Love
Bethlehem’s gift
Passion’s lasting peace
Witnessed in Messiah’s breath
Proven
Faith
Light ahead
Father’s promises fulfilled
Son’s passion at Calvary
Reborn
Hope
Passion’s breath
Scripture speaking truth
Blessed destiny in Christ
Resurrected
The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ.
From John 15:15: “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father.”
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.
Season to season
From love’s treasured heart
Every breath of life
Landscape’s fresh restart
Nature’s life cycles
Reborn every spring
Yet, autumn mourns loss
Winter’s darkness stings
Throughout life’s phases
Hope’s fateful ascent
Never to wither
Love always present
Always on schedule
Life’s permanent breath
Winter fades away
Spring overcomes death
Eternal love lasts
Cold ground warms again
Life breathes as He planned
Creator’s “amen”
Love is like a good piece of wood: It just gets stronger and stronger as the years go by.
It’s not the beginning or the destination that counts. It’s the ride in between.
[Both quotes taken from The Christmas Train.]
David Baldacci (born 1960) is an American novelist.
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.
David Viscott (1938-1996) was an American psychiatrist and author.
In stillness of morn
Single flame burning
Offering goodness
Each hour keeps churning
In stillness of day
Single flame burning
Sharing lasting peace
Heartbeat keeps churning
In stillness of work
Single flame burning
Energizing joy
Outlook keeps churning
In stillness of night
Single flame burning
Encouraging hope
Life shall keep churning
In stillness of dreams
Single flame burning
Grasping tender hand
True love keeps churning
From 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”
Stay alert, darkness lurks
Enemy remains at large
Believing in Savior’s strength
Faith in Him, taking charge
Faith sown with righteousness
Found in Christ’s merciful breath
Calling saints, wear His armor
Recall, Lord conquered death
Witness Calvary’s grace
Jesus suffers for man’s sins
Nailing each one to faith’s cross
His love shall always win
Hope’s perfect Good Shepherd
Always tending to His flock
Revealing glory’s goodness
Peace springs from faith’s bedrock
Hang on to faith’s Savior
Humble selves in mercy’s hands
Casting burdens upon Him
Heaven’s sunrise shall stand
From 1 Peter 5:11: “To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”
From Hebrews 3:12-13: “Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Liberty shall be defined
Opportunity arrives
Sharing peace from Jesus Christ
Future’s hope breathing alive
Unconditional spirit
Encouragement’s blessed Word
Turning toward Father’s grace
Benevolence always stirred
Present sufferings shall fade
New creation waits for all
Finding joy in light’s freedom
Chains of sin’s bondage shall fall
Faith’s blessed door now opens
Love invites all to enter
Hearing Father’s steady voice
Mercy waits at room’s center
All peace shines from Son’s goodness
Justified by Father’s hand
Walking in darkness no more
Light’s hope will forever stand
From 1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
From Luke 2:6-7: “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth and laid Him in a manger.”
Echoes ring with “Merry Christmas”
To everyone and all
Filled with goodwill’s peace
Witness in each joy-filled call
Deck every hall with love so rich
Each generation shall praise
Gifts of hope opened
Light from Bethlehem ablaze
World no longer suffers darkness
Humble manger shares love
Beneath heavens’ stars
Christ-child descends from above
Dreams of promised peace awakened
Gratitude filled with joy
Faithful kneel to pray
Each shepherd set to deploy
From Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”
We live beneath the protective palm of a sovereign King who superintends every circumstance of our lives and delights in doing us good.
From Isaiah 43:2: “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.”
Big Sky Buckeye 