Because the Christian has the Lord Himself dwelling within, the potential for inner strength is unlimited. Only the indwelling, empowering Christ can give someone that much confidence.
From Psalm 107:9: “For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.”
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
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Triumphantly
Jesus enters a joyous city
Jerusalem sings
Praising His name . . . Hosanna!
Witnessing
Emotional betrayal
Denying Christ
Then a rooster crows
Watching
Stunning procession fills the streets
Mocking with scorn
Would-be king, carrying our Cross
Hopes
Dashed by cruel Roman justice
Absent of sin
Son of Man, never to walk free
Numbness
With tears, seeing and hearing
Experiencing anguish
Horror at a blood-stained Cross
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Silence
Covering the land, Father weeps
Messiah suffers
Many rejecting our Holy God
Hearing
Good News on Easter morning
Our Savior
Defeating sin and death
Empty
Dark tomb proclaims God’s plan
Jesus Christ
Risen! Reigning forevermore
Connecting
Dots between manger and Cross
Our Father
Love for us never wanes
Lingering
In the shadow of a criminal’s cross
Singing Alleluia!
To lasting, true meaning of the Cross
Glory
Residing forever in the Cross
Good Shepherd
Caring for His precious flock
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From Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Originally published April, 2020.
Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second.
From Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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.
Sharing
Spirit’s light
Motivating one another
Love-filled grace working
Encouragement
Trusting
Father’s Word
Depths of understanding
Lighting faith’s bold path
Righteousness
Accepting
Resurrection’s light
Witnessed at Calvary
Jesus paid our debts
Love
Every man’s life is a plan of God.
From Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
Horace Bushnell (1802-1876) was an American pastor and Christian theologian.
From Psalm 17:5: “My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
Day after day
Another journey waits
Absorbing Savior’s Word
Keeping our righteous path straight
Day after day
Enemy surrounds thee
Witnessing Savior’s love
Grasping His truth, always free
Day after day
Darkness shames life of sin
Rising, Savior confronts
Locking faith’s righteous linchpin
Day after day
Blindness in faith creeps in
Praying for Savior’s grace
Casting His light from within
Day after day
Hope finds security
Blessing from Savior’s heart
Bestowing His purity
From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
How wonderful that God personally cares about those things that worry us and prey upon our thoughts. Not a single nagging, aching, worrisome, stomach-tensing, blood-pressure-raising thought escapes His notice.
From 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.
Each day life seems too normal
Monotonous and mundane
Beautiful bundle arrives
Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain
Blessing us each precious day
Spontaneous surprises
Praising our Father’s great name
Goodness comes in all sizes
Reaching depths of every sea
Loving each generation
Eclipsing highest heavens
Honoring God’s creation
Awesome and vast deeds come forth
Witnessing God’s mighty acts
Glorious splendor singing
Filling what life truly lacks
God’s everlasting kingdom
Harvesting abundant gifts
Faithful words stir greatest feats
Balancing life’s slips and shifts
Singing of God’s righteousness
Showering with compassion
Tasting His Holy goodness
Remembering His passion
Blessing His name forever
Amen
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Originally published June, 2020.
Our position in the Lord affects everything about us–attitudes, emotions, conversation, and conduct.
From Ephesians 1:20-21: “God put this power to work in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.”
From Psalm 107:28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress.”
Filled with hunger and thirst
Delivering mercy’s love
His wonderful works breathe
Living bread from God above
Bowed down under sin’s weight
Seeing all darkness and gloom
Chains of bondage hold tight
Witnessing Lord’s empty tomb
Stirred with faith’s reborn strength
Grasping Christ’s confident hand
Mighty waters run free
Rising above fertile lands
Transformed trust in God’s Word
Fixing each eye upon light
Vision’s ultimate hope
Living within Shepherd’s sight
Delivered from troubles
Receiving His steadfast love
Goodness reigns forever
Giving thanks to God above
From Psalm 107:31: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind.”
Big Sky Buckeye 