1-13-16 On Tilling

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Proverbs 28:19 KJV

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If you would have success then go to school,

And plant the seeds of knowledge in your mind.

A fallow intellect becomes a fool,

Where weed and brier thinking is entwined.

If you would be in love then make a friend,

And cultivate affection and regard.

To blindly plow will meet with no good end;

Whatever grows most likely will be marred.

If you would know the Lord then practice prayer,

And water both your heart and soul with tears.

A parched relationship leads to despair;

You’ll just eat bitter fruit throughout the years.

The land that’s rightly tilled will yield good bread.

Don’t place the ass behind the plow instead.

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REMEMBER: Whatsoever a man sows, he shall also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

12-4-15 Fount of Your Ways

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Job 34:11 KJV

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FOUNT OF YOUR WAYS

If you are turning daily toward the One,

Your mind and words and hands reflect His love.

There is no question what His grace has done;

There is no doubt at all what you’re part of.

Good deeds themselves does not a good man make;

God knows the kind of water that you drink.

You may in all your works sure take the cake

But if you guzzle sin you still will sink.

Through grace you’re born in Christ, by faith you live;

Your acts, though meager, show a water pure,

And from this living fountainhead you give, ^{(John 7:38)}

And it will multiply and long endure.

God will not judge a man by works alone. ^{(Ephesians 2:9)}

The source of nourishment will soon be known.

11-16-15 The Word of God Goes Forth

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV

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As rain brings life to all that drink it in,

So does the Word of God to list’ning ear,

Descending from the heavens to begin

His reign of grace and love to all that hear.

The presence of the Lord did walk the earth,

And everywhere He went good fruit would grow.

The gospel of His being promised birth,

Eternal life abundantly to flow.

When God said “BE” the universe emerged,

And how much more His Word within your heart!

Now open up your mouth as Spirit urged

And let His Word go forth with love impart.

God loved the world so much He gave His Son;

His blood like rain brings life to everyone.

10-30-15 Alpha and Omega

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:6 KJV

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When all the jots and tittles finally pass, ¹

And Jesus testifies that it is done,

New heaven and new earth are seen at last; ²

‘Tis then the wedding feast shall have begun.

The Lord of Lords and King of Kings will stand:

“I AM the Alpha and Omega, too,

Beginning and the end, sublime and grand;

The promises I’ve made have all come true.

To all who thirst for life I freely give,

Refreshing and delightful with no end.

When You are one with Me you truly live;

The things I’ve said you will now comprehend.”

And O! The cup of love that’s passed around

Will overflow forever and abound!

1 Matthew 5:18

2 Revelation 21:1

8-31-15 Delivered or Damned?

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:16 KJV

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Do you believe in Jesus as your Lord,

Not just by word of mouth but in your soul,

To die upon the cross and rise restored? ¹

Say, have you let the Savior take control?

Is there a blaze within of love and light,

And have you in the Spirit been enslaved? ²

Were you with water baptized once forthright?

If you are like this now, then you are saved.

But if you are not saved you’re lost and damned,

For Jesus is the only way to God.

Believe another way and you’ve been scammed.

The gate to Hell is wide, the way is broad. ³

The time is short; if you’re not saved, repent!

Christ died for you, my friend; He’s Heaven sent.

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1  Galatians 2:20 KJV

2  1 Corinthians 7:22 KJV

3  Matthew 7:13 KJV

7-7-15 Thirst

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee

in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is

Psalm 63:1 KJV

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If you would seek the presence of the Lord,

You must be thirsty like a desert man,

Bereft and wandering, an empty gourd,

A single minded need without a plan.

When you awake, have God be your first thought,

So hungry He consumes you heart and soul

Until your neck is thin, your stomach taut,

Your tongue so thick with thirst and black as coal.

You cannot find the Lord while on your duff;

You must engage the world, but be aware:

When He is all you need, then sure enough,

You’ll find Him all around; He’s everywhere.

The intellect itself cannot find God;

You search with your whole life without facade.

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sonnet #408

5-19-15 Well Pleased

⁹ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9-11 KJV

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When Christ emerged from Jordan full of love

The Heavens opened wide and He did see

Descending from the sky just like a dove

The Spirit came upon Him graciously.

Then God did say “You’re My Beloved Son,

In whom I AM,” He stated “so well pleased,”

And there the essence of the Holy One

Well marked His favor on the One appeased.

Beloved sister, now that Spirit’s Here!

O, my Beloved brother, He’s in you!

When you accepted Christ your Savior dear

You were baptized by Spirit through and through.

One day when you see Jesus face to face,

He’ll say God’s pleased with you with love and grace.

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sonnet #364

(artwork by David Zelenka)

1-15-15 Be of Good Cheer

Whatever trouble has you far from shore,

Whenever you’re adrift in need of aid,

Wherever life has left you with no oar,

The Savior’s standing there; “be not afraid”.

There is no place that Jesus cannot go,

There is no problem that is too severe,

There is no question asked that He won’t know,

Don’t worry half as much; “be of good cheer”.

Just when you think that you are all alone,

Just when you sink your head and start to cry,

Just when your heart’s as heavy as a stone,

You’ll hear the voice of Jesus: “It is I”.

And as you dream of meeting Him one day,

He’s with you even now, not far away.

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And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,

walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,

they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit;

and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,

Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:25-27 KJV

11-15-14 Reflections

You see your own reflection when you look

Into a mirror or a windless lake,

So who you are reads often like a book

When others see the face your heart does make.

You cannot fake the Spirit’s countenance;

It shines from every atom of your form,

And if you lack the Light a soul can sense

No matter what you do you just perform.

The heart reflects the person that you are:

A child of God is known when first you meet;

We fool ourselves believing we’re a star

But wiser men can see our own conceit.

Surrender who you are to Christ right now

And let His light reflect upon your brow.

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As in water face answereth to face,

so the heart of man to man.

Proverbs 27:19 KJV

9-8-14 Green Pastures and Still Waters

My shepherd leads me to the perfect place

Where rocky mountainside gives way to lea,

And there amid the clover of His grace

He knows that I will never go astray.

The water of His love is pure and still;

No babbling brook to make me start or stress.

Ev’ry time I drink I get my fill;

This living water’s never to excess.

My faith is led into His righteousness,

Invigorating both my heart and soul.

Away from worldly cares I convalesce

And rest until His love has made me whole.

            The Lord will make me lie in pasture green

            And lead me to still water so serene.

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He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2 KJV

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