Monday Memories: Ultimate Grace

From Romans 5:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Our sinful nature

Takes Christ to the Cross

God responds with love

Grace reaches across

 

Jesus defeats death

Living cornerstone

Sacred salvation

Grace comes to atone

 

Father’s gift of life

Receive daily bread

Through our faith alone

Grace walking ahead

 

Christ teaches of love

Shares His peace of mind

Hearts and minds now cleansed

Grace saving mankind

 

Never fear again

Look forward to peace

Fate sealed with God’s love

Grace, life’s Holy lease

 

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When facing painful trials, we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us.  Remember that God orchestrated the greatest demonstration of love possible–His Son’s death on the cross.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Joy’s Heavenly Place

From Philippians 3:14:  “I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren on Pexels.com

Journey through darkness

Consumed by fire of sin

Filled with desires of flesh

Bound for hell’s tailspin

 

Enemy’s false words

Promises unfulfilled

Confidence now waning

Whisper of hope killed

 

Shepherd’s gate opens

Calvary’s light beholds

Kneel now, accept His grace

Heaven’s path unfolds

 

Flesh left in darkness

Repentance of past ways

Leaving sin’s wilderness

Faith in Christ each day

 

Lord’s grace accepted

Covered with Father’s love

Savoring hope’s reward

Glory from above

 

Holding fast in trust

Faithful, transforming pace

Redemption forever

Joy’s heavenly place

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Philippians 3:20:  “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

William Gurnall Quote

Photo by Ryutaro Tsukata on Pexels.com

Faith is a plant that can grow in the shade, a grace that can find the way to heaven in a dark night.

From Psalm 17:3:  “If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.”

William Gurnall (1616-1679) was an English author and member of the Anglican clergy.

Monday Memories: Father’s Firm Hand

From Psalm 94:1-2:  “Lord, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth!  Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!”

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Holy, perfect Father

Bringing justice for all

Earth’s one, ultimate Judge

Love covers, like rainfall

 

Truest God of vengeance

Providing blessed Grace

Living high in Heaven

Father’s firm hand, in place

 

Lives thirst for discipline

Teaching knowledge, His Word

Knowing our hollow thoughts

Empty breath, minds stand blurred

 

Over the roaring seas

On highest mountaintops

Across fertile valleys

Earth’s Judge shall never stop

 

Gracious to believers

God’s goodness and kindness

Through our faith, accept Grace

Love overcomes blindness

 

Judging with righteousness

God’s law rules over all

Vanquishing the wicked

Justice builds righteous walls

 

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

From Psalm 98:8-9:  “Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Father’s Certainty

From Psalm 23:6:  “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.”

Photo by Kalistro on Pexels.com

Searching for life’s certainty

Facing darkness without end

Seeking mercy’s treasured light

Father’s truth will never bend

 

Praying for darkness to leave

Believing in light above

Accepting His timely grace

Father’s gentle touch of love

 

Walking into valley’s light

Stepping toward Heaven’s gate

Watching darkness crawl away

Father’s certainty creates

 

Rising from Calvary’s death

Trusting Savior’s final words

Defeating darkness at last

Father’s light no longer blurred

 

Feeling certainty redeemed

Tearing apart chains of sin

Seeing Eternity’s light

Father’s benevolence wins

 

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

From 2 Timothy 2:8-10:  “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

The grace you had yesterday will not do for today.  Grace is the overflowing favor of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon.  Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need.

From 2 Corinthians 6:1-2:  “As we work together with Him, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.  For He says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’  Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!”

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.

Redeeming Love

From Isaiah 40:10-11:  “See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Father’s passionate plan

His mercy offers one way

Defeating darkness of sin

Sheep shall no longer stray

 

Father’s earthly descent

Love bears mankind’s salvation

Shepherd leads those lost to peace

Faith grows hope’s foundation

 

Father’s redeeming love

Unconditional with grace

Calvary bearing man’s debts

Resurrection’s birthplace

 

Father’s ultimate deed

Tomorrow offering light

Spirit leading as Christ’s guide

Transgressions colored white

 

Father’s forgiving breath

Savior’s search will never end

Wayward return to His voice

Disciples, He now sends

 

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

From Hebrews 13:20-21:  “Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do His will, as He works among us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.”

Mercy’s Enlightenment (Elfchen Series #256)

Guidance

Following

Spirit’s truth

Preparing faith’s way

Lighted bridge to Father

Jesus

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Compassion

Jesus

Twin commandments

Love thy Father

Love thy fellow man

Grace

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Redemption

Grace

Sinner’s salvation

Paying every debt

Savior bears man’s cross

Forgiveness

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Faith and Mountains

From Mark 11:23:  “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.”

Photo by Aditi Vinod Arya on Pexels.com

Life facing complex, hurting world

Rugged mountain peaks, blocking us

Never be in doubt, but believe

Accepting God’s grace, ride His bus

 

Immovable mountains stand tall

Remaining steadfast in prayer

Requiring faith in our Father

He watches over our welfare

 

Lacking faith, walking in darkness

Our Father sends His lasting grace

Prepared and willing to assist

His energy, ready to embrace

 

God seeks men and women of faith

Follow His Word, forever speaks

For our Lord’s glory and kingdom

Trusting Him, tackling mountain peaks

 

Believe totally in the Lord

Walking in faithfulness each day

Our faith moves our Father to act

Thanks be to God, He shows the way! 

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and author, E. M. Bounds:  “Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer can move God.”

Originally published November, 2020.

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.'”

Photo by Etienne Marais on Pexels.com

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

 

Photo by Alem Su00e1nchez on Pexels.com

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!'”