Christ Jesus came into the world tosave sinners (1 Timothy 1:15, NIV). Between God and me a chasm gaped. I could not reach across. Is there no way to touch my God — to feel forgiving love? A nail-scarred hand spanned the gulf. I felt a loving touch. “I took your sins to Calvary,” He […]

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(Luke 7:36-50) She kneels at His feet,feet blistered into toughnessfrom trekking milesto aidthe hurting.Feet washed cleanby her repentanttears. She listens to His words,words that assure herHe accepts her attemptsto sayshe is sorry. She opens her heart,opens it wide enough to receiveHis love,His affirmation,His forgiveness. Chris Ahlemann

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Temptation slips around my feet, a tide that rises — ankles, knees — and tugs and crawls away. The sand deceives, seems firm, but slides and sucks my feet beneath the muck — I fall. Temptation crashes like a tempest wave against my feeble work to rise, and down with giddy rage it slams me. […]

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I see Him sleeping there, a tiny boy with downy hair,His life on earth now just begunthis Child who came for everyone. I touch His silky skinthis Babe so pure, so free from sin,And know someday He’ll weathered bewhen He gives His life to set us free. I hear His newborn cries,see tears fill up His […]

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Space. Darkness on the face of the deepA circular horizon on the face of the watersAnd a world hung on nothingness Time. Boundary of light and darknessRule of sun, moon, and starsWithout Me nothing was made Matter. The clay and the PotterSea life, birds, animals, and manAll fashioned, deemed as good My path determined for […]

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The autumn leaves have now begun to fall, and ‘neath the blue October skies, lay shining. They’re answering our great Creator’s call wayfaring through the chilly air defining His creativity and bold perfection, each leaf a blessing in a vibrant turn — a feast of hues allowing introspection for humankind, that makes one start to […]

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The road led       up, up, up. The path,       dark and rocky. Surely this is not      the way. Fear not for      I am with you. Be determined,      confident. Humbly listen      and obey. Put your hand      in Mine. My purposes      I will perform. Trust, and do not     sway.  Be undaunted;    light will come. Enough for each    new […]

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I made the stars, formed the sunThe oceans’ waves and crestWhen all was done, a victory wonI made a day of rest.I rode through time, led each saint;They never walked aloneTo those who saw, I wrote ten lawsOn two tables of stone.Though many died, they kept the faithLike Job, Daniel, and LotWho, for My sake, […]

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Oh, Jesus, You are very near but You’re so busy that I fear You’ll hurry on and pass me by. And yet, I hope my heart You’ll hear. I reach a timid, well-worn hand to grasp Your cloak — even just a strand. And before I can utter a tiny cry, I feel something in […]

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The woods are gray — a drear, tangled hash Like an old mouse nest, flimsy, dry — Tinder turning to ash. Such am I. Brittle branches lack loveliness to grow, Cause no glad laughter, no tears shed, Rattle in each blow. Fall, near dead. Yet when the sudden sunset show With burning glory lifts each […]

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Beneath this water rushes past the mud of a broken soul, separated from life, dead.  My fall from glory was only my imagination, a crown of leaves I called gold,  eating bitter fruit and calling it sweet until it grew into a void I could no longer deny — wretched.  Beneath this tree, blood seeped […]

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Beyond Destruction Though all of earth will some day pass,the mountains melt with fervent heatand even stones be consumed with fire: yet until that day children must eat,the sick shall need their careand the whole be better off clothed. Until the lion lie down with the lamb,the eagle fly with the doveand the bear be […]

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