God’s Saving Grace (Haiku Series #104)

Targeted

Seeds sown and watered

Only God provides the growth—

Living with purpose

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Pardoned

Through grace and mercy

God offers us Salvation—

Won by our Savior

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Transformed

Trusting Holy Truth

Discovering our new self—

Our true home in Christ

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Grace from Above

From Micah 6:8:  “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

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Filled with mercy and love

God’s Word becoming flesh

Grace and truth, Christ proclaims

Spirit comes to refresh

 

God’s message resonates

Resist dark temptations

Gives grace to the humble

Receive His salvation

 

Believing in Jesus

Saved by “Amazing Grace”

Love transcends from above

Light shines upon each face

 

Doesn’t look for our faults

Our Lord never keeps score

His grace given freely

Loving us, evermore

 

Transformation through faith

Raising life from the dead

Unfathomable love

By grace, and blood Christ shed

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “Grace operates apart from the response or the ability of the individual.  Grace is one-sided.  Grace is God giving Himself in full acceptance to someone who does not deserve it and can never earn it and will never be able to repay.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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Salvation is an unfathomable treasure for which we will spend eternity praising, thanking, and worshipping God.

From 1 Peter 1:3-5:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Monday Memories: Silent in Darkness

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Sitting in darkness

Feeling so lonesome

Dealing with sadness

Silence still fearsome

 

Waking at night

Harsh dreams exist

Silent images in sight

Dark visions persist

 

Feeling infinitely restless

Nearly every day

This mind will confess

Nothing but gray

 

What voices speak

To a lonely heart

No one to greet

Needing a restart

 

This world filled

With eerie muteness

No longer a thrill

Never a kindness

 

Who hears at all?

Silence sadly grows

Landing with a fall

No embers glow

 

Forget this life

So long ago

No more strife

Waiting to go

 

Too much “stuff”

To deal with

Darkness is enough

This life drifts

 

Special love lost

Many years ago

A ring is tossed

Away it goes

 

Empty, shattered heart

Now freezing cold

Alone in the dark

No longer bold

 

My Lord, my God

Bring light to bear

Be an awesome God

Help one to care

 

In total blackness

Of a lost night

Words of brightness

Feeling so right

 

God’s truthful voice

Speaks loud and clear

Brings a perfect choice

No longer in fear

 

Cutting the quietness

Like a warm knife

God brings sunniness

Saves another life

 

Falling to knees

Now in prayer

Sad emotions flee

This soul cares

 

Kneeling at the Cross

Laying down sins

Repentance, now costs

Accept Christ within

 

Beholding Christ’s Salvation

Help to break out

Heart fills with elation

Lighting a shout 

 

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Abandon Your Ways

From John 3:5:  “Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

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Living a dark life of sin

Failing to follow God’s Word

Walking as slaves in the flesh

“Abandon your ways” . . . unheard

 

Falling, ignoring our Lord

Leaving Him for empty thoughts

Taking our path, darkness prowls

Sinful hunger calls the shots

 

Consumed by life in the flesh

There awaits a better way

God never abandons us

Offering His Grace each day

 

God gives Himself entirely

Spirit marches to our hearts

Delivers His greatest gift

God’s Son offers a fresh start

 

Christ becomes our foundation

Jesus walking where we walk

Exchanging His life for us

Shepherd gathering His flock

 

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From John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  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.”

Accepting His Way

From Romans 6:1-2:  “What then are we to say?  Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?  By no means!  How can we who died to sin go on living in it?”

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All have been baptized into Christ

God’s offer of Grace shall abound

Christ suffering death on the Cross

Accepting His way, God’s Word found

 

Living with God through our Savior

United with Jesus by His death

Walking in goodness of new life

Accepting His way, lasting breath

 

Escaping life of sin and death

Obedient to God’s commands

Following our righteous Father

Accepting His way, where we stand

 

Knowing God through His Holy Word

Rescued, no longer slaves to sin

Total devotion to Jesus

Accepting His way, love within

 

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From Romans 6:12-14:  “Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.  No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Follow His Road Map

From Proverbs 30:5:  “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

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Feeling weary and lost

How can any prevail?

Desolate road ahead

Actions will surely fail

 

Lost in darkness of life

Our Father lights the way

Filled with His righteousness

God’s road map saves our day

 

Our Lord’s Word speaking truth

Daily meditation

Bible’s meanings ring clear

Leading to salvation

 

Study God’s Holy Word

Share its hope and Good News

Trusting each promise

His commands, we must choose

 

Inhale, breathe it all in

Fed by the “Bread of Life”

Quenched by “Living Water”

Transforming daily life 

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From the words of American-born missionary and Christian theologian, E. Stanley Jones:  “The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.”

Hannah Whitall Smith Quote

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Christ came into the world to save sinners, not good people, and your unworthiness is your greatest claim for His salvation.

From John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Speaking to Thee

This short poem is inspired from two different hymns:  “Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak” and “I Love to Tell the Story.”

sea on a stormy weather

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Telling His true story

Jesus, His glory reigns

Unseen, heaven above

Breaking sinful chains

 

Hungering and thirsting

Weary, endless despair

Message of Salvation

Answering these prayers

 

Firm rock, speaking to thee

Living echoes of hope

Children, lost and alone

Faith walking life’s tightrope

 

Hidden depths, troubled sea

Precious wisdom fills thee

Hearing His glowing words

Loving hand calms the sea

low angle photo grayscale of person tightrope walking

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One of my favorite hymns is “Earth and All Stars” which we sang many times at my former church in Montana.  Here is a link for the hymn:

Do you have a favorite hymn (an old favorite or a more current one)?  Let’s have a discussion in the comments.  

Vigorous Joy

From Christian campus ministry founder, Bill Bright:  “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God–no matter the circumstances.”

beach woman sunrise silhouette

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Celebrating Jesus each and every day

Receiving our lasting, priceless gift of joy

Smiling faces, always with kind words spoken

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Child of God, leaping with joy

Messiah’s birth, sends great joy

 

Rejoicing, today rises up as God’s day

Praising our faithful, Almighty Lord with joy

Sending out His strength and hope, God’s justice reigns

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Fruit of the Spirit, brings joy

God’s love, proclaiming His joy

 

Fleeing life’s messy scene, sorrow and worry

Lasting an eternity, singing with joy

Restoring in us, His joy of Salvation

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Life’s trials, nothing but joy

Holy Spirit, shouts with joy

 

Waking all of the city on Easter morn

Singing praises of “Alleluia” with joy

Restoring hope, defeating death on the Cross

Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy

 

Jesus, lasting source of joy

He’s Risen! Salvation’s joy

joy painting brush

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From John 15:11:  “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”