Family’s
Earthly realm
Born of virgin
Son of skilled carpenter
Jesus
Destiny’s
Heavenly presence
Light replaces darkness
Fulfillment of God’s Word
Savior
Resurrection’s
Unselfish love
Rising with forgiveness
Shattering chains of sin
Messiah
True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude.
Colossians 2:13-14: “And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him, when He forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.”
William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a member of the British Parliament. He became a major figure in the movement to abolish the slave trade and slavery itself in the British Empire.
From Luke 2:8-11: “Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
Humble shepherds
Tending flocks at night
Angel sharing great news
Shining from Bethlehem’s light
Minds awaken
Praising with great joy
Hearts filling with wonder
Witnessing love in this boy
Promise fulfilled
Giving thanks to God
Savior comes to rescue
Raising hope, at last unthawed
Darkness conquered
Forgiving man’s sin
Forever, King of Kings
Locking redemption’s linchpin
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work.
From Philippians 3:10: “ I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death.”
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.
Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be diligent in the present.
From Galatians 2:19-20: “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) was an Scottish-born pastor and Christian writer.
In the total expanse of human life, there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, “That is Mine!”
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) was a Dutch pastor, journalist, statesman, and Christian theologian. He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905.
Resilience is not about achieving big, extraordinary things for God; it’s about living an ordinary life in a beautiful way, loving others as Christ has loved us.
From Ephesians 5:19-21: “As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Brian Keepers is an American pastor who has served in the ministry for over 20 years.
Fill your affections with the cross of Christ that there may be no room for sin.
From Matthew 13:41-43: “The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will collect out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
John Owen (1616-1683) was an English Puritan church leader and theologian.
Famine
Hungering faith
Savior raises hope
Living Bread feeds all
Nourished
Darkness
Uphill journey
Messiah infuses light
Courage travels mercy’s road
Illuminated
Battles
With flesh
Calvary rises up
Salvation breathes from Cross
Transformed
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
From Psalm 34:4-5: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed.”
Reading Father’s Word
Answers come to thee
Praising from heart’s depths
Darkness at last flees
Filling hope’s goodness
Father shares His grace
Nourishing with love
Wisdom to embrace
Walking with Father
His righteousness speaks
Directing each step
Enemy now meek
Praying for guidance
Father bends earth’s light
Sending Christ to lead
Mercy taking flight
Following Jesus
Faith’s journey brightens
Choosing Him each day
His peace enlightens
From John 5:20-21: “The Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wishes.”
Big Sky Buckeye 