7-5-15 Ministers of the Spirit

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;

not of the letter, but of the spirit:

for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2 Corinthians 3:6 KJV

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The Holy Spirit breathes a life anew

When we with Jesus Christ are crucified.

A new creation rises into view,

Not bound by laws designed with sin implied.

The Lamb of God was slain to satisfy

The letter of the covenant of old.

Now death, the price of sin, will pass us by;

We’re covered by the blood and thus paroled.

The Spirit sparks a testament of love,

That turns us into ministers of grace.

Our stories, once of sin, now rise above

To share salvation with the human race.

The letter kills, but Spirit brings alive

A faith surpassing all the laws contrive.

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sonnet #406

6-25-15 Every Thing

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

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Give thanks unto the Lord for everything!

Without His grace then nothing would exist.

The fact that you’re alive is cause to sing!

Each time that you inhale, that air God’s kissed.

No matter what the scene, have gratitude.

Your bus breaks down in route? Meet someone new.

If you hate what you eat, thank God you’ve food.

If you drive off a cliff, enjoy the view.

With Jesus as your Savior you are blessed,

For home is where the Lord wants you to be.

Your very life is gratitude expressed,

So share the Word with everyone you see.

In every thing give thanks, this is God’s will

In Jesus Christ concerning you, fulfill.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #398

6-15-15 Heart to Heart

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:29 KJV

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To be like Christ take on His yoke and start,

Align yourself to Him in work and word,

Then as you learn the Savior’s perfect heart,

You’ll find that Jesus kept his wants deferred.

So meek and lowly, Christ was set apart,

Obeying what our Father bade Him do,

For He and God were one in mind and heart

With such agape love and selfless view.

To be like Jesus you must e’er impart

To understand that He is in control.

He bought you with His blood, now heart to heart,

And you shall yet find rest unto your soul.

To learn of Jesus you must soon take part,

To give and share with others heart to heart.

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sonnet #390

Life Eternal (for a friend)

I walk up to the casket of a friend

Whose life and loves I barely even knew

And as I view his body at its end

I wonder if he knew the Savior, too.

A stranger comes and stands beside me there;

His smile is warm, his eyes are full of light.

He says “Here lies a man that really cared,

Who always strove to treat his neighbor right.

He came across as strict but ever fair.

No, as a man he was not sinless pure,

But he was intimate with God in prayer;

He loved the Savior deeply to be sure.

He has a life eternal with the Lord:

His faith in Christ was where his wealth was stored.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

And this is life eternal,

that they might know Thee the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:3 KJV

3-25-15 God, You are Holy

O Lord, my God, You’re holy, good and just;

There is not any wickedness in You.

You have no room for those who say they must,

No matter the excuse or point of view.

Sometime You do permit a sin to flower,

Although there is no pleasure on Your part,

To magnify Your Mercy, Grace and Power

To bring us to salvation in Your heart.

You loved us though we once were sinners lost;

That’s why You sent Your Son, a sinless man,

Becoming sin itself, His life the cost

To bring about Your perfect, steadfast plan.

There is no evil that can dwell with You.

With gratitude I worship You anew!

~~~~~~~~~~~

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:

neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Psalm 5:4 KJV

Worldly Desires

The glitz that blinds our eyes is gone tonight,

Like flotsam bobbing on a tempest sea,

And precious wealth today will soon be trite;

The thirsty ride the waves in constant spree.

This world is always drifting, always new,

Yet most of us desire what we can’t reach,

And only when we shift our point of view

Do we perceive a lighthouse on the beach.

God’s will is done by those who see the light

Then tell their fellow man the way back home.

Without the beacon in their line of sight

They crash upon the rocks beneath the foam.

The will of God will surely set you free,

Let Jesus be your Guide upon the sea.

And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God

abideth for ever.

                1 John 2:17 KJV