Monday Memories: Pleasing to God

From Proverbs 13:7:  “Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing; others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.”

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Living a life, pleasing only to self

Ignoring God, leaving Him on a shelf

 

Competitive world, craving ambition

Pleasing to God, never this life’s mission

 

High expectations, demanding more time

Living the dream, seeking ladders to climb

 

Mankind commands, chasing full-time career

Pleasing to God, never happens this year

 

Targets set higher, with each passing week

Hustling to scale, another highest peak

 

Life fills with emptiness, something amiss

Pleasing to God, change focus . . . lasting bliss

 

God lights the way, spiritual journey

Coming to Him, forgo the attorney

 

Heart and mind, accept Father’s deepest love

Pleasing to God, eyes now find Him above

 

Daily meditation, filled with God’s Word

Rejoicing in His truth, no longer blurred

 

Priorities flip, following the Lord’s light

Pleasing to God, faithful voyage takes flight

 

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From Ephesians 5:8-10:  “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light–for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.  Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Albert Einstein Quote

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Everything should be made as simple as possible.

From Proverbs 4:5-6:  “Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

Calvin Miller Quote

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We basically have two choices to make in dealing with the mysteries of God.  We can wrestle with Him or we can rest in Him.

From Mark 9:23-24:  “Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!  All things can be done for the one who believes.’  Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!'”

Calvin Miller (1936-2012) was an American pastor and Christian author.

Thomas Adams Quote

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Holiness in the seed shall have happiness in the harvest.

From Galatians 6:7-8:  “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.  If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”

Thomas Adams (1583-1652) was an English preacher.

Hope’s Clear Light

From Colossians 1:4-5:  “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.  You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you.”

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Faith in Jesus Christ

Rising with hope’s clear light

Love descends from Heaven

Fulfilling mercy’s flight

 

Faith speaks through God’s Word

Nourishing truth each day

Whisper of light to trust

Breathing hope, never gray

 

Faith targets saint’s heart

Sowing each faithful seed

Spirit nurtures each one

Blessing how hope shall feed

 

Faith’s patient journey

Praying to Lord above

Strengthened steps persevere

Uniting with hope’s love

 

Faith’s kingdom shall come

Redeeming with love’s grace

Father, Son, and Spirit

Offering hope’s embrace

 

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From Colossians 1:12-13:  “Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Grace Forever Free

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.'”

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Enemy only brings

Darkness upon thee

Emptiness clings

Again, lost at sea

 

Trapped in wilderness maze

No escape for thee

Sun’s missing rays

What does Spirit see?

 

God’s arrow finds its mark

Peace comes upon thee

Redemption’s ark

His Word’s faithful key

 

Salvation’s open gate

Savior’s love for thee

Mercy’s soulmate

Evil’s breath now flees

 

Bethlehem’s blessed light

Shineth upon thee

Hope taking flight

Praying on both knees

 

Freedom from heavy chains

Sins’ debts paid for thee

Christ shoulders pain

Grace forever free

 

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From Lamentations 3:55-57:  “I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea, ‘Do not close Your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!’  You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!'”

Harvest of Righteousness

From James 1:5-6:  “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.  But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

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Journey faces trials

Faith tested by each

Producing endurance

God shall faithfully teach

 

Wisdom found in God’s Word

Daily lessons speak

Granting transforming grace

Never doubt what He tweaks

 

Gracious God offers hope

Truth’s new direction

Walking on mercy’s path

Filled with Christ’s perfection

 

Taste Heaven’s purity

Spirit bringing forth

Trusting in risen Christ

Compass setting, true north

 

Harvest of righteousness

Sown with seeds to cope

Rising from Calvary

Spirit filled with Christ’s hope

 

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From James 3:13:  “Who is wise and knowledgeable among you?  Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”

Monday Memories: Rejoice and Be Glad

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

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Rejoice and be glad in our God

His steadfast love endures forever

 

Giving thanks and praise to the Lord

His goodness shall reign forever

 

In our distress, God hears each cry

Without fear, we follow His way

 

His Peace driving away our fears

His Mercy filling up our hearts

 

His voice calls us to His refuge

Our confidence rests with the Lord

 

His Word comforting our sorrows

His Love healing our many wounds

 

From Psalm 118:24:  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

His Holy Son, our cornerstone

Salvation arrives at the Cross

 

His Grace delivering His love

His righteousness covering sins

 

God, the Father, blessing Spirit

Through His beloved Son, Jesus

 

His Wisdom showing us the way

His Manna feeding hungry souls

 

God’s infinite strength, our fixed Rock

All foes challenging us . . . vanquished!

 

Rejoice and be glad in our Lord

His steadfast love endures forever

 

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From Psalm 118:29:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Cleansed Heart

From Psalm 119:1-2:  “Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LordHappy are those who keep His decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart.”

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Faith’s steady journey

Walking in God’s way

Keeping His decrees

Spirit sings each day

 

Glories of God’s law

Marking path ahead

Embracing His Word

Faithful, daily bread

 

Righteousness leading

Grasping trusted rope

Fixing eyes on God

Faith seals promised hope

 

God remains steadfast

Sharing divine love

Treasuring His flock

Grace flows from above

 

Commandments followed

Running to God’s light

Forgiving man’s sin

Cleansed heart taking flight

 

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From Psalm 119:14-16:  “I delight in the way of Your decrees as much as in all riches.  I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.  I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

Filled with Grace

From Psalm 119:105:  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

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Early morning surroundings

Freshly brewed coffee now poured

Moments of light compounding

Conversation with faith’s Lord

 

Bible’s pages reopened

Study begins with God’s Word

Grace knocking, heart now opened

More than coffee being stirred

 

Gentle spirit settles in

Wisdom seeks receptive ear

Father finds trusted plug-in

Lessons become crystal clear

 

Coffee cup now filled with grace

Sunrise seals Savior’s snapshot

Rising in this humble place

Redemption forever bought

 

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From Ephesians 1:7:  “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”