In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

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Give thanks unto the Lord for everything!

Without His grace then nothing would exist.

The fact that you’re alive is cause to sing!

Each time that you inhale, that air God’s kissed.

No matter what the scene, have gratitude.

Your bus breaks down in route? Meet someone new.

If you hate what you eat, thank God you’ve food.

If you drive off a cliff, enjoy the view.

With Jesus as your Savior you are blessed,

For home is where the Lord wants you to be.

Your very life is gratitude expressed,

So share the Word with everyone you see.

In every thing give thanks, this is God’s will

In Jesus Christ concerning you, fulfill.

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sonnet #398

So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16 KJV

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The souls who are forgotten by the crowd:

The meek, the low, the bullied and the plain,

Are lost among the ego-driven proud

And last to find a post they can attain.

The Lord will not ignore the seventh son,

The shepherd boy who one day would be king.

The manger-born became the perfect One

To save a sinful world who hopeless cling.

We all are called to come unto the cross,

Invited to the wedding feast by Christ;

The proud will all be counted as a loss,

The chosen ones are those who’ve paid the price.

Down here we choose the leader of the pack;

If you would follow Christ, then serve in back.

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sonnet #397

And they said one to another,

Did not our heart burn within us,

while he talked with us by the way,

and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Luke 24:32 KJV

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To walk with Jesus while Emmaus bound,

And listen as He opened scriptures wide!

To hear Him speak the mysteries profound;

My heart ablaze with Jesus by my side!

Amazing as it was that awesome day,

How truly wonderful it must have been,

My soul still leaps with joy with such display,

Just knowing that His presence grows within!

Here dwells the Holy Spirit like a fire,

It burns with love I scarcely can contain!

The Savior speaks and fuels my one desire

To do the will of God and thus remain.

His fiery words are whispered in my ear,

And that’s the only voice I truly hear.

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sonnet #396

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God:

and he did hear my voice out of his temple,

and my cry did enter into his ears.

2 Samuel 22:7 KJV

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Thank God you have the Lord that you can call

When in distress and frantic for His aid.

Be sure that He will hear you when you fall;

He understood your voice each time you prayed.

Don’t be afraid to seek the Savior’s help

When all seems lost and you have gone astray.

You may feel like a homeless, helpless whelp,

But call upon the Lord though you dismay.

There never is a time when Christ won’t hear;

If you are His you’re linked eternally.

The groanings of your heart in pain or fear

Within the grace of God will set you free.

Your cries will reach the temple of the Lord

You will…

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,

who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,

and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts:

and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV

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If you perceive a man whose wicked ways

Are hidden by a mask of godliness,

Or if a sister speaks of peace and praise

But beats her children more and loves them less,

Don’t judge them in your heart, though it may be

The hardest thing you’ll ever have to do.

The Lord will come one day, then all shall see

The hidden things of darkness coming through.

There will be no more secrets, no more lies;

The hearts of men exposed without a doubt.

When Jesus peers within our mortal eyes,

We’ll either weep with shame or jump and shout.

Though men may cover up…

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,

concerning them which are asleep,

that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV

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The marrow of your soul is thick with grief,

And sorrow’s made a home within your heart.

It feels as if the Lord’s become a thief

For making someone precious to depart.

This is the time to mourn, you’ve lost a friend;

The world seems so much colder than before.

Remember, though,that this is not the end;

Death’s just like walking through an open door.

Your faith confounds the others with no hope;

You know that life exists beyond the grave.

The Holy Ghost is here to help you cope;

Because of Jesus, you are not grief’s slave.

Your heart is heavy now, as it should be,

The day is coming, though, your friend you’ll see.

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sonnet #393

Please pray for the victims of the horrific tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina last night. Pray for the family members and community. Satan is on his end game and pulling out all the stops.Pray for peace. Pray for love. Please, in the name of Christ, pray.

AP STORY HERE

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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¹² Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

¹³ And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joel 2:12-13 KJV

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It matters not at all how bad you are,

How much a mess your life has turned into;

Your sinful life may seem the worse by far,

But God can still forgive, repent anew.

Turn even to the Lord with all your heart,

And turn away for good your evil ways.

If you’re not penitent don’t even start;

Remorse should be authentic, not a phrase.

Then fast and weep and mourn if you’re sincere;

You should not show it to the world at all.

Repentance…

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:29 KJV

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To be like Christ take on His yoke and start,

Align yourself to Him in work and word,

Then as you learn the Savior’s perfect heart,

You’ll find that Jesus kept his wants deferred.

So meek and lowly, Christ was set apart,

Obeying what our Father bade Him do,

For He and God were one in mind and heart

With such agape love and selfless view.

To be like Jesus you must e’er impart

To understand that He is in control.

He bought you with His blood, now heart to heart,

And you shall yet find rest unto your soul.

To learn of Jesus you must soon take part,

To give and share with others heart to heart.

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sonnet…