When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives. Now’s the time to start anew.
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.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Praying
Without ceasing
Anchored to Father
Faith’s fabric of grace
Trusting
Walking
With Jesus
Destiny’s promised light
Faith strengthened through grace
Loving
Rescuing
From darkness
Witness Calvary’s forgiveness
Faith embraces redemption’s grace
Transforming
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right thing? Because time is all you have.
From James 4:8-10: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
Randy Pausch (1960-2008) was an American educator and professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. His life was cut short by pancreatic cancer, but he persevered to share his final lecture a few months before his death.
Faith is a confession of trust, not a demand for an immediate answer. Let your confidence be in God.
From Daniel 2:22: “He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.
From Jeremiah 17:7: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”
Jack Hyles (1926-2001) was an American pastor, who led his congregation at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana from 1959 until his death. He was well-known for creating a bus ministry to bring people to worship at First Baptist Church.
One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.
As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was a German polymath. He has been considered one of the most influential writers in the German language.
Doubts and mistrust are the mere panic of timid imagination, which the steadfast heart will conquer, and the large mind transcend.
From Proverbs 3:5: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968) was an American author and lecturer. Her own journey through blindness and deafness encouraged her to advocate for the rights of others who live with disabilities.
A man’s heart is right when he wills what God wills.
From Daniel 2:22: “He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
St. Thomas Aquinas was an Italian priest and theologian during the 13th century. During his time, he became one of the foremost thinkers and philosophers.
Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work.
From Philippians 3:10: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death.”
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.
Buried among seeds of darkness
Fragile ember of light
Fractured so long ago
Breathing without hope this night
Surrounded by hidden shadows
Life searches for its peace
Emptied of hopeful thoughts
Whispering pain won’t decrease
Overwhelmed by hope’s icy breath
Tomorrow’s missing voice
Captured by someone else
Drifting, without any choice
Comforted by nurturing peace
Spirit scatters each cloud
Rescued by tender light
Trusting hope, darkness unplowed
Big Sky Buckeye 