Finding
Tomb empty
Many questions abound
Voice speaking with answers
Messiah
Walking
Emmaus Road
Shattered in darkness
Stranger shares His peace
Savior
Disciples
Confused, alone
Appearing among them
“Peace be with you”
Jesus
Taking up my “cross” means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.
From Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”
Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer. Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers. This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.
Looking outside from the kitchen table offers a view each morning of how our Lord presents each day as a precious gift. Here is a mini sonnet which witnesses a foretaste of the feast to come.
Photo by Dominic M Contreras on Pexels.com
Viewing the early morning
Welcoming each libation
Peering from kitchen’s window
Witnessing God’s creation
Growing greener, grass below
Blooming, flowers spelling love
Witnessing creative hands
Working each day from above
Taking in this peaceful scene
Witnessing each day’s foretaste
Blessing each feast, more to come
Tasting moments, without haste
Witnessing God’s daily Grace
Making life a happy place
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
From Lutheran Communion liturgy, Christ’s people sing: “Grace our table with Your presence, and give us a foretaste of the Feast to come.”
Originally published May, 2020.
Scaling
Mountain’s challenges
Faith’s promised cornerstone
Light delivers trusted grace
Overcoming
Navigating
Stormy seas
Light from above
Counting on faith’s compass
Reassuring
Traversing
Enemy’s darkness
Faith leading forward
Righteous light strengthens faith
Illuminating
I shall never taste a deeper bliss, till I gaze on the glorified face of Jesus himself.
From Revelation 22:3-4: “Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”
John Gibson Paton (1824-1907) was a Scottish-born Christian missionary who lived and served the Lord in the South Pacific.
Need a lifesaver? Ours walks on water!
From Matthew 14:25-27: “And early in the morning He came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”
When we realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.
From Matthew 20:26-28: “It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”
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 Proverbs 19:21: “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”
Gift of family unfolds
Relationships healthy and blessed
God’s love covers this home
Leading this grace-filled nest
Imperfections reverse tide
Frustrations fill with discontent
God witnesses each tear
Reshaping what is meant
Time healing deepest trauma
Days, weeks—sometimes months travel by
God breathes, never silent
Wiping every tear dry
Faith speaks, better days ahead
Hope generates from cherished love
God welcomes members home
Blessing life from above
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.”
Opening
Pre-occupied mind
Hearing one voice
God frees another heart
Witnessing
Accepting
God’s Word
Treasuring divine wisdom
Commandments lead daily steps
Trusting
Searching
Life’s insight
Praying to God
Blessed grace, opened eyes
Understanding
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Blessing forever, God above
Kneeling, bending every knee
Praising His greatness, Amen!
Justice sown from righteous decrees
Breathing with hope’s newfound freedom
Witnessing God’s mighty moves
Praising daily in worship
Mercy arrives, His Son approves
Riding donkey, comes humble King
Tasting His merciful grace
Praising faith’s new covenant
Heaven’s goodness, let all embrace
Commanding nations, take notice
Setting every sinner free
Praising repeal of darkness
Throughout earth’s many lands and seas
Sounding faith’s endless trumpet
Protecting with blessed light
Praising God’s lasting greatness
Eternal daylight covers night
From Zechariah 9:16: “On that day the Lord their God will save them, for they are the flock of His people, for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land.”
Big Sky Buckeye 