Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

Poem: Always More (I Love You, Lord)

Always More (I Love You, Lord)

Poem: Always More I Love You, Lord

Image courtesy Detanan at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…” (Philippians 1:9)

Always more, Lord,
Yes, every moment more,
More love for You
From my heart does pour,

With every happy song
My soul does sing,
With every bright smile
Your grace does bring,

With every pure joy
Your love does inspire,
Through pleasant pathways,
Through trials of fire,

Through pain and tears,
Through rich delights too,
Oh, my sweet Lord,
All the more I love you!

So accept this song,
As for You it does beat,
As one expression of love
For my Savior sweet.

How I long to pour
My very life for You,
To shine of this love
Through all that I do.

For nothing delights me
More than Your will,
To be closer and closer
To Your heart still.

So all the more
Of You I sing,
Through happiness, through pain,
Through everything,

With every beat of my heart,
With every breath I take,
With every smile I share,
With every friend I make,

All the more I sing,
All the more I adore,
Yes, I love You, Lord Jesus,
Always more!

 

© 2015 Caroline Gavin

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Poem: Above the Clouds

Above the Clouds

Above the Clouds - Poem by Caroline Gavin

Image courtesy graur codrin at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:2-3)

 

When dark were the skies
Looming above me,
When troubled clouds
Were all I could see,

When the rain fell
Relentlessly around,
When barren before me
The once fertile ground,

When bitter tears fell
In endless streams,
When sleep was beset
With unhappy dreams,

I looked up to You
Your Name I did cry,
I called on my Lord,
My God the Most High.

And You outstretched lovingly
Your gentle hand,
You whispered so tenderly
The good You planned,

You held me close,
Drying each tear,
With lullabies of love
You allayed each fear,

You lifted me high
Above clouds once looming,
You pointed to me
Countless flowers blooming…

And so I now sing
Though the tears once fell,
As glorious is the story
Of my Jesus I tell.

Deep in my heart
He has restored sweet song,
While lifting me high
In His arms so strong…

O, yes, I have Jesus,
How can I ask for more?
Now high above the clouds
My heart does soar!

 

© 2015 Caroline Gavin

I Treasure Your Comments!

I offer you a gift! Sign up for the “Journey to Joy” workbook here! Your gift includes the downloadable 65-page “Purposeful Pathway: Journey to Joy” workbook (PDF), rich with Scriptural meditations, reflective questions and activities, and poetic inspirations. This 7-step journey is lovingly designed to deepen your connection with Jesus and heighten your joy.

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Guest Post: I Can’t Stands No More

I Can’t Stands No More

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

Once there was a cartoon character named Popeye the Sailor Man (Robin Williams portrayed him in a movie version of the cartoon), and whenever Popeye would get fed up with being bullied by Bluto (his cartoon adversary) or became exhausted with life, Popeye would grumble, “I’ve had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!”  He would then squeeze a can of spinach until it popped open, then eat the spinach and instantly he would have supernatural strength to handle anything.

When life gets tough and the daily grind is starting to take a toll on us, wouldn’t it be nice to have one of those cans of spinach to give us the strength and energy to get us through? Wouldn’t it be great if life was that easy? It can be, we all the ability to tap into our inner strength that can and will give us all the strength and energy we need. In the Bible it is written in Psalms 34:19 that, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” If we have the Lord, we have the strength.

Sometimes life is frustrating as we struggle through one battle after another. The devil keeps attacking our attitude, and we may think to ourselves, if only I could find the strength to fight him off.

Often we wait until we are so beaten down there seems to be no way out, no help in sight. The last place we think to look is inside ourselves. We continually look for that “can of spinach” to get us through, and until we reach a higher level of consciousness we will continue to seek the external things in life that we feel are what we need to get us through. We must remember the external things in life are temporary and just as a can of spinach will lose its effectiveness, so will anything else external we put our hopes into.

Are you saying, “I’ve had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more” and searching for supernatural strength? Look to Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  I may feel like I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stand anymore, but if I call out to God, He will give me strength no matter how big the problems are.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post: A New Day – A New Way

A New Day – A New Way

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

 

Each new day presents us with a choice to change things in our life or to keep things as they are. Bedtime is a good time to reflect on how we approached our life that day, and how that approach worked for us. If we are not getting the results in our life that we were hoping for than maybe it’s time to look at new and different ways to approach things. It’s useless for us to think that we can keep approaching things the same way and expect different results.

So why is it so difficult to take another approach to life, to look at things from a different perspective?  Two main reasons are we do not pursue different options, are complacency and the other is fear. We become complacent/fearful when we try to change things up, life may become uncomfortable for us.

With most change there is a feeling discomfort. During this time of change we can find comfort in the words of Psalms 71:21 which says “You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again”.

When making a new approach to life we must remember God has a plan for us, so not only will we be comforted once again, we will also be restored to an even greater honor.

I will not be afraid to begin a new day in a new way for He is with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post: The Manifold Grace of God

The Manifold Grace of God

Guest Post by John Rataczak, Ph.D.

 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He

withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

 

There are reasons why there are a number of hymns and Gospel songs about God’s grace. It is very multi-faceted (the meaning of “manifold”) and amazing! Why would God care for sinners who have totally rejected Him? How can God’s servants continue to labor for Him in spite of debilitating physical problems? How can a believer who doesn’t have much education or experience serve His Savior? What is it that helps us through really difficult challenges?

 

Grace! There simply isn’t any other good answer!

 

Here is a partial list of how this word “grace” (charis in the Greek) is used in the New Testament:

 

God’s grace is truly multi-faceted. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (I Peter 4:10).

 

God’s grace helps believers overcome obstacles in their lives. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness (II Corinthians 12:7-8).

 

God shows “common grace” to all men, saved or unsaved. …for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45b).

 

God’s saving grace gives the believer new life. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (By grace ye are saved)—Ephesians 2:5.

 

God gives special grace when it is most needed. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

 

Grace is the foundation of our position in Christ. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

 

God gives grace so believers can do what is right. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (II Corinthians 9:8).

 

God gave great grace to the early church so it could grow spiritually and numerically. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33).

 

God’s grace is crucial to our justification. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

 

God’s grace is the basis of His election. Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5).

 

God’s grace supplies knowledge to the believer. That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge (I Corinthians 1:5).

 

God’s grace helps believers overcome a shameful past. For I am the least of the apostles, that I am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was besowed upon me was not in vain (I Corinthians 15:9-10).

 

God’s grace leads to eternal glory. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you (I Peter 5:10).

 

Christians are admonished to grow in grace. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).

 

Jesus was full of grace. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

 

God promises grace to the humble. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you, be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5).

 

God’s grace overpowers our sin! Moreover, the Law enetered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20).

 

Grace is the means of our faith. And when he was disposed to pass through Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace (Acts 18:27).

 

The New Testament covenant of grace replaced the Law. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

 

God’s grace gives us every reason to hope in eternal life! That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

Here are three simple definitions of God’s grear grace:

 

“Unmerited favor.”

 

“God’s riches at Christ’s expense.”

 

“God’s love extended to those who do not deserve it.”

 

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Julia H. Johnston

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!

 

Sin and despair like the sea waved cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss:

Grace that is greater, ye grace untold,

Points to the Refuge, the mighty cross!

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

  ~*~

John Rataczak, Ph.D., is the sole proprietor of Eleutheros Books. “Eleutheros” is the Greek adjective which means “free,” and the theme verse for the ministry is John 8:36—If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Feel free to check out Eleutheros Books at these sites:

Bookstore: www.eleutherosbookstore.com

Author’s books: www.eleutherosbooks.com

Blog (under construction): www.christiancontactwithjohn.com