Routine is God’s way of saving us between our times of inspiration.
From 2 Peter 1:5: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge.”
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 Job 14:7-9: “For there is hope for a tree,if it is cut down, that it will sprout againand that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will budand put forth branches like a young plant.”
From Psalm 1:2-3: “But their delight is in the law of the Lord,and on His law they meditate day and night. They are like treesplanted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season,and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.”
From Nehemiah 8:9: “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.”
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.”
From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield;in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults,and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
With lyrics written in 1708 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” provides an enriching complement to Psalm 28. Watts fashioned this hymn from the verses of Psalm 90. You are encouraged to listen to American singer, Bing Crosby, as he presents this stirring hymn.
From Psalm 84:1-2: “How lovely is Your dwelling place,O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints,for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joyto the living God.”
From Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withholdfrom those who walk uprightly.”
God wants us to have soft hearts and hard feet. The trouble with so many of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.
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.”
Jackie Pullinger (born 1944) is a British missionary in Hong Kong. Her efforts founded the St. Stephen’s Society in 1981, which provides a rehabilitation home for recovering drug addicts, prostitutes, and gang members.
Christmas is the celebration of the keeping of a promise . . . A saving promise.
From Luke 2:8-11: Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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.'”
Michael Card (born 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for his contemporary Christian music. He has also authored several books.
The word of the world; yes it has much to say . . .
. . . You have planning, and shopping, and shopping some more.
Then comes cooking, and wrapping and baking galore.
It’s a hustle and bustle that grows every day.
The snowball grows larger and rolls where it may.
You just can’t stop it, so watch out . . .
GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Watch out:
The word of the Lord, yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Rest your body and spirit, and then rest in me.
There’s a reason and meaning, a meaning to see.
It’s not parties or Santa behind that one day.
Go slowly and stop now, the star leads the way.
Some may have missed it, so watch out . . .
HE SLEPT ON THE HAY!
Such a small gift; so humble and so dear.
Could you possibly give it?
Could you be that bold?
Such a rich gift; so special and so near.
Could you possibly share it?
Could the truth be told?
Watch out:
The word of your life, yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Wrap the gift of the baby who brought us God’s grace.
Give His love to the world and to all you embrace.
Tell the world that this baby grew to be the way.
Go slowly and stop now, to hear Jesus say.
Don’t let them miss it, so watch out . . .
MY CROSS WAS THE WAY!
Watch out:
The word of the world; yes it has much to say . . .
. . . Still the word of your life can be of much more worth.
If you share with the world to celebrate His birth
Tell the world it’s not Santa, but Jesus who says.
Go slowly and stop now at my cross today.
Salvation is there, accept it . . .
I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!
Such a small gift; so humble and so dear.
Could you possibly give it?
Could you be that bold?
Such a rich gift; so special and so near.
Could you possibly share it?
Could the truth be told?
(All photos courtesy of Pinterest.)
This republished guest poem is written by the real Mrs. Buckeye. My wife, Colleen, is the author, and this poem will be included in her upcoming book, Bits ‘n’ Pieces of My Heart. This Christian-based book is written for parents and grandparents of young children, and it will include stories, devotions, poetry, activities, and songs The final manuscript has been sent to the publisher, and the book will likely be available in February, 2025.
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?”
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.”
Big Sky Buckeye 