Monday Memories: Big Sky Moments

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Waking up on a cold, frigid, winter morn

Looking like one more day with a storm

Pulling the warm covers over my bare head

Let’s fast forward to a new season instead

 

Always dreaming big at night

Never alone, perfect delight

 

Fast forward to a hot summer day

Sensational, unblemished blue sky

Feeling an urge to jump up, shout and say

Have you ever seen a more beautiful sky?

 

Seeing a Big Montana Sky

Morning sun climbs high

 

Traveling to Montana brings pure pleasures

Experiencing a saddlebag full of treasures

Shining high above, a cloudless view

Bringing a smile to God, always true

 

Always dreaming big at night

Never alone, perfect delight

 

Western hospitality, the Big Sky way

Filled with warmest smiles, no haste

Be certain to come back as we always say

Montana’s Big Sky, the Last Best Place!

 

Seeing a Big Montana Sky

Morning sun climbs high

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Both photographs come from my private collection of images from southwestern Montana.

Originally published June, 2019.

Abundant Life

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From Isaiah 55:3:  “Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live.  I will make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David.”

Filled with thirst and hunger

Listen to God’s trusted Word

Promising to fulfill daily needs

Lifetime’s path no longer blurred

 

Raining from heavens

Spirit quenches every thirst

Living water flowing ever more

Sin’s darkest journey reversed

 

Sown with God’s mercy

Harvest of grace now ready

Bread of life feeds His new covenant

Life’s navigation steady

 

Praises poured with joy

Heavens bursting, full of song

Mountaintops joining valleys below

Abundant life comes along

 

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From Isaiah 55:10:  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.”

Daily Endeavors (Elfchen Series #161)

Discover

Pursuing

Faithful voice

Jesus instills worthiness

Taking up thy cross

Life

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Witness

Following

Blessed teacher

Proclaiming God’s truth

Journey forward without fear

Jesus

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Serve

Sustaining

Christ’s mission

Sowing faithful seeds

Harvesting from all nations

Discipleship

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Faith’s Insight

From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7:  “So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

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Living by faith in Christ

Conscious of His nearness

Walking daily with trust

Spirit breathes with clearness

 

Groaning from burdens’ weight

Confident in His Word

Giving all to Jesus

Faith’s insight undeterred

 

Aiming to please Father

Answers found in Son’s love

Pursuing duty’s faith

Called to seek Him above

 

Receiving mercy’s touch

Inspiration from grace

Believing divine truth

Faith’s eternal birthplace

 

Being born from above

Behold, journey awaits

Embracing Lord’s judgment

Redemption’s faithful date

 

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From 2 Corinthians 5:14:  “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.”

Ups and Downs (Haiku Series #238)

Deli’s Bread

Too many choices

Dreaming of sampling each one—

Tasting delicious

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Mechanical Genius?

Reading instructions

Deciphering every step—

Uncommon language

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Patience Found

Taking advantage

Fitting into slower pace—

Daily puzzle solved

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Monday Memories: Heavenly Message

clouds

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When I stumble

My body tumbles

Weakness fills me

Not worthy to see

Attempting to move

Just not in my groove

People walk right by

None saying even “hi”

Ignoring me there

Silence never fair

Feeling so much alone

Picking up my phone

Finding short text to read

Responding to my needs

Standing up now

Kneeling to bow

The message sustains

No, I’m not to blame

“My brother, rise up thee

Now, always follow me”

Jesus!

 

Originally published April, 2019.

Praising God’s Greatness

From Psalm 145:8:  “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

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Blessing forever, God above

Kneeling, bending every knee

Praising His greatness, Amen!

Justice sown from righteous decrees

 

Breathing with hope’s newfound freedom

Witnessing God’s mighty moves

Praising daily in worship

Mercy arrives, His Son approves

 

Riding donkey, comes humble King

Tasting His merciful grace

Praising faith’s new covenant

Heaven’s goodness, let all embrace

 

Commanding nations, take notice

Setting every sinner free

Praising repeal of darkness

Throughout earth’s many lands and seas

 

Sounding faith’s endless trumpet

Protecting with blessed light

Praising God’s lasting greatness

Eternal daylight covers night

 

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From Zechariah 9:16:  “On that day the Lord their God will save them, for they are the flock of His people, for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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God allows suffering so that we might learn what it means to depend on Him.  Over and over He reminds us of the danger of pride, but it frequently takes suffering to make the lesson stick.

From Psalm 27:3:  “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.”

Daily Devotions (Elfchen Series #160)

Witness

Praising

From whom

Every blessing flows

Our Lord, our Creator

Gratitude

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Proclaim

Maturing

In Christ

Hope’s eternal message

Walking in His light

Faith

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Rejoice

Transforming

Spirit’s presence

Love never ceases

Grace arrives from above

Reverence

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Traveling Faith’s Avenue

From Romans 12:2:  “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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Mind submitting to Christ

Transforming worldly view

Opening to God’s truth

Holding fast, Spirit’s glue

 

Grace received at no cost

Traveling faith’s avenue

Walking daily with Christ

Feeling love’s bright breakthrough

 

Clearest, focused logic

Choosing right over wrong

Following Christ’s high road

Praising with hope’s new song

 

Prayers connect with God

Receiving blessed gifts

Aligning with His Word

Granting life’s heartfelt shift

 

Faith’s renewal strengthened

Breathing with clear thinking

Trusting always in Christ

Living without sinking

 

Father’s will comes to earth

Living as God and man

Overcoming with good

Teaching us that we can

 

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From Romans 12:21:  “ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”