Monday Memories: Just in Case

From James 4:6:  “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”

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Our Creator’s divine plan

Offers fullest, living grace

Giving patience, just in case

When running life’s anxious race

 

Our Lord shares forgiveness

Relationships need healing

Forgiving sin, just in case

When each day seems freewheeling

 

Heaven’s Father, sharing peace

Imperfect lives needing change

Trimming each branch, just in case

When roaming lost on God’s range

 

God shares His timely wisdom

From Heaven, He sees us fall

Touching our hand, just in case

When we need His hope-filled call

 

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From John 15:1-2:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Trusted Patience

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives.”

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Surrounded by darkness

Human perspective fades

Thinking offers no choices

Feeling betrayed

 

Trusted patience in God

His fields of green shall sprout

Taking delight in His peace

Erasing doubt

 

Committed to God’s way

Today’s hope starts anew

Knowing mercy share His love

Transforming view

 

Witnessed truth in God’s Word

Calvary’s light unfolds

Rewiring faith’s new outlook

Praying tenfold

 

Rescued by Savior’s grace

Redemption now deploys

Forgiving, eternal love

Responding joy

 

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From Psalm 37:23-24:  “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

George Matheson Quote

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I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for hope.

From Lamentations 3:25-26:  “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

George Matheson (1842-1906) was Scottish pastor, Christian author, and hymn writer.  His faith in God matured after becoming blind as a young man.

Advent’s Journey

From Luke 1:46-47:  “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Advent’s journey

Following Savior’s star

Walking toward Bethlehem

Nurturing hope from afar

 

Advent’s patience

Sowing fresh seeds of hope

Harvesting heavenly peace

Grasping eternity’s rope

 

Advent’s witness

Wrapping faith in God’s Word

Waiting for hope to be born

Seeing prophecy unblurred

 

Advent’s treasures

Rising without fanfare

Revealing Messiah’s hope

Answering every prayer

 

Advent’s cleansing

Leaving darkness for light

Replacing man’s sins with hope

Raising redemption forthright

 

Advent’s glory

Sharing from hope above

Bearing world’s ultimate joy

Believing in Father’s love

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Luke 1:54-55:  [Mary continues speaking] “‘He has come to the aid of His child Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.'”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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In the midst of the struggles and the storms and the sufferings of life, we can advance our thoughts beyond today and see relief.  Because, in the end, God does indeed win.

From Romans 12:12:  “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.”

Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.

Transitions (Haiku Series #353)

Repurposed

Raking piles of leaves

Trees now empty of color—

Autumn’s leftovers

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Unhurried

Morning’s icy breath

Winter playing hide ‘n seek—

Goodbye autumn friend

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Treasured

Lonely tree branches

Always full of memories—

Final leaf falling

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Love One Another

From the words of American Christian author, James Dobson:  “It is important to know that you have to work to keep love alive, you have to protect it and maintain it, just like you would a delicate flower.”

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Encouraged to trust Father’s Word

Hope sown with Christ’s patient love

Precious seeds of kindness

Heaven harvests from above

 

Cultivated with Father’s grace

Eternal light never ends

Rejoice with Spirit’s peace

Fragile love strengthens to mend

 

Answered with Father’s faithfulness

Calvary pays debits of man

Love rises with new life

According to divine plan

 

Called by Father, who always cares

Love each delicate flower

Maintain, always protect

Backed up with mercy’s power

 

Commanded by Father above

Always love one another

Just as faith’s Savior loved

Every sister and brother

 

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From 1 Corinthians 13:13:  “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”

Bountiful Grace

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Evening’s darkness deepens

Silence now awakens

Nature never rests

While daylight feels forsaken

 

Gentle spirit’s exhale

Dreams stand ready to climb

Day now forgotten

Headlines swallowed up in time

 

Starlight scatters its dust

World seemingly asleep

Patience to unfold

Caught up in submerging deep

 

Harmony’s dawn rises

New day set to embrace

Morning shares goodness

Propelled by bountiful grace

 

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Malcolm X Quotes

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We need more light about each other.  Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, patience creates unity.

You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be a peace unless he has his freedom.

Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an American human rights activist.  

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Every vision will be made real if we have patience.  Think of the enormous leisure of God!  He is never in a hurry.

From Isaiah 35:6b-7a:  “For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water.”

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.