Retelling His Story

From Lamentations 3:22-23:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

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Retelling His story

Filling with wonder’s peace

Becoming never old

Rekindling life’s new lease

 

Witnessing His message

Loving God with whole heart

Grasping forever’s grace

Walking with Lord’s fresh start

 

Retelling His story

Sitting near empty tomb

Sharing Salvation’s news

Lighting yesterday’s gloom

 

Tasting His Holy Word

Longing for heaven’s home

Hungering for much more

Breaking chains, free to roam

 

Retelling His story

Finding Jesus nearby

Seeking new mercy’s grace

Cherishing faith’s bullseye

 

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This inspiration for this poem comes from the beloved hymn, “I Love to Tell the Story.”  One of any believers most blessed tasks is to share and tell the story of Jesus Christ.  Country singer Alan Jackson is a renowned Gospel singer, and he sings this wonderful hymn.  Enjoy.

Charles Stanley Quote

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No matter what you have or don’t have, true wholeness comes from Jesus alone.

From Philippians 4:6-7:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Pursuing Christ

From Psalm 119:1-3:  “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, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways.”

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Happiness comes to those

Pursuing Christ, our Lord

Walking in righteousness

His grace brings us on board

 

Heart’s treasured devotion

Pursuing Christ, our Lord

Following His teachings

Peace sings harmony’s chords

 

Soul’s consuming passion

Pursuing Christ, our Lord

Hearing His sacred Word

Faith breathes, fully restored

 

Future hope lights each day

Pursuing Christ, our Lord

Praying darkness shall fade

Trust grows, mercy’s accord

 

Empty tomb now proclaims

Pursuing Christ, our Lord

Opening heaven’s gate

Resurrection awards

 

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From Psalm 119:159-160:  “Consider how I love Your precepts; be gracious to me according to Your steadfast love.  The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.”

Saving 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.”

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From ancient garden, crying out

Man’s sinful seeds scatter and sprout

 

Father’s wrath consumes with His fire

Suffering journey to hellfire

 

Spiritually dead from God

Lives walk in darkness, always flawed

 

Holy tablets proclaim God’s law

Sin’s frozen nature never thaws

 

Judgement follows life’s trespasses

Sticking like thickest molasses

 

Lord’s saving grace seeks better way

Messiah opens new causeway

 

Jesus steps into this abyss

Unselfish love shall never miss

 

Hopeless man’s eyes can’t turn away

Drawn to grim, cruel cross, Christ pays

 

Jesus offers Himself instead

Faith follows this new Living Bread

 

Father’s amazing grace enters

Salvation breathes life’s new center

 

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From Romans 5:18-19:  “Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.  For just as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Paul spent himself for one purpose only–that he might win men to Jesus Christ.  Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life.

From 2 Corinthians 12:15:  “I will most gladly spend and be spent for You.  If I love You more, am I to be loved less?”

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.

Monday Memories: Man from Galilee

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Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Born on a cloudless, starry night

No rooms available at the inn

A feed box becomes His bed

 

Holy Spirit brings forth this child

Virgin Mary becomes His loving mother

Humble beginning for Christ the King

 

Nation of Israel burdened by hopelessness

Oppressed under cruel, harsh Roman rule

Waiting for their God fulfilling Messiah

 

Little do the people really know

God has arrived in their midst

Bringing a way to eternal Salvation

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Mary and Joseph care for Immanuel

Angels of God watch over all

Providing wise counsel through Joseph’s dream

 

Sending the family to Egypt’s safety

Avoiding Herod’s bloody and inhumane wrath

Fulfilling Scripture, God calls His Son

 

Returning home from the Egyptian lands

A dutiful boy becomes a Nazarene

Learning the worthy trade of carpentry

 

At twelve, He visits Jerusalem’s temple

Amazing all with His Godly perspectives

Spending time in His Father’s House

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Baptized by John at the Jordan

Spending forty days and nights alone

Tempted by the evil one’s craftiness

 

Facing temptations like any of us

Overcoming and banishing each of them

Materialism, hedonism, and egoism mean nothing

 

This Nazarene man moves to Galilee

Beginning His ministry with a purpose

Calling out to twelve imperfect men

 

Take up your cross, follow Me!

God’s Word becomes bread of life

Disciples now fish for lost people

 

Who is this man from Galilee?

