1-29-16 Sufficient

⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 KJV

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Infirmities and troubles will abound,

Of this the mortal man can be assured,

And though we beg the Lord we not be bound,

Sometimes these weaknesses must be endured.

The grace of God is all you ever need,

For here sufficient lies love’s very root:

Christ sacrificed His perfect life and freed

You from both death and hell without dispute.

His strength’s made perfect in your weakness now,

For how could you survive without His grace?

Through these infirmities the Lord shows how

He manifests the wealth of His embrace.

So glory in your frailty and your faults.

The pow’r of Christ’s made known through life’s assaults.

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Remember: God’s awesome grace is enough so that you may depend on Him completely.

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.

9-28-15 Foolish and Weak

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV

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The wisdom of the ages gapes and drools

Compared to just a single word from God,

And all the things they teach in all the schools

Is nothing more than drivel dim and flawed.

If you should seek to know the mind of Christ,

Don’t listen to the babble of a sage.

The men who wrote the scriptures were sufficed

To listen to the Lord in every age.

Both men and empires boast about their might;

They strut across the stage of time to die,

And even when their strength is at its height

A bug can bring them down just passing by.

The man of God is neither fool nor weak

When he stands fast and turns the other cheek.

7-24-15 One Too Many

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, 

that they may follow strong drink;

that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isaiah 5:11 KJV

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Beware that cup of wine, that mug of beer;

It may well be the drink of no return.

Imbibing alcohol can bring you cheer,

But too much booze is cause for great concern.

You think you can control it, and you may,

Yet there will come a time it turns on you.

Addiction causes spiritual decay;

Your passion’s not of God, but of the brew.

It’s good to know your weaknesses today,

For that is where the devil burrows through.

Avoid them like the plague; just run away.

Temptation can’t compete if your faith’s true.

If it’s too late and you just cannot quit,

Turn quick to Christ and counselors submit.

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sonnet # 415

6-23-14 Strength in Weakness (a Sonnet)

Not all your aches and pains the Lord will heal,

For some are necessary for the soul;

Through pain and persecution does reveal

Humility in Christ will make you whole.

The agonies you carry day to day

Are badges of your victory in Christ,

For in His name all weaknesses display

A strength in spirit shown His love sufficed.

The thorns left in your side serve to remind

That Grace is all you ever truly need.

The Saviour’s power is perfect and defined

When in your suffering His gift succeeds.

Can you delight in weakness for Christ’s sake?

His Presence is made known in you awake.

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Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,

in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

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6-20-14 He Knows (a Sonnet)

The weaknesses you fight with ev’ry day,

That try to undermine your faith and hope,

It seems at times they never will allay,

And no one understands how hard you cope.

You’re told that Jesus understands your woes

But doubt that He can know these modern flaws.

The core of your temptations juxtapose

With ageless frailties from man’s first cause.

When God walked on the Earth in flesh and blood

The Devil tried his best to make Christ fall;

Temptations rained upon Him like a flood,

But Jesus cleaved to God right through it all.

Your Saviour surely knows your battles well;

Just cling to Him, He’s conquered sin and hell.

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For we do not have a high priest who is unable

to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

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