Monday Memories: God’s Mighty Fortress

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I awaken with a heavy heart today

Sleeping later than usual if I may

 

My thoughts are with those in dire need

Hoping their lives will blossom to please

 

When a person cares about others nearby

Feeling their sadness and sorrow going by

 

It causes me to really stop and think

Dashing my energy whenever I blink

 

I feel like running to those who suffer so

Forgetting the many miles that I must go

 

I reach for my Bible at this morning hour

Reading God’s word that forever towers

 

His amazing grace and love always fill me up

Plugging the vacuum of a sinner who’s corrupt

 

My Bible journey transports me to Psalm 31

Allowing the words to reach out, one by one

 

I pursue refuge with my almighty God, my Lord

Delivering to me His righteousness, like a sword

 

God has created a holy, mighty fortress for all

Carrying all of us to a safe place before we fall

 

Lord, remove me from this netting that holds thee

Allowing my troubles to fall as I drop to my knees

 

I extend my troubled hand out to His

Guiding me to bless Him and all that is

 

My Lord has redeemed me to stand firm

Sending me forth to help others in return

Waking up on a morning when my own heart was indeed very heavy, God transformed my attitude in His way.  Before writing this poem, I was reading a short devotional, and the Biblical text sent me to  Psalm 31:1-5.  Use the link to read these inspiring verses.

E. Stanley Jones Quote

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Faith is not merely you holding on to God–it is God holding on to you.

From 1 Peter 5:6-7:  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

Infinite God

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From 1 Peter 5:6-7:  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time.  Cast all our anxiety oh Him, because He cares for you.”

God, our Creator

In Heaven above

Standing powerful

Sends infinite love

 

Father in Heaven

Promises fulfill

Support and courage

His infinite skill

 

Read God’s Holy Word

Be bold, life begins

His love filled with care

Grace overcomes sin

 

Walking with our Lord

His strong hands extend

Trust always in Him

Whatever contends

 

Miraculous brings

Infinite outcomes

Filled with sacred love

Like a beating drum

 

Our finite minds weep

Lack of faith descends

Our infinite God

Holds, never to bend

 

Our Lord’s specialty

Impossible makes

Genuine and true

His love, no mistake

 

Rely on God’s ways

Hopeless turns to hope

Prayer lifts worry

Walking life’s tightrope

 

God’s eternal love

Endures forever

He holds on to us

With faith, whenever

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Sharpen My Focus

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With another year starting up, I have been contemplating and praying about how to manage my life in better alignment with God’s Word.  While a new decade is upon us, I am more concerned about the year ahead.  Better yet, I need to build my faith day-by-day.

Last year, I kept three key words close to my heart:

  • Faith
  • Family
  • Health

While I have been successful in managing my pre-diabetic condition, and my family has been a true blessing in so many ways, I still feel there is room for growth in my faith.

In reading Scripture, Jesus is always connected to us.  At the same time, there is a need to reshape my daily habits by reading God’s Word with a deeper understanding and to be more consistent in prayer.

From John 15:1-2:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

  • God prunes and shapes. 
  • Bear more fruit by sharpening my faith.

From John 15:11:  “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

  • Christ’s joy resides in me. 
  • He keeps my cup overflowing with joy. 
  • I will abide in the Father and the Son.

My mother (she will turn 82 this month) reminds me to make each day precious.

With faith at the forefront of my agenda for 2020, I will use a phrase to better emphasize keeping my faith on track and growing.

  • “Sharpen My Focus”

With God’s guidance, this Grace-driven foundation will consistently build up my spiritual energy.

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Waiting For Rain

 

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What is so special about simple rain?

Have you truly witnessed God’s gift of rain?

