Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.
Always do right. This will surprise some people and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was an American author and humorist. He has often been praised as one of America’s greatest humorists, and American writer William Faulkner called him “the father of American Literature.”
From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Sitting on grassy hillside
Hearing Christ’s blessed teachings
Thirst for righteousness, be filled
Spirit forever reaching
Gathering each disciple
Walking ahead of His flock
Shepherd leading faithful sheep
Kingdom’s always steady rock
Answering God in heaven
Blessing each thought and action
Each stranger shall be welcomed
Peace filling hope’s new traction
Lifting up from fallen steps
Bearing fruits, quiet manger
Power of praying Spirit
Faith’s confident game changer
Thirsting no more, risen Light
Resurrecting blood-stained love
God wipes away every tear
Joy forever sings above
From Revelation 7:16-17: “They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat, for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
From Luke 2:1-7: “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 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, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
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Hallelujah!
Angels sing, from heavens above
Glory forever, to a newborn King
Praising Emmanuel, as they sing
Hallelujah!
Virgin Mary, mother to this Son
Jesus will be His blessed name
This world, never to be the same
Hallelujah!
Born in a bustling hamlet, Bethlehem
Chiseled in history, forever renowned
Baby in a manger, shepherds found
Hallelujah!
God with us, in flawless human form
Walking in our steps, we will trust
Witnessing a Cross, our Savior must
Hallelujah!
God lifts the veil of His great plan
His Son will bear our bloody sins
Forever, God’s flock will say “Amen”
Hallelujah!
All bow, take a bended knee
Praise our Savior in prayer
Darkness leaves, Jesus cares
Hallelujah!
God’s divine, sacrificial plan
Jesus comes in person, to save
He overpowers sin and the grave
Hallelujah!
Birth of this blessed, Holy child
Peace and joy, we will follow Him
His righteousness, a lasting hymn
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Originally published December, 2019.
I keep a daily journal of “take-aways” from my devotional readings. This poem was crafted from some of my February entries.
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Sitting alone and hopeless
Faith’s shadow, covered in rust
God awakens mind and soul
In His Spirit, words bring trust
Turning to God, always there
His footprints walking ahead
Through life’s hefty challenges
Our Lord brings our daily bread
Reading from His Holy Word
Always giving thanks and praise
Marvelous things, God has done
Our hope alive and ablaze
Growing in faith, from our woes
Therefore, pray . . . listen . . . follow
Righteous life following Christ
Savior’s hope, never hollow
Facing temptation each day
Alignment with Son of God
Blood and body shed for us
Boldly fleeing evil’s fraud
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From Galatians 6:1-2: “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Originally published May, 2020.
From the words of American pastor and Christian evangelist, Vance Havner: “Life is a series of choices between the bad, the good, and the best. Everything depends on how we choose.”
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Our daily walk encounters many tests
Life’s decisions shall never be easy
Facing a series of heartfelt choices
Sometimes feeling so alone and uneasy
Quality decisions lead life forward
God’s Word and righteousness always shining
Making choices, pleasing to our Father
Our Lord’s love, His sacred silver lining
God chooses our Savior—His Holy Son
Jesus becomes our faithful source of life
Bringing lasting redemption to ourselves
Hope-filled Cross saving the foolish from strife
Our Father calls many, few are chosen
His chosen, precious cornerstone—Jesus
Believing in Him, never put to shame
Living by faith through our Lord, who frees us
Jesus chooses us in His Father’s name
Days ahead offer bounties of treasures
Following His love and wealth of teachings
Therefore, bear lasting fruit through His measures
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From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord–for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Originally published May, 2020.
From Psalm 139:1-2: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.”
Searching and knowing
Discerning each thought
Inescapable
God ties one more knot
Seeing tomorrow
Opening one’s eyes
Inescapable
God hears every cry
Leading each day forth
Holding darkness back
Inescapable
God’s light covers black
Sharing His good works
Teaching righteous truth
Inescapable
God matures one’s youth
Weaving from earth’s depths
Knitting with intent
Inescapable
God’s efforts well-meant
Navigating storms
Lifting each above
Inescapable
God brings grace-filled love
From Psalm 139:11-12: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and night wraps itself around me,’ even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to You.”
From Psalm 105:3-4: “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
Quiet morning minutes
Sharing from His heart
Rendezvous with Father
Blessing day’s fresh start
Reading from God’s own Word
Peace fills from His heart
Replacing all darkness
Light’s mercy imparts
Master’s most tender touch
Moving from His heart
Blessed hymns freely praise
Singing every part
Painting nature’s landscape
Visions from His heart
Offering perfection
Creator’s fine art
Father’s trusted wisdom
Speaking from His heart
Righteousness leads faith’s path
Guiding light’s head start
From Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
How many people are equipped to handle mistreatment after they’ve done right? Only Christians are equipped to do that. That is what makes believers stand out. That’s our uniqueness.
From Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
From Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus, Son of Man
Human in every way
Temptation’s darkness
Resisting Satan’s play
Jesus, Son of God
Father’s one righteous path
Perfect and sinless
Upsetting evil’s math
Jesus, Son of Man
Born in humble stable
Love sent from Father
Sitting at His table
Jesus, Son of God
God walking among us
Our steps become His
Boarding heavenly bus
Christ, both God and Man
Bridges between each realm
Never bending knee
Steering from heaven’s helm
From John 8:54-55: “Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, He of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ though you do not know Him. But I know Him.'”
From Isaiah 46:3-4: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”
Praising Father above
Faithful promises speak
In His hands, mercy proves
Forsake idol’s mystique
Looking to heavens high
Courage to face trials
In His hands, time stands still
Return from dark exile
Reciting Father’s Word
Wisdom from light-filled grace
In His hands, answers found
Holy, this divine place
Walking in righteous steps
Troubles fading away
In His hands, peace shall reign
Salvation comes today
Believing Father’s Son
Life no longer adrift
In His hands, refuge found
Faith rises from Christ’s gift
From Colossians 3:17: “ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Big Sky Buckeye 