When I am weak and the tank is empty:
Christ bids me—show up.
When at every turn I meet my shame:
Christ bids me—bow down.
When failure once again wins the game:
Christ bids me—look up.
Life in Christ is:
show up,
bow down,
look up.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
This is my go to verse whenever I get anxious about life. I paint it on every memory. I repeat it over all my tomorrows. I breathe it for every breath. Then with thanksgiving I praise God for coming and dying for me that I might say it with confidence.
Sunshine polka-dots floating through the aspen.
Snowflakes playing in the wind,
dancing to nature’s choreography.
Giving glory and praise to God though life is brief.
How good it is to sing praises to God.
Snow will melt,
and the aspen fall,
but His goodness and love are everlasting.
Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1
When the Son comes, we will either run to Him or from Him.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. John 3:19-20
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
Heavenly Cheers
Those looking down are cheering the race.
Applauding the runners not their pace.
Pulling out front does not make them roar.
But trusting in God brings shouting for more.
So ignore the distractions that so easily trick.
keep your eyes upon Jesus through thin and through thick.
When the day comes that you finish the race.
You’ll hear well done, but for now rest in God’s grace.
Joyful water cascading
from God’s holy throne.
Currents of cleansing
that scour my face.
Heaven’s outpouring
of love and of grace.
Anointing me
forever His own.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1
Good times with family are a joy,
bringing gladness to my heart.
I take solace that we’ll meet again,
hope not sadness when we part.
Christmas can be a time of sadness for families who have lost loved ones. That is why Jesus came to give hope where there is crying. God is with us—hope in our grief.
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, Hebrews 6:19
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love.
He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
There is a song my Lord sings for me,
a song of great delight,
a song to soothe my spirit,
a song of hope and light.
O Lord open my ears to hear,
open my eyes to see Your face,
open my soul to know…
Your song of loving grace.
Not one of these leaves has fallen outside of God’s sight or understanding. They remind me that God cares.
I repeatedly check the news channels to see if there is any change for the better. I go on line looking for news that will calm my fears, but I only hear words of anger, and terrible troubles. I want to hear words of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness…words with power to control my anxious thoughts.
Beautiful words—
God’s words of forgiveness.
God’s words of patience.
God’s words of His unfailing love.
These words I need to hear.
Even more marvelous—
God wraps these words with a promise.
“I will help you and watch over you.
I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Now those are beautiful words.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
Psalm 103:2
Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits—
The Lord turns my darkness into light. (2 Sam. 22:29)
He forgives all my sins.
He heals all my diseases. (Psalm 103:3)
He redeems my life from the pit
and crowns me with love and compassion. (Psalm 103:4)
He fills my life with good things (Psalm 103:5)
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect (2 Sam. 22:33)
You give me Your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great. (2 Sam.22:36)
Yes, praise the Lord, O my soul for He treats me with loving kindness. Not as I deserve.
(Psalm 103:10)
Stephen L Hufman 