Charles Swindoll Quote

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God has some extremely exciting things in mind for His children.  He knows exactly where He’s taking us.  Our job is to obey.

From Isaiah 41:10:  “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.”

Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.

Joy’s Vision

From Psalm 17:15:  “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding Your likeness.”

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Darkness surrounds

Searching for light

God’s vision breathes

Faith’s trusted Knight

 

Peace from God’s Word

Lighting new road

Vision forgives

Mercy’s love code

 

Conscience wakens

Beholding God

Renewed vision

No longer flawed

 

Prayer’s answers

Hearing God’s voice

Hope’s fresh vision

Truth’s blessed choice

 

Purest in heart

Tasting God’s grace

Joy’s vision found

Faith’s trusted place

 

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From Matthew 5:8:  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Reinhold Niebuhr Quote

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Serenity Prayer (written by Reinhold Neibuhr)

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

From Philippians 4:6-7:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971) was an American theologian as well as a commentator on public affairs.  He was a professor at Union Theological Seminary for over 30 years.

Lasting Peace (Elfchen Series #274)

Eternal

Faith’s

Divine garden

Seeded without weeds

Nourished with Living Water

Maturity

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Everyday

Hope’s

Fertile soil

Cultivated with grace

Sunrise offers endless bounty

Harvest

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Benevolence

Joy’s

Fruitful journey

Sustained with love

Sown with trusted hands

Gratitude

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Zac Poonen Quote

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If you seek to please men, you can never be a servant of the Lord.

From Psalm 100:1-2:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.  Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”

Zac Poonen (born 1939) has been serving the Lord as a Christian Bible teacher for nearly 60 years in his home country of India.

Hope Breathes

From Psalm 146:1-2:  “Praise the LordPraise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”

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Sunrise filling eastern sky

Singing praises to God’s love

Trusting in His divine Word

Hope breathes form heavens above

 

New day faithfully arrives

Reigning forever with grace

Nourishing with righteousness

Hope breathes from Savior’s birthplace

 

Prophecy’s promises true

Holding mercy in His hands

Sending His Son in man’s place

Hope breathes from Father’s heartland

 

Faith pursues with endurance

Approaching eternal light

Witnessing redemption’s peace

Hope breathes from Christ’s risen flight

 

Savior’s precious blood now shed

Granting forgiveness of sins

Calling all to walk with Him

Hope breathes from His love within

 

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From 1 Timothy 6:12:  “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Henri Nouwen Quote

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Jesus must become the heart of my heart, the fire of my life, the love of my soul, the bridegroom of my spirit.

From Ephesians 3:16-17:  “I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.

Monday Memories: Lonely Heart

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Alone and isolated

Empty calendar pages

Absent family and friends

Life walking in Dark Ages

 

Hour’s darkest shadows lengthen

Day’s hope missteps and stumbles

Sudden tears, any moment

Faith now tumbles, then crumbles

 

Day awakens, same old drill

Memories fade, bit by bit

Miles from nowhere, so alone

Silence fills heart, not close-knit

 

Few good days dwarfed by bad ones

Sunny smiles becoming few

Lonely heart needs titan’s lift

Shining light makes its breakthrough

 

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Make it a point today to reach out to someone who could use a warm hug, a trusting smile, or a kind word.  Lonely hearts fill many people with emptiness; share your light.

Originally published January, 2021.

Faith’s Vision

From Luke 17:5-6:  “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’  The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.'”

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Remaining at life’s station

Waiting, always watching

Living with righteousness

Faith’s vision of salvation

 

Trusting in hope’s fortitude

Adopting God’s patience

Committing to His ways

Faith in Him shall be renewed

 

Believing in Savior’s grace

Facing life’s rising tides

Revealing light to come

Faith rekindled to embrace

 

Repenting of sinful ways

Floundering no longer

Accepting forgiveness

Faith powering up each day

 

Pulsating heart filled with joy

Hearing God’s truthful voice

Witnessing through Christ’s love

Faith gathers peace to deploy

 

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English hymnwriter and theologian, Frederick William Faber (1814-1863), wrote the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers” in 1847.  The lyrics reflect upon an inspiring vision of faith at work.

Andrew Peterson Quote

The burden God places on each of us is to become who we are meant to be.  We are most fully ourselves when Christ most fully lives in us and through us.

From 1 John 2:5-6:  “Whoever obeys His word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection.  By this we know that we are in Him:  whoever says, ‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk in the same way as He walked.”

Andrew Peterson (born 1974) is an American Christian singer-songwriter and author.