The next time you’re disappointed, don’t panic and don’t give up. Just be patient and let God remind you He’s still in control.
From Luke 8:15: “But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with endurance.“
If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!
From Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.“
Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was a Christian author and speaker. She and her husband, Jim, spent time as missionaries in Ecuador.
From Luke 24:6-7: “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.”
Enemy’s motives
Darkness full of fraud
Life spiraling down
Behind his facade
Trapped, with no escape
Caught in evil’s net
Each wave crashing down
Sinking deeper yet
Flowing river’s faith
Never left alone
Christ walks on water
Freed from this millstone
Hearing trumpet sound
Redemption’s surge swells
Blessed assurance
Now soul shall be well
Blood pays any cost
Sins nailed to this tree
Witness empty tomb
Rising, Light now free!
The hymn “When Peace, Like a River” inspired the writing of this poem. The lyrics were written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873. The song is sometimes titled from a line in the popular refrain, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
When we are first saved, our steps are small and uncertain, but as we practice and mature in Christ, walking by the Spirit becomes a normal and essential part of our faith.
From Galatians 5:24-25: “And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
On a sunny, early morning, the old man decided to go fishing. He drove out to his favorite fishing hole along the river. Two teenage boys were also fishing near the same area.
After a spell, the boys migrated over to the old man’s spot. The brothers shared their names, Jaylen and Caden. They were fine looking boys, and pretty darn good fishermen.
In about an hour, each had caught 2-3 fish, while the old man was shut out. Perhaps he needed to take a break and think of a different plan.
The brothers were about ready to leave, but they hung around for a bit. Soon the conversation turned to their personal relationships with Jesus Christ. Each was a Christian, and had accepted Jesus as their Savior.
The old man had never considered experiencing a relationship with God. There was a Bible somewhere at home, or at least he thought so. The last time he attended church was for a dear friend’s funeral a couple of years ago.
As the boys continued to share their faith with the old man, time seemed to stand still. Without knowing it, Caden and Jaylen were exchanging their efforts to fish for trout for an opportunity to fish for the Lord. Their little bit of fishing was replaced with blessed evangelism, and now they were casting their net—filled with lots of God.
After about 30 minutes, the brothers checked the time and finished up their conversation with the old man. They needed to get the day’s catch home for their mother to prepare for supper.
The old man thanked them for the conversation, and gave them a wave good-bye. He looked at his own fishing scorecard, and he was still winless in the fishing department.
But, he felt like a winner in the faith department. He picked up his fishing gear and headed up from the river. As he began to drive away in his battered pick-up truck, he made a vow to find that phantom Bible at home.
Jaylen and Caden invited the old man to visit their church for Sunday’s worship service. Because of their encouragement, he told them he would attend. The brothers also promised to share some of their fishing tips with him.
From Matthew 4:18-19: “As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And He said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.'”
Enduring
Endless storms
Light’s navigation calms
Returning to tranquil waters
Faith
Surrounding
Darkness overcome
Light’s merciful hand
Leading to higher ground
Hope
Sustaining
Light answers
Prayer fills heart
Continued devotion to Jesus
Grace
From Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Photo by Jarosław Miś on Pexels.com
Life tempting us with enticing shortcuts
Most of these never seem to bring success
Gods speaks honestly, always asking us
Did we burrow deeper, rather than guess?
Clever world flooding us with remedies
Formulas for a more successful life
Simple, surefire, easy to use, guaranteed
God’s formula, always true without strife
Never shy from following the Father
He doesn’t promise a road without bumps
God offers promises with blessed love
His way leading us forward, our hearts jump
Requiring patience, life’s a marathon
God remains our Rock, faithful and steadfast
His blessings fill our lives in countless ways
Our ship sails, with eternal hope amassed
Losing hope at times, seeking a quick fix
Encouragement and trust arrives from God
Offering us Grace, filled with peace and joy
Grateful, He accepts us, totally flawed
Photo by Sanaan Mazhar on Pexels.com
From the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “We ought to make some progress, however little, every day, and show some increase of fervor. We ought to act as if we were at war–as, indeed, we are–and never relax until we have won the victory.”
Originally published March, 2020.
To have a faith, therefore, or a trust in anything, where God hath not promised, is plain idolatry, and a worshipping of thine own imagination instead of God.
From Deuteronomy 5:8: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.”
William Tyndale (c. 1494 – c.1536) was an English Biblical scholar and linguist. He became a leading figure in the Protestant Reformation, and his writings were influenced by the thoughts shared from fellow reformer Martin Luther.
Creator’s
Transcending love
Each living witness
Handiwork crafted through faith
Forever
Free-flowing
God’s love
Never running dry
Eternal spring, drink deeply
Grace
Hope’s
Future envisions
Through Spirit’s eyes
Walking in Christ’s love
Fulfillment
Life’s faithful river
Always flowing free
Spirit awakened
Jesus walks with thee
Light covers darkness
Faithful source of hope
Spirit awakened
Jesus tames each slope
Quiet place welcomes
Prayers nurture peace
Spirit awakened
Jesus holds life’s lease
Resurrection breathes
Eternity’s grace
Spirit awakened
Jesus leaves His trace
Destiny fulfilled
Journey now complete
Spirit awakened
Jesus offers seat
Big Sky Buckeye 