Faith ought not to be a plaything. If we believe, we should believe like giants.
From Psalm 71:5: “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.”
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was an American educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist. A daughter of former slaves, she made a significant impact in the lives of many.
From the words of American Christian author, Kay Arthur: “To be courageous is to step out in faith–to trust and obey, no matter what.”
Each fear tests quiet resolve
Holding tightly to God’s Word
Strength in faith, stepping forward
Waiting courage, to be stirred
Another mountain to scale
Taking every fear to God
Faith’s shield shall always protect
Dissolving evil’s facade
Disappointment knocks at door
Believing in faithful Lord
Unspoken fears leaving heart
Sustaining grace, comes aboard
Endless wilderness journey
Seeing mercy’s light ahead
Every roadbed now smoothed out
Darning each fear, with faith’s thread
Dark challenges setting sail
Meditating day and night
Prayer surrounds every fear
Transforming faith, Savior’s light
Yesterday’s failures vanish
Removing fear’s daily stress
Faith encased with timeless love
Coming sunrise brings success
From Joshua 1:9: “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Growing up with Father
Learning all about life
Encouraged to follow
Living without evil’s strife
Bearing Father’s commands
Nurturing faith each day
Drowned each fleshly desire
Witnessing His grace, let’s pray
Walking in Father’s steps
Surrendering to Him
Sensed righteousness calling
Praising each blessed hymn
Searching for Father’s peace
Letting go, finding love
Gleaned from each steadfast truth
Catching mercy from above
From Hebrews 5:12-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.”
When affliction strips away every crutch, one has only the Lord to depend upon. Though some people are destroyed by that kind of situation, others are built into undaunted believers.
From Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Witnessing
God’s Word
Greatest story ever
Christ becomes man’s Light
Salvation
Praising
God’s script
Message never wavers
Story brings man Home
Redemption
Sowing
Mercy’s seeds
Perpetual story retold
Harvesting grace at Calvary
Resurrection
Don’t be addicted to approval. Follow your heart. Do what you believe God is telling you to do, and stand firm in Him and Him alone.
From 2 Corinthians 5:9: “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.”
Joyce Meyer (born 1943) is an American Christian author and speaker.
Jesus did not tell parables to confirm well-known truths, but rather to shatter well-known truths.
From John 8:31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
John Newton (1725-1807) was an English pastor who also was a writer of several hymns, including the beloved “Amazing Grace.” His early life is filled with contrasts, when compared to his later life. He served as a ship’s captain during the slave trade, but later renounced his work after his conversion to Christianity. He became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade later in his life.
From 1 Samuel 18:14-16: “David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.”
Marching upright, heaven’s sacred drum
Accepting His will, faithfully come
Shattering evil’s empty façade
Navigating from darkness, with God
Trusting His hands, molding every heart
Following Spirit, renewing start
Searching heavens, finding lasting peace
Living in righteousness, never cease
Leaving sinful ways, Jesus leading
Steering life’s mission, now proceeding
Heeding His call, taking faith’s high road
Promising light, Lord’s mercy bestowed
Looking past Bethlehem, blood-stained cross
Seeing empty tomb, enemy’s loss
Building up redemption’s faithful walls
Touching another soul, God’s grace calls
Seeking Christian soldiers, through His Word
Lasting victory, no longer blurred
Stepping on ashes, filled with untruth
Marching with Christ, believing His truth
From 2 Timothy 2:2-3: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus much deeper down, to get into the habit of steadily referring everything back to Him.
From John 16:29-31: “His disciples said, ‘Yes, now You are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that You know all things and do not need to have anyone question You; by this we believe that You came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?'”
God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only. Namely, by showing us more of His Son.
From John 3:17-18: “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher. He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs. Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.
Big Sky Buckeye 