God always shows up. He always saves. He always rescues. His timing is not ours. His methods are unusually unconventional.
From James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Angela Thomas Pharr (born 1962) is an American Christian writer.
From Isaiah 61:10: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God.”
Promised love, Holy Grace from God
Rejoice with glory to the Lord
His glad tidings unite our faith
Not forsaken, never ignored
Our Father’s Word offers new life
His caring hand touches each lamb
Rejoicing with Holy goodness
Everlasting joy, sweetest jam
Foundation of life, through our faith
Sharing the mantle of God’s love
Deliverance heals our spirit
God’s Glory, rejoicing above
Every breath exalts the Lord
Clothed in garments of salvation
Covered by robe of righteousness
Rejoice in Christ’s coronation
From Philippians 4:4-5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”
Originally published December, 2020.
Take a look around your life.
Tell me what you see.
Do you have a future?
Are you living free?
Perhaps you haven’t seen the time
you had to make a choice.
Will you choose to follow them,
or listen to another voice?
Make a vow unto yourself.
Let the whole world see.
Make a choice for yourself.
Be the best that you can be.
Be sure you know what you’re doing.
Stand up and shout it out loud.
Know where your life is going.
Choose to know Jesus, be proud.
Take a look around your life.
Tell me what you see.
Can you see the future,
where you’re living free?
Perhaps you know that He loves you.
He gave His life for all.
Will you listen to the world,
or listen to our Savior’s call?
Make a vow to yourself.
Let the whole world see.
Make a choice for yourself.
Be the best that you can be.
Be sure you know what you’re doing.
Stand up and shout it out loud.
Know where your life is going.
Choose to know Jesus, be proud.
Today’s poem is selected from Colleen Peterson’s recently published book. Her book is dedicated to themes of Family and Christian life.
My wife accumulated countless thoughts and writings over the years while her two daughters were in their childhood. Eventually, these treasured bits and pieces formed the foundation of her book.
Here are some of Colleen’s thoughts about the book:
Bits ‘N’ Pieces Of My heart contains stories, devotions and poetry for the adults, activities to do with your children, and fun little songs. The devotions and poetry will strongly open up your faith walk to more of God’s light. Doing the fun activities and singing little songs with your children will bring smiles to everyone’s heart.
More information is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and several other platforms.
From Isaiah 64:6: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
Coming into this harsh world
Born spiritually dead
Ruled by darkest deceptions
Sinful nature fills life’s thread
Do we deserve God’s goodness?
Facing our Holy Lord’s wrath
Separated by our sins
Satan lights a wayward path
Our lives resemble darkness
Righteous acts, thin and meager
Offering nothing of value
Father’s true love, remains eager
Calling upon the Lord’s name
Deliver us from our sins
God, the Potter, molding us
Transforming the clay, He wins
Once living under the flesh
Filled with darkest death and sin
By Holy Grace, saved through faith
Walking with Christ, life’s linchpin
Placing virgin faith in Christ
In spirit, alive through Him
Body and blood, Cross vanquished
Sins pardoned, new life in Him
From Ephesians 2:4-6: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Originally published November, 2020.
From Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”
Our sinful nature
Takes Christ to the Cross
God responds with love
Grace reaches across
Jesus defeats death
Living cornerstone
Sacred salvation
Grace comes to atone
Father’s gift of life
Receive daily bread
Through our faith alone
Grace walking ahead
Christ teaches of love
Shares His peace of mind
Hearts and minds now cleansed
Grace saving mankind
Never fear again
Look forward to peace
Fate sealed with God’s love
Grace, life’s Holy lease
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “When facing painful trials, we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us. Remember that God orchestrated the greatest demonstration of love possible–His Son’s death on the cross.”
Originally published November, 2020.
The grace you had yesterday will not do for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need.
From 2 Corinthians 6:1-2: “As we work together with Him, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!”
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.
From Isaiah 40:10-11: “See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”
Father’s passionate plan
His mercy offers one way
Defeating darkness of sin
Sheep shall no longer stray
Father’s earthly descent
Love bears mankind’s salvation
Shepherd leads those lost to peace
Faith grows hope’s foundation
Father’s redeeming love
Unconditional with grace
Calvary bearing man’s debts
Resurrection’s birthplace
Father’s ultimate deed
Tomorrow offering light
Spirit leading as Christ’s guide
Transgressions colored white
Father’s forgiving breath
Savior’s search will never end
Wayward return to His voice
Disciples, He now sends
From Hebrews 13:20-21: “Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do His will, as He works among us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.”
From Isaiah 42:6-7: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
Blindness to Gospel’s light
Following enemy’s false word
Nonbelievers walk in darkness
Tomorrow remains blurred
Alone in wilderness
Searching for trusted pathway home
God sends His righteous light to guide
Where Spirit always roams
Sheep never forgotten
Coming to Shepherd’s open gate
Mercy’s always forgiving light
Witness tomorrow’s fate
Vision no longer blind
Finding light’s genuine code
Faithful covenant sealed with love
Freedom’s eternal road
Savior’s voice heard from high
Shining through darkness, Heaven’s light
God’s glory seen in face of Christ
Salvation dressed in white
From 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For it is the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
From Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”
Darkness shields life’s guiding light
Causing worries to take flight
Life’s trials, too much to bear
Ask, who really seems to care?
World seems to be crashing down
Running dry, emptiness drowns
Words and actions, meek and weak
Ask, who shall one run to seek?
Vacant wilderness, so dark
Crying out, life’s question mark
Heart and soul, feeling hollow
Ask, what voice shall one follow?
Voice answers, restoring hopes
Searching from distant slopes
Good Shepherd, looking for one
Saving His flock, one by one
From John 10:14-16: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Originally published November, 2020.
God’s justice indeed must be satisfied; and there is no way in the world to give satisfaction to God, but by believing in Christ.
From Acts 4:11-12: “This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
Ralph Erskine (1685-1752) was a Scottish-born pastor and Christian writer.
Big Sky Buckeye 