Defining Contributions

From Galatians 5:13-14:  “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”

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Creator always molding

Staying true to His design

Each believer sharing grace

Filling humankind’s sunshine

 

Freedom comes forth from Savior

Following Father’s design

Destiny at Calvary

Destroying sin’s evil spine

 

Eternal message proclaims

Living within God’s design

Redemption comes from His Son

Revealing faith’s bold headlines

 

Love’s kindness shared with neighbors

Witnessing mercy’s design

Defining contributions

Serving as Spirit assigns

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Our greatest impact on this earth comes from loving and serving others–as Jesus did.”

Unwavering

From Jeremiah 15:21:  “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

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Steadfast in faithfulness

Christ remembers His flock

Unwavering mercy

Leading our righteous walk

 

Deliverance stirs faith

Christ proclaims Gospel’s peace

Unwavering message

Teaching salvation’s lease

 

Awakened faith reborn

Christ blesses life’s new road

Unwavering with grace

Bearing our sinful load

 

Faithfulness promises

Christ, eternity’s rock

Unwavering shepherd

Trusting, heaven unlocks

 

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From Psalm 26:11:  “But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.”

Enduring Light

From Revelation 21:23:  “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

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Shrouded in darkness

Surrounded with gloom

World living with sin

Light beams from death’s tomb

 

Found in Father’s Word

Filled with His Good News

Enduring light shines

Life’s anchor, now choose

 

Blessed kingdom waits

Focused light brings more

Seeing faithful road

Jesus, faith’s mentor

 

Lighted lamp confirms

Revealed through His grace

Lamb bears every sin

Jesus takes our place

 

Harvested mercy

Completed, finished

Light forever leads

Love undiminished

 

From James 3:17:  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”

Monday Memories: One on One

From American theologian, Fulton J. Sheen:  “God does not love us because we are valuable.  We are valuable because God loves us.”

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God’s eternal love seeks

Intimate relationships

No longer standing back

Feeling love as He speaks

 

Our Lord loves each of us

Stepping forward with faith

Accepting His sincere truth

Our God, never to mistrust

 

When darker times arrive

Opening hearts to our Lord

Never to feel forsaken

Trusting, abiding, alive

 

Our Father always cares

Hearing faithful prayers

Watching trusting steps

Feeling moments of despair

 

Flowing from Heaven above

To a stable’s manger

Witnessing from a cruel Cross

God’s Grace delivers His love

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From John 15:8-9:  “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.  As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love.  

Originally published March, 2020.

Monday Memories: Thirsty for Living Water

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Like deer at a flowing stream

I wake thirsty from a dream

Tears feed me, night and day

“Where is your God?” people say

 

My spirit is cast down low

God’s faithful, trusty love, He shows

Nightly, Psalms sing to my heart

Praying for my life to restart

 

My flesh cries out in thirst

God’s love will always arrive first

In the middle of dry land

His love extends from His hand

 

Sometimes life brings bitterness to drink

Thirsty like parched land, I think

The Gospel brings forward good news

Living water quenches, like morning dew

 

The Enemy taunts me once more

“Where is your God?” he implores

He has left and forsaken you

Your tiny life should be through

 

Glory of God fills the streams

Desert sands become pools, no dream

Grass thickens across the vast plains

Springs arise, thirst never to wane

 

Jesus, the Lamb, shepherds me now

Providing living water, kneel and bow

Come, take this water of life

Receiving God’s grace, without any strife

 

Waking in the darkness of night

Thirsty for God’s message of might

Making water flow from a stone

Split open by God’s blessed tone

 

The Enemy’s spirit no longer swarms

Thirst for righteousness, defeats any storms

All who thirst, seek God’s altar

Holy Spirit’s living water, never falters

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Originally published September, 2019.

Our Sustainer

From Psalm 55:1:  “Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide Yourself from my supplication.”

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Persuasive voices

Filled with weighty stones

Pulling self deeper

Feeling so alone

 

Despair building up

Fear never ceases

Wanting to just hide

Falling to pieces

 

Troubles weigh heavy

Overwhelmed with noise

Calling out to God

Seeking faith’s convoy

 

Tempest storms now calm

God’s grace intervenes

Covering with peace

Wiping burdens clean

 

His Word restores trust

Our Sustainer speaks

Changing hope’s outlook

Climbing righteous peaks

 

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From Psalm 55:22:  “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Moments with Father (Elfchen Series #162)

His Harmony

Overflowing

Fatherly love

Destined to share

Pouring into another heart

Peace

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His Boldness

Fulfilling

Prayer journey

Trusting Fatherly encouragement

Eternal love renewing hearts

Grace

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His Compass

Trusting

Fatherly wisdom

Navigating stormy seas

Strengthening each wayward heart

Faith

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Faithful River

From Psalm 65:5:  “By awesome deeds You answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.”

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Headwaters on mountaintop

Watered from heavens above

Praises from valley below

Earth’s bounty fills with God’s love

 

Holy temple blooms with peace

Sky, earth, seas breathe with God’s grace

Light proclaims deliverance

Salvation for human race

 

Faithful river dries each tear

Troubled seas no longer toss

God answers as He promised

Hope fulfilled on darkest cross

 

Quietness covers each land

Eternity’s Son shall rise

Spirit opens morning sky

God answers with new franchise

 

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From Psalm 65:9:  “You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide the people with grain, for so You have prepared it.”

C. S. Lewis Quote

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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim for earth and you get neither.

From Colossians 3:2:  “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Praising God’s Greatness

From Psalm 145:8:  “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

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Blessing forever, God above

Kneeling, bending every knee

Praising His greatness, Amen!

Justice sown from righteous decrees

 

Breathing with hope’s newfound freedom

Witnessing God’s mighty moves

Praising daily in worship

Mercy arrives, His Son approves

 

Riding donkey, comes humble King

Tasting His merciful grace

Praising faith’s new covenant

Heaven’s goodness, let all embrace

 

Commanding nations, take notice

Setting every sinner free

Praising repeal of darkness

Throughout earth’s many lands and seas

 

Sounding faith’s endless trumpet

Protecting with blessed light

Praising God’s lasting greatness

Eternal daylight covers night

 

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From Zechariah 9:16:  “On that day the Lord their God will save them, for they are the flock of His people, for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land.”