Grace
Unconditionally offered
Father’s timely gift
Propelling faith’s lasting peace
Love
Hope
Tomorrow’s destiny
God’s everlasting promises
His faithful, righteous Word
Trust
Courage
Undeniably witnessed
Savior’s steadfast journey
Mercy’s blood spilling over
Faith
From Christian campus ministry founder, Bill Bright: “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God–no matter the circumstances.”
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Celebrating Jesus each and every day
Receiving our lasting, priceless gift of joy
Smiling faces, always with kind words spoken
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Child of God, leaping with joy
Messiah’s birth, sends great joy
Rejoicing, today rises up as God’s day
Praising our faithful, Almighty Lord with joy
Sending out His strength and hope, God’s justice reigns
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Fruit of the Spirit, brings joy
God’s love, proclaiming His joy
Fleeing life’s messy scene, sorrow and worry
Lasting an eternity, singing with joy
Restoring in us, His joy of Salvation
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Life’s trials, nothing but joy
Holy Spirit, shouts with joy
Waking all of the city on Easter morn
Singing praises of “Alleluia” with joy
Restoring hope, defeating death on the Cross
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Jesus, lasting source of joy
He’s Risen! Salvation’s joy
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From John 15:11: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
Originally published April, 2020.
From 1 John 4:15-16: “God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”
Earth filled with darkness
Hate crosses another street
Enemy’s hand at work
Peace surrenders its fleet
World aching for change
Grace knocking on every door
Chains of evil loosen
Love coming ashore
God holds righteous reins
Providence surges ahead
Muscles ready to flex
Born in Bethlehem shed
Hope now awakens
Messiah’s light enters in
Choice now offered to all
Love strengthens faith’s linchpin
Darkness and hate flee
Forgiven, choosing God’s love
Mercy stirs with kindness
Witnessed from high above
From 1 John 4:21: “The commandment we have from Him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.
Tom Bodett (born 1955) is an American author, voice actor, and radio personality. He has been the brand spokesperson for Motel 6 for a number of years, where he reminds listeners that “we’ll leave the light on for you.”
God is for us. I want you to remember that God is for us. Say those four words to yourself, “God is for us.” Remember that tomorrow morning when you don’t feel like He is. Remember that when you have failed. Remember that when you have sinned and guilt slams you to the mat.
From Romans 8:31-32: What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold His own Son but gave Him up for all of us, how will He not with Him also give us everything else?”
Kindness in this world will do much to help others, not only to come into the light, but also to grow in grace day by day.
From Colossians 1:5-6: “Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, you have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.”
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. Her prolific creation of hymns and gospel songs produced over 8,000 finished works.
In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness courage to fear, hope to despair.
From Psalm 130:5-6: I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.”
Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was a American author, theologian, and civil rights leader. His writings mentored many leaders in the civil rights movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our Heavenly Father, we rejoice and humbly receive your precious gift of a new day. Our hopes burn brighter as we give thanks for your blessing of this gift. Amen.
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Emerging each morning, a new dawn
Waiting outside our door, neatly wrapped
Walking next to us, God understands
Bringing us love, never feeling trapped
Designing His gift, a new day calls
Witnessing God’s deeds, each day unfolds
Allowing us, to live out each day
Feeling His Grace, hearts never grow old
Guarding us during times of trouble
Opening gates each day, His stronghold
Trusting in God, never forsaken
Singing His praises, humble yet bold
Kneeling and praying, as this day ends
Rejoicing, in all our Father sends
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From Psalm 9:10: “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Originally published May, 2020.
From Romans 5:5: “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Trust’s missing pieces
Empty vision’s space
Puzzle incomplete
Father’s grace, replace
Fear’s lack of patience
Filled with anxious space
Puzzle defective
Father’s grace, backspace
Shame’s torn-up pages
Tattered, sinful space
Puzzle uncertain
Father’s grace, erase
Hope’s shattered darkness
Doubts drain daily space
Puzzle fragmented
Father’s grace, embrace
Faith’s empty focus
Lost in prideful space
Puzzle imperfect
Father’s grace, retrace
From Romans 8:27: “And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Rejoice with praises
Feeling Father’s love
Trusting in His name
Hope stirs from above
Rejoice before God
Writing hope’s new song
Praising His mercy
Days never be long
Rejoice in answers
Rising hope greets thee
Blessing one more home
Darkness always flees
Rejoice with new day
Walking in God’s grace
Surrounding mercy
Hope’s faithful birthplace
Rejoice with praises
Hope’s lifelong quest seeks
Rising from heaven
Flowing waters speak
From Psalm 33:22: “Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”
Big Sky Buckeye 