Prayer is to the spiritual life what the beating of the pulse and the drawing of the breath are to the life of the body.
From James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was an English theologian, philosopher, and writer.
From Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Peering into depth of darkness
Seeking remedy to life’s ills
Light of perseverance comes forth
Trusting to obey Father’s will
Filling hope with light’s endurance
Tasting Father’s sustaining grace
Spiritual awakening
Walking toward salvation’s birthplace
Entering light’s sanctuary
Calvary’s cross, bloodstained
Redemption from sinful darkness
Forgiving debts, no longer chained
Thirsting to follow Christ, thy Lord
Receiving light of peace each day
Replenished from living waters
Embracing His hope-filled pathway
Replacing darkness with His light
Following Father’s divine Word
Righteousness fills faith’s every breath
Witnessing truth as prophets heard
From Hebrews 10:37-39: “For yet in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay, but My righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back. But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.”
From Psalm 107:28-29: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven.”
Life meeting relentless turbulence
Perpetual, never ending storms
Shaken by overwhelming defeat
Sinking beneath unending harsh swarms
Downtrodden, now hungry and thirsty
Clinging to life, in darkness and gloom
Shackled by sin’s shame, harshest irons
God’s steadfast love delivers from doom
Crying out to our Father above
At final end of life’s fraying rope
Nowhere else to turn, escape darkens
Realizing now, God’s way restores hope
Cutting and freeing lives from bondage
Storm’s wrath consumed by transformation
Into valley of richest harvests
Redeeming lost souls from damnation
Fleeing life’s turmoil, rescued by God
Trusting Him leads to gladness and praise
Faith grows by yards instead of inches
Life’s turbulence quiets, hope ablaze
From American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “God knows we sometimes need to reach the end of our own resources before we will turn to Him.”
Originally published January, 2021.
Growing into spiritual maturity is becoming less self-conscious and more God-conscious.
From Psalm 18:28: “It is You who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”
Mark Batterson (born 1969) is an American pastor and Christian author.
My poem serves as an introduction for praising the gift that God has shared with my dear wife, Colleen. From a bag filled with a collection of writings, she has crafted a book from her faith-filled heart about family and God.
Mother’s faith-filled love
Embracing Father’s grace
Teaching her daughters
About Heaven’s special place
Daughters’ faith blooming
Accepting Father’s love
Learning from His Word
His presence reigning above
Mother’s writing pen
Following Father’s heart
Serving as His light
Book begins initial start
Daughters growing up
Living in Father’s peace
Welcoming next steps
Faith maturing, piece by piece
Colleen fills so blessed to share God’s light with others. After nearly seven months in the publishing process, her book is now in print. The book is currently available on Amazon, but it will soon be featured on other platforms such as Barnes & Noble.
The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.
From Psalm 126:6: “Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American naturalist, poet, and philosopher. Influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of his writings reflected upon living in natural surroundings.
Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved.
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.”
Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.
Standing
With Jesus
Encouraged to forgive
Making peace with past
Together
Nourishing
Faith’s strengths
Capacity to forgive
Maturing in spiritual waters
Growth
Receiving
Father’s counsel
Acts of forgiveness
Filling with His light
Grace
Every human heartbeat should be a silent refrain of thanksgiving to the God who created the heart and gives it life.
From Psalm 100:3: “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Start a new habit on today’s events: Think first of the eternal difference your choices will make.
From Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.“
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Big Sky Buckeye 