God carries your picture in His wallet.
From Psalm 32:10: “Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.”
Tony Campolo (1935-2024) was an American sociologist, pastor, and Christian author.
Our calling is to be faithful in the demanding tasks, whether that is our education, our marriage, our occupation, of just the daily grind of life.
From Isaiah 50:10: “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
You think my life is dull.
Your judgement has been made.
You haven’t given me a chance.
You’ve cast the part I’ve played.
But listen, friend.
Comprehend.
It’s far from the end when you give yourself to Christ.
New life will just begin!
We have fun too.
Life is not a drag.
We love to smile and laugh,
when things begin to lag.
Each day is a new adventure.
Each day is a joyful song.
Each day is a bright beginning,
laughing, loving, growing strong!
You think I have no friends.
That’s where you’re really wrong
Because the friends I have are true.
They last a lifetime long.
So, listen now.
Find out how.
You can see right now if you give your life to Christ.
New life will just begin!
We have fun too.
Life is not a drag.
We love to smile and laugh,
when things begin to lag.
Each day is a new adventure.
Each day is a joyful song.
Each day is a bright beginning,
laughing, loving, growing strong!
Today’s poem was written by my wife, Colleen. It is another selection from her recently published book, BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART.
Her work has been accepted to become part of a local bookstore’s Christian and Family collection. Her own words describe the book:
BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART contains stories, devotions and poetry for the adults, activities to do with your children, and fun little songs. The devotions and poetry will strongly open up your faith walk to more of God’s light. Doing the fun activities and singing little songs with your children will bring smiles to everyone’s heart.
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 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.
Wherever we are, God’s in that moment, God’s speaking to us, and if we’ve just got our ears open and our antennas up, there’s no lack of inspiration.
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Steven Curtis Chapman (born 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. His music shares a Christian theme, filled with his faithful outlook.
From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Father smiles from above
Witnessing two people in love
Man sees sparkle in her eyes
Sharing heart, love’s necktie
Woman gifting her heart
Cherishing love’s treasured start
Tomorrow’s outlook brightens
Feeling love’s reins tighten
Spirit joins together
Fashioning love’s tether
Marriage vows expressing love
Walking with Christ above
Love’s most tender flower
Flourishing with every hour
Spirit’s eternal imprint
Sealing love’s fingerprint
Love maturing as one
Praising choices in God’s Son
Father blessing love’s fresh start
Bringing grace to each heart
New day welcomes sunrise
Affirming love’s highest prize
What wondrous love now received
Trusting what Father conceived
This poem comes from the hearts of two people who discovered each other nearly 20 years ago. With our faith nourished by God’s grace, He continues to walk with both of us.
— Richard and Colleen
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. He was a leading voice in America’s transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.
Sunset’s closing breath
Daytime’s curtain descends
Witness tranquility
Where peace shall never end
Sunset’s horizon
Evening darkness transcends
Witness each gentle breeze
Where beams of moonlight bend
Sunset forgotten
Night sky never pretends
Witness galaxy’s flight
Where creation intends
Sunset holds spirit
Until new day begins
Witness pre-dawn’s glimmer
Where morning will call in
Sunrise renews light
Daytime’s curtain ascends
Witness glorious grace
Where each breath welcomes friends
We must be careful not to judge our situations by appearance, because what seems insignificant to us may be very important in God’s eyes.
From Proverbs 19:21: “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”
Charles Stanley (1932-2023) was an American pastor and Christian writer. He was dedicated to leading a teaching ministry.
Big Sky Buckeye 