 

Everywhere, anticipation of rain

Withering crops crave God’s rainfall today

Farmers wait faithfully for rains to come

Without rain, hearts and plants start to decay

 

The farmland depends on these vital rains

Last year, little rain arrives to help out

Sunny skies chase away clouds too often

“Next year” cries out from thirsty lands of drought

 

Farmers sow their spring crops on faith alone

Waiting for nature to moisten the ground

Praying to the Lord, asking for His rain

Rain arrives, new life rising skyward bound

 

God sends righteousness, in the form of rain

Fulfilling prayers, easing farmers’ pain

From Isaiah 45:8:  “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

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Jesus Will Be With Us

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An early winter blizzard covers the immense ranching country.  The harshness of the storm threatens everyone’s safety, both people and cattle.

Phone lines are disconnected, with most on the ground.  Electricity is off except where well-prepared ranchers turn on generators to provide for their needs.  All roads into each ranch are drifted shut with the heavy, dense snow.

One rancher is overly concerned for the welfare of his family and his cattle herd.  The family is warm and safe inside their home, and they have enough groceries to last for several more days.

However, the cattle stand in harm’s way.  Their water supply and feeding schedule have been disrupted, and the rancher worries about the length of the storm and the consequences for his 300 plus head of Black Angus cows.

At suppertime on the third night of the storm, the atmosphere is tense.  The rancher’s son sees the worry painted on his father’s face.  This faithful, little soul of a five-year old reminds his father with words filled with hope, “Jesus will be with us.”

Overnight the storm begins to abate and move on.  In the morning, crews begin to slowly and carefully clear the roads.  In a matter of hours, they will reach the isolated ranch.

Using his powerful four-wheel tractor with its giant dozer blade, the rancher clears a path to where his precious cattle are nestled against the wall of a massive shelter.  While he makes sure the water is running, and the cattle receive their hay with a helping of rolled oats, he smiles and remembers the faithful words of his young son, “Jesus will be with us.”

Seeking His Guidance

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From Psalm 37:23-24:  “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

God wants us to succeed today

Asking for our patience and trust

Allowing faith to rebuild hope

Studying from His Word, we must

 

Always trusting in our Father

Bringing us guidance and His love

Achieving good through His name

Touching hearts, His joy sings above

 

We are never forsaken, never

Leading, God offers direction

Finding the means, moving forward

Meeting trials with reflection

 

The wicked gather all around

Following the Enemy’s lies

Causing God to judge their follies

Coming Judgment Day will apprise

 

Our Savior’s coming, all waiting

Receiving God’s Grace, what a gift

The Lord standing with the righteous

Accepting His plan, lives not adrift

 

We may still misstep and stumble

Preventing us from falling down

Reaching out, God’s hand guiding us

Fleeing, the thirsty Enemy frowns

 

Through His Word, the Father blesses

Giving generously, all with love

Choosing Jesus, Salvation comes

Seeking God’s guidance, from above

From the words of Dutch priest, writer, and theologian Henri Nouwen:  “A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance.”

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Charles Swindoll Quote

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Do you need some good news?  We can resist the enemy!  His attacks may be directed toward the vulnerable part of your life, but the shield of faith will protect you from them.  You can resist him!

From 1 Peter 5:9:  “Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”

From Ephesians 6:16:  “With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Patsy Clairmont Quote

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Faith is the quiet place within us where we don’t get whiplash every time life tosses us a curve.

From 1 John 5:3-4:  “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

Sailing Away

From Luke 8:23-24:  “And while they were sailing He [Jesus] fell asleep.  A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.  They went to Him and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’  And He woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, they ceased, and there was calm.”

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Sometimes life’s waters become turbulent

God’s seaworthy vessel carries the day

His Word quiets the daily storms we face

With His Spirit, angels leading the way

 

Jesus has walked on the water we sail

Inspiring many to always believe

Encountering rough “Titanic” struggles

Our journey will overcome, the storm leaves

 

Sailing off course, we have a champion

Jesus fathoms, walking ahead of us

Father, Son, Holy Ghost . . . never alone

Following our Savior, in whom we trust

 

God’s faithfulness, sets a perfect heading

Sailing away, His true compass leading

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