Christ came into the world to save sinners, not good people, and your unworthiness is your greatest claim for His salvation.
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Healthy
Changing lifestyle
Plenty of exercise
Eating smart, watching carbs
Life
Active
Morning walks
Avoiding junk food
Setting more dynamic goals
Life
Morning
Mirror check
Losing stubborn pounds
Looking healthy and fit
Smiles
The German-inspired poetry style of Elfchen (or Elevenie) contains five lines of poetic verse, usually without the use of rhyming verses. A total of 11 words are used with a sequence of one, two, three, and four words before ending with a single word in the final verse.
There is nothing that makes more cowards and feeble men than public opinion.
From Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.”
From Psalm 32:7: “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”
With faces toward the rising sun
Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness
Coming to the Cross, with repentance
Humbly laying our transgressions there
On our knees, breaking bread together
In remembrance, Jesus truly cares
Coming to the Cross, seeking its hope
With reverence, looking to our Lord
On our knees, drinking wine together
Singing with praise to His perfect chord
Coming to the Cross, stained with red blood
Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior
On our knees, praising God together
Walking with transforming behavior
With faces toward the rising sun
Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness
Social distancing cannot separate us from God.
Throughout much of my teaching career in Montana, I personally witnessed the labors and hard work of farmers and ranchers on the eastern plains. Their faithful perseverance will always be a testament of their faith in a God who will see us through.
The labors of a family wait for another harvest. Fields of spring wheat are maturing rapidly under the blistering hot, August sun. The heads of grain are filling out and turning harvest gold.
A year’s worth of income rests in these fields. Three generations view God’s bounty with praise and thanksgiving.
An aging grandfather has witnessed the good times and bad. While he has slowed down a bit, he still looks forward to operating the combine at harvest time. He becomes as excited as a young boy while watching the header cut the ripened grain.
His son, now a mature and tested father, has followed in his footsteps. He returned to the farm ten years ago when his father suffered a heart attack. He manages the day-to-day operations as skillfully as his father ever did.
A teenage boy, both grandson and son, has observed his father’s long hours and hard work. He values his grandfather’s wisdom and experience. He plans to attend the state’s land grant university during the upcoming fall semester, but first he needs to help out with harvest.
One evening, with harvest set to begin soon, these three generations of men view a field closest to their homes. The grain is heavy, filled with high protein content, and will fetch an honest price at market.
Dark clouds loom to the northwest as a storm appears heading away from their farm. The three men turn in for the night, feeling confident and safe.
The next morning, the sun comes up right on schedule, but this season’s harvest has been cruelly cancelled.
Overnight the storm changed its route. Heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail shredded every bit of grain far and wide. Not even a cow would be able to find any nourishment.
The grandson has never seen such devastation, and he is emotionally numb and filled with shock.
His father knows the coming year will be filled with hardship and uncertainty. With God’s guidance, somehow he will carefully balance the books.
The grandfather prays to God, asking the Lord to provide for the family as He always has—in the best of times, and now the darkest. He opens his Bible and reads the following verse from Isaiah 40:10:
“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
From Psalm 23:5-6: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Patient, yet restless
Every life needs a purpose—
Listen for God’s call
Do not be troubled
Holy Spirit walks with us—
God’s peace be with you
Days, weeks, months go by
Feeling God’s Gospel Spirit—
Never growing old
A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.
Spend the afternoon. You can’t take it with you.
From Psalm 62:1-2: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.”
Anticipating in faithful silence for the One
From Christ, comes our Salvation He won
God brings deliverance from life’s trials
His steadfast love proclaims and smiles
Witnessing transformation by Christ’s renewing love
Pouring out our daily needs to the Holy Lord above
Witnessing the Apostles in their committed walk
Learning about Jesus as His words openly talk
God delivering His promise, acceptable and good
Trusting in our Heavenly Father, as we all should
As a single body with Christ, persevere in daily prayer
Meditating upon what lies deep inside, our daily cares
Trusting always, we come forth to pray
God standing as our rock, always stout
His fortress never shaken with doubt
Allowing the Holy Spirit, a welcome space to invade
Loving one another, because Jesus ultimately gave
Replacing negative thoughts with a positive way
Slowing down, counting blessings—let us pray
Spending less time, filled with our trivial worries
Praising God for His message of faithful courage
God’s kingdom depends upon His mighty hand
Feeling His promises, His will covers the land
Answering the great question for all to behold
Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, so bold
Reveling in God’s glorious adventure, with trusting love
Allowing Him to assist, in sending answers from above
Trusting always, we come forth to pray
God standing as our rock, always stout
His fortress never shaken with doubt
From Romans 12:11: “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Big Sky Buckeye 