Merciful Grace

From Psalm 103:8:  “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

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Praising God eternal

His merciful grace reigns

Steadfast, abounding love

Unshackling evil’s chains

 

Praising almighty God

His glory always reigns

Filled with merciful love

Blessing life, changing lanes

 

Praising God’s steady hand

His endless grace shall reign

Forgiveness, heals with love

Boarding heavenly train

 

Praising God’s Holy name

Spirit coming to reign

His mercy shared with love

Covering distant plains

 

Praising God’s divine plan

Son’s kingdom born to reign

Taste lasting, grace-filled love

Washing white, sinful veins

 

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From the words of American pastor and theologian, Eugene Peterson:  “God is sheer mercy and grace.”

Morning Gathering

From Psalm 30:5:  “For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

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Morning gathering

Hearing Christ’s invite

Come now, rest a spell

Witnessing His delight

 

Tasting each morning

Sweetness of His grace

Reading Father’s Word

Peace fills this very place

 

Blessed morning time

Taking faithful walk

Christ offers His love

Trusting salvation’s rock

 

Finding morning’s truth

Gospel’s foundation

Maturing in faith

Father’s new creation

 

Tomorrow morning

Gathering again

Precious time with Christ

Praising His lasting reign

 

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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.”

Faith’s Witness (Elfchen Series #175)

Uncertain

Finding

Tomb empty

Many questions abound

Voice speaking with answers

Messiah

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Unknowing

Walking

Emmaus Road

Shattered in darkness

Stranger shares His peace

Savior

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Unsettled

Disciples

Confused, alone

Appearing among them

“Peace be with you”

Jesus

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A. W. Pink Quote

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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.

Monday Memories: Witnessing a Foretaste

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 of red flowering trees beside body of water

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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

wood light vacation picnic

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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.

Hope’s Faithful Light (Elfchen Series #169)

Witness

Scaling

Mountain’s challenges

Faith’s promised cornerstone

Light delivers trusted grace

Overcoming

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Guidance

Navigating

Stormy seas

Light from above

Counting on faith’s compass

Reassuring

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Transformation

Traversing

Enemy’s darkness

Faith leading forward

Righteous light strengthens faith

Illuminating

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John Gibson Paton Quote

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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.

Taken From a Church Sign

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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.'”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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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.

Gift of Family

From Proverbs 19:21:  “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”

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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

 

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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.”