Fire Always Bright

Photo by mas_hha on Pexels.com

Darkness masks life’s landscape

Hiding sin’s heartless shame

Trying to flee past hurts

Shadows always aflame

 

Trials sometimes arise

Shrouding foundation’s cracks

Concealing hell’s façade

Tomorrow painted black

 

Misery breathes as one

Filling with cold despair

Seeing nothing beyond

Jesus descends with care

 

Dependence upon grace

Acknowledging past sins

Kneeling at Calvary

Forgiveness calling in

 

Redemption comes through Christ

Extending mercy’s light

Transforming soul’s battles

Spirit’s fire always bright

 

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

Watchman Nee Quote

Photo by Daniel & Hannah Snipes on Pexels.com

Since this life is God’s and cannot die, it follows that everyone born anew into possessing this life is said to have eternal life.

From Matthew 25:44-46:  “Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’  Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher.  He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs.  Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.

Monday Memories: From Death to Life

From Isaiah 64:6: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Photo by Kaique Rocha on Pexels.com

Coming into this harsh world

Born spiritually dead

Ruled by darkest deceptions

Sinful nature fills life’s thread

 

Do we deserve God’s goodness?

Facing our Holy Lord’s wrath

Separated by our sins

Satan lights a wayward path

 

Our lives resemble darkness

Righteous acts, thin and meager

Offering nothing of value

Father’s true love, remains eager

 

Calling upon the Lord’s name

Deliver us from our sins

God, the Potter, molding us

Transforming the clay, He wins

 

Once living under the flesh

Filled with darkest death and sin

By Holy Grace, saved through faith

Walking with Christ, life’s linchpin

 

Placing virgin faith in Christ

In spirit, alive through Him

Body and blood, Cross vanquished

Sins pardoned, new life in Him

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

From Ephesians 2:4-6:  “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Richard J. Foster Quote

Photo by Tiana on Pexels.com

When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight.

From Isaiah 55:8-9:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LordFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Richard J. Foster (born 1942) is an American author and Christian theologian.

His Gentle Spirit

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Trusting heavenly Father

His gentle spirit always near

Offering sweetest taste of grace

Morning’s sunrise shall appear

 

Ruling over universe

Rod with staff, trusted comfort’s strength

Bearing conditional love

Father closer than arm’s length

 

Giving thanks for His presence

Father’s hands crafting faith’s high road

Singing praises for His efforts

Eternity’s seeds now sowed

 

Hearing when righteous cry out

His refuge sends rescue’s clear light

Redeeming all crushed in spirit

Father’s love shares His delight

 

Living in His blessed house

Faith’s steady journey now fulfilled

Feeling Father’s gentle spirit

Salvation forever filled

 

Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

From Psalm 27:4:  “One thing I asked of the Lord; this I seek:  to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in our calculations.

From Psalm 37:5:  “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher.  Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons.  Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.  I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Serving as His Light

My poem serves as an introduction for praising the gift that God has shared with my dear wife, Colleen.  From a bag filled with a collection of writings, she has crafted a book from her faith-filled heart about family and God.

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels.com

Mother’s faith-filled love

Embracing Father’s grace

Teaching her daughters

About Heaven’s special place

 

Daughters’ faith blooming

Accepting Father’s love

Learning from His Word

His presence reigning above

 

Mother’s writing pen

Following Father’s heart

Serving as His light

Book begins initial start

 

Daughters growing up

Living in Father’s peace

Welcoming next steps

Faith maturing, piece by piece

 

Colleen fills so blessed to share God’s light with others.  After nearly seven months in the publishing process, her book is now in print.  The book is currently available on Amazon, but it will soon be featured on other platforms such as Barnes & Noble.

Henry David Thoreau Quote

Photo by Joice Rivas on Pexels.com

The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.

From Psalm 126:6:  “Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American naturalist, poet, and philosopher.  Influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of his writings reflected upon living in natural surroundings.

John Eldredge Quote

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Security is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of Jesus.

From John 10:  28-30:  “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, in regard to what He has given Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”

John Eldredge (born 1960) is an American author, counselor, and lecturer on Christianity.  More details are available on his website:  wildatheart.org.

Charles Swindoll Quote

Photo by Yunus Tuu011f on Pexels.com

God specializes in turning the mundane into the meaningful.  Whether you see Him or not, He is at work in your life as this very moment.

From Zepaniah 3:17:  “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will renew you in His love; He will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.”

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