Monday Memories: No Longer Alone

From Psalm 31:1-2: “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

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Life struggles with loneliness

Days without human contact

Isolation grows, lights go dim

Time without purpose, sidetracked

 

Scorned, rejected, forgotten

Christ also feels all alone

Where have His disciples gone?

Taunted, tortured, overthrown

 

Holy God always at work

Cries of loneliness, He heeds

Our needs, never glossed over

Spirit moves others to lead

 

Alone, never life’s last word

Visits from others arrive

Blessed comfort sealed with love

Sustaining light will survive

 

Darkest loneliness leaving

Empty hearts fill with courage

Father’s love touching each soul

His blessings shall encourage

 

God’s love remaining steadfast

At death’s cross, Christ not alone

Darkened, empty tomb proclaims

God’s triumph, faith’s cornerstone

 

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From Psalm 31:14-16: “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Sharing Precious Love

From Psalm 118:26:  “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

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Rejoice with this new day

God sharing precious love

Blessed Word guides our way

Behold gifts from above

 

Extend love to others

Family and friends shine

Each sister and brother

Feeling God’s love, divine

 

Christ sheds blood, out of love

Building faith’s cornerstone

Treasured, caring, proud of

Never feeling alone

 

Remembering God’s saints

Memories still alive

Cherished thoughts now repaint

Holding tight each archive

 

Lord is God, brings His light

Giving thanks for His grace

Blessed angels take flight

Precious love shall embrace

 

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From Psalm 118:1:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Eternal and Lasting

From Psalm 100:4-5:  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

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Master of creation’s universe

Father’s love, boundless and enduring

Defying mankind’s understanding

Endless waterfall, reassuring

 

God’s lasting presence covers this earth

Filled with unending mercy and care

Sharing His love, bringing us gladness

Hearing concerns, answering prayers

 

Our world rotates between night and day

Yet, God never ceases His labors

Cherishing us, sheep in His pasture

Caring and loving us—as neighbors

 

God’s eternal and lasting love flows

Filling every second with love

His steadfast love shall always prevail

Sharing His love from heaven above

 

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From the words of Christian writer, Corrie ten Boom:  “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Nothing More Precious

From John 12:44-46:  “Then Jesus cried aloud:  ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in Him who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees Him who sent me.  I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.'” 

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Across this world’s vastness

There’s nothing more precious

Than our God-given life

Primed to breath by His grace

 

Every precious day

Praise God for its richness

Honor life’s simple ways

Praying with thankful hearts

 

Just as God molds this earth

Spirit works tirelessly

Shaping and stretching lives

Blessing each precious breath

 

God’s precious hands guiding

Framing, leading, teaching

Crafting lives, filled with love

Accept His blessed gift

 

Charged with following God

Life’s precious, rocky path

Falling with stumbling steps

But, Father picks us up

 

Savoring each day’s breath

There’s nothing more precious

Honoring Lord of all

Straight to life’s final end

 

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From Psalm 23:5-6:  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

Following prayer and reading my Bible, my thoughts went into writing this special poem.  Indeed, there is nothing more precious than life.  On March 17, 2021, my stepfather, Ed, went to the Lord.  The love he shared with my mother (his loving Martha) was boundless, and I was blessed to share my Christian faith with him.  The unconditional love given by my mother to her blessed Ed will be a lasting gift because it has been witnessed by so many others.  

Originally published March, 2021.

Monday Memories: Grace Taking Root

From John 1:16-17:  “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

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Best and worst of times

God’s grace always chimes

 

Loving and caring

Promises bearing

 

God remains at hand

Faith and hope shall stand

 

Seeking empty hearts

Molding time’s restart

 

Life’s melody plays

Offer Him our praise

 

God’s grace taking root

Peace filling love’s flute

 

Gloom and doom appear

Allow Him to steer

 

God’s love shows He cares

Guiding day’s affairs

 

Hope’s beacon awaits

In His hands, our fate

 

Witness as His child

Life no longer wild

 

Forgiveness and love

Shared from God above

 

God’s grace shapes life’s frame

Praise His Holy name 

 

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From Lamentations 3:22-23:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

This poem is inspired from some past entries in my “Take-Aways” journal.  Each entry is based upon something read and studied in a morning devotional.

Originally published March, 2021.

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.