Do You Hear?

From Deuteronomy 6:4-5:  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

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Busy with daily lives

Pausing now, do you hear?

As God listens, we should

Opening minds and ears

 

As God’s chosen, come close

Father waits with patience

Intently, carefully

Despite our impatience

 

Read His Word with earnest

Focus on, meditate

God’s living stone, breathing

Do you hear Him, so great?

 

His mercy chooses us

With never-ending love

Calling us from darkness

Finding God’s grace above

 

Face each hour with new hope

Follow with faithful steps

Lives chosen and precious

God waits at our doorstep

 

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From 1 Peter 2:9-10:  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we never can and never shall merit.

From Romans 8:37-39:  “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Love Never Fails

From Psalm 142:1-2:  “With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the LordI pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him.”

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Roaming life’s wilderness

Old Man Trouble talking

No escape from his voice

Tougher times come knocking

 

Life’s rivers never rest

Turbulent waters wait

Walking through hottest fire

Faith in God shifts our fate

 

Bright days turning darkest

Where’s our protection gone?

Father’s love never fails

With us at day’s new dawn

 

Choosing life’s one clear choice

God’s love sending courage

Tackling intense troubles

Lord’s Word shall encourage

 

Facing Old Man Trouble

God renewing life’s hope

Eye to eye with our faith

Lord’s unbreakable rope

 

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From Isaiah 43:1-2:  “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:  Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  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.”

When Life Tumbles

From Psalm 31:3-5:  “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.  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

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When daily life tumbles

Love and kindness arrive

Helping hand reaching out

Spirit bringing high fives

 

When little steps tumble

Curious toddler falls

Mother offers sweet hugs

Spirit’s love never stalls

 

When career takes tumble

One avenue closes

Another path opens

Spirit turns up roses

 

Healthy life takes tumble

Caring neighbors help out

Lending love’s blissful hands

Spirit waters our drought

 

Shame stings with sin’s tumble

Darkness changes to light

Jesus calls out with love

Spirit’s grace glowing bright

 

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From Romans 8:26-27:  “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Divine Actions (Haiku Series #129)

Reconciliation

Between God and man

There’s but one mediator—

Christ’s eternal bridge

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Revelation

God’s goodness and love

Revealed in His Son Jesus—

Giving us new life

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Compassion

Greatest commandment

Share love with one another—

In faith, follow Christ

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Monday Memories: Nourishing Love

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A beautiful garden planted in the spring with great love

Flowers and vegetables blessed with peace from above

 

Every detail carefully planned and tenderly done

All this fertile soil needs now is water and sun

 

The first few weeks bring excitement and growth

Green buds and a bit of color are amazing both

 

One week goes by without any tender loving care

The young, immature plants now seem a bit scared

 

I am thirsty for a drink, can’t you see!

Why have you forgotten all about me?

 

Another week passes along without feeling a human hand

The fragile plants begin a slow march back to the land

 

I am thirsty for a drink, can’t you see!

Why have you forgotten all about me?

 

A third week arrives with unhappiness and despair

The once promising garden can’t surely be repaired

 

I am thirsty for a drink, can’t you see!

Why have you forgotten all about me?

 

From high above comes His promise to bring rain

Soon a gentle, nourishing mist reduces the pain

 

Humans need to be fed from above by Him

We must ask Him gently like singing a hymn

 

Without loving care, the garden and people will perish

The Lord adores all of His creation with love to cherish

 

Let us never, ever wonder and say . . .

 

I am thirsty for a drink, can’t you see!

Why have you forgotten all about me?

 

To have little faith isn’t part of our day!

 

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Sinclair B. Ferguson Quote

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The foundation of our love for the Lord lies in the recognition of His holiness, our sinfulness, and His grace.

From Ephesians 2:4-5:  “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved.”

No Greater Love

From 1 John 4:9-10:  “God’s love was revealed among us in this way:  God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

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Jesus shows us God’s way

No greater love than His

Sharing all of himself

For us, taking our quiz

 

Coming in human form

Living His humble way

Obedient to God

For each sinner, He prays

 

Taking our place in death

His body bears our sins

Shedding His precious blood

Defeating death, God wins

 

Above darkest valleys

Highest mountains tremble

No greater love shall breathe

Saintly choir assembles

 

Greatest exchange ever

Washing sin, white as snow

Christ’s love covers darkness

Spirit forever glows

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From Philippians 2:9-11:  “Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Quietness

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Morning begins with quietness

Behind locked doors, many hiding

Disciples and others mourning

Feeling God no longer guiding

 

Overcome with grief and sorrow

Memories fill with harshest tone

Quietness gathers in God’s hands

Barren cross stands bloody, alone

 

His torturous execution

Rabbi, teacher forever gone

Faith shattered, only quietness

Living as ignored Roman pawns

 

Confused, lacking understanding

What will tomorrow ever bring?

God waits with patient quietness

Sadness fills His heart, death its sting

 

From this darkness, quietness breathes

Hidden events still playing out

Love’s greatest story, not finished

God triumphs, never any doubt

 

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While it seems God’s Word is quiet on this day, He is orchestrating events to come.  While the world feels alone and forsaken, God is never quiet.  Tomorrow will shine light on His everlasting love and triumph.

No Longer Alone

From Psalm 31:1-2:  “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.  Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

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Life struggles with loneliness

Days without human contact

Isolation grows, lights go dim

Time without purpose, sidetracked

 

Scorned, rejected, forgotten

Christ also feels all alone

Where have His disciples gone?

Taunted, tortured, overthrown

 

Holy God always at work

Cries of loneliness, He heeds

Our needs, never glossed over

Spirit moves others to lead

 

Alone, never life’s last word

Visits from others arrive

Blessed comfort sealed with love

Sustaining light will survive

 

Darkest loneliness leaving

Empty hearts fill with courage

Father’s love touching each soul

His blessings shall encourage

 

God’s love remaining steadfast

At death’s cross, Christ not alone

Darkened, empty tomb proclaims

God’s triumph, faith’s cornerstone

 

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From Psalm 31:14-16:  “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.  Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”