Taking up my “cross” means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.
From Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”
Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer. Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers. This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.
From Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”
Wandering, undisciplined
Enslaved to darkness of sin
Unlikely heirs of God’s kingdom
Seeking Jesus, Scripture’s linchpin
Flaunting rebellious spirit
Indifferent to God’s Word
Fallible, filled with weakness
Finding Jesus, redemption stirred
Warming frozen hearts with grace
Light rising from blood-stained tree
Adopted as God’s children
Choosing Jesus, forever free
Breaking loose from evil’s chains
Deliverance, God’s design
Forgiven, more disciplined
Praising Jesus, mercy divine
Proclaiming Gospel’s viewpoint
Epiphany of God’s joy
Disciples, called to follow
Serving Jesus, mission deploys
From 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
From Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”
Walking road of solitude
Every step heading somewhere
Today, meeting one stranger
“Come, follow me”—He declares
Hearing His witness of grace
Darkness transitions to light
Stranger’s Word sinking deeper
Rendezvous sealed with Spirit bright
Sharing His comfort of peace
Truth serving as Scripture’s guide
Stranger’s righteous heart affirms
Mercy’s breath comes alongside
Traveling as one each day
Faith’s journey follows high road
Stranger’s compass always true
Love unlocks atonement’s code
Seeing life’s purpose at last
Redemption at Heaven’s door
Stranger no more, Jesus Christ
Eternity comes ashore
From John 3:16: “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.”
Each of us has some area of pain and suffering in life. The world around us would have us run from that burden–to resent it, hate it. Instead, we should embrace it.
From Matthew 10;38-39: “And whoever does not take up the cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it.”
Hearing
Christ’s call
Boldly following Him
Serving needs of others
Loving
Loving
Jesus more
Leaving earthly ways
Rescued from tumultuous seas
Following
Following
With humbleness
Touching another life
Living in Christ’s presence
Hearing
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
Readiness for God means that we are ready to do the tiniest little thing or the great big thing, it makes no difference.
From Exodus 3:4: “When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.'”
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.
Father’s
Blessed approach
Disciplining life’s journey
Bringing forth highest expectations
Righteousness
Father’s
Blessed mercy
Surrounding His children
Each and every day
Love
Father’s
Blessed light
Illuminating each step
Walking His truest path
Leading
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
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.”
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
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.”
From Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
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
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.”
I keep a daily journal of “take-aways” from my devotional readings. This poem was crafted from some of my February entries.
Photo by Jaymantri on Pexels.com
Sitting alone and hopeless
Faith’s shadow, covered in rust
God awakens mind and soul
In His Spirit, words bring trust
Turning to God, always there
His footprints walking ahead
Through life’s hefty challenges
Our Lord brings our daily bread
Reading from His Holy Word
Always giving thanks and praise
Marvelous things, God has done
Our hope alive and ablaze
Growing in faith, from our woes
Therefore, pray . . . listen . . . follow
Righteous life following Christ
Savior’s hope, never hollow
Facing temptation each day
Alignment with Son of God
Blood and body shed for us
Boldly fleeing evil’s fraud
Photo by Michael Morse on Pexels.com
From Galatians 6:1-2: “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Big Sky Buckeye 