Love in Deed and Truth

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 KJV

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LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH

There’s nothing wrong in giving love with words,

But that should not be all you ever do,

Like in your hunger getting some cheese curds

When what you really needed was hot stew.

If words were silver, actions would be gold,

And loving deeds like diamonds cut and new.

To truly love is often to be bold:

A selfless act will show your love is true.

When you love Jesus you become like Him,

And He came not to be served but to serve.

So go throughout your day a living hymn

And give to all you meet with loving verve.

An “I love you” is music to the ears;

To show it is a symphony for years.

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REMEMBER: What Jesus did on the cross for you proves that actions speak louder than words.

10-26-15 Wait – Don’t Hate

⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:8-9 KJV

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When someone does you wrong it’s natural

To let your anger get the best of you,

But wrath will be your wisdom’s funeral

And then the worst of you will soon break through.

Yet you’re no slave to sin: the old man died; ¹

He’s crucified with Christ when you are saved.

If you’ve been wronged let Spirit be your guide;

Just wait upon the Lord; let hate be waived.

When evil’s done to you first turn to prayer;

The patient love of Jesus will descend.

When you are meek the new earth’s yours to bear. ²

God cuts off evildoers in the end.

Serenity belongs to those who wait;

In Christ there is no room for those who hate.

1Romans 6:6

2Matthew 5:5

10-15-15 On Mindedness

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 KJV

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The carnal mind is focused on the flesh

And all the things of flesh are doomed to die.

It may look good today while it is fresh

But it will sure be rotten by and by.

There’s nothing wrong with passion in its place:

Creative drive is needed to produce,

But passion gone awry is bankrupt grace,

Like tying knots until you’ve got a noose.

If you want peace and everlasting life

The mind of Christ is really what you need.

The Word leads where the love of God is rife;

Such passion of the spirit should you heed.

The carnal mind will take you soon to death.

The mind of Spirit brings eternal breath.

9-3-15 Here We Go

⁹ That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

¹⁰ Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

¹¹ Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isaiah 30:9-11

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The day has come when evil’s in full bloom,

Completely unafraid of consequence,

Destroying children in their mother’s womb

And lacking any hint of moral sense.

The leaders of the earth are fraudulent;

The laws they pass promote such wickedness.

The young walk through the streets so discontent,

With heads replete with rage and wild distress.

The truth is now despised, it’s lies they want,

And any talk of God is shouted down.

The reprobate advance the cause they flaunt

While running God’s own children in the ground.

The day has come upon us, rife with sin,

But Christ is our Commander – we will win.

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9-1-15 On Speaking in Tongues

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4 KJV

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There’s nothing wrong with speaking unknown tongues,

Unless you’re teaching Sunday School in church.

God gave you vocal chords and also lungs

To worship Him, not leave us in the lurch.

The Spirit speaks the truth into the heart,

And sometimes whispers secrets unrevealed.

Such mysteries remain so from the start

Unless a translator is there to yield. ¹

If you’re to lead your brethren into war

It’s so important they know what you mean.

An unknown call in battle they’ll ignore, ²

So speak commands that’s understood and keen. ³

An unknown tongue’s for you and you alone.

If you’re to prophesy, let it be known.

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1 1 Corinthians 14:13

2 1 Corinthians 14:8

3 1 Corinthians 14:15

8-30-15 Have Faith in Him

And he said unto her,

Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;

go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Mark 5:34 KJV

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It isn’t faith alone that saves the sick,

For if it were we’d all be sound in health.

The gospel of success is just a trick

To take up all your time and all your wealth.

There are no magic words to make you whole;

The name it and then claim it crowd are wrong.

It’s Jesus Christ Himself that cures the soul;

The Son of God alone can make you strong.

There is no guarantee that you’ll be cured;

The grace of God sometimes is all you need. ¹

Put all your faith in Christ and rest assured

You’ll be at peace and whole with Him indeed.

Reach out in fervent faith that Christ is real.

Believe that He alone can save and heal.

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1 – 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

5-24-15 Forgive – and Forget

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Colossians 3:13 KJV

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When Jesus taught to pray He said this, too:

“O God, forgive me as I do forgive.”

As simple as it is it’s hard to do;

When someone does us wrong, we must relive.

You can forgive but you just can’t forget;

If that’s the way you want it, let it be.

You want your brother to forget your debt,

But if he owes you more, he’s never free.

As Christ atoned for you on Calvary,

He will not bring it back whene’er you sin.

Forgive and so forget and you’ll be free;

Do not expect the same and you will win.

            If you can so forget the food you ate,

            Don’t let wrongs eat you up, give Christ the plate.

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sonnet #369

5-1-15 Forgive

Forgive the ones who do you wrong today;

Forgive the ones who know not what they do.

Forgive each time you raise your eyes to pray;

Forgive them though they know they’re hurting you.

Forgive the ones who fill their hearts with hate;

Forgive the ones who want you hateful, too.

Forgive offenses both the small and great;

Forgive them though their words are all untrue.

Forgive the ones who won’t forgive you back;

Forgive the ones who go to court and sue.

Forgive although your honor they attack;

Forgive them though they break your back in two.

And when you so forgive your Father will

Forgive your trespasses and love you still.

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And when ye stand praying, forgive,

if ye have ought against any:

that your Father also which is in heaven

may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 KJV

 

sonnet #347

4-27-15 Greater Than Our Heart

Our conscience will remind us of our past,

To call us guilty o’er and o’er again.

It’s first to blame, but to forgive it’s last,

And quick to say repentance is in vain.

But if our heart condemns us, don’t despair:

God’s greater than our hearts and knows all things.

The final judgment happens over there,

And trumps the heart of paupers and of kings.

The conscience points to worthlessness and death,

The Holy Ghost will show us God forgives.

The sorrow of the world will steal our breath;

Conviction leads to Christ – with Him we live!

Thus Satan will accuse and say we’re wrong,

Yet Jesus says we’re His, where we belong.

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For if our heart condemn us,

God is greater than our heart,

and knoweth all things.

1 John 3:20 KJV

Sonnet #343

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