²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:28-29 KJV

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We worry far too much on earthly things,

The ones of us who are not destitute,

And even indigents and poor who clings

Don’t walk around in their own birthday suit.

We color coordinate, accessorize,

Buy far too many shoes for our two feet,

And then we walk the mall with googly eyes,

And notice what is worn by those we meet.

Just step out side, the wildest flower calls

To show you what the Lord has dressed them in,

And O! their perfect beauty shames the malls,

Yet neither do they work, nor do they spin.

The more time that…

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…

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

And then many will be offended,

and shall betray one another,

and shall hate one another.

Matthew 24:10 KJV

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These are the latter days which Christ foretold

When brethren are offended by the Word,

And even those who used to be quite bold

Will turn their backs on those the Gospel stirred.

Though many fall away these shall be worse,

Who once did follow Jesus in the day

But now will stumble back to point and curse

The Christians they once loved yet now betray.

Such hatred shall arise from those thought saved,

With vehemence they’ll trample on the flock.

The lies apostates spread are so depraved

To make the world lash out in fear and shock.

Hold fast in Christ; your faith will long endure.

When they knock down your door His love’s secure.

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sonnet #451

³² And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³ And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴ And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark 3:32-35 KJV

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No matter where you go you’re not alone:

The greatest network in the world exists,

The best connections that the world has known;

The family of Christ are in your midst.

O what a joy to meet a stranger here

Then find out she’s your sister in the Lord!

The loving Spirit linking us so dear

Is much too strong to ever be ignored.

This family of God transcending flesh

All find…

Now we exhort you, brethren,

warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,

support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

We have our own responsibilities,

And that includes a call to help the poor:

The poor in heart, in mind, in strength are these

That need some extra care we can’t ignore.

Admonish those that step across the line:

The busybody, troublemaking sort.

Teach discipline and selfless service fine;

These diamonds in the rough, do not sell short.

Uplift the ones who struggle with the cross:

The simple and the slow to understand.

The weak need love who cannot bear a loss;

Please help them with their faith and to withstand.

Have patience with the souls who trip and fall;

Be one to help them up. See Christ in all.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #449

Give to him that asketh thee,

and from him that would borrow of thee

turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:42 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

There is this spark of giving in the saved,

A constant pouring out of love to life,

Not born of duty or of laws enslaved,

Not subject to a custom, stale and rife.

The heart of Christ provides to all that needs

Without a thought of getting something back.

The hand of Christ is busy doing deeds,

For what He has He gives to those who lack.

To those who ask deliver what you can;

To those who wish to borrow, them you lend.

The grace that you exhibit once began

With God whose love we cannot comprehend.

Don’t turn away the beggar, but recall

Christ died for that man, too; He gave His all.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #448

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man;

but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:11 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bad food and drink can make a person ill,

But he’s the only one confined to bed.

It’s what comes from the mouth more loathsome still

That will defile a man the most instead.

‘Tis sin that lays in wait within the heart

And moves on through the mind and then the lips

That truly stains the soul and tears apart;

Each word that’s laced with evil sin equips.

It takes a heart made fresh to stop the flood

Of all the wickedness men say and do.

The only way is through Christ’s cleansing blood

To purify the soul with life anew.

A man defiled will speak such wicked things.

The cure for this disease is Christ the King.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #447

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Luke 18:42 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The blind are all around you, look and see.

They stumble through their life within the dark,

But tell them this, they bellow “Let me be!”

They take offense at every kind remark.

The light of Jesus lives within you now,

So take the bushel off and let it shine!

It radiates to those who will allow

The gospel to be shared, the truth divine.

Someone will stumble forward reaching out

With faith that Christ alone can give them sight.

The quick’ning of the Spirit makes them shout

As they are saved and finally see the light.

The blind are all around you, but be brave

And let your light so shine; its love will save.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #446