Ready and Able

From John 15:4-5: “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

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Sometimes in life, failure knocking

Darkest times, odds stacked against us

God always, ready and able

His greatness, witness Glory’s plus

 

Heaven’s Father never ceases

Life’s moments of weakness erased

God always, ready and able

Strengthened, with His sweetest foretaste

 

Abraham’s Sarah, doubts the Lord

Blessing comes with birth of a boy

God always, ready and able

His covenant, flowing with joy

 

Hebrew slaves hunger for freedom

Moses feels uncertain, with fear

God always, ready and able

Israel now freed, while He steers

 

Toiling and sweating in darkness

Accomplish little on our own

God always, ready and able

His hope and peace, faith’s firm backbone

 

Coming to the Lord, trusting Him

Follow His path, at life’s crossroads

God always, ready and able

Willing to lift burdensome loads

 

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From Matthew 11:28-30:  “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Living Truths

From Proverbs 23:23:  “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

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Philosophy breathes steady, faith’s living truths

Waiting with wisdom, long missing from our youth

 

Life’s daily chase may not be worth small treasure

Reading God’s Word, bringing life’s honest measure

 

Plan on giving more to others than ourselves

Blessing us with far more than dusty bookshelves

 

Jesus teaches us to treat others with love

Harnessing our Lord’s grace and peace from above

 

Trust lives as hope’s virtue, never to be lost

Securing it tightly, at ultimate cost

 

Our daily comfort zone brings false sense of peace

Rising up with Christ, offering life’s new lease

 

Failure teaches toughest lessons of living

Earning later success, praise with thanksgiving

 

Mankind’s world spins daily, filled with too much change

Praying to God, calms life with daily exchange

 

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From James 1:17-18:  “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures.”

Trusting Him Alone

From Psalm 62:8:  “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

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Sometimes waiting in silence

Seeking refuge, filled with hope

Salvation comes from the Lord

Conquers life’s slippery slope

 

All power resides in God

Filled with sacred, steadfast love

Eternal rock and fortress

Deliverance from above

 

Learning to always trust Him

Faith in God, speaking twofold

Earthly affairs, trusting God

Heavenly business, behold

 

Enemy of darkness plots

Lives of idleness, He seeks

All times, rely on the Lord

Prudence, uprightness shall speak

 

Our ship defies windy storms

Dark impulses, pushed aside

Journey on God’s trusted path

Faithful steps, He’s alongside

 

Conscience never contradicts

Casting burdens, hear the Lord

Serve Him with integrity

Heart fixed, trusting His accord

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From the words of British pastor, Charles Spurgeon:  “There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God.”

Monday Memories: Trusting Our Lord

From Psalm 62:1-2:  “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.”

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Anticipating in faithful silence for the One

From Christ, comes our Salvation He won

 

God brings deliverance from life’s trials

His steadfast love proclaims and smiles

 

Witnessing transformation by Christ’s renewing love

Pouring out our daily needs to the Holy Lord above

 

Witnessing the Apostles in their committed walk

Learning about Jesus as His words openly talk

 

God delivering His promise, acceptable and good

Trusting in our Heavenly Father, as we all should

 

As a single body with Christ, persevere in daily prayer

Meditating upon what lies deep inside, our daily cares

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

 

Allowing the Holy Spirit, a welcome space to invade

Loving one another, because Jesus ultimately gave

 

Replacing negative thoughts with a positive way

Slowing down, counting blessings—let us pray

 

Spending less time, filled with our trivial worries

Praising God for His message of faithful courage

 

God’s kingdom depends upon His mighty hand

Feeling His promises, His will covers the land

 

Answering the great question for all to behold

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, so bold

 

Reveling in God’s glorious adventure, with trusting love

Allowing Him to assist, in sending answers from above

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

 

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From Romans 12:11:  “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Never Alone

I keep a daily journal of “take-aways” from my devotional readings.  This poem was crafted from some of my February entries.

sea beach footprint steps

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Sitting alone and hopeless

Faith’s shadow, covered in rust

God awakens mind and soul

In His Spirit, words bring trust

 

Turning to God, always there

His footprints walking ahead

Through life’s hefty challenges

Our Lord brings our daily bread

 

Reading from His Holy Word

Always giving thanks and praise

Marvelous things, God has done

Our hope alive and ablaze

 

Growing in faith, from our woes

Therefore, pray . . . listen . . . follow

Righteous life following Christ

Savior’s hope, never hollow

 

Facing temptation each day

Alignment with Son of God

Blood and body shed for us

Boldly fleeing evil’s fraud

brown and silver cross table decor

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From Galatians 6:1-2:  “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.  Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

africa arid barren bush

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Acceptance is taking from God’s hand absolutely anything He gives, looking into His face in trust and thanksgiving, knowing that the confinement of the situation we’re in is good and for His glory.

