Relationships
Rocky road
Husband and wife
God’s love conquers all
Reconciliation
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Prayer
Spiritually grounded
Through God’s Word
Holding fast with Jesus
Amen
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Hope
Take action
Share with others
Through faith in God
Life
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Morning arrives quietly with much on one’s mind
Reaching out to the Father, with a prayer to find
Psalms surrounding one’s inner soul with a frame
Blessing God the Father, blessing His Holy name
Thoughts move to life’s trials, several filled with sin
Asking the Lord for patience and forgiveness again
The Lord redeems this wayward life from the Pit
Seeking to be closer to Him, finding a place to sit
God fills all with His steadfast love and praise
Helping everyone make it through life’s maze
The Lord is merciful, gracious, and forgiving
Praying to Him deepens a person with living
This time of prayer offers much humbleness to the Lord
Slow to anger and abounding with so much love in store
A prayerful moment prepares a heart with much to say
Spending moments with God, like a potter molding clay
From James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
From Romans 6:4: “Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
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Are we truly walking in Christ?
With a new life, born again
Follow Jesus, He paid our price
True sanctification will come
Only from burial of an old life
Known as “white funeral” to some
Baptized into Christ, the Holy Son
Baptized into His death
With His death, victory is won
Through the confirmed Resurrection
We humbly come to a Holy God
His defining purpose, brings reflection
God is leading, always out front
Facing trying times of adversity
Our duty shall be, always to confront
Come to almighty and loving God
Sanctify a promise with the Father
God’s will be done, by His rod
When Christ forever defeats the Cross
His lasting, living Resurrection offers
“Walking in newness of life,” without loss
To Jesus, surrender these sinful ways
Hear Him, accept Him, follow Him
Ask for His forgiveness, without delay
Mighty God of angel armies leads
His righteousness marches with us
Filling a hungry soul, His Word feeds
Freed from sin, obedient to God
Wages of sin only bring death
Accept Jesus, He overcomes all odds
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From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher Oswald Chambers: “No one enters the experience of entire sanctification without going through a “white funeral”–the burial of the old life.”
God’s Grace shielding us
Dark storms suddenly appear—
Anchored on His rock
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Hearing our Lord’s Word
Stay in touch with faithfulness—
True doer who acts
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Seeking the true light
Arriving at Calvary—
Jesus Christ saves us
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Bright afternoon blues began to darken
Winter’s cold blanket prepares to descend
Snowflakes twirling and dancing, at first glance
Ol’ Man Winter, with a message to send
Grandfather clock proclaims each passing hour
Intricate flakes, magnified in their size
Winter’s harsh intensity growls and howls
Like a hungry wolf, seeking his one prize
Outside, barren landscape feels overwhelmed
Pristine white now nature’s color tonight
Modest cabin remains toasty and warm
Ancient kitchen stove consumes wood all night
Staying indoors, cozy and safe
Snowy frenzy roars, no ending in sight
Minutes turn to hours, forwarding to days
Snowbound but home, never a hopeless plight
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From Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
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Life’s trials spinning around us
Challenging our unsteady beliefs
Grounded through God, we must trust
Bringing His Grace, granting us relief
Spiritually grounded, seeking refuge
Walking along God’s chosen path
Life chooses from God’s menu
Always correct, computes God’s math
Prayer time, our Father’s time
Encouraging one another
God delivers a new paradigm
His plan replaces all others
Sincerely humbling our hearts
Hearing God’s truthful Word
Our Lord proclaims a new start
Actions can no longer be deferred
Grounded through God
Anchoring to His cornerstone
He banishes the Enemy’s fraud
With our Lord, never alone
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From Ecclesiates 4:12: “And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
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Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Hiding from a hail of enemy fire on a blood-filled ridge
Losing a fallen comrade during a Korean winter long ago
Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Abandoning a radiant, young bride on a stormy night
Realizing now this decision was such a selfish error
Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Failing to slow down at a dangerous, sharp highway curve
Seeing a limp, lifeless body slumped in the passenger seat
Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Watching as unforgiving cancer strikes down a loved one
Wishing to stand in her corner and take away all of the pain
Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Hitting the streets looking for a chance to work again
Struggling to comprehend life without a worthy job
Falling . . .
Yet Again!
Drinking another “Jack Daniels” very late at night
Feeling despondent week after week with no life
Waking up . . .
Dropping to my knees!
Thumbing through a Bible
Finding Psalm 18
I love you, O Lord, my strength
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
No longer falling!
The Scripture in bold type comes from Psalm 18.
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From Lamentations 3:25-26: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the Salvation of the Lord.”
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We are an impatient lot
We know what we want
We want it right now
God’s Word brings us wisdom
Try following a different path
Remain patient at all times
Allow God to be in charge
His faithful plans will unfold
Offer our prayers to God
Give thanks for our blessings
Remain ever hopeful each day
Wait faithfully with quiet reverence
For the Lord delivers Salvation
God allows us free will
How will we use it?
From Philippians 4:8: “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Infuse quality into our lives
In our attitudes and thoughts
Guard our actions and words
Influence our daily course
Adjust our tone of thoughts
Jesus taught us to believe
“Blessed are the pure in heart
For they will see God”
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From the words of evangelical pastor Henry Blackaby: “God is concerned about your life in Eternity. Allow Him to take all the time He needs to shape you for His purposes.”
Single doughnut left
Grandson loves every bite—
Frosting outlined mouth
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Car window frosted
Scrapper missing in action—
Credit card works great
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Twin babies arrive
The guessing game now begins—
Who is really who?
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Bone-chilling winds turn life upside down today
Delivering frigid, Arctic storms to every town
Thickening ice, spreading across the lake’s bay
People running straight into gusts, heads down
Wind chimes endlessly sing a winter-filled blast
Watching the thermometer effortlessly dive
Wondering, how long will this deep freeze last?
Somehow, everyone remains warm and thrives
The townsfolk cope, accepting winter’s greed
Facing long, harsh winters, most every year
Helping others to survive, when one’s in need
Winter’s severity never brings about fear
Finally one day, the wind changes its sound
Pitching warmer air, by way of a chinook
Lightening the load for everyone around
Smiles arrive, from every cranny and nook
Spring will soon send out her welcoming band
Replacing life’s burdens, with warmer wishes
Surviving winter’s struggles across the land
Winter to spring, life crosses familiar bridges
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