Nothing makes us more uncertain and insecure than not being sure we are in the will of God. And nothing is more encouraging than knowing for sure that we are.
From 1 John 2:17: “And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God abide forever.”
Write on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. He was a leading voice in America’s transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.
From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher, Oswald Chambers: “If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly.”
Thinking as Jesus taught
Prayer’s breath offers peace
Blood enriched in one’s heart
Light fills faith’s every piece
Spurring each other on
Prayer links faith as one
Devotion encouraged
God sends His blessed Son
Believing Father’s Word
Prayer becomes hope’s voice
Each hour, without ceasing
Shepherd’s flock shall rejoice
Praising Christ for His light
Prayer leads to support
Faithful mercy arrives
Answers sail to each port
Walking always in faith
Prayer fills lungs with joy
Conscious of Savior’s grace
Holy Spirit deploys
From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Sharing
Spirit’s light
Motivating one another
Love-filled grace working
Encouragement
Trusting
Father’s Word
Depths of understanding
Lighting faith’s bold path
Righteousness
Accepting
Resurrection’s light
Witnessed at Calvary
Jesus paid our debts
Love
Keep your face always toward the sunshine–and shadows will fall behind you.
Do anything, but let it produce joy.
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of America’s most influential poets. His writing prowess was not only evident in his poems, but also in his work as a journalist and essayist.
God works by simply stepping into our ordinary day of life and saying what He wants to say. It’s a meat-and-potatoes kind of proposition. Here’s what needs doing, and you’re the person who’s going to do it, “so let’s get after it.”
From Proverbs 8:22: “The Lord created me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of long ago.”
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.”
Challenges rolling in
On waves of ceaseless tides
Searching for faithful hope
Jesus shall be thy guide
Universe seems empty
Darkness never takes rest
Seeking encouragement
Jesus hears each request
Faith walking toward light
Hope growing from His love
Filling heart with fresh grace
Jesus comes from above
Optimism descending
Day’s outlook shining bright
Finding encouragement
Jesus shares trusted light
From Romans 15:5-6: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
From Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
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Life tempting us with enticing shortcuts
Most of these never seem to bring success
Gods speaks honestly, always asking us
Did we burrow deeper, rather than guess?
Clever world flooding us with remedies
Formulas for a more successful life
Simple, surefire, easy to use, guaranteed
God’s formula, always true without strife
Never shy from following the Father
He doesn’t promise a road without bumps
God offers promises with blessed love
His way leading us forward, our hearts jump
Requiring patience, life’s a marathon
God remains our Rock, faithful and steadfast
His blessings fill our lives in countless ways
Our ship sails, with eternal hope amassed
Losing hope at times, seeking a quick fix
Encouragement and trust arrives from God
Offering us Grace, filled with peace and joy
Grateful, He accepts us, totally flawed
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From the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “We ought to make some progress, however little, every day, and show some increase of fervor. We ought to act as if we were at war–as, indeed, we are–and never relax until we have won the victory.”
Originally published March, 2020.
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by another encounter with another human being.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a French-born theologian, writer, humanitarian, and philosopher. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life.”
From Hebrews 10:19-20: “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh).”
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Sharing these words of eternal hope
Living with hope-filling optimism
Gathering with positive people
Persevering through God’s bold prism
Living as faithful children of God
Hearing our Father’s message of hope
Realizing now, hope springs from our Lord
Praising His Word, helping us to cope
Joining into a New Covenant
Filling with assurance from His Creed
Approaching with hearts, clean from evil
Washing with His pure water, indeed
Recalling our earlier struggles
Showing compassion through hopeful hearts
Maintaining endurance, life’s ahead
Remaining faithful, as life restarts
Holding fast to God’s blessings of hope
Encouraging daily, each other
Blessing with our love and gracious deeds
Standing with our sisters and brothers
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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Jim Cymbala: “We urgently need people who encourage and inspire us to move toward God.”
Originally published May, 2020.
Big Sky Buckeye 