Clutching
Tomorrow’s peace
Kneeling at Calvary
Praying with renewed hope
Truth
Running
Toward Jesus
Accepting love’s grace
Paying His forgiveness forward
Unhindered
Praising
Father’s interactions
Turning volume up
Sharing His trusted voice
Discipleship
We are always looking for justice; the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is–Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.
From Matthew 5:39-41: “But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.”
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.
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Sitting on sidelines of life
Shadows of darkness smother
Tempted by earthly idols
Searching for Christian brothers
Realizing character counts
Spirit leads man to Christ’s love
Raised up through heavenly grace
Setting mind on things above
Cleansing with fire, cache of sins
Obedience marks each day
Revealed through Christ’s forgiveness
Clothing self in righteous ways
Answering God’s blessed call
Heaven’s love binds without doubts
Perfected in harmony
Redeeming life’s turnabout
Dwelling in each heart, Christ’s peace
Gratitude writing hymn’s praise
Called to daily fellowship
Rising faith, always ablaze
From Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
From the words of American Christian author, James Dobson: “It is important to know that you have to work to keep love alive, you have to protect it and maintain it, just like you would a delicate flower.”
Encouraged to trust Father’s Word
Hope sown with Christ’s patient love
Precious seeds of kindness
Heaven harvests from above
Cultivated with Father’s grace
Eternal light never ends
Rejoice with Spirit’s peace
Fragile love strengthens to mend
Answered with Father’s faithfulness
Calvary pays debits of man
Love rises with new life
According to divine plan
Called by Father, who always cares
Love each delicate flower
Maintain, always protect
Backed up with mercy’s power
Commanded by Father above
Always love one another
Just as faith’s Savior loved
Every sister and brother
From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”
From Psalm 66:1-2: “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise.”
Our Father’s handiwork
Bringing glory to His name
Designs of every shape
Lighting eternity’s flame
Awesome are Father’s deeds
Turning darkness into light
Wonders of creation
Shining from nightly moonlight
Goodness from Father’s hands
Detailing His divine ways
Deliverance descends
Beholding sky without gray
Bigness of Father’s heart
Promising grace from His love
Filled with benevolence
Working always from above
From Psalm 66:3-4: “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your deeds! Because of Your great power, Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth worships You; they sing praises to You, sing praises to Your name.'”
From Ephesians 4:15-16: “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”
Falling into enemy’s net
Daily prisoner of sin
Redeemed by blessed Savior
Faith in His mercy’s check-in
Walking with other believers
Unity in Christ bears trust
Filled with patient gentleness
Forgiven of sinful lust
Setting faith upon single goal
Truthful light worth every breath
Kindled through deepened prayer
Risen Lord overcomes death
Realizing faith must be all in
Today, tomorrow . . . with Christ
Paid debts fully through love’s grace
His blood fully sacrificed
Clutching hope within every step
Christ’s grace raises faith’s story
Measured with moving forward
Salvation’s finished glory
Published in 1896, “My Goal is God Himself” was written by Frances Brook. She was the daughter of a pastor, but poor health prevented her from becoming a Christian missionary.
Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds; fill it up with sunshine, kind words, and kind deeds.
From 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22: “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was an American poet and educator. Born in Portland, Maine, he has long been remembered for being one of New England’s fireside poets.
Man joined with woman
Sharing love throughout each day—
Breath of daily grace
Sun rises each morn
Togetherness in spirit—
Forever in love
Love’s eternal flame
Burning by day as well as night—
Lifetime’s treasured gift
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.'”
From Psalm 17:15: “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding Your likeness.”
Darkness surrounds
Searching for light
God’s vision breathes
Faith’s trusted Knight
Peace from God’s Word
Lighting new road
Vision forgives
Mercy’s love code
Conscience wakens
Beholding God
Renewed vision
No longer flawed
Prayer’s answers
Hearing God’s voice
Hope’s fresh vision
Truth’s blessed choice
Purest in heart
Tasting God’s grace
Joy’s vision found
Faith’s trusted place
From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Big Sky Buckeye 