I am grateful for being alive today. It is my joy and pleasure to live another wonderful day.
Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.
Louise Hay (1926-2017) was an American author and motivational speaker.
Spending time at home
Relaxing bounty of peace—
Worldly noise can wait
Seeding with patience
Harvest’s bounty shall come forth—
First blossom appears
Praising second chance
Bountiful reconnection—
Restoring friendship
If I have learned anything during my journey on Planet Earth, it is that people need one another.
From Proverbs 27:9: “Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel.”
David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.
Each day life seems too normal
Monotonous and mundane
Beautiful bundle arrives
Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain
Blessing us each precious day
Spontaneous surprises
Praising our Father’s great name
Goodness comes in all sizes
Reaching depths of every sea
Loving each generation
Eclipsing highest heavens
Honoring God’s creation
Awesome and vast deeds come forth
Witnessing God’s mighty acts
Glorious splendor singing
Filling what life truly lacks
God’s everlasting kingdom
Harvesting abundant gifts
Faithful words stir greatest feats
Balancing life’s slips and shifts
Singing of God’s righteousness
Showering with compassion
Tasting His Holy goodness
Remembering His passion
Blessing His name forever
Amen
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Originally published June, 2020.
It is a delicate matter to oppose the wishes of a friend.
The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th President of the United States.
Do you long for God? I’ve got great news! In an even greater way–greater than you could ever imagine–He longs to be gracious to you.
From Isaiah 30:18: “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
The things we do at Christmas are touched with a certain extravagance, as beautiful, in some of its aspects, as the extravagance of nature in June.
From Luke 2:20: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.”
Robert Collyer (1823-1912) was an English-born pastor. Early in his adult life, he emigrated to the United States and would later resuming preaching after having done so in England.
From Philippians 4:4-6: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Offering God’s promises
Distant joy asking, who’s yet to come?
Echoing in wilderness
Voices no longer numb
Faithful witnesses of peace
Salvation’s Messiah now descends
Mercy’s joy-filled tenderness
Lasting goodness shall extend
Holy Spirit rejoices
Promised deliverance emerges
Virgin’s heart flowing with love
Angels praise as joy surges
Rejoice always, now rejoice
Eternity’s spring of love endures
Mankind’s hope shall be transformed
Filling joy from grace, so pure
Each believer investing
Ripples of God’s blessed love invite
Messiah opening gates
Outlook’s joy forever bright
Bethlehem’s joy in shining star
Gentleness in spirit, blessings come
Long-awaited Prince of Peace
Each knee bends, to heaven’s drum
Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son. Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.
German hymnwriter, Laurentius Laurenti (1660-1722), wrote a reverent hymn which works well with the expectations of the Advent season, but it also looks ahead to the return of Jesus Christ. Here is “Rejoice! Rejoice Believers.”
Rescinding harsh tongue
Letting kindness step forward—
Spoken thoughts matter
Always one by one
Each day shares discoveries—
Lifetime of blessings
Overcoming noise
Words beautiful and caring—
Inner peace colors
From Psalm 105:3-4: “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
Quiet morning minutes
Sharing from His heart
Rendezvous with Father
Blessing day’s fresh start
Reading from God’s own Word
Peace fills from His heart
Replacing all darkness
Light’s mercy imparts
Master’s most tender touch
Moving from His heart
Blessed hymns freely praise
Singing every part
Painting nature’s landscape
Visions from His heart
Offering perfection
Creator’s fine art
Father’s trusted wisdom
Speaking from His heart
Righteousness leads faith’s path
Guiding light’s head start
From Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
Big Sky Buckeye 