Faith’s Risen Place

From Joel 2:12-13:  “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”

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Even in our darkness

Hearing call from God above

Troubled waters’ rising tide

Vanquished by boundless love

 

Caught in sin’s wilderness

Mourning with daily fasting

Come now, embrace repentance

Trusted peace, long-lasting

 

Born in sin’s emptiness

Pursuing redemption’s door

God, create one more clean heart

Wandered away, no more

 

Broken righteous spirit

Escaping evil’s fire pit

Better days waiting ahead

Restored faith now submits

 

Hope’s journey pursues light

Thirsting for faith’s risen place

Glory waits at Calvary

Witnessed in Savior’s grace

 

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From Psalm 51:10-11:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your holy spirit from me.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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It is a waste of time trying to unscrew the inscrutable workings of God.  He honors faith and obedience.

From Acts 5:29:  “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.'”

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

Redemption’s Trusted Drum

From the “General Confession” found in the Book of Common Prayer:  “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done.”

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Skeptics whispering with doubts

Tomorrow shall never come

Priorities breathe empty

Hearing enemy’s distant drum

 

Disciples praise God each day

Indeed, His kingdom shall come

Priorities set on Christ

Hearing blessed, heavenly drum

 

Skeptics gather in darkness

Distant worries always come

Priorities ignore light

Hearing only, that hidden drum

 

Disciples find hope in God

Heaven’s light rises to come

Priorities embrace truth

Hearing faith’s righteous, heartfelt drum

 

Skeptic’s voices now wither

Tomorrow will surely come

Priorities flee darkness

Hearing echoes of faithful drum

 

Disciples accept God’s grace

Through Son’s love, sunrise will come

Priorities witness peace

Hearing redemption’s trusted drum

 

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From 2 John 8-9:  “Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for but may receive a full reward.  Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

The reception of the Holy Spirit is the maintained attitude of the believer.  When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive quickening life from the ascended Lord.

From Luke 24:49:  “And see, I am sending upon you what My Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

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.

Salvation’s Key

From Joel 2:12-13:  “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”

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Earth quakes, full of darkness

Wilderness surrounds thee

Wayward steps, no escape

Misplacing salvation’s key

 

Hope dwells in empty faith

Where is God’s gracious love?

Enemy’s fire burns bright

Obscuring Spirit above

 

Each transgression concealed

Yet, God views every one

Righteous breath covers land

Offering grace to outrun

 

Heart fills with repentance

Every sin be confessed

God’s forgiveness shall come

Redeeming faith’s final quest

 

Christ waits at Calvary

Hidden in faith’s Good News

Hope’s new pathway of peace

Offering love to infuse

 

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From Proverbs 28:13:  “No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

A. W. Pink Quote

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Evangelical repentance is not at the beck and call of the creature.  It is the gift of God.

From Romans 2:4:  “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience?  Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer.  Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers.  This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.

Monday Memories: Morning Peace

From Lamentations 3:22-23:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

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Early morning arrives

Filled with mishmash of thoughts

Searching for peace of mind

Asking God, call the shots

 

Waiting in the kitchen

Prayer time with the Lord

His spirit calms life down

Life’s outlook feels restored

 

Table’s Bible invites

Reading, learning God’s Word

His insight teaches truth

Daily lessons inferred

 

Accepting God’s invite

Dressed for an autumn walk

Dialog moves outside

Let’s continue to talk

 

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From Isaiah 57:19:  “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”

Originally published September, 2020. 

Charles Stanley Quote

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The pressures and burdens of life don’t have to result in despair.

From 2 Corinthians 1:10-11:  “He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on Him we have set our hope that He will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many may give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

Charles Stanley (1932-2023) was an American pastor and Christian writer.  He was dedicated to leading a teaching ministry.

Risen Hope

From Jeremiah 17:7-8:  “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the LordThey shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.”

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Coming to faith’s crossroads

Two unique trails offer choice

Trusting selves to wilderness

Or, following God’s voice

 

Like tree planted with grace

Waters nourish every root

Filling with life, staying green

Bearing always rich fruit

 

Sustained through steadfast trust

Even when darkness brings drought

Sustaining each righteous breath

Finding God’s faithful sprouts

 

Sunrise at Calvary

Resurrection’s risen hope

Witnessing His empty tomb

Grasping Christ’s promised rope

 

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From 1 Corinthians 15:20-22:  “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.  For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”

Richard Baxter Quote

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This life was not intended to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it.

From John 6:35:  “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.'”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) was an English-born, Puritan pastor and Christian theologian.