Near to God

From James 4:7-8:  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

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Near to God

Treasured gift

Love’s presence

Faith never adrift

 

Faith in God

Prayer calls

Love’s patience

Grace lifts each downfall

 

Grace from God

Hope receives

Love’s goodness

Trust within believes

 

Trust in God

Peace draws near

Love’s result

Light overwhelms fear

 

Light from God

Chains shattered

Love’s mission

Darkness now scattered

 

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From the words of American Christian author, Angela Thomas Pharr:  “But what we can know, what we can settle in our soul, is that He is faithful to come when we call.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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Disturbing times should remind us we are only pilgrims on this earth.  Our citizenship is in a heavenly kingdom that can never be shaken.

From Psalm 46:1-3:  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”

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

Faith’s Harvest

From 1 Samuel 17:48-49:  “When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.”

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Within Father’s intentions

Seeding His daily grace

Overflowing with love

Faith’s harvest to embrace

 

David carries trusted sling

Sowing faith with hope’s trust

Harboring Father’s strength

Goliath’s armor rusts

 

Moses discards royal roots

Seeking God’s righteous hand

Leading all to freedom

His staff reaps hope as planned

 

Dorcas, disciple of Jesus

Planting works, full of love

Dying, then breathing free

Alive through grace above

 

Son of God, born in manger

Raising Gospel’s design

Leading man’s every step

Redemption’s finish line

 

Faith’s fruits transformed to greatness

Tasting hope from God’s Word

Empowering each seed

Harvest’s vision unblurred

 

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From Acts 9:39-40:  “So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs.  All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed.  He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’  Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.”

Kurt Warner Quote

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When you speak and represent the person of Jesus Christ in all actions of your life, people are drawn to that.  You set the standard with your actions.

From 2 Corinthians 3:18:  “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Kurt Warner (born 1977) is a former American professional football player.  As a Christian, he has regularly praised the positive influence of God in his life, along with his family and teammates.

Mercy’s Steady Hand (Elfchen Series #250)

United

Standing

With Jesus

Encouraged to forgive

Making peace with past

Together

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Revitalized

Nourishing

Faith’s strengths

Capacity to forgive

Maturing in spiritual waters

Growth

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Trusted

Receiving

Father’s counsel

Acts of forgiveness

Filling with His light

Grace

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Lewis B. Smedes Quote

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Forgiving does not erase the bitter past.  A healed memory is not a deleted memory.  Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember.  We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.

From Ephesians 4:32:  “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002) was an American author and Christian theologian.  

Charles Swindoll Quote

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When you worry about what you don’t have, you won’t be able to enjoy what you have.

From Matthew 6:25:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

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

Cleansed Heart

From Psalm 119:1-2:  “Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LordHappy are those who keep His decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart.”

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Faith’s steady journey

Walking in God’s way

Keeping His decrees

Spirit sings each day

 

Glories of God’s law

Marking path ahead

Embracing His Word

Faithful, daily bread

 

Righteousness leading

Grasping trusted rope

Fixing eyes on God

Faith seals promised hope

 

God remains steadfast

Sharing divine love

Treasuring His flock

Grace flows from above

 

Commandments followed

Running to God’s light

Forgiving man’s sin

Cleansed heart taking flight

 

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From Psalm 119:14-16:  “I delight in the way of Your decrees as much as in all riches.  I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.  I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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Christians should reflect Jesus to the world so that all can share in the joy of salvation.

From Galatians 2:19-20:  “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

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

Filled with Grace

From Psalm 119:105:  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

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Early morning surroundings

Freshly brewed coffee now poured

Moments of light compounding

Conversation with faith’s Lord

 

Bible’s pages reopened

Study begins with God’s Word

Grace knocking, heart now opened

More than coffee being stirred

 

Gentle spirit settles in

Wisdom seeks receptive ear

Father finds trusted plug-in

Lessons become crystal clear

 

Coffee cup now filled with grace

Sunrise seals Savior’s snapshot

Rising in this humble place

Redemption forever bought

 

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From Ephesians 1:7:  “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”