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.
From James 4:6: “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”
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
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.
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.”
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 145:8-9: The 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
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.'”
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.
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.
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.
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.
From Isaiah 6:3: “And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.'”
Expecting our best
God shall never rest
God’s future glory
Becomes our story
Adopting each child
Life now reconciled
What’s lying ahead?
God’s plan weaves its thread
Life fosters trials
Coming with each mile
His Word, guidance, love
Shining from above
God’s sacred fitness
Our constant witness
Daring to dream now
God’s mercy allows
Caring, righteous Lord
Trusting His accord
Patience encouraged
Waiting with courage
Together working
Blessed networking
Humbleness fills life
Removing all strife
Sowing fertile seeds
Harvest’s bread now feeds
Called by Jesus Christ
His blood sacrificed
Glory fills God’s name
Building each life’s frame
From 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
Originally published October, 2020.
From the words of English novelist and poet, Mary Webb: “Nature’s music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.”
Creation’s wonders, lasting treasures
Beyond compare, by any measure
God’s unique Spirit molds, creates
Earth living as His domain, first-rate
Forests dazzle with matchless beauty
Witness to our Lord’s sacred duty
Animal species roam, some quite rare
Others appear to be everywhere
Distinctive flowers color the land
Their music soothes, like any jazz band
Unequaled majesty reaching high
Rugged mountains climbing to the sky
Creatures with their eccentric pursuits
Actions showing off, fun attributes
Man taking note of what God has done
High praises, He stands second to One
One and only one master designs
Each day, smiling at His nature shrines
From Genesis 1:29-30: “God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so.”
Originally published October, 2020.
Faith’s
Goodness breathes
Mercy shall lead
Surely found in God
Hope
Delivering
From darkness
Victory over enemy
God’s still waters flow
Restoration
Trusted
Divine love
Lighting righteous path
Walking toward God’s eternity
Peace
Big Sky Buckeye 