6-17-16 Shut Your Mouth

For he that will love life, and see good days,

let him refrain his tongue from evil,

and his lips that they speak no guile

1 Peter 3:10 KJV

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A lying tongue will come to no good thing,

For it will come around to face the liar.

If you would be like Christ your tongue should bring

The words the Holy Ghost set it afire.

Refrain from evil talk, it flogs the soul,

Removing you as witness of the Word.

The things you say affects you as a whole,

And who desires sickness? Now that’s absurd!

Beguiling words are fashioned to deceive;

If you can’t speak with love then shut your mouth.

Christ told you ‘Yea’ or ‘Nay’ but not to thieve;

If you must speak share Jesus North and South.

If you desire a life that’s full of love,

Tell others what the gospel is made of.

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sonnet #392

3-11-15 Acceptable

So often times you feel it’s not enough,

Your prayers seem weak, your walk is not His walk,

You read the Word until your eyes feel rough,

And when the chance to witness comes you balk.

In times like these just call upon the Lord,

Be honest and admit you’re weak and lame.

Ask Christ for help and you won’t be ignored;

He is your strength, your Savior – praise His name!

Reach deep within, there’s gratitude in store,

Think of the sacrifice He made for you;

Your heart will swell and you will love Him more,

Then when you speak and act it will be true.

O Lord, I pray my words and thoughts are Yours!

There’s nothing you can’t do when Spirit roars.

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Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,

my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 KJV

6-10-14 Tarry

When You return with shout of acclamation

to gather up Your own

before the inevitable storm

so many will remain

their eyes wild with searching

their hearts crying out

“I should have believed!”

Beloved, please leave me here.

Let me linger among the lost

as a bellwether of hope

a pale moon circling the land

in darkness

reflecting Your light.

Let me show them how You suffered

how You interceded

how You love.

Use me as a scrub brush

to scour burnt remnants

from the bottom of the pan.

Those who break free

will make it worth this tarrying.

They will already be gathered

in Your house

like late passengers to the station

even as the final echoes

of joyful praise

whisper in their hungry ears.

Strike me as a match

that this brief flame

the faint scent of sulphur

might bring a precious few

to the altar of complete surrender.

Keep me here, Lord

among the devastation

as long as You need.

Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

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“For at that time there will be great tribulation,

the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world

until now and never will again!”

Matthew 24:21 (HCS)

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