Never by Chance

From Proverbs 8:1-2:  Does not wisdom call and understanding raise her voice?  On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand.”

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Never by chance

At life’s crossroads

Precious wisdom

God’s mercy sowed

 

Listen closely

Righteousness speaks

Treasured wisdom

Hope climbs each peak

 

Finding knowledge

Straight from God’s voice

Divine wisdom

Cultivates choice

 

Advice offered

Directs each thought

Trusted wisdom

Faith’s lessons taught

 

Heaven comes down

Final grace waits

Savior’s wisdom

Calvary’s fate

 

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From Proverbs 8:14:  “I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.”

Love Descending (Elfchen Series #187)

Deliverance

Foreseeing

Insurmountable force

Against all odds

Trusting in God’s promises

Hope

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Transformation

Surrounding

Darkness surfaces

Never feeling forsaken

Heavenly light breaking through

Peace

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Jubilation

Encountering

Stormy seas

By faith alone

Grace delivers blue skies

Joy

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Natalie Goldberg Quotes

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Writing is the art of discovery.

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.

Natalie Goldberg (born 1948) is an American author and speaker.  In 1986, she published a well-received guide on creating a writing practice which has inspired numerous writers.

Parker Palmer Quote

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Wholeness does not mean perfection:  it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.

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

Parker Palmer (born 1939) is an American author and educator.  Much of his writing has focused on issues dealing with leadership, spirituality, and social change.

Each Faithful Step

From Isaiah 43:2:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

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Road ahead narrows

Stumbling with each step

Burdened with mistrust

Lack of faith, leads to missteps

 

Spirit joins each step

Uplifting at dawn

Life’s route flattens out

Mercy calling out, hang on

 

Tomorrow arrives

Trusting in God’s grace

River passing through

Each faithful step, keeping pace

 

Wilderness watered

Blossoming new leaves

Harvest steps forward

Deliverance, wrapped in sheaves

 

Eyes focused on Christ

Leading steps with love

Journey energized

Guided, by Spirit above

 

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From Romans 8:27:  “And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Trusting Always

From Psalm 37:5-6:  “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.  He will make your vindication shine like the light and the justice of your cause like the noonday.”

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Trusting always, Lord’s righteousness

Living under His cherished love

Filling each heart with His desires

Praises reign from heaven above

 

Trusting always, Lord’s promised light

Committing to His divine way

Shining upon mercy’s justice

Darkness vanquished, fading away

 

Trusting always, Lord’s faithful path

Sending love with His timely grace

Accepting redemption’s blessing

Peace extended, let all embrace

 

Trusting always, Lord’s hallowed Word

Reading as His blueprint unfolds

Gathering spirit leads us forth

Faith growing from Gospel’s foothold

 

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From Psalm 37:39-40:  “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble.  The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him–I will give thee thy life.  What more does a man want than his life?

From Jeremiah 45:5:  “And you, do you seek great things for yourself?  Do not seek them, for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord, but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”

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.

Trusting in Jesus

From Joshua 1:8-9:  “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.  I hereby command you:  Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Just as Joshua’s steps trusted in God

Knowing always, He’d faithfully be there

Filled with everlasting strength’s courage

Taking time daily, spent in prayer

 

In days ahead, fresh hope breathes with each step

Trusting in Jesus, walk alongside Him

Filled with mercy’s lasting righteousness

Worshipping our Lord with every hymn

 

Life-stretching outcomes mold another step

Believing in Jesus, faithfully trust

Filled with His witness, love-inspired grace

Praising promises, never to rust

 

Spirit’s divine hand leads each daily step

Acting in accordance with trusted God

Filled with everlasting strength’s courage

Overcoming evil’s false facade

 

Faith-forming obstacles block every step

Walking forward, trusting always in Christ

Filled with mercy’s lasting righteousness

Receiving Lord’s redemption, high-priced

 

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From Hebrews 12:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Unwavering

From Jeremiah 15:21:  “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

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Steadfast in faithfulness

Christ remembers His flock

Unwavering mercy

Leading our righteous walk

 

Deliverance stirs faith

Christ proclaims Gospel’s peace

Unwavering message

Teaching salvation’s lease

 

Awakened faith reborn

Christ blesses life’s new road

Unwavering with grace

Bearing our sinful load

 

Faithfulness promises

Christ, eternity’s rock

Unwavering shepherd

Trusting, heaven unlocks

 

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From Psalm 26:11:  “But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.”

Monday Memories: One on One

From American theologian, Fulton J. Sheen:  “God does not love us because we are valuable.  We are valuable because God loves us.”

white paper with red text

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God’s eternal love seeks

Intimate relationships

No longer standing back

Feeling love as He speaks

 

Our Lord loves each of us

Stepping forward with faith

Accepting His sincere truth

Our God, never to mistrust

 

When darker times arrive

Opening hearts to our Lord

Never to feel forsaken

Trusting, abiding, alive

 

Our Father always cares

Hearing faithful prayers

Watching trusting steps

Feeling moments of despair

 

Flowing from Heaven above

To a stable’s manger

Witnessing from a cruel Cross

God’s Grace delivers His love

backlit cemetery christianity clouds

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From John 15:8-9:  “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.  As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love.  

Originally published March, 2020.