Special Guest Post: New Life Has Just Begun

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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.

J. B. Phillips Quote

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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.

Monday Memories: Living Truths

From Proverbs 23:23:  “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”

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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

 

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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.

Steven Curtis Chapman Quote

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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.  

Love’s Highest Prize

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.”

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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

 

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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

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote

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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.

Until New Day Begins

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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

 

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Charles Stanley Quote

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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.

Leonard Ravenhill Quote

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Prayer does not condition God; prayer conditions us.  Prayer does not win God to our view; it reveals God’s view to us.

From Colossians 4:2-4:  “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.  At the same time, pray for us as well, that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) was a British Christian author.  Many of his chosen themes focused on prayer and revival.

Special Guest Post: Choose Jesus

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Take a look around your life.
Tell me what you see.
Do you have a future?
Are you living free?
Perhaps you haven’t seen the time
you had to make a choice.
Will you choose to follow them,
or listen to another voice?

Make a vow unto yourself.
Let the whole world see.
Make a choice for yourself.
Be the best that you can be.
Be sure you know what you’re doing.
Stand up and shout it out loud.
Know where your life is going.
Choose to know Jesus, be proud.

Take a look around your life.
Tell me what you see.
Can you see the future,
where you’re living free?
Perhaps you know that He loves you.
He gave His life for all.
Will you listen to the world,
or listen to our Savior’s call?

Make a vow to yourself.
Let the whole world see.
Make a choice for yourself.
Be the best that you can be.
Be sure you know what you’re doing.
Stand up and shout it out loud.
Know where your life is going.
Choose to know Jesus, be proud.

 

Today’s poem is selected from Colleen Peterson’s recently published book.  Her book is dedicated to themes of Family and Christian life.

My wife accumulated countless thoughts and writings over the years while her two daughters were in their childhood.  Eventually, these treasured bits and pieces formed the foundation of her book.

Here are some of Colleen’s thoughts about 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.

More information is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and several other platforms.