Enthusiasm’s Joy

From Mark 12:29-31:  “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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Another blessed day

Celebrate Father’s goodness

Unlimited gifts of grace

From Heaven’s sacred place

 

With each day, come to serve

Opportunity’s freedom

Spelled out through Christ’s faithful love

Gathered from high above

 

Sunset follows sunrise

Encouraged by Spirit’s breath

Honor Father with actions

More than just transactions

 

Share kindness with others

Holds enthusiasm’s joy

Love Jesus with one’s whole heart

Hope journeys to fresh start

 

Excitement’s daily peace

Truth in Father’s righteousness

Faith’s trustworthy bridge designed

Follow with steps aligned

 

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From Matthew 5:6:  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Taken From a Church Sign

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Make your church grow:  some assembly required.

From 1 Corinthians 3:9:  “For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Monday Memories: Abandon Your Ways

From John 3:5:  “Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

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Living a dark life of sin

Failing to follow God’s Word

Walking as slaves in the flesh

“Abandon your ways” . . . unheard

 

Falling, ignoring our Lord

Leaving Him for empty thoughts

Taking our path, darkness prowls

Sinful hunger calls the shots

 

Consumed by life in the flesh

There awaits a better way

God never abandons us

Offering His Grace each day

 

God gives Himself entirely

Spirit marches to our hearts

Delivers His greatest gift

God’s Son offers a fresh start

 

Christ becomes our foundation

Jesus walking where we walk

Exchanging His life for us

Shepherd gathering His flock

 

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From John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Originally published September, 2020.

Father’s Truth

From Psalm 68:4:  “Sing to God; sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the clouds—His name is the Lord—be exultant before Him.”

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Singing with praises to Father above

Filling high heavens with jubilation

Forgiving every stumble through His love

Writing righteousness on heart of each nation

 

Leading His people toward mercy’s light

Forsaking darkness, hidden far below

Washing away sin, with snow very white

Living where river of peace always flows

 

Leaving wilderness for greener ridgetop

Quenching faith’s thirst with living water

Sowing His grace among each fertile crop

Blessing family, each son and daughter

 

Hearing Father’s truth, spoken through His Word

Raising up eternal hope, undeterred

 

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From Psalm 68:35:  “Awesome is God in His sanctuary, the God of Israel; He gives power and strength to His people.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you.  God’s experiments always succeed.

From Romans 12:1-2:  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.  Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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.

Charles Stanley Quote

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God is constantly working in our hearts and circumstances to achieve His will for our lives.

From Proverbs 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

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

Lettie B. Cowman Quote

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Do not limit the limitless God!  With Him, face the future unafraid because you are never alone.

From Jeremiah 29:11-12:  “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you.”

Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960) was an American writer of Christian devotional books.

Journey’s Destiny

From Psalm 84:1-2:  “How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

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Future expectations

Journey’s path filled with light

Another page to open

Tomorrow looking bright

 

Peace dwells in Father’s heart

Journey’s joy hears His Word

Hope’s breath gathers strength from Him

Faith prospers from what’s spurred

 

Family, friends, career

Journey’s love means much more

Kneeling at cross in prayer

Savior cancels sin’s score

 

Challenges shall arise

Journey’s road appears blocked

Trust in Jesus sends faith’s key

Salvation now unlocked

 

Darkness breathing no more

Journey’s destiny bright

Christ delivers victory

Future filled with His light

 

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From Psalm 84:11:  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor.  No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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The hand of God casts a shadow of the cross across your life.  Sit down at the foot of the cross and deliberately submit your soul to His mighty hand.

From Romans 9:16:  “So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy.”

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

J. C. Ryle Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Obedience . . . is faith visible, faith acting, and faith manifest.  It is the test of real discipleship among the Lord’s people.

From Deuteronomy 30:2-3:  “Return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, then the Lord your God will return you from your captivity and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you.”

John Charles (J. C.) Ryle (1816-1900) was an Anglican bishop in the United Kingdom.