Monday Memories: River of Life

From Psalm 92:12-15:  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

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River of life, unceasing in its travels

Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel

 

From heavenly source, cascades living water

Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter

 

When ultimate challenges travel too high

Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally

 

Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home

Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs

 

Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen

Traveling waters, transparent with routine

 

Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace

Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase

 

Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline

Looking back, years richer than any gold mine

 

Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled

River of life, journey which only God builds

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Max Lucado Quote

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Water is a picture of the Spirit of Jesus working in us.  He’s not working to save us, mind you; that work is done.  He’s working to change us.

From John 7:37-38:  “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.  As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”

Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.

Father’s Heart

From Isaiah 55:3:  “Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live.  I will make with you an everlasting covenant.”

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Hear this, all who thirst

Come to these still waters

Blessed with Father’s grace

Every son and daughter

 

Hear this, leave darkness

Only this light to seek

Return to Father

Step beyond earthly creek

 

Hear this, feast awaits

Steadfast love to behold

Cling to Father’s Word

Leave wilderness, be bold

 

Hear this, come to Me

Lasting peace to embrace

Love in Father’s heart

Salvation’s truthful place

 

Hear this, Savior lives

Walk no longer in fear

Trust in Father’s plan

Heaven’s path becomes clear

 

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From 1 Corinthians 10:13:  “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

Pilgrim’s Journey

From 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12:  “Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.  And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for You.”

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Arising each morning

Heart breathes in Father’s love

Praising pilgrim’s journey

Grace follows from above

 

Standing firm with Father

Hands of patient potter

Shaping this precious day

Mercy’s living water

 

Overcoming darkness

Light comes from Father’s Word

Taking in wisdom’s breath

Faith strengthened from what’s heard

 

Accepting Father’s plan

Truth breaks through evil’s crust

Walking in harmony

Submission brings man’s trust

 

Breaking free from bondage

Christ severs every chain

Paying sins’ debts with blood

In victory, He reigns

 

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From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10:  “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”

Monday Memories: Called to Sow

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Sower scattering any seed

Wildly without any foresight

God scatters His Word as planned

His aim, truthful in its flight

 

Called to sow His righteous seeds

Following a living light

Sharing of God’s Holy Word

Walking in Jesus’ delight

 

These efforts shall bear His fruit

Quenching the rich, fertile ground

God adds the living water

Patient, His trust to be found

 

Not every seed shall bloom now

Some will lie quiet and wait

Just as a pine cone pauses

Holds seeds for their proper fate

 

Spreading God’s Word to others

Using our freedom for good

Allowing Spirit to work

Sowing for Him as we should

 

Sharing love and forgiveness

Lord’s eternal Word aligned

Taking blessed, scattered seeds

Harvesting fruit of all kinds

 

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From Isaiah 55:10-11:  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Originally published July, 2020.

Precious River

From John 7:37-38:  “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, He cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink.’  As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”

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Resurrection’s eternal light

Enemy’s darkness surrenders

Glory of Christ, forever bright

Holy Spirit’s peace, so tender

 

Precious river shall always flow

Savior’s grace offers faithful hope

Living water shall never slow

Forgiveness offers mercy’s rope

 

Come all to witness freedom’s tomb

Believe and each shall receive grace

Light forever shines from this room

Spirit unites this Holy place

 

From heavenly vision above

Safest harbor rises from dust

Infinite mercy bearing love

Eternity’s river of trust

 

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From Revelation 22:1-3:  “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.  On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  Nothing accursed will be found there any more.  But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.”

Monday Memories: Old Man Trouble

From the words of British pastor and theologian, Charles Spurgeon:  “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.”

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Encountering another of life’s setbacks

Visitor from the darkness shouts, “I am back”

 

Old Man Trouble comes knocking at my front door

Relentless, he desires to even the score

 

How will I choose to deal with adversity?

His darkness masks the sky over this city

 

Tackle straight forward what Old Man Trouble brings

Or . . . wait timidly for his continued sting

 

God’s Word teaches us and brings us hope:

We all live preciously in God’s perfect sight

He gathers us in His loving, Holy might

 

Past—present—future . . . from the Great I Am

Making it through turbulent seas for each lamb

 

Through desolate wilderness, God shares a way

Bringing rivers of hope to this life’s gateway

 

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Looking Old Man Trouble in his doom-filled eyes

With faithful courage, my hope begins to rise

 

Life waits to see . . . who will finally blink first?

With God’s living water, quenching my parched thirst

 

Listening, following God’s steadfast handbook

His love will save me with a whole new outlook

 

Bringing Godly fortitude, when needed most

Old Man Trouble defeated, nothing to boast

 

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From Isaiah 43:2-3:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Originally published August, 2020.

Abundance of Hope

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For all who thirst

Come to blessed waters

Now follow carefully

Every son and daughter

 

Listen with care

Abundance of hope waits

Covenant’s faithful love

Key found to Heaven’s gate

 

Witness David

Leadership born in him

All for Father’s glory

Faith’s light shall never dim

 

Truth from Heaven

Look toward Savior’s grace

No longer forsaken

Trust brings us to His place

 

Return to God

Leave each unrighteous thought

Sin’s indictment erased

Messiah’s blood has bought

 

Embrace His way

Mercy looks upon earth

Thorns transformed into blooms

Anchored at Spirit’s berth

 

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All Rejoice

From Mark 5:27-29:  “She had heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch His cloak, I will be made well.’  Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.”

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Father’s righteousness

Immortal mercy’s voice

Molding man in His image

Praising heavens, let all rejoice

 

Savior’s healing breath

Joy fills morning’s new light

Turning darkness upside down

Nourishing with grace, always right

 

Spirit’s eagerness

Generous with His love

Inspiring faithful actions

Living bread shares truth from above

 

Messiah restores

Faith accepts lasting peace

Sharing His divine goodness

Living water shall never cease

 

Father’s blessed plan

Gospel sharing Good News

Witnessing Son’s promised choice

Meeting Calvary, hope renews

 

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From Psalm 30:11-12:  “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Monday Memories: Living Water

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What dark depths dwell in our lives?

Sinful nature, lost like sheep

Hearts fill with lasting troubles

Seeing life’s well, much too deep

 

Returning without promise

Jacob’s well cannot quench thirst

Our parched lips, where’s our relief?

Sinful souls, ready to burst

 

God’s Grace, in living water

Blessing in truth and spirit

Gushing with eternal life

Drink deeply, never fear it

 

Who will bring us this water?

We look, but the well is deep

Jesus draws living water

Saving His lost, thirsty sheep

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From John 4:11-15:  “The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?  Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’  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.’  The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.'”

Originally published June, 2020.