Agree to Disagree: Valuing Differences

During an argument, have you ever said something to a loved one that you regret?

Perhaps you’re thinking,

I want to take back the harsh words, but it’s too late

Regret is a powerful teacher.

This may be up for debate, but I think it’s never too late.

Is it really worth breaking up a close relationship due to different points of view?

It’s okay to agree to disagree.

It's okay to agree to disagree

Agree to Disagree: Missed Moments to Heal

Recently, I came across an excellent poem that touches on the subject of how we respond to disagreements. If pride on both your parts threatens an important relationship, is it really worth it?

Here, the author shares a simple yet powerful collection of thoughts that are worth considering.

Point of View

I’ve heard it said, “Don’t go to bed
While hanging on to sorrow.
You may not have the chance to laugh;
With those you love tomorrow.”

You may not mean the words you speak
When anger takes its toll.
You may regret your actions
Once you’ve lost your self-control.

When you’ve lost your temper
And you’ve said some hurtful things,
Think about the heartache
That your action sometimes brings.

You’ll never get those moments back,
Such precious time to waste,
And all because of things you said
In anger and in haste.

So if you’re loving someone
And your pride has settled in,
You may not ever have the chance
To say to them again,

“I love you and I miss you
And although we don’t agree,
I’ll try to see your point of view,
Please do the same for me.”

– Unknown

Embracing The Beauty of God’s Sunsets

A glorious Texas sunset

An unnamed poet once wrote, “Sunsets are just little glimpses of the golden streets of heaven.”

I don’t think I could have said it better. 🙂

Have you ever witnessed a sunset that takes your breath away?

Praising God for His beautiful sunsets

To God be the Glory!

As the day comes to a close, the sun’s last ray’s delicately kiss the horizon for one last time, and the sky overhead descends into darkness.

Simple quiet moments reflecting on this and the beauty of God’s sunsets are priceless.

Thank you God for the perfect ending to another day!

Beyond
Poet: Unknown

The sunset’s crown of radiant gold
And robe of amethyst
Had paled to twilight gray and cold
And trembling veils of mist;
Then, up in the heaven the white moon sailed,
And, gleaming in her wake,
Her silvery shimmering garments trailed –
A shining way, in shadows veiled,
Across the dusky lake.

The darkness quenched the sunset hues;
Day, shrouded, sank in night;
Yet through the gloom and through the dews
Still trailed that track of light.
No wind bore upward hymn or prayer,
No step throbbed on the sod,
And yet my soul saw opened there –
Cross lake, o’er mount, through ambient air –
A shining path to God.

O coward soul, that fears to miss
The glow from out thy sky,
That shrinks from sorrow’s touch and kiss
When shades are drawing nigh, –
Beyond the night’s o’ershadowing form
Light gleams on wave and sod,
And thou mayst climb – thy robe and crown
Faded and in the dust laid down –
That shining way to God.

Not My Home

September 24, 2024 Gracie

This World is Not My Home

Not my home

Have you ever heard someone say “this world is not my home”?

As a Christian, I hear that a lot.

No doubt, the world continues to descend into evil.

The fallen world will have you think that “anything goes.”

No thanks.

We long for the coming of our Savior.

Our Homecoming

Evil will not exist in our heavenly home.

The wickedness and idolatry we are witnessing present day will one day, in God’s timing, be a thing of the past.

Until that glorious day of His reappearing, we can rest in His promise to lead us to our heavenly destination.

That is great news!

We have so much to look forward to!

And here’s even better news – as much as we can look forward to the defeat of evil, nothing will compare to meeting our Lord and Savior in person.

He is the reason we can rejoice!

Complete in Christ

Complete in Christ,
to God now accepted
only through Him
are we perfected.

Believers are we,
of His work on the cross
no longer are we
in our sinful ways lost.

Complete in Christ,
new life we’re given
now that our sins
He has forgiven.

A heavenly deposit,
His spirit lives within
an assurance to us
one day we’ll be with Him.

Complete in Christ,
with a new destination
all because He gave us
the gift of salvation!

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all
principality and power: – King James Version
Public Domain

~ to GOD be the GLORY ~

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¹Poetry courtesy of Deborah Ann Belka, “Complete in Christ.” [online post], September 14, 2024, Web. Accessed September 20, 2024. Retrieved from https://poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com/

Jesus Walked Among Us

August 20, 2024 Gracie

Yes, It’s Real: Jesus Walked Among Us

If you want to think about something truly amazing, how about the fact that Jesus walked among us?

That is, in earlier Biblical times, God’s only Son walked along the same ground as humanity.

It’s almost incomprehensible.