From Isaiah 43:18-19:  “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Trusting in the Lord

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The teenage boy has been battling an aggressive form of brain cancer for months.  Mark has shown the unwavering courage of a young man who follows God without flinching.

His pastor, Wayne, visits Mark one afternoon.  The teen has been at the hospital for several days as he is undergoing another round of treatments to battle his cancer.  Wayne wants to share some of God’s Word with this courageous teenager.

Mark’s hair is gone.  His slender frame looks even thinner than Wayne remembers.  His young body is marshalling all of its resources to battle the foe within.

Mark’s bubbling smiles lights up when Wayne walks into his room.  He is thrilled to have a visitor stopping by.

To prevent transmitting any germs or infections, Wayne is gowned up.  He looks more like a skilled doctor than a pastor.

After several minutes of conversation, Mark surprises his pastor by sharing a verse from Proverbs 3:5:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”

The fourteen year-old’s faith under such harsh circumstances is truly remarkable.

At the end of his visit, Wayne asks if he can pray over Mark.  Mark quietly says, “Certainly!”  The two of them share a few moments in prayer.

Walking down the hallway after leaving Mark’s room, Wayne thinks to himself, “I feel like Mark has ministered to me.  I come to bolster his spirits, yet he is the one who reminds me to always trust in God.”

This story is based on a true life experience of a fourteen year-old boy.  An entire community has rallied around him as he continues to battle cancer.  He recently shared the verse from Proverbs in a video which has been shared with many believers.  His witness to his Lord is inspiring indeed.  God’s peace.  

Amy Carmichael Quote

blue and black butterfly on green leaves

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If God can make His birds to whistle in drenched and stormy darkness, if He can make His butterflies able to bear up under rain, what can He do for the heart that trusts Him.

From Proverbs 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.  In all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

Seeking His Guidance

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From Psalm 37:23-24:  “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

God wants us to succeed today

Asking for our patience and trust

Allowing faith to rebuild hope

Studying from His Word, we must

 

Always trusting in our Father

Bringing us guidance and His love

Achieving good through His name

Touching hearts, His joy sings above

 

We are never forsaken, never

Leading, God offers direction

Finding the means, moving forward

Meeting trials with reflection

 

The wicked gather all around

Following the Enemy’s lies

Causing God to judge their follies

Coming Judgment Day will apprise

 

Our Savior’s coming, all waiting

Receiving God’s Grace, what a gift

The Lord standing with the righteous

Accepting His plan, lives not adrift

 

We may still misstep and stumble

Preventing us from falling down

Reaching out, God’s hand guiding us

Fleeing, the thirsty Enemy frowns

 

Through His Word, the Father blesses

Giving generously, all with love

Choosing Jesus, Salvation comes

Seeking God’s guidance, from above

From the words of Dutch priest, writer, and theologian Henri Nouwen:  “A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance.”

man s hand in shallow focus and grayscale photography

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Trusting Our Lord

From Psalm 62:1:  “My soul waits in silence for God only.”

grayscale photo of people raising hands

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Anticipating in faithful silence for the One

From Christ, comes our Salvation He won

 

God brings deliverance from life’s trials

His steadfast love proclaims and smiles

 

Witnessing transformation by Christ’s renewing love

Pouring out our daily needs to the Holy Lord above

 

Witnessing the Apostles in their committed walk

Learning about Jesus as His words openly talk

 

God delivering His promise, acceptable and good

Trusting in our Heavenly Father, as we all should

 

As a single body with Christ, persevere in daily prayer

Meditating upon what lies deep inside, our daily cares

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

 

Allowing the Holy Spirit, a welcome space to invade

Loving one another, because Jesus ultimately gave

 

Replacing negative thoughts with a positive way

Slowing down, counting blessings—let us pray

 

Spending less time filled with our trivial worries

Praising God for His message of faithful courage

 

God’s kingdom depends upon His mighty hand

Feeling His promises, His will covers the land

 

Answering the great question for all to behold

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, so bold

 

Reveling in God’s glorious adventure, with trusting love

Allowing Him to assist, in sending answers from above

 

Trusting always, we come forth to pray

God standing as our rock, always stout

His fortress never shaken with doubt

low angle shot of rock formation

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From Romans 12:11:  “Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.”