to white.

Although the stain has sunk into your pores

He’ll take the brand of Satan from your sight.

The Son of God loved you so very much

He took all of your sins upon the cross.

Accept Him as your Savior, feel His touch;

Believe He died for you and bore your loss.

Although your sins are crimson red and full,

The blood of Christ will make them white as wool.

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8-11-15 Repent!

And herein do I exercise myself,

to have always a conscience

void of offence toward God,

and toward men.

Acts 24:16 KJV

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The key to healthy living in the flesh

Includes avoiding sickness at all cost,

But if it does arise attack it fresh

Lest sickness turn to death then all is lost.

The Holy Spirit guides us on to God,

Convicting us if we should start to sin,

And when we sin, repent from what is flawed

Lest sin evolve and apathy begin.

Repent! Assault offence at every turn.

Admit it right away to God and man.

The fire of your repentance makes you burn;

You won’t touch it again, not if you can.

Stay honest with the Lord: repent and pray,

To keep your conscience clear from day to day.

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sonnet #433

7-31-15 I Am With You Always

…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:20 KJV

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This place most surely wears your spirit down,

A constant battle fighting for your soul.

It feels sometimes that you are going to drown,

Like being trapped within a sinking hole.

You feel like giving up most every day,

Just giving in to all things sensual.

Remember this and you won’t go astray:

The Lord is always with you stand or fall.

He’s with you every moment, even now,

No matter where you go or what you do.

Christ never will forsake you, that’s His vow;

O, feel Him touch your heart this second, too!

He’s always just a word of prayer away.

You never are alone, so don’t dismay.

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sonnet #422

7-27-15 Dumb

³² As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

³³ And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Matthew 9:32-33 KJV

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The Devil prowls the earth with rancid breath,

Befouling souls with lies and hate and pride;

His simple goal: to lure us all to death,

To bring us down with him and there abide.

 

When Satan wraps his talons round our throat,

He robs us of our hope and leaves us dumb.

But there is One of whom the prophets wrote,

Who casts all demons out and leaves them mum.

 

When we have faith in Jesus, we reach out

And put our hand in His, then with that touch,

Our lives are changed forever with a shout!

Our tongues are then set free to praise Him much.

 

If you can’t say you’re saved and glory bound,

You’ll find your voice in Christ a loving sound.

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sonnet #418

2-17-15 My Redeemer Lives (An Acrostic Sonnet)

My Savior lives! Yes, my Redeemer lives!

You can’t deny it when He touches you!

Reach out to Jesus; He your sin forgives!
Each day you walk with Him you’ll know it’s true!
Descended from our Father Christ became
Equipped to be a servant unto death.
Embrace the Savior now – He knows your name.
Make Jesus your Redeemer with your breath.
E‘en though the worms may feast upon your flesh,
Rejoice! You will be resurrected soon.

Live now for Christ; when He returns afresh
In glory, you’ll arise and then commune!
Victorious in Jesus, have no fear!
Escape the bonds of death, your Savior’s here!
Surrender all to Him right now, my dear.

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²⁵ For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latterday upon the earth:

²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God

Job 19:25-26 KJV

1-12-15 Dark Nights

A homesick ache will sometimes strike my soul,

A  tired longing from all earthly bonds;

Then there are moments when I doubt the goal,

A skepticism of the great beyond.

When faith grows weak, I turn to God in mind

In hopes that He will hear my weakened prayer,

And groan in spirit, feeling unrefined,

To save me from my anguish and despair.

Then quietly my pleas turn into praise,

A subtle shift from fear to gratitude;

With just a touch from Him my spirits raise,

My heart grows lighter, larger and renewed.

When melancholy brings me to my knees

I put my faith in Christ; He won’t displease

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Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him, 

who is the health of my countenance,

and my God.

Psalm 42:11 KJV