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.

Conviction’s Voice (Elfchen Series #302)

Abiding

Embracing

Savior’s light

Holiness of righteousness

Enriched by Father’s Word

Truth

Promising

Transformed

By grace

Accepting disciplined steps

Honoring commitment to Christ

Faith

Reassuring

Enlightened

Through Jesus

Loving Him back

Daily praises of joy

Peace

Harvested Grace

From Ephesians 2:4-6: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

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Unconditional love
Grace descends from God’s heart
Connected to Him above
Man receives renewing start

Heavenly grace flows out
With Savior’s rising tide
Nourished with God’s love aglow
Righteous mercy always guides

By grace, man’s salvation
Hung on Calvary’s tree
Forgiveness loves each nation
Enemy’s darkness shall flee

Faith’s fabric now strengthened
Harvested grace unites
Redemption’s spirit deepens
Steadfast love remains in flight

Father’s grace positioned
Journey of peace begins
Mankind’s hope reconditioned
Christ’s love forever weighs in
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From Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

New Covenant’s Breath

From Psalm 89:1-2: “I will sing of Your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that Your steadfast love is established forever; Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.
Transformation of peace
Gathered in God’s hands
Fulfillment of His Word
Messiah comes to stand

Hearts filling with truth
Opened in God’s light
Hope stirring from darkness
Calvary’s welcome flight

Never forsaken
Loved through God’s caring
Steadfast grace now descends
Savior’s forthwith sharing

New covenant’s breath
Charged from God’s boldness
Praises full of wonder
Christ transforms sin’s coldness

Enemy trembles
Quashed by God’s own hand
Holiness lives throughout
Redemption comes as planned
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From Psalm 89:5-6: “Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord.”

Monday Memories: Stepping Into Light

From Romans 13:11-12:  “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.  Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

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Turning away from temptation’s path

Following God’s Holy, righteous road

Transforming self into Christ’s image

Experiencing His love, bestowed

 

Breathing, yet lost in evil’s darkness

Hiding in shame, past sinful landscape

Reaching for Salvation’s lasting grace

Wearing armor of light, faith reshapes

 

Sharing His Father’s Word, Christ teaches

Loving one another, sharing peace

Witnessing His greatest commandment

Living with openness, life’s new lease

 

Leaving His advocate, Christ assures

Coming Holy Spirit, lifts each life

Overcoming sin’s flesh-filled desires

Growing in submission, without strife

 

Offering path to new life, Christ comes

Forsaking life’s bold truth, darkness flees

Walking in faith, stepping into light

Remaining steadfast, in what He sees

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When we rely on Him [God] instead of ourselves, He produces godly desires within us, empowers obedience, and transforms our character into Christ’s likeness.”

Originally published March, 2021.

Precious Transitions (Elfchen Series #301)

Discovery

Waiting

Patience breathes

Unlocking God’s goodness

Prayer opens willing heart

Peace

Invitation

Trusting

Morning’s light

Nourishing with hope

Daily bread of grace

Love

Journey

Receiving

Word’s truth

Replenishing faith’s roots

Risen Christ welcomes all

Joy

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quote

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God did not make us perfect Christians in one stroke. He calls us as we are, and only His grace makes us what we are not.

From 1 Corinthians 15:9-10:  “For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.

German-born Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident.  Many of his writings express the role of Christianity in mankind’s daily lives.  He paid the ultimate price for his activism against the Nazi regime during World War II.

Father’s Steady Hand

From Psalm 48:12-14: “Walk about Zion; go all around it; count its towers; consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever.  He will be our guide forever.”

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During moments of darkness
Praying to Father above
Heaven’s light breaks through
Trust nourishes heart with His love

Accepting His divine grace
Following Father’s roadmap
Heaven’s light shall lead
Away from enemy’s sand trap

Escaping from parched landscape
Grasping Father’s steady hand
Heaven’s light beholds
Forever marked, steadfast faith stands

Pursuing His love-filled peace
Revealing Father’s new hope
Heaven’s light spreads out
Reinforced hold of mercy’s rope

Embracing eternal view
Delighting in Father’s ways
Heaven’s light holds firm
Destiny’s truth descends ablaze
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From Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.”

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.