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)

2-22-16 Currency

²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:20-23 KJV

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If you’re a good soul, keeping every law,

You love your fellow man and God as well,

If you don’t follow Christ, this fateful flaw

Will drag you to the hoary gates of hell.

Don’t think if you’ve got money all is lost,

It’s where you place your trust and confidence.

Take up your cross like Him at any cost; *

Put all your hope in Christ at life’s expense.

The question’s this: what’s your priority?

What currency do you spend all your time?

It’s more than being willing that’s the key;

It’s what control your life’s the paradigm.

What drives your soul is what’s been sacrificed.

There’s power in the blood of Jesus Christ.

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REMEMBER: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

* Matthew 16:24

2-12-16 Only One

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Psalm 118:8 KJV

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Whenever you put confidence in man,

Don’t get your hopes much higher than the ground,

For he will disappoint more often than

A lighter without fluid that’s been found.

A broken cane can’t give you much support,

A shadow offers little in relief.

There’s only One will never sell you short,

There’s only One will never cause you grief.

When you lay all your trust up in the Lord,

There’s nothing left for faith in mortal man.

Serenity and peace is your reward

When you place hope in God’s own perfect plan.

Begin right now: surrender to the Lord.

Entrust Him with your life: you’ll be restored.

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REMEMBER: The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

2-8-16 Strengthen and Protect

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NAS

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The Lord is faithful when no others are,

And what He says He’ll do you know He will.

The covenants He forms outlasts the stars;

The promises He makes He shall fulfill.

No matter where you go there Jesus is:

Ten thousand suns within the darkest night.

No need to fear at all, for you are His;

He’ll strengthen you from all of Satan’s might.

The Savior is your armor and your shield,

Protecting you completely with His love.

The evil one can’t help but bow and yield,

For your security’s from up above.

The devil has no power over you,

For Christ is both your rock and shelter, too.

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REMEMBER: You can trust the Trustworthy One.

7-20-15 Born Again

Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3 KJV

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A birth into this world means tears and pain;

Your mother can’t forget nor you recall.

But when you come to Christ you’re born again,

A new creation free from Adam’s fall.

Now quickened by God’s Spirit through and through,

The blood of Christ has washed your sins away.

No longer bound by flesh you live anew,

A citizen of Heaven now to stay.

Admit that you’re a sinner, dead and lost,

That Jesus paid the price for all your sins.

Put all your trust in Him whate’er the cost

And you will be reborn – your life begins!

Drink deep the Word as milk, then eat as meat,

And watch the Grace of God make you complete.

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sonnet #411

4-4-15 Song of Expectation

Come join me in this song that has no end,

And we will praise the Lord forever more!

He’s our salvation, whom we can depend;

Our Savior Jesus, He’s worth living for!

Now, see this bloody pool on Calvary?

He died here on the cross just yesterday.

He sacrificed His life for you and me

Our sins He took upon Himself to pay!

Observe that giant stone before the tomb?

That’s where our Savior’s body then was laid.

Tomorrow that will be an empty room

For He will conquer death’s thin masquerade!

We sing, for Jesus Christ will soon be here!

Our resurrected Lord whom we revere!

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Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and not be afraid:

for the LORD is my strength and my song;

he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV

3-21-15 Thou Shalt Not Steal

Do not take anything that is not yours

Against another’s will by fraud or force.

If there was no more theft in all the stores

The price of everything would fall, of course.

Just know that when you tell someone a lie

You’re robbing them quite plainly of the truth,

And when you break a vow then trust will die;

You cannot get it back just like lost youth.

The things you do in secret will be shown,

So don’t think that you’re clever, smooth and deft.

Some day you will face Jesus on the throne,

And there will be exposed your every theft.

If you would be forgiven then repent;

Restore all that you took with ill intent.

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Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus 20:15 KJV

2-16-15 Better Than They

The bird is God’s creative form of flight,

Designed to sail the wind and walk the Earth.

It must still give the Lord such great delight;

The Cardinal’s red, the Kookaburra’s mirth.

No matter what their species, they find food

By piercing wood or digging in the ground,

And they don’t seem to worry for their brood,

For God supplies their sustenance year round.

Are we not so much better than the bird?

For we don’t think God will provide or try.

Trust Him for all the needs that you’ve incurred.

You are, my friend, the apple of His eye.

God notices the tiny sparrow fall.

Be still and know He’s giving you His all.

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Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:26 KJV

2-6-15 Call for Strength

When voices round you say it can’t be done,

And Satan whispers ‘Give it up, you fool!’

When both your legs are screaming that you run,

Then call for strength from God and keep your cool.

Sometimes it feels that you should just give up,

Just let go of your hope and walk away,

And even Jesus asked to pass the bitter cup,

But call for strength from God and don’t dismay.

Now God was there when Noah built the ark,

And He told Moses how to part the Sea;

The Lord was there when Paul dared make his mark.

Just call for strength, He’ll be there, just you see.

Just trust in God and harken His commands;

You can’t go wrong when God strengthens your hands.

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Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:9 KJV

12-20-14 Cleave to That Which is Good

Adhere to all that’s good and wise and true

And you will walk alone more times than not.

Do not let others tell you what to do

If it runs counter to the things Christ taught.

In all the waking moments of your day

Be grateful with a heart that’s full of love.

Conduct yourself upright in work or play

And be sincere to man and God above.

Avoid all things that compromise the Word

For they will lead you off the narrow way.

When evil tempts you still be undeterred;

With Jesus on your side you won’t dismay.

Stay full of love, let Jesus be your guide.

Trust Him alone, He’s always by your side.

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Let love be without dissimulation (Deceit).

Abhor that which is evil;

cleave to that which is good.

Romans 12:9 KJV