Monday Memories: Calming Our Fears

From the words of Dr. Martin Luther King:  “Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.  Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.”

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Worry arrives with concerns never to come

Building upon past fears, stoking future ones

Life’s landscape fills with looming mountains

Instead of gentle molehills, fear gathers and stuns

 

Concerns about future challenges come forth

Transforming into worries, fueling more fear

Darkest clouds come together and gather

Who will grab the wheel and start to steer?

 

Waiting for our Lord, He renews our strength

Living by faith, His Word restores our soul

Rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering

Renewed by the Spirit, we feel more whole

 

God always walks with us, seek Him in prayer

Darkest valleys ahead, His love casts out fears

With compassion for our sufferings, hear His Word

Comforted by His rod and staff, God never veers

 

Asking of our Father, seeking His counsel

Bringing clearer witness, through His precise scope

His guidance renews our hearts, calming fears

His wisdom touches minds, filled with Gospel hope

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From Mark 5:35-36:  “While He was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’  But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.'”

Originally published June, 2020.

Elmer L. Towns Quote

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Just as my mother reminded me to live up to the reputation of my family name, we all need to be reminded to live up to the reputation of of the name of Jesus.

From Philippians 2:9-10:  “Therefore God exalted Him even more highly and gave Him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

Elmer L. Towns (born 1932) is an American pastor and Christian writer.  Along with Jerry Falwell, he co-founded Liberty University in 1971.

Trustworthy Threesome (Elfchen Series #212)

Father

Courageously

Standing tall

Trusting the Almighty

Strengthening through His benevolence

Hopeful

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Son

Faithfully

Accepting Savior

Teaching with truth

Standing on firmest Rock

Righteousness

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Spirit

Glory’s

Renewing faith

Uniting presence’s breath

Fulfilling with hope’s peace

Witness

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Gayle Sayers Quote

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The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.

From Proverbs 3:6:  “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

Gayle Sayers (1943-2020) was an American professional football player.  Nicknamed the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers was gracious with receiving his many football honors.  Most of all, his life’s philosophy was reflected in this quote.

Faith’s Tomorrow

From Psalm 142:3-4:  “When my spirit is faint, You know my way.  In the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me.  Look on my right hand and see:  there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.”

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Floundering at life’s darkest end

Feeling trust in patience sinking

Plunging ever deeper . . . deeper

Faith’s emptiness never shrinking

 

Wandering away from Shepherd

Seeing only darkness ahead

Feeling last breath of hope fading

Faith missing blessed, daily bread

 

Following one more false promise

Running into final dead end

Finding lost anchor’s solid rock

Faith at last, refuses to bend

 

Rising with hope’s trusted beacon

Lighting way on Emmaus Road

Praying without ceasing to God

Faith’s living water, overflowed

 

Worshipping in Gospel’s safe place

Facing each new day without fear

Tracking to follow Shepherd’s voice

Faith’s tomorrow, forever clear

 

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From Psalm 23:1-2:  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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Acceptance is resting in God’s goodness, believing that He has all things under His control.

From Proverbs 16:9:  “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”

Monday Memories: Follow His Road Map

From Proverbs 30:5:  “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

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Feeling weary and lost

How can any prevail?

Desolate road ahead

Actions will surely fail

 

Lost in darkness of life

Our Father lights the way

Filled with His righteousness

God’s road map saves our day

 

Our Lord’s Word speaking truth

Daily meditation

Bible’s meanings ring clear

Leading to salvation

 

Study God’s Holy Word

Share its hope and Good News

Trusting each promise

His commands, we must choose

 

Inhale, breathe it all in

Fed by the “Bread of Life”

Quenched by “Living Water”

Transforming daily life 

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From the words of American-born missionary and Christian theologian, E. Stanley Jones:  “The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.”

Originally published July, 2020.

Oswald Chambers Quote

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So we are to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time.

From Psalm 25:12:  “Who are they who fear the Lord?  He will teach them the way that they should choose.”

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.

Love’s Lasting Imprint

From Psalm 9:1-2:  “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds  I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”

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Singing highest praises

Receiving daily gifts

Blessings from Savior’s breath

Steering man from sinful drift

 

Witnessing blood-stained cross

Declaring Christ, our Lord

Rising from darkened tomb

Crushing evil’s sinful sword

 

Suffering no longer

Driving fear from each heart

Warming to Heaven’s light

Forgiving sins, life’s fresh start

 

Trusting in God above

Giving thanks for His grace

Bringing faith renewed strength

Erasing sin’s dark embrace

 

Sending peace down to earth

Designing joy’s blueprint

Raising new hope through truth

Marking love’s lasting imprint

 

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From Psalm 9:9-10:  “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Max Lucado Quote

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We love to be with the ones we love.  So does God.  How else do you explain what He did?  Between Him and us there was a distance, and He could’t bear it.  So He did something about it.

From Philippians 2:6-8:  “Who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a human, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”