faith

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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Phil. 4:6
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also
know how to live in prosperity; in any and every
circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled
and going hungry, both of having abundance and
suffering need.
Phil. 4:12

Lord in all my days
in my times of lean
and well fed
the times I look forward to
and yes those that I dread
build within me a structure
of peace
like a tree
long used to storms
let me not rely on happenstance
but rather look to You
Your steady hand
and guiding voice
will always hold me fast

The Puzzle

There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

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It seems too much to take in. When we
consider all that God has made, the complexity
of the systems that guide everything from the
smallest organism to the largest planet, I find
it unreasonable to presume it all came about by
accident.

But there is a rhythm to life, isn’t there?
From the time we are born to the time we die,
however long or short that may be, the curtain
goes up and comes down in a seemingly never
ending cycle, guided by an unseen hand.

Christians live a life of faith, that is we
trust that God has a plan for each of us that fits
into His infinitely bigger picture, our unique
puzzle piece, along with the rest of His creation.
A worthy goal is discovering just how we do fit in.
I pray that you ask God to reveal this to you. Begin
by searching His word.

In the Shadow of Your Wings.

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6 When I remember You
on my bed,
I meditate on You in the
night watches,
7 For you have been my
help,
And in the shadow of
Your wings I sing for
joy.
Psalm 63:6-7

In the shadow of your wings, Lord
I am strengthened.
In the shadow of your wings
dread runs away.

In the shadow of your wings
the enemy’s arrows cannot harm me.

In the shadow of your wings
my foe’s
force of onslaught
matters not.
Let your angels’ army
seize the day.

More than we can bear

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Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

God you did not promise this life would be easy,
but you promise strength
in the midst of the storm.
No matter how ugly the news we hear,
in a cold world you are there
for life sustaining warmth.

The false comfort and ease of a life
ignoring your truth
can push our craft toward an inevitable cliff,
but if we believe and act upon
the message of salvation
You will make of our detritus and debris
a lighthouse and life saving ship.

Equipped

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16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17

Where else could I go, Lord,
for such instruction,
or wisdom
for all of life’s questions?
Between the covers
of your sacred tome
lies more than
my greatest expectations.

From my rising up to the end of my day,
its value is more than I could ever pay.
Draw me in, feed me Lord,
uncover your mysteries.
Give me persistence and desire to understand.
If what you’ve given has a chance
to go beyond me,
I need Godly words
to transform
this earthly man.

God’s Voice

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from the moment I awaken
and begin to chart my day
before I query God:
what’s shakin’?
fore I get me underway
I got to hear your voice

not mine
not mine
be my leader
it’s my choice
your voice
God
not mine

The proper application
of your word
is impossible
the idea
absurd
unless
I listen

I can
always
choose
to go another way
it’s so easy
that way
the path is broad
and wide
and it’s all
downhill

(if you get my drift)

you can shut God out
you can fill your mind
with white noise
and your solutions
you can spend your energy
on toys
and never mind
restitution
but don’t settle

seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
you don’t have the right idea but He does
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
He will take up as much room as you give Him
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first
seek His kingdom first

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:34

Calling Out

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You can call out to the universe,
light a random spiritual flame,
converse with some spirits
you may or may not name.
You can link with a dead disembodied
owner of a shady past.
Those identities you’ll never know,
and fake relationships won’t last.

The One who stood
and stands
beside you,
and your sorrow sees,
left no question of His sacrifice,
or authority.

You may seek,
but when you’re finished seeking,
weary at the end of the day,
look up from the feet of Jesus,
the one who is “the way.”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

Strength

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The often unrecognized truth of strength
is that we’ve never owned it.
The God of all that is and will be
designed us to be one with Him.
If we seek strength apart from our Lord
we dwell on a weak foundation. A durable
heart and home have Him as King within.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Dream Big

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If you would take the time to dream at all,
why on earth would you dream small?
Go on ahead and tell yourself, dream big.
Bigger than those dreams of being wealthy,
bigger than those dreams of having it all,
bigger than getting approval from the Council of Important People…
The C.I.P.? They like me! They really like me!

Get on board with the plan that God has for you!
It’s for sure you’re not just here to take up space.
You’ll need to set aside time to examine His Holy Word,
and get suited up to run a holy race.

For it is You who blesses
the righteous man,
O Lord,
You surround him with
favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12