As all rivers are gathered into the ocean, which is congregation or meeting-place of all waters in the world: so Christ is that ocean in which all true delights and pleasures meet.
From John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
John Flavel (c. 1627-1691) was an English Puritan pastor and Christian author.
From Exodus 34:6: “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.'”
Source of hope’s truth
Found in Father’s light
Carved upon stone
Holy words, He writes
Each prophecy
Promises fulfilled
Father abounds
Faith’s highway, He builds
Filled with mercy
Steadfast in His love
Sins forgiven
Father reigns above
Each cornerstone
Trusted foundation
Every debt paid
Christ’s new creation
Eternal life
Heavenly address
Salvation’s Way
Savior’s grace shall bless
From Titus 1:2: “In the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.”
It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think He must prefer quality to quantity.
From Proverbs 6:6-9: “Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways and be wise. Without having any chief or officer or ruler, it prepares its food in summer and gathers its sustenance in harvest. How long will you lie there, O lazybones? When will you rise from your sleep?”
George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a Scottish pastor and writer.
When God gives a vision of truth, it is never a question of what He will do, but of what we will do.
From Joshua 24:15: “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
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 Deuteronomy 30:19-20: “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Choosing to follow
Father’s divine Word
Walking in His ways
Heaven’s light unblurred
Cherishing each day
Father softens heart
Guiding Spirit’s breath
Truth offers fresh start
Taking trusted path
Father’s saving grace
Perishing no more
Hope’s refreshing pace
Strengthening faith’s roots
Father’s tender hand
Living waters shine
Darkness cannot stand
Observing sin’s filth
Father sends His Son
Washing away debts
Mercy breathes through One
From Psalm 1:1-2: “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night.”
Christ is the aperture through which the immensity and magnificence of God can be seen.
From John 14:6-7: “ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.'”
J. B. (John Bertram) Phillips (1906-1982) was an English Bible translator, Christian author, and Anglican pastor.
From Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful.”
Worldly treasures
Sparkle every hour
Each temptation
Promises to empower
Never enough
Looking beyond God
Contentment sought
Destiny’s promises flawed
Hearing God’s Word
Faith’s truth becomes known
Sin’s journey fades
Dark promises stand alone
Honesty breathes
Eternity stands
Spirit leads on
Promised grace, as Father planned
Walking with Christ
Following hope’s light
Leaving darkness
Promising love, always bright
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
From Proverbs 23:23: “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”
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
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.”
Originally published December, 2020.
Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.
From Hebrews 11:1-3: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”
Elton Trueblood (1900-1994) was an American Christian author and theologian. He served as chaplain to both Harvard and Stanford universities.
Darkness
Surrounds thee
God’s blazing fire
Enemy vanquished to shadows
Salvation
Heart
Distress filled
God’s trusted answers
Lighting His righteous path
Confidence
Songs
Of praise
God’s steadfast love
His goodness endures forever
Thankfulness
Big Sky Buckeye 