A view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Here, from the book of John, is perhaps the most well-known verse from Scripture.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16, (NASB).¹

Jesus, both God and man, is the ultimate expression of the depths of God’s love for us.

Who are we to deserve such a gift?

His sacrifice on the cross exemplifies the ultimate act of love.

Through no works of our own, He offers believers a path of free grace which leads to our salvation.

He didn’t die for Himself. He took sin upon Himself. He died for those who did not deserve it. When we put our faith into who He is, Jesus Christ, the God-man, and we put our faith into what He did for us, then righteousness, His righteousness, is now written to our account. You cannot be righteous in yourself. To think that you can earn your way into heaven is to put yourself on equality with God, and you cannot do it. The only man who ever did it was the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, putting our faith into Him. Then His righteousness and His life come to live in us. Now He can produce through us what we could have never done ourselves. – Precept Austin commentary.²

Jesus Walked Among Us: He is Real

We know from the Bible that when Jesus walked among the people, He showed them great love and compassion.

He comforted the brokenhearted.

Why would we think He would be any different today?

He hears your prayers and mine.

As of this writing, Jesus has not yet returned, but He is coming!

In the meantime, set your sights on His victorious return.

I hope the following poem will encourage you as it did me.

Look To The Cross
By Catherine Pulsifer

In the stillness of the night, you hear the call,
Jesus beckons, He invites one and all.
Up high in heaven, God’s Son does reside,
Yet on earth, His love for you does abide.

Look up to the cross, where Jesus bled,
For you, for me, His precious blood shed.
In simple faith, just believe and see,
The saving grace He offers for free.

No need to search in distant skies,
For Jesus is near, He hears your cries.
He walked amongst us, in human form,
To guide us through life’s tempest and storm.

God’s love is so deep, it knows no end,
His mercy and grace, they always mend.
So come to Jesus, with a heart open wide,
In Him, true peace and joy abide.

Through His word, a message so clear,
Jesus, our Savior, always near.
So heed the call, don’t hesitate,
In Jesus, find your eternal fate.

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² Dr. Wayne A. Barber quotation is from the Romans 10:1-10 Commentary, [2015] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Web. Accessed 9 August, 2024.

The World’s Empty Promises

June 18, 2024 Gracie

Beyond The Façade: The World’s Empty Promises

Do you ever feel disillusioned by what the world offers?

We are constantly bombarded with media and internet messages telling us what our priorities should be.

Have more

Do more

Be more

But, just like a heavily-advertised wrinkle cream, quick fixes and instant gratification are only temporary.

In this era of influencers, Hollywood agendas, AI, and disappointing politicians, God offers us the lifeline for a lifetime.

There’s only one path to eternal joy and happiness forever – through Jesus.

While the world looks at the external, Jesus looks at our hearts.

Jesus is the Answer to the World’s Empty Promises

The world’s narrative of a future utopia is a lie, and that ideology will fail.

But God will never fail us.

It seems as if the only certainty we have right now is uncertainty . . . or, is it?

As Christians we have divine assurance and our future is certain.

This world is not our home.

We revere a Heavenly Father who will always fulfill His promises.

How amazing is that?

Meditate on His Word.

Immerse yourself in His unfailing promises and find peace for your soul.

With a thank you to poet Catherine Pulsifer, I wanted to share her beautiful poem below which gently reminds us where we can find true peace.

In The Chaos Of Life
By Catherine Pulsifer

In the chaos of life, you seek for peace,
A calm that never fades, a sweet release.
But the world offers empty promises, fleeting,
Only in Jesus, true peace, you’ll be meeting.

Non-believers scoff, they cannot comprehend,
The peace that surpasses all, that will never end.
For it’s not found in riches or worldly gain,
But in God’s love, through Jesus, it will remain.

In trials and tribulations, you may face,
Jesus offers a refuge, a saving grace.
Though storms may rage and troubles abound,
In Jesus, true peace is always found.

It’s a peace beyond understanding, they say,
That carries you through each day.
For in Jesus, God’s love shines bright,
Bringing peace that conquers the darkest night.

So hold fast to Jesus, let His peace fill your soul,
In His presence, you’ll find your heart made whole.
Though misunderstood by those who do not believe,
In Jesus, true peace you will receive.¹

I love that!

The world’s empty promises disappoint, but our relationship with Christ will lead to everlasting joy.

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¹Poetry courtesy of Catherine Pulsifer. “In The Chaos Of Life.” [online post]. From stresslesscountry.com, ©Catherine Pulsifer, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, n.d. Web. Accessed June 10, 2024. In The Chaos Of Life

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