Praises of Joy

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Witnessing God’s mercy

Praises of joy heard above

Rejoicing in His presence

Angels’ voices share love

 

Flowing with love-filled peace

God’s divine plan offers hope

Turning back enemy’s breath

Grace flows down Zion’s slope

 

Gathering Shepherd’s flock

Each sinner trusts light ahead

Exulting in God’s glory

Fed from love’s daily bread

 

Coming to Calvary

Christ bearing salvation’s key

Raising love beyond heavens

Debts nailed to brutal tree

 

Embracing righteousness

Darkness no longer pursues

Proclaiming risen Good News

Savior’s love, always true

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Monday Memories: Anthem of Grace

From Hebrews 11:1:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Photo by MBARDO on Pexels.com

Weary times, filled with quiet tears

Witnessing mankind’s cruelest hurts

Hate, division, violence, fears

God’s grace, peace, love . . . never deserts

 

When witnessing injustice, stand

Lift up voices, sing with passion

Offer a loving, helping hand

Filled with oneness and compassion

 

No longer sit with thoughts muzzled

Liberty-filled harmonies ring

God’s grace flows, days never puzzled

Loud as roaring seas, let us sing

 

God’s Word lighting eternal fires

Inside our faith, unwavering

Hope fills each heart, never expires

Teachings of Jesus, favoring

 

Jesus always front and center

Faithfully walking as His feet

Loving as His hands, our mentor

Marching on, His grace ever sweet

 

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com

From 1 John 5:3-5:  “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Originally published October, 2020.

Faith’s Harvest

From 1 Samuel 17:48-49:  “When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.”

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Within Father’s intentions

Seeding His daily grace

Overflowing with love

Faith’s harvest to embrace

 

David carries trusted sling

Sowing faith with hope’s trust

Harboring Father’s strength

Goliath’s armor rusts

 

Moses discards royal roots

Seeking God’s righteous hand

Leading all to freedom

His staff reaps hope as planned

 

Dorcas, disciple of Jesus

Planting works, full of love

Dying, then breathing free

Alive through grace above

 

Son of God, born in manger

Raising Gospel’s design

Leading man’s every step

Redemption’s finish line

 

Faith’s fruits transformed to greatness

Tasting hope from God’s Word

Empowering each seed

Harvest’s vision unblurred

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

From Acts 9:39-40:  “So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs.  All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed.  He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’  Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.”

Lewis B. Smedes Quote

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

Forgiving does not erase the bitter past.  A healed memory is not a deleted memory.  Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember.  We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.

From Ephesians 4:32:  “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002) was an American author and Christian theologian.  

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.”

Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Pexels.com

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

 

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

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.”

Tomorrow Offers Hope

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Journey’s destination

Seeking life’s unknown

Coming to night’s station

No one answers phone

 

Voices remain muted

Chasing shadow’s trace

Feeling spirit looted

Darkness giving chase

 

Freedom’s ember cloaked

Walking toward peace

Igniting flame, well-stoked

Distant voice won’t cease

 

Tomorrow offers hope

Hearing wartime’s calm

Grasping sunrise’s rope

Listen, no more bombs!

 

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

Darkness Flees

From Psalm 23:4:  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Photo by Manuel Keusch on Pexels.com

Always near

God’s mighty hand

From heavenly high

His creation, as planned

 

Mercy’s light

Shares daily bread

God’s comforting peace

Anchored at faith’s beachhead

 

Gospel’s breath

Fills from His Word

God delivers hope

Future no longer blurred

 

Harmony

Blessed with God’s love

Grace feeds man’s spirit

Established from above

 

Righteous road

God walks with thee

Promises fulfilled

Enemy’s darkness flees

 

Photo by Being.the.traveller on Pexels.com

From Genesis 28:15:  “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Martin Luther Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Even if I know that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

From Hebrews 10:23:  “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.”

Each Tomorrow

From Hebrews 11:1-3:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

Photo by Raul Ling on Pexels.com

Faith in future unseen

Trusting God’s divine Word

Tasting His every truth

Steps taken, hope conferred

 

Faith finds each tomorrow

Hearing Shepherd’s firm voice

Welcoming hope with love

Peace filling every choice

 

Faith follows righteous path

Holding hope’s precious grace

According to God’s plan

Enemy gives up chase

 

Faith moving beyond fear

Finding mercy’s new light

Grasping Savior’s fresh rope

Hope shines forever bright

 

Faith offers endless joy

Returning to God’s home

Praising as One Body

Destined hope freely roams

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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.”

Lettie B. Cowman Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Put your hand into the hand of God.  He gives the calmness and serenity of heart and soul.

From Isaiah 49:13:  “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing!  For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His suffering ones.”

Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960) was an American writer of Christian devotional books.