God is sheer mercy and grace.
From Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian author.
From Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Praising God eternal
His merciful grace reigns
Steadfast, abounding love
Unshackling evil’s chains
Praising almighty God
His glory always reigns
Filled with merciful love
Blessing life, changing lanes
Praising God’s steady hand
His endless grace shall reign
Forgiveness, heals with love
Boarding heavenly train
Praising God’s Holy name
Spirit coming to reign
His mercy shared with love
Covering distant plains
Praising God’s divine plan
Son’s kingdom born to reign
Taste lasting, grace-filled love
Washing white, sinful veins
From the words of American pastor and theologian, Eugene Peterson: “God is sheer mercy and grace.”
We exist to exhibit God, to display His glory. We serve as canvases for His brush stroke, papers for His pen, soil for His seeds, glimpses of His image.
From Romans 11:36: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
From Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name Him Immanuel.”
Leading from Zion
Mercy taking flight
God shall be with us
Hope’s ember of light
Sprouting from his roots
Jesse’s stump alive
Faithful branches breathe
Hope’s spirit survives
Waiting in prayer
Prophesied birthplace
Prince shall bring His peace
Hope’s beacon of grace
Sheltering man’s faith
Bethlehem sleeping
Flock’s promised Shepherd
Hope’s heart now leaping
Believing in God
Life’s harshness turns bright
Virgin bears His Son
Hope’s fulfilling night
Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son. Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.
One of Advent’s most enduring hymns is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The original text was composed in Latin during the 12th century. In 1861, English priest and scholar John Mason Neale translated the lyrics into what many Christians recognize and sing today.
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Life’s struggles
Waiting ahead
Finding mercy’s strength
Nourishing daily bread
Father’s Word
Sharing insight
Hearing blessed truth
Following Spirit’s light
Faith in Christ
Setting us free
Leading every step
Escaping stormy seas
Grace-filled love
Coming from God
Extending goodness
Feeling no longer flawed
Sinful past
Fleeing its flood
Praying before cross
Witnessing Savior’s blood
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Each morning sunrise
Father’s gift to thee
Heaven’s brilliant skies
Mercy offers free
Coffee friends meeting
Father gathers all
Grace pours out greetings
Kindness fills each y’all
Kitchen’s window view
Father sharing peace
Each tender fescue
Life’s renewing lease
From each faithful seed
Father’s blessed prize
Harvest’s bounty feeds
Thoughts forever wise
Day’s fading sunset
Father always here
Night’s trusted cornet
Rhythm always clear
From Psalm 42:8: “By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”
This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him–I will give thee thy life. What more does a man want than his life?
From Jeremiah 45:5: “And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them, for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord, but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”
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.
From Jeremiah 15:21: “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
Steadfast in faithfulness
Christ remembers His flock
Unwavering mercy
Leading our righteous walk
Deliverance stirs faith
Christ proclaims Gospel’s peace
Unwavering message
Teaching salvation’s lease
Awakened faith reborn
Christ blesses life’s new road
Unwavering with grace
Bearing our sinful load
Faithfulness promises
Christ, eternity’s rock
Unwavering shepherd
Trusting, heaven unlocks
From Psalm 26:11: “But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.”
From Revelation 21:23: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
Shrouded in darkness
Surrounded with gloom
World living with sin
Light beams from death’s tomb
Found in Father’s Word
Filled with His Good News
Enduring light shines
Life’s anchor, now choose
Blessed kingdom waits
Focused light brings more
Seeing faithful road
Jesus, faith’s mentor
Lighted lamp confirms
Revealed through His grace
Lamb bears every sin
Jesus takes our place
Harvested mercy
Completed, finished
Light forever leads
Love undiminished
From James 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”
From 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Oceans of Father’s mercy
Flowing deep and wide
Replacing darkness with kindness
His eternal light, our guide
No mountain ever too high
Praising His glory
Entering Father’s safe fortress
His Word reveals our story
Calvary’s dark cross conquered
Viewing empty tomb
Looking to heavens, Christ risen
His grace spares life’s sinful doom
Eternity’s gate opened
Breaking evil’s chains
Following Jesus, freedom calls
His righteousness grabs life’s reins
Every precious life matters
Redeeming each heart
Nourishing with faith’s Living Bread
Father’s plan offers fresh start
From Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Big Sky Buckeye 