The bud of victory is always in the truth.
We Americans have no commission from God to police the world.
Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) was the 23rd American President. He is one of eight Presidents with roots in the state of Ohio.
By making us in His image, God gave us capacities not given to other forms of life. He gave us freedom to make choices.
From Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.”
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Bless the Lord’s name forever
Sing praises for Holy deeds
His greatness stands infinite
Loving us like tender reeds
Witness our Lord’s mighty acts
Share with each generation
His greatness lauds His goodness
Building our firm foundation
Recall love works from His hands
Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love
His greatness flows with mercy
Protecting us from above
Call on the Father this day
Pray to Him on humble knees
His greatness lighting the way
Watching over all He sees
From Psalm 145:17-18: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Originally published August, 2020.
Though we don’t always know what God is doing, we can always rely on who He is.
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.”
When a man carries a gun all the time, the respect he thinks he’s getting might really be fear. So I don’t carry a gun because I don’t want the people of Mayberry to fear a gun. I’d rather they respect me. (Thoughts of Sheriff Andy Taylor from “The Andy Griffith Show.”)
I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have tried to walk a Christian life. And now that I’m getting older, I realized that I’m walking even closer with my God.
Andy Griffith (1926-2012) was an American actor, television producer, and singer. As an actor, he will be remembered for his television roles as beloved Sheriff Andy Taylor (1960-1968) and folksy lawyer Ben Matlock (1986-1995). He was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. We “sit together in heavenly places.”
From Romans 14:7-9: “For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
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.
Worry ends when faith begins.
From 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
From Job 12:13: “With God are wisdom and strength; He has counsel and understanding.”
Creator’s morning scene
Always at work, His hands
Shaping, each masterpiece
All following, God’s command
Tranquility breathing
Always at work, God’s plan
Designing, each journey
All inviting, with each scan
God’s wisdom shadows truth
Always at work, strength speaks
Teaching, with every breath
All scaling, each mountain peak
Tomorrow’s story waits
Always at work, God’s script
Sketching, every new page
All leading, faith’s fresh transcript
Creator’s morning scene
Always at work, His light
Witnessing, darkness fades
All praising, Savior’s birthright
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “Mark it down in permanent ink: God is always at work.”
Sovereignty means that ultimately God alone has the right to declare what creation should be.
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.”
Stanley Grenz (1950-2005) was an American theologian and Christian writer.
From Hosea 6:6: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Heavenly Father desires
Man’s loyalty, share His light
Glory lifted high, filled with joy
Faith’s purpose, now taking flight
Heavenly Father’s witness
Man matures through truth, grace leads
Thirsty for His Word, at last quenched
Faith’s planting, each tender seed
Heavenly Father gathers
Man’s attention, seeking peace
Christ offers details, believe each one
Faith’s motives, Spirit’s mouthpiece
Heavenly Father’s calling
Man finds knowledge, full of hope
Honored relationship, with Him
Faith’s voyage, up periscope
From John 17:1-2: “After Jesus had spoken these words, He looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.'”
Big Sky Buckeye 