Julian of Norwich Quote

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We need to fall, and we need to be aware of it; for if we did not fall, we should not know how weak and wretched we are of ourselves, nor should we know our Maker’s marvelous love so fully.

From Proverbs 4:25-27:  “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.  Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

Julian of Norwich was an English woman living during medieval times (approximately 1343-1416).  Her faith was anchored in her Christian thoughts and actions.

Monday Memories: Marked by God

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

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True Christians, marked by God

Born again, in Jesus Christ

 

Love always be genuine

Grasping all of life’s goodwill

Forsaking evil’s shadows

God’s presence never stands still

 

Cherishing one another

Actions bring honor to all

Serving Heavenly Father

Holy Spirit’s blessings call

Rejoicing, tomorrow’s hope

Enduring patience, breathing

Persevering in prayer

Christ builds durable sheathing

 

Assisting with others’ needs

Sharing kindness with many

Walk as brothers and sisters

Heaven’s home offers plenty

 

Stay noble, take life’s high road

Hungry rivals, feed with love

Live as one, in harmony

Good News comes from God above

 

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From Romans 12:19-21:  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’  No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Originally published February, 2021.

Monday Memories: Love Never Dims

From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

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Winter’s snow, cannot hide

Cherished love, deep inside

During darkness of night

Her love shines, always bright

 

Spring’s blossoms, love shares

Life’s newness, always cares

Nature wakens, each land

Her splendor, in God’s hands

 

Summer’s glowing spirit

Longing to walk near it

Love growing, day by day

Her grandeur comes this way

 

Autumn’s colored venue

Love fills each day’s menu

Landscape treasures each thrill

Her warmth hides winter’s chill

 

Seasons, patient with time

Faith grows, ever in rhyme

Righteous gifts, sing as hymns

Father’s love, never dims

 

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From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

Originally published February, 2021.

Tim Keller Quote

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If God is not at the center of your life, something else is.

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.”

Tim Keller (1950-2023) was an American pastor and Christian theologian.

Monday Memories: Just in Case

From James 4:6:  “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”

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Our Creator’s divine plan

Offers fullest, living grace

Giving patience, just in case

When running life’s anxious race

 

Our Lord shares forgiveness

Relationships need healing

Forgiving sin, just in case

When each day seems freewheeling

 

Heaven’s Father, sharing peace

Imperfect lives needing change

Trimming each branch, just in case

When roaming lost on God’s range

 

God shares His timely wisdom

From Heaven, He sees us fall

Touching our hand, just in case

When we need His hope-filled call

 

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From John 15:1-2:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Monday Memories: Our Father’s Goodness

From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”

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Our Father’s goodness

Glory, God and King

Bless and praise His name

Mighty greatness sings

 

Through generations

Honor His great deeds

Infinite wisdom

God’s faithful Word leads

 

Glorious splendor

Kingdom never ends

Eternal, Holy

Wondrous works, God sends

From Psalm 145:8-9The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made.”

His greatness declares

Lord everlasting

Praising righteousness

Mercies broadcasting

 

Cries, our Father hears

From darkness, redeemed

He stands, always near

God’s goodness, esteemed

 

Truth, call upon God

Grace, freely given

Love, witness a Cross

Sins, now forgiven

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “There are four words I wish we would never forget, and they are ‘God keeps His word.'”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in our calculations.

From Psalm 37:5:  “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

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.

James H. Aughey Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Holiness consists of three things:  separation from sin, dedication to God, transformation into Christ’s image.

From 1 Peter 1:15-16:  “Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.  Instead, as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”

James H. Aughey (1828-1911) was an American minister.  During the Civil War, he was imprisoned and scheduled to be executed for his anti-Secession and pro-Union beliefs.  Fortunately, he was able to escape from his Confederate captors and reached the lines of the Union army.

John Ortberg Quote

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The best place to start doing life with God is in small moments.

From Psalm 33:18-19:  “Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.”

John Ortberg (born 1957) is an American pastor as well as a Christian author and speaker.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quote

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Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God:  But only he who sees takes off his shoes.

From Exodus 3:4-5:  “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.’  Then He said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.'”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) was an English poet of the Victorian era.  Her published works earned popularity in both Great Britain and the United States.