Monday Memories: Fear Not

From Matthew 14:22-24: “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.”

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Life’s storms intensify

Overcoming with fear

Facing each hostile sea

Darkness, nothing seems clear

 

Spiritual squalls come

Turning world upside down

Battered by strongest gales

Fearing each wave’s knockdown

 

Christ’s love intercedes

Praying hands, clay’s potter

Mountains to heavens

Walking on calm water

 

Jesus never leaves us

Storms quietly subside

His blessed protection

Lasting, sovereign guide

 

Fear not, faith’s spark ablaze

Christ’s true light boldly seeds

Following Son of God

Hope ripens from His deeds

 

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From Matthew 14:25-27:  “And early in the morning He came walking toward them on the sea.  But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’  And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”

Originally published December, 2020.

Charles Swindoll Quote

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Our calling is to be faithful in the demanding tasks, whether that is our education, our marriage, our occupation, of just the daily grind of life.

From Isaiah 50:10:  “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?”

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

Monday Memories: Living Truths

From Proverbs 23:23:  “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

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Philosophy breathes steady, faith’s living truths

Waiting with wisdom, long missing from our youth

 

Life’s daily chase may not be worth small treasure

Reading God’s Word, bringing life’s honest measure

 

Plan on giving more to others than ourselves

Blessing us with far more than dusty bookshelves

 

Jesus teaches us to treat others with love

Harnessing our Lord’s grace and peace from above

 

Trust lives as hope’s virtue, never to be lost

Securing it tightly, at ultimate cost

 

Our daily comfort zone brings false sense of peace

Rising up with Christ, offering life’s new lease

 

Failure teaches toughest lessons of living

Earning later success, praise with thanksgiving

 

Mankind’s world spins daily, filled with too much change

Praying to God, calms life with daily exchange

 

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From James 1:17-18:  “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures.”

Originally published December, 2020.

Redemption in Christ

From Deuteronomy 31:8:  “It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”

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Always going before us

Seeing every tomorrow

Faith’s steadfast anchor

Courage, buoyed by Spirit’s shadow

 

Every moment in prayer

Feeling His daily kinship

Peace shared from Father

Grace sails, with encouragement’s ship

 

Journey’s turbulent moments

Shrinking in Calvary’s light

Christ wins each battle

Enemy’s darkness, taking flight

 

Imperfect oceans of faith

Sailing upon trusted rock

Redemption in Christ

Mercy’s strength, brings to Heaven’s dock

 

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From 1 Corinthians 16:13:  “Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Treasured Moments (Haiku Series #338)

Delivered

Before sun comes up

Immersed in Scripture’s blessings—

Faith rises with Son

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Fulfilled

Quiet morning time

Spent with Father in prayer—

Meaningful minutes

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Renewed

Sun always rises

Truth found in Spirit’s presence—

Prepared for this day

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Leonard Ravenhill Quote

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Prayer does not condition God; prayer conditions us.  Prayer does not win God to our view; it reveals God’s view to us.

From Colossians 4:2-4:  “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.  At the same time, pray for us as well, that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) was a British Christian author.  Many of his chosen themes focused on prayer and revival.

Henry Drummond Quote

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No one can get Joy by merely asking for it.  It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must be grown.

From Philippians 4:4-6:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Henry Drummond (1851-1897) was a Scottish evangelist, writer, and lecturer.

Father’s Certainty

From Psalm 23:6:  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

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Searching for life’s certainty

Facing darkness without end

Seeking mercy’s treasured light

Father’s truth will never bend

 

Praying for darkness to leave

Believing in light above

Accepting His timely grace

Father’s gentle touch of love

 

Walking into valley’s light

Stepping toward Heaven’s gate

Watching darkness crawl away

Father’s certainty creates

 

Rising from Calvary’s death

Trusting Savior’s final words

Defeating darkness at last

Father’s light no longer blurred

 

Feeling certainty redeemed

Tearing apart chains of sin

Seeing Eternity’s light

Father’s benevolence wins

 

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From 2 Timothy 2:8-10:  “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

Maya Angelou Quotes

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Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.  And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.

From 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American author, poet, and civil rights activist.  Her body of published work is found in autobiographies, essays, poems, and numerous credits in plays, movies, and television shows.

Hope’s Clear Light

From Colossians 1:4-5:  “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.  You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you.”

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Faith in Jesus Christ

Rising with hope’s clear light

Love descends from Heaven

Fulfilling mercy’s flight

 

Faith speaks through God’s Word

Nourishing truth each day

Whisper of light to trust

Breathing hope, never gray

 

Faith targets saint’s heart

Sowing each faithful seed

Spirit nurtures each one

Blessing how hope shall feed

 

Faith’s patient journey

Praying to Lord above

Strengthened steps persevere

Uniting with hope’s love

 

Faith’s kingdom shall come

Redeeming with love’s grace

Father, Son, and Spirit

Offering hope’s embrace

 

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From Colossians 1:12-13:  “Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”