Charles Stanley Quote

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We can either walk in the world’s darkness or God’s light.

From Ephesians 5:10-11:  “Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

Walking in Light

From 1 John 1:6-7:  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

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Traveling earthly journey

Living alongside our Lord

Following His path with trust

Feeling love, grace brings accord

 

Pursuing God’s righteousness

Confessing sins, big and small

Obeying Holy commands

Hanging up when evil calls

 

Trading former self for love

Abandoning temptation

Accepting Jesus’ new light

His way, life’s blessed station

 

Teaching life from Father’s Word

Steering lives in righteous ways

Walking in light, blessing faith

Rejoicing with lasting praise

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Are you trying to carry old baggage into your walk with the Lord?  The attitudes, habits, and conduct that were yours before Christ must be abandoned in order for you to walk with God.”

Stepping Into Light

From Romans 13:11-12:  “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.  Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

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Turning away from temptation’s path

Following God’s Holy, righteous road

Transforming self into Christ’s image

Experiencing His love, bestowed

 

Breathing, yet lost in evil’s darkness

Hiding in shame, past sinful landscape

Reaching for Salvation’s lasting grace

Wearing armor of light, faith reshapes

 

Sharing His Father’s Word, Christ teaches

Loving one another, sharing peace

Witnessing His greatest commandment

Living with openness, life’s new lease

 

Leaving His advocate, Christ assures

Coming Holy Spirit, lifts each life

Overcoming sin’s flesh-filled desires

Growing in submission, without strife

 

Offering path to new life, Christ comes

Forsaking life’s bold truth, darkness flees

Walking in faith, stepping into light

Remaining steadfast, in what He sees

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When we rely on Him [God] instead of ourselves, He produces godly desires within us, empowers obedience, and transforms our character into Christ’s likeness.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He does not ask you to put it right; He asks you to accept the light, and He will put it right.

From 2 Corinthians 3:3-5:  “And you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.  Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God.”

Meeting at Last

From Luke 1:27-27:  “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.”

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When shall we ever meet?

Longing to meet my Lord

His lamp, lighting the way

Filled with love, now on board

 

Life’s laboring turmoil

Enchained by sin’s shackles

Christ offers lasting Grace

Freed from darkest jackals

 

Heaven’s gifts come to earth

Filled with unselfish love

Each dawn brings liberty

Embracing newfound love

 

Rejoice, again rejoice!

No more trembling in fear

Appearing like day’s sun

Safely home, Jesus steers

 

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From Luke 24:50-53:  “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them.  While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”

Night

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.”

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From the Creator, comes the day’s light

Why then, is there perpetual night?

 

Sin-filled darkness, traverses borders

Nations breathing endless disorders

 

Not a single country shall be spared

Few if any, seem ready . . . prepared

 

Partisan turmoil ignites unrest

Another sleepless night, minus rest

 

Social illness parks at each corner

Past ills, leaving many a mourner

 

Violence, injustice never pause

Out of this gloom, marches a new cause

 

Shroud of night’s blackness, tearing apart

Light conquers night, crashing our Lord’s heart

 

Blood-stained Cross, now-empty tomb proclaim

Son of Man, Son of God lights new flame 

 

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From Revelation 22:5:  “And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

Lonely Heart

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Alone and isolated

Empty calendar pages

Absent family and friends

Life walking in Dark Ages

 

Hour’s darkest shadows lengthen

Day’s hope missteps and stumbles

Sudden tears, any moment

Faith now tumbles, then crumbles

 

Day awakens, same old drill

Memories fade, bit by bit

Miles from nowhere, so alone

Silence fills heart, not close-knit

 

Few good days dwarfed by bad ones

Sunny smiles becoming few

Lonely heart needs titan’s lift

Shining light makes its breakthrough

 

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Make it a point today to reach out to someone who could use a warm hug, a trusting smile, or a kind word.  Lonely hearts fill many people with emptiness; share your light.

Without Faith

From Hebrews 11:6:  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

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Living without faith

Never pleasing to God

Scripture grows musty

Seeing life as a fraud

 

Lacking true knowledge

Missing God’s living Word

Whole heart feels empty

Running with the wrong herd

 

Callous attitude

Faith absent, lonesome walk

Mind unbelieving

AWOL from Shepherd’s flock

 

Holy Trinity

Faith’s long forgotten light

Father, Son, Spirit

Blessed angels take flight

 

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From Proverbs 3:5:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”

Monday Memories: Then Came Light

woman stands on mountain over field under cloudy sky at sunrise

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To a formless world, shrouded in whole darkness

God brought forth light to remove the harshness

 

To a dark, foreboding room with no shape

Candles illuminate our morning landscape

 

From a barren, lifeless pine or Douglas fir tree

Christmas brings lights, and makes us feel free

 

To a cold, hostile land without any light at night

Early man learns of fire, to warm and offer sight

 

To a student, who feels frustrated in a lesson so dark

A teacher brings patience, and a smile offers a spark

 

To a darkened, isolated highway on a night with no moon

Bright headlights point us safely towards home very soon

 

To a world seeking guidance and a fresh start

Lady Liberty’s welcoming torch, sets her apart

 

To a frightened child, waking up in darkness of the night

Parents bringing a beam of light, to take away his fright

 

To a middle-aged adult, stricken with eyesight very poor

A doctor’s skill removes a cataract, so she can see more

 

To an empty and humbling manger, in a crowded stable

A bright star over Bethlehem, showing what is now able

 

To heal the broken, lost life of a desperate man

God offering a sustaining and hope-filling plan

person spreading hands against sun

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