Called to March

From Luke 23:44-46:  “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.’  Having said this, He breathed his last.”

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Darkness surrounds solemn ground

Bloodied cross witnesses death

Son of Man’s reign ending now

His journey, now out of breath

 

Heartless enemy praises

Night sky covers grave of death

Disciples fleeing . . . hiding

But grace, never out of breath

 

Son of God shall rise, be seen

Morning light erases death

Praising over vacant tomb

Alleluia fills each breath

 

Called to march with our Savior

Love forever conquers death

Crown beloved Christ, our King

Mercy’s everlasting breath

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From Matthew 28:5-6:  “But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for He has been raised, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay.'”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus much deeper down, to get into the habit of steadily referring everything back to Him.

From John 16:29-31:  “His disciples said, ‘Yes, now You are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!  Now we know that You know all things and do not need to have anyone question You; by this we believe that You came from God.’  Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?'”

John Stott Quote

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The Gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving.  The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.

From Philippians 2:8-9:  “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.  Therefore God exalted Him even more highly and gave Him the name that is above every other name.”

John Stott (1921-2011) was an English preacher and Christian theologian.  During his years in the ministry, he was one of the leaders of the worldwide evangelical movement.

Monday Memories: Always Our Friend

This poem is inspired by a favorite hymn of many, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

crucifix grayscale photo

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Living weak in character

Laying at the Cross, past torts

Jesus, always our friend

Hearing our troubling reports

 

Stepping humbly to our Lord

Dumping these tribulations

Jesus, always through His love

Building our life’s foundation

 

Facing polarizing darkness

Bearing pain, feeling alone

Jesus waits, always trusting

Welcoming us to His own

 

Taking us, lifting us up

Rescuing us from sin’s shame

Jesus, always rebuilds faith

Saving through His Father’s name

silhouette image of person praying

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From 1 Peter 1:21:  “Through Him you have come to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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Jesus promised peace for those who trust in Him, and He delivers on His promises.

From John 16:12-13:  “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

Taken From a Church Sign

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Sin bad.  Jesus good.  Details inside.

From 1 John 1:9:  “ If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Life’s Breakwater

From John 4:13-14:  “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.  The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.'”

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Haunting landscape of needs

Darkness, breathless with fear

Back streets can never hide

Overflowing with tears

 

Facing hunger-filled void

Shadows filled with man’s greed

Overburdened labors

Breathing amongst ragweed

 

Walking with heart of pain

Emptiness without dreams

Thirst waiting to be quenched

Beholding mercy’s stream

 

Hearing sorrowful cries

Clamorous, selfish strife

Voice speaking, Son of God

Rising above each life

 

Flowing freshness of grace

Well of Living Water

Each heart again restored

Forming life’s breakwater

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From John 14:1-2:  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Monday Memories: Angel’s Message

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Summer’s radiant warmth fills the morning air

Playing children scamper, filling simple cares

 

Park trees arising with lively hues, bounty of dreams

Dancing shadows flowing beneath, moving like streams

 

People come and go, some stay for more

Singing above, summer birds fly and soar

 

Empty benches welcome many, resting a spell

Inviting a gray-haired man to sit now and dwell

 

Images scurry around him, some only in his mind

Remembering yesteryears, when all felt defined

 

Career, money, and power once meeting his needs

Sitting all alone now, like ancient dried-up reeds

 

One detail has been missing in his life

Leaving God has wounded like a knife

 

Alone, feeling forsaken, helpless at times

Living a life, nothing richer than springtime

 

Laughing and carefree, small children bring him joy

Filling his empty heart, much like a brand new toy

 

At God’s chosen bench, now sharing with a stranger

Smiling, a lady shares about a stable’s Holy manger

 

She notices him here quite often, sitting all alone

Inspired by God’s love, now enters his quiet zone

 

This visit and chat create sweet treasures

Sharing God’s Word, true by any measure

 

Jesus’ message of Salvation brings honest light

Kneeling, the old man accepts his Holy might

 

This worn bench brings God to a lonely heart

Allowing this man, a fresh and bold restart

 

Her assignment being fulfilled, now time to travel on

Replenishing this man’s heart with Grace and a song

 

Many others arrive at this park every day

Missing out on what this angel has to say

 

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New Freedom

From Exodus 19:5:  “ Now, therefore, if you obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession out of all the peoples.  Indeed, the whole earth is Mine.”

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Obeying God’s law

All shall fall short

Darkness consumes

Flesh’s evil tort

 

Sowing falsehood’s seeds

Emptiness reigns

Corruption rules

Flesh’s sinful chains

 

Witnessing Jesus

Calvary’s death

Covenant breaks

Flesh’s final breath

 

Praising Risen Lord

New freedom’s call

Harvest ready

Grace building faith’s wall

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From Galatians 6:14-15:  “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to Me and I to the world.  For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything!”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quote

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Only the man who follows the command of Jesus single-mindedly and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon Him, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way.

From Philippians 3:13-14:  “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

German-born Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident.  Many of his writings express the role of Christianity in mankind’s daily lives.  He paid the ultimate price for his activism against the Nazi regime during World War II.