Ruth Bell Graham Quote

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Down through the years, I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed.

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.”

Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007) was an American Christian author.  Born to American parents who were dedicated to medical missionary work in China, she would later become the wife of evangelist Billy Graham.  They met when both were attending Wheaton College in Illinois.

Pursuing Truth

Taken from the words of German priest and Christian reformer, Martin Luther:  “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

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Pursuing truth within

Embracing Father’s Word

Meditating daily

Unlocking faith’s password

 

Father’s viewpoint of time

Filled with patient outlook

Each believer welcomed

Scripture’s trustworthy book

 

Father comes to gather

Those conquered, without peace

Light replaces darkness

Mercy set to release

 

Father shares living bread

Genuine grace sows trust

Fed from each Scripture verse

Righteousness to entrust

 

Transforming man’s spirit

Receiving precious gift

Accepting Father’s love

Witnessing hope’s airlift

 

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From 2 Peter 3:18:  “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quote

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The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart.

From Psalm 118;24:  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

German-born Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident.  Many of his writings express the role of Christianity in mankind’s daily lives.  He paid the ultimate price for his activism against the Nazi regime during World War II.

Monday Memories: Garden’s Fountain

From Song of Solomon 4:12:  “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.”

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Heavenly garden, locked and closed

Eternal fountain, sealed and dry

Searching, Salvation’s hidden key

Faithless works, blinding sinful eyes

 

Body, soul, spirit in despair

Soul without spirit, dead to sin

Body without soul, starkest death

Life’s spirit, missing God’s linchpin

 

Holy Spirit, always at work

Lasting, heart-filled renovations

Infused into life’s coldest heart

Building restored soul’s foundation

 

Christ choreographs love-filled hearts

Breathing life into each saved soul

Lighting our way to Salvation

Father’s love leads to Christ’s patrol

 

Arriving at Heaven’s garden

Receiving its eternal key

Fountain flows with living water

Come rest under Salvation’s tree

 

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From Song of Solomon 4:16:  “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind!  Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad.  Let my beloved come to His garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”

Originally published February, 2021.

Henri Nouwen Quote

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Joy does not simply happen to us.  We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.

From Psalm 16:11:  “You show me the path of life.  In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

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

From Savior’s Light

From Psalm 105:1-2:  “O give thanks to the Lord; call on His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonderful works.”

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Eyes of eagerness

Scanning earthly realm

Witnessed from Heaven’s light

Finding Christ at faith’s helm

 

Every miracle

Generating hope

Touched by Bethlehem’s light

Grasping Messiah’s rope

 

Blessed with wonderful

Singing hymns of praise

Confirmed through divine light

Teaching from faith ablaze

 

Truth fills worship’s tone

Tasting daily bread

Nourished from Savior’s light

Redeeming through blood shed

 

Eternity’s peace

Overflowing grace

Summoned to trusted light

Bringing joy to each face

 

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From Psalm 105:5-6:  “Remember the wonderful works He has done, His miracles and the judgments He has uttered, O offspring of His servant Abraham, children of Jacob, His chosen ones.”

Leonard Ravenhill Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

There are three persons living in each of us:  the one we think we are, the one other people think we are, and the one God knows we are.

From Ephesians 2:4-5:  “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.”

Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) was a British Christian author.  Many of his chosen themes focused on prayer and revival.

Heavenly Blessings (Elfchen Series #292)

Heartened

Depending

Upon Father

Guiding light embraced

Faith’s trusted path rebuilt

Hope

Promised

Rescued

By Father

Hearing morning’s cry

Forgiveness removes heavy burdens

Peace

Comforted

Accepting

Father’s grace

Nourishing daily strength

Filled with infinite love

Joy

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.

Destination of Peace

From Exodus 17:1-2:  “The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded.  They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.  So they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.'”

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Surrounded by wilderness

God’s people seek hope’s waters

Responding with His goodness

Thirst quenched in sons and daughters

 

Shepherd’s eternal presence

His flock never left alone

Lifting eyes toward heavens

Trust in God, faith’s fabric sewn

 

Sinful stones must be softened

Hunger lingers tomorrow

Calling all to repentance

Mercy’s waters always flow

 

God ignites fire of judgment

Faith’s journey seeks lighted way

Praying for obedience

Wayward steps find grace this day

 

Wilderness tests man’s resolve

Enemy’s darkest shadows

Following Christ, our Savior

Destination of peace glows

 

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From Psalm 95:6-7:  “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.”