And the LORD came, and stood,

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 KJV

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If Jesus called your name what would you do?

How could you know the voice was from the Lord?

There is a way to tell if this is true:

Consider where your treasure has been stored.

To follow Him you’ll learn your Shepherd’s voice ¹

For He has gone ahead to lead the way.

His words will bring you peace to then rejoice; ²

Hold fast to what is good without delay. ³

If you have faith in Jesus do not doubt; ⁴

For doubt will wave at every restless wind.

The Holy Spirit lets the truth ring out; ⁵

He won’t tell you something, then rescind.

If Jesus calls your name I hope you hear;

Incline your heart to Him, His words…

²³And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

²⁴ And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

²⁵ And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?

²⁶ How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

²⁷ And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

²⁸ Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

As it is written,

There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:10 KJV

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How many think they’re good enough for God,

At least are good enough to Heaven dwell?

I tell you, think such things and you’re a fraud,

The only place you’ve earned is down in hell.

You can’t stroll through an operating room

Or roam around within the CIA;

What makes you think you’re good with cheap perfume?

The stench of all your sins gives you away.

Not one of us are righteous, no not one.

A speck of sin keeps you from Heaven’s door.

But covered in the blood of Christ it’s done;

Believe He died for you, your sins He bore.

The grace of God allows this all to be;

Without it there’s no hope for you and me.

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sonnet #441

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

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The scriptures are a God inspired work,

It’s meant to bring salvation to the soul.

Within each page the Holy Spirit lurks

To break the heart and with God’s grace make whole.

The Bible is alive and breathes the Word,

The perfect source for teaching doctrine truth.

The way to righteousness is thus conferred,

And well designed to train us from our youth.

To those who go astray it brings reproof,

To prick the soul and cut sin to the quick.

Good works reflect on those who find the proof

That Jesus is the Savior of the sick.

This is the map to those who seek the Way,

¹⁹ Fret not thyself because of evil men,

neither be thou envious at the wicked;

²⁰ For there shall be no reward to the evil man;

the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 24:19-20 KJV

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These days the wicked dance and strut around

As if they own the theater and the stage,

And evil men around the world are bound

To be so honored for their public rage.

Corruption is the norm; they shout amen

With flashy golden teeth and endless cash.

Fret not yourself because of evil men:

The day is coming soon their teeth shall gnash.

The wicked will not live to see the Son,

When angels fill the sky with righteous swords,

So don’t be envious of all this fun;

I tell you they will get their just rewards.

The candle of the wicked will be snuffed;

When darkness settles in they’ll be…

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

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When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

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Sonnet #438

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

Joshua 24:14 KJV

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There comes a time when you must make a choice

To put away your worship of the world,

And like a young lad’s ever-changing voice

Becomes in speech mature, a man unfurled.

The gods this world promotes are full of need

And calls to you a thousand different ways,

Imploring you to buy their shiny bead,

But once you do you find it’s made of clay.

There is no better time to choose the Lord;

The hourglass is running out of sand.

The Spirit’s nudging you to leave the horde

And give your life to Jesus; take His hand.

Let go the worldly gods that stole your youth

To…

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 KJV

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A breeze wafts through a window open wide;

The curtain shudders, papers flutter, too;

A candle light makes shadows dance and glide,

And all these things a single breeze can do.

The Spirit moves ten million souls and more

As preachers, teachers, missionaries, clerks,

To prophesy, to write, to mind the store;

We serve a single Master in our work.

Discretion, grace and patience all are gifts

Bestowed by just a single, holy God;

The Father’s love that heals, reveals, uplifts

Can resurrect the dead and leave us awed.

Such wondrous grace upholds the universe

And shows in all we do as we traverse.

~~~~~~~~~~~

But love ye your enemies, and do good,

andlend, hoping for nothing again;

andyour reward shall be great,

andye shall be the children of the Highest:

forhe is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luke 6:35 KJV

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The Savior shed His blood for good and bad;

Remember this when you’ve an enemy,

And anyone who’s lost should make you sad,

So share the love God has to set them free.

Not only lend expecting nothing back,

Give love in deed without thought of return.

Without God’s grace you would be ruin and wrack;

If He would take it back you’d surely burn.

To be this way is not so hard to do;

For all your faults the Lord still gives you love.

He’s kind to evil people, thankless, too;

You are a child of God, who rules above.

A child that wants to…

For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8 KJV

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You don’t deserve a single dot of grace,

For Hell is what you’ve earned for all your sin.

The best five minutes of your life’s disgrace;

The best of all the world would not begin.

Fall on your face and know you’re hopeless mud;

Repent and beg forgiveness for it all,

Believe that Jesus shed His precious blood

To pay for all your sins both great and small.

With all your heart accept Him as your Lord,

Then feel the Holy Spirit enter you!

God’s grace, and faith, His gifts you can’t afford,

And with Christ’s blood you’re covered through and through.

You’re saved by grace through faith and nothing more,

With Jesus as your Savior guarantor.

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sonnet #434