Monday Memories: Choices Through Faith

From the words of American pastor and Christian evangelist, Vance Havner:  “Life is a series of choices between the bad, the good, and the best.  Everything depends on how we choose.”

action adventure challenge climb

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Our daily walk encounters many tests

Life’s decisions shall never be easy

Facing a series of heartfelt choices

Sometimes feeling so alone and uneasy

 

Quality decisions lead life forward

God’s Word and righteousness always shining

Making choices, pleasing to our Father

Our Lord’s love, His sacred silver lining

 

God chooses our Savior—His Holy Son

Jesus becomes our faithful source of life

Bringing lasting redemption to ourselves

Hope-filled Cross saving the foolish from strife

 

Our Father calls many, few are chosen

His chosen, precious cornerstone—Jesus

Believing in Him, never put to shame

Living by faith through our Lord, who frees us

 

Jesus chooses us in His Father’s name

Days ahead offer bounties of treasures

Following His love and wealth of teachings

Therefore, bear lasting fruit through His measures

person sitting on mountain cliff

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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.”

Originally published May, 2020.

Choosing God’s Love

From 1 John 4:15-16:  “God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.  So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”

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Earth filled with darkness

Hate crosses another street

Enemy’s hand at work

Peace surrenders its fleet

 

World aching for change

Grace knocking on every door

Chains of evil loosen

Love coming ashore

 

God holds righteous reins

Providence surges ahead

Muscles ready to flex

Born in Bethlehem shed

 

Hope now awakens

Messiah’s light enters in

Choice now offered to all

Love strengthens faith’s linchpin

 

Darkness and hate flee

Forgiven, choosing God’s love

Mercy stirs with kindness

Witnessed from high above

 

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From 1 John 4:21:  “The commandment we have from Him is this:  those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

Countee Cullen Quotes

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There is no secret to success, except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call “the breaks.”

For we must be one thing or the other, an asset or a liability, the sinew in your wing to help you soar, or the chain to bind you to earth.

Countee Cullen (1903-1946) was an American poet and novelist, who made a significant impact during the Harlem Renaissance.  

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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Charles Stanley Quote

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Choosing to align our thoughts with God’s Word will move us toward the abundant life our Creator designed.

From 1 Corinthians 2:15-16:  “Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.  For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?’  But we have the mind of Christ.”

Life’s Reactions (Haiku Series #229)

Emergency

Empty coffee can

Much needed grocery run—

No caffeine to spare

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Digging In

Final goal-line stand

Fullback takes crucial handoff—

Freight train A-coming!

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Choices

Husband’s chores waiting

Morning’s golf invitation—

What’s a man to do?

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Voices

From Psalm 4:8:  “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”

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Lying awake in night’s darkness

Hearing promises from voices

Most too good to really be true

Filled with countless, empty choices

 

Tackling another stressful day

Witnessing contrasting voices

Thoughts quite overwhelming again

Faltered in making best choices

 

Retreating into quiet place

Searching, listening to voices

Father’s Word opens mind and heart

Found at last, His trusted choices

 

Hearing each righteous cry for help

Nurturing Father’s faithful voice

Enemy’s plan reduced to dust

Raised His Son, salvation’s sole choice

 

Harvesting empty void no more

Walking in step with Savior’s voice

Jesus cries out, journey finished

Saved man with mercy’s final choice

 

Seeing truth in these promises

Extending Father’s righteous voice

Grace deepens His Son’s love for thee

Accepting Christ, life’s blessed choice

 

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From John 19:29-30:  “A jar full of sour wine was standing there.  So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to His mouth.  When Jesus had received the wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’  Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

New Day

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New day saying “hello”

Revitalizing voices

Inspirations aglow

Identifying choices

 

Horizon brightens, stirs

Reawakening today

Morning opens sunrise

Illuminating gateway

 

Daylight’s rhythmic tempo

Internalizing soundtrack

Soul’s eternal rainbow

Anticipating comeback

 

Sunset’s fading skyline

Evaporating outlook

Night’s taste of moonshine

Rejuvenating guidebook

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No Longer

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Facing life’s challenges

Decisions needing to be made

Stepping with confidence

No longer feeling afraid

 

Listening to own heart

Negative thoughts fading away

Taking positive steps

No longer leading astray

 

Flexing new attitude

Tomorrow inviting fresh start

Letting yesterday go

No longer filling sad heart

 

Leaving darkness behind

Choices finding healthy outlets

Loving new direction

No longer bringing regrets

 

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Choosing Life

From Deuteronomy 30:11, 14:  “Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.  No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”

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Sowing faith’s seeds

Freeing from sin

Darkness recedes

New life begins

 

Guiding beyond

Walking with thee

Heavenly bond

Christ sets us free

 

Living with doubt

Leaving dark past

Grace reaches out

Divine broadcast

 

Singing with praise

Gospel’s new lease

Faith now ablaze

Bringing Christ’s peace

 

Bearing life’s woes

Moving each heart

Love always shows

Righteous jumpstart

 

Mercy abounds

Choosing life now

Seeking high ground

Christ shows us how

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From Deuteronomy 30:19-20:  “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”