Mercy Conquers

From Psalm 69:14:  “Rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.”

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Watching man’s plight

God takes human form

Breathing Scripture’s cues

Mercy conquers storm

 

Stumbling in faith

God sees lack of trust

Sending His own Son

Evil becomes dust

 

Breaking sin’s chains

Calvary’s blood flows

Kneeling in prayer

Light enters shadows

 

Walking through fire

Grace making descent

Pulsing with courage

God always present

 

Witnessing cross

Spirit opens eyes

Accepting Jesus

God, more than life-size

 

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From 1 Corinthians 6:11:  “And this is what some of you used to be.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

God of Rescue

From Colossians 1:13-14:  “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

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Looking down from Heaven

Observing broken world

Father, Son, and Spirit

Designing rescue’s lifeline

 

Dispatching Son to earth

Walking among sinners

Light’s rescue comes to save

Taking perfect human form

 

Witnessing Father’s love

Executing rescue

Journey to bloody Cross

Rebuilding faith’s cornerstone

 

Voiding enemy’s lies

Saving flawed humanity

God’s rescue overcomes

Replacing darkness with light

 

Paying man’s debts in full

Bearing each transgression

Through Son’s body and blood

Raising salvation’s rescue

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From Acts 2:37-39:  “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’  Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him.'”

Monday Memories: Living to Give

Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:14:  “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

black and white cemetery christ church

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Christ comes to the world

Bringing God’s love to us

 

Jesus sets the bar high

Higher than we can reach

 

Christ delivers two true teachings

To a sinful, unsaved world

 

Love your God, the Father

Love others more than yourself

 

Jesus does more than preach

He teaches us God’s truth

 

His hands heal the sick

Later pierced with sharpened nails

 

He raises up the dead

Just as He will rise

 

Christ, the Messiah, brings hope

He is Savior to mankind

 

Wearing a crown of thorns

Humbles himself on the Cross

 

Rising from a dark tomb

Christ forever defeats our sins

 

Christ serves His Holy Father

His sacrifice continues to give

 

He lives

The Resurrection lives

Eternal life lives

 

Respond to Christ in prayer

Humble, grateful—on our knees

Honor and praise Jesus Christ

Our eternal Savior and protector

His love lights the way

Accepting Jesus as our Savior

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Originally published October, 2019.

Charles Swindoll Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

When you find yourself slumping in shame or giving way to guilt, remind yourself of this:  You have been chosen by the Good Shepherd.  He wants you in His flock.

From John 15:16:  “You did not choose me, but I chose you.  And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask Him in My name.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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When we view life from God’s perspective, every hardship becomes an opportunity to trust His good purpose, fully depend on Him, and respond in a manner that glorifies and exalts Christ.

From Philippians 1:27-28:  “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel and in no way frightened by those opposing you.  For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation.  And this is God’s doing.”

Welcoming Savior

From Luke 2:10-11:  “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”

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Fling wide each window

Open every gate

God walks among us

Welcoming Savior

 

Choir of angels sing

From heavens above

City of David

Salvation’s bright light

 

Answer to prayers

Shepherds witness birth

Praise this King of Kings

Called Emmanuel

 

Trust God’s divine plan

Faith’s most Holy Rock

Fill hearts with gladness

Redemption paid for

 

Father’s act of grace

Eternity’s gift

Hope, peace, joy, and love

Welcoming Savior

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From Galatians 5:22-24:  “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against such things.  And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Gracious and Merciful

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Always remember

Recounting gracious deeds

Breathing trust into faith

Life’s every tender reed

 

Lord fulfills great acts

Praising each, filled with love

Witnessing mighty hand

Angels sing from above

 

Never-ending grace

Sending His Son to build

Lasting bond with Father

Redemption shall be filled

 

Merciful journey

Gathering at one cross

Shedding His blood for all

Evil swallows his loss

 

New covenant calls

Forgiving sinful ways

Creating hope’s new life

Salvation’s hands now raise

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Monday Memories: God’s Team

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Jesus gathers up His apostles from humble ground

Making up God’s team, their witness shall abound

 

God’s Word oversees the performance of this team

Standing as chief executive, seeing holiest theme

 

The Holy Spirit earmarks the hearts and brains

Serving as the binding glue, better than chains

 

Returning to the beginning of God’s creative time

Transforming a land, His Word continues to climb

 

The Creator conceives of a perfect place for man

Placing Adam and Eve in Eden, always His plan

 

But, Adam and Eve journey on a sin-filled path

Leaving the ample garden, under God’s wrath

 

From this moment, God’s team stumbles and wanders

Facing estrangement from God, His people squander

 

Jesus comes to bridge what separates us from God

Sitting at the right hand, coaching a humbled squad

 

God establishes His expectations, perfectly high

Faltering and imperfect mortals, will never satisfy

 

The team continues to collapse over and over again

Forgetting God’s Commandments, sin seems to win

 

Many teams measure success by the flashy show

Works by themselves, will never add much glow

 

But, Jesus shepherds His team on a brand new track

Following by faith alone, Jesus always has their back

 

He reminds us to always love our God in Heaven’s seat

Loving each other as you have loved Me, always repeat

 

A bloody, criminal’s Cross summons all to take a knee

Accepting Jesus as Savior, teammates look up to see

 

Our Father orchestrates, with infinite patience and love

Creating and molding, the Great I Am looks from above

 

Jesus remains alert at the Creator’s side

Carrying keys to eternal life, all bona fide

 

As team members, we must trust, follow, and abide

Playing for Jesus, His coaching is forever our guide

 

 

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Originally published January, 2020.

His Voice

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Many voices compete for our attention, but abundant life comes when we listen to our Good Shepherd.”

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Good Shepherd’s voice

Searching for sheep

Finding lost ones

Mercy won’t sleep

 

Recognizing

True Shepherd’s Word

His voice shares grace

Forever heard

 

Good Shepherd’s faith

Persistence heeds

Calling His sheep

Voice gently leads

 

Shepherd holding

Salvation’s keys

Closed gate opens

God’s voice agrees

 

As faithful sheep

Hearing His voice

Safely at home

Always rejoice

 

Coming to Christ

Believers walk

Trusting His voice

Hope’s solid rock

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From John 10:3-5:  “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Watchman Nee Quote

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God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only.  Namely, by showing us more of His Son.

From John 3:17-18:  “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him.  Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher.  He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs.  Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.