 

Reaching out to forsaken, sinful people

Performing miracles, left and then right

Preaching the Sermon on the Mount

 

Turning simple water into wedding wine

Healing the sick and the lame

All signs of His glory with God

 

Feeding the 5,000 seems truly impossible

Walking on water before Peter’s eyes

Few can imagine His ultimate fate

 

Eyes and ears closed and unaware

This man called Jesus brings light

On Resurrection Day, fulfilling God’s promise

 

The world now knows Jesus Christ!

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Love’s Arrival (Fourth Sunday in Advent)

From Isaiah 9:6-7:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom.  He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

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Faithful God’s Holy love

Shining from Bethlehem

Blessed virgin gives birth

In world filled with mayhem

 

Hope springs forth from God’s love

Filling manger with grace

Messiah born this night

Stable now Holy place

 

Divine love preaches faith

Sharing Lord’s precious gift

Behold man’s salvation

Satan’s plans now adrift

 

Peace covers earth’s landscape

Sowing eternal love

Savior’s mission begins

Father views from above

 

Lasting joy now goes forth

Hearing angels singing

Christ’s love, Calvary’s cross

Forgiveness now bringing

 

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You are invited to join in prayer:  Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace.  During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior.  Amen.

Written in 1865 by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, the hymn of “What Child Is This?” is sung by Charlotte Church.  The lyrics are based upon the verses from Isaiah 9:6-7, and the tune is “Greensleeves.”

Filled with Joy (Third Sunday of Advent)

From Zephaniah 3:14-15:  “Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!  Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!  The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, He has turned away your enemies.  The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.”

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Looking inward, changing selves

Repenting, reversing course

Searching for life’s cherished peace

Joy spreads from Bethlehem’s source

 

Reading, praying, reflecting

Preparing our minds and hearts

Beaming starlight in dark times

Joy brightens, world seeks restart

 

Rejoicing always, Lord is near

Restoring fortunes, Prince of Peace

Renewing tomorrow’s hope

Joy transcends Father’s new lease

 

Trusting in God’s promises

Waiting with welcoming grace

Singing praises, justice calls

Joy blossoms in this birthplace

 

Proclaiming mercy-filled peace

Glowing, rising midnight sun

Igniting life’s dormant faith

Joy worships birth of God’s Son

 

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You are invited to join in prayer:  Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace.  During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior.  Amen.

“Joy to the World” is frequently sung during the Advent and Christmas season.  Written in 1719 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, this hymn has been a favorite for well over 100 years in North America.

Breaking Free

From Psalm 31:3-4:  “You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.”

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Crying out from devilish wasteland

Surrounded by desert’s empty sand

Caught, tangled in sin’s deceptive net

Buried under life’s heaviest debt

 

Captured by evil’s sly temptations

Confined to cellblock’s harsh reception

Engulfed by relentless guilt and shame

Throwing key away, dimming life’s flame

 

Praying to Holy Father above

Singing of His steadfast, faithful love

Seeking His mercy in valley’s distress

How will life move forward, from this mess?

 

Coming to life’s rescue, Jesus Christ

Accepting His grace, He pays full price

Breaking free from sin’s ongoing grip

Sailing on Spirit’s armored flagship

 

Exiting darkest, shame-filled prison

Beholding blood-stained Cross, He’s Risen!

Remaking character, with each day

Walking with Jesus, never shall stray

 

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From Psalm 18:1-2:  “I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Garden’s Fountain

From Song of Solomon 4:12:  “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.”

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Heavenly garden, locked and closed

Eternal fountain, sealed and dry

Searching, Salvation’s hidden key

Faithless works, blinding sinful eyes

 

Body, soul, spirit in despair

Soul without spirit, dead to sin

Body without soul, starkest death

Life’s spirit, missing God’s linchpin

 

Holy Spirit, always at work

Lasting, heart-filled renovations

Infused into life’s coldest heart

Building restored soul’s foundation

 

Christ choreographs love-filled hearts

Breathing life into each saved soul

Lighting our way to Salvation

Father’s love leads to Christ’s patrol

 

Arriving at Heaven’s garden

Receiving its eternal key

Fountain flows with living water

Come rest under Salvation’s tree

 

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From Song of Solomon 4:16:  “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind!  Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad.  Let my beloved come to His garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”