Special Guest Post: New Life Has Just Begun

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You think my life is dull.

Your judgement has been made.

You haven’t given me a chance.

You’ve cast the part I’ve played.

But listen, friend.

Comprehend.

It’s far from the end when you give yourself to Christ.

New life will just begin!

 

We have fun too.

Life is not a drag.

We love to smile and laugh,

when things begin to lag.

Each day is a new adventure.

Each day is a joyful song.

Each day is a bright beginning,

laughing, loving, growing strong!

 

You think I have no friends.

That’s where you’re really wrong

Because the friends I have are true.

They last a lifetime long.

So, listen now.

Find out how.

You can see right now if you give your life to Christ.

New life will just begin!

 

We have fun too.

Life is not a drag.

We love to smile and laugh,

when things begin to lag.

Each day is a new adventure.

Each day is a joyful song.

Each day is a bright beginning,

laughing, loving, growing strong!

 

Today’s poem was written by my wife, Colleen.  It is another selection from her recently published book, BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART. 

Her work has been accepted to become part of a local bookstore’s Christian and Family collection.  Her own words describe the book:

BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART contains stories, devotions and poetry for the adults, activities to do with your children, and fun little songs.  The devotions and poetry will strongly open up your faith walk to more of God’s light.  Doing the fun activities and singing little songs with your children will bring smiles to everyone’s heart.

J. B. Phillips Quote

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Christ is the aperture through which the immensity and magnificence of God can be seen.

From John 14:6-7:  “ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.'”

J. B. (John Bertram) Phillips (1906-1982) was an English Bible translator, Christian author, and Anglican pastor.

Faith’s Wholeness (Elfchen Series #265)

Empowerment

Following

Truth’s path

God’s trusted light

Filled with renewing hope

Preparing

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Destiny

Navigating

Journey ahead

God’s defining promises

Hope front and center

Encouraging

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Validation

Embracing

Eternity’s joy

God’s merciful love

Hope fills another heart

Overflowing

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This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Oswald Chambers Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome.

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.”

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.

Billy Graham Quote

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Too many Christians have geared their program to please, to entertain, and to gain favor from this world.  We are concerned with how much, instead of how little, like this age we can become.

From John 15:19:  “ If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own.  Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Billy Graham (1918-2018) was an American Christian evangelist.

Transformation From Within

From Titus 2:11-12:  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.”

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Creator’s grace at work

Chips away at inner soul

Molding changes with purpose

Character becomes whole

 

Spirit calmly at work

Transformation from within

Leading with heavenly light

Word’s breath no longer thin

 

Savior’s presence at work

Every parable speaks

Teaching with His gentle touch

Mercy leads to each peak

 

Faith’s endurance at work

Nope nurtured in Christ above

Maturing with each seed sown

Confident in His love

 

Man’s faithfulness at work

Warmed by each morning’s sunrise

Following God’s commandments

Integrity shall rise

 

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From Hebrews 6:17-18:   “In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.”

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.

Journey of Hope (Elfchen Series #264)

Forgiveness

Stumbling

Through darkness

Sin’s fading shadow

Witnessing light at Calvary

Rising

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Truthfulness

Rising

Morning’s faithfulness

Father shares blessings

Word nourished with prayer

Leading

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Resilient

Leading

With righteousness

Shepherd’s steady voice

Bringing to tranquil waters

Trusting

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James H. Aughey Quote

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God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.

From Hebrews 10:22-23:  “Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful.”

James H. Aughey (1828-1911) was an American minister.  During the Civil War, he was imprisoned and scheduled to be executed for his anti-Secession and pro-Union beliefs.  Fortunately, he was able to escape from his Confederate captors and reached the lines of the Union army.

Called to Forgive

From Ephesians 4:31-32:  “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

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Faith filled with truth from Father

Anger rests with setting sun

Leaving quicksand’s bitterness

Forgiven through mercy’s Son

 

Eyes upon Calvary’s cross

Ultimate action of grace

Forgiven through Savior’s blood

His love takes sin’s former place

 

We, too, are called to forgive

Ourselves as well as others

Casting aside emotions

Now loving one another

 

Holding back words of darkness

Kindness leads each blessed day

Forgiving as Christ forgives

Holy Spirit leads faith’s way

 

Walking in shadow of grace

Forgiveness mends one more heart

Embracing love’s character

Trust in hope’s renewing start

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Max Lucado:  “Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.”