Monday Memories: Finding New Life

From 2 Corinthians 11:13-14:  “For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder!  Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

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Facing life’s harshest trials

Walking uphill in shadows

Keeping on the proper trail

Coveting greener meadows

 

Suffering darkest ordeals

Praying for divine advice

Listening for God’s response

Willing to pay any price

 

Hiding off the path, waiting

Offering cunning, false hope

Sliding into Satan’s net

Reaching up for rescue’s rope

 

Clutching God’s forgiving hand

Leaving the enemy’s grip

Finding new life with the Lord

Walking in His fellowship

 

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From Romans 6:22-23:  “But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification.  The end is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Originally published September, 2020.

Hope’s Olive Leaf

From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

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Life’s darkened landscape

Harvest empty of grain

Hope seems so distant

Forgotten in pain

 

Heart’s desolate scene

Hope’s answers in prayer

Now mercy arrives

Laden with love’s care

 

Family finds hope

Answers no longer wait

Body now healing

Doctor brings update

 

Scars from troubles heal

Set to travel hope’s road

Spirit strengthens heart

Faith harvests what’s sowed

 

Earth’s torrential flood

Faith anchored on firm ground

Noah’s dove soars free

Hope’s olive leaf found

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Genesis 8:10-11:  “He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark, and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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The common response to trials is resistance, if not outright resentment.  How much better that we open the doors of our hearts and welcome the God-ordained trials as honored guests for the good they do in our lives.

From 1 Peter 1:6-7:  “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

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

Lettie B. Cowman Quote

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Do not limit the limitless God!  With Him, face the future unafraid because you are never alone.

From Jeremiah 29:11-12:  “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you.”

Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960) was an American writer of Christian devotional books.

Oswald Chambers Quote

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There is nothing more difficult than to ask.  We will long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask.

From Luke 11:10:  “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

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.

No Longer Waiting

From Psalm 25:4-5:  “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Darkness filled with stormy seas

Navigating all alone

Waiting and watching

Jesus witnesses man’s every groan

 

Better days surely coming

Spring forward, full of grace

Watching and hoping

Jesus shares righteous branch, now embrace

 

His way leads to higher ground

Bringing mercy’s salvation

Hoping and trusting

Jesus rebuilds faith’s new foundation

 

Moments of earnest prayer

Transforming grace taking flight

Trusting and praising

Jesus forgives with redemptive light

 

Faith nourished with comfort’s love

Raising Resurrection’s bridge

No longer waiting

Jesus offers way to heaven’s ridge

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10:  “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”

Abounding in Truth (Elfchen Series #232)

Rejoice

Experiencing

Daily blessings

Heavenly Father above

Source of faith’s comfort

Joy

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Harmony

Praising

Father’s love

Redemption from Savior

Each sin washed white

Peace

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Trust

Prayer’s

Intimate conversation

Father’s daily grace

Heart opened, hearing Him

Hope

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Peace Awakened

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.”

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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

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Luke 2:14:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”

Monday Memories: Faithful Journey

From Psalm 85:8-9:  “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts.  Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”

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Uncertain darkness

Surrounds me this day

Humbly take a knee

Bowing now to pray

 

Prayers calling God

Remain unhurried

Unanswered questions

Never be worried

 

Christ’s teachings feed thee

With the bread of life

This eternal gift

Blessings without strife

 

Lord of life and love

He feeds and frees all

Through His Holy Word

Never builds a wall

 

Allow me to pause

God prods thee along

Hearing His questions

Answers make me strong

 

God everlasting

Faith remains with thee

Through life’s harsh chaos

Calming stormy seas

 

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From Romans 10:10-13:  “ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.  The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.’  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him.  For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”

Originally published September, 2020.

Directing Our Best

From Psalm 118:1:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”

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Giving thanks, praising Father

His enduring, steadfast love

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Embracing grace from above

 

Kneeling in daily prayer

Father listens with patience

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Transforming our impatience

 

Taking refuge with Father

His righteousness leads forthwith

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Overcoming evil’s myth

 

Surrounding witness of light

Father blazes road ahead

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Nourishing with daily bread

 

Grasping wisdom of Father

Skies no longer full of gray

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Directing our best, His way

 

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From Psalm 118:24:  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”