Poetry: WONDERFUL WORDS

WONDERFUL WORDS

I study your Word.

It's lovely to me,

Though sharp and cutting and true.

It brightens my path

And straightens it too.

It turns my gray skies to blue.

***

(c)Sandra Johnson/Draw Nigh To Hope

Poetry: Everlasting Nature

EVERLASTING NATURE

I have beautiful mornings with you.

As I sit quietly and watch,

Nature abounds.

For you and nature are one.

You created the beauty of nature

And it is everlasting and eternal.

It comes from you

And never ends.

My love for nature will never end.

One day I will enjoy it upon

The shores and hills and fields

Of a pristine Heaven and earth,

The way you meant it to be.

Everlasting nature.

Everlasting God.

Everlasting joy.

***

(c)Sandra Johnson/Draw Nigh To Hope

My Hope Of Heaven by Edwin O'Hanlon

Imagine you’re taking a trip. You arrive at the airport check-in desk, but you’re the only passenger there. Security's a ghost town. So is your gate. You board an empty airplane and meet no one the entire flight. No captain. No stewardess. No one.

In many ways, this is death. We enter this world alone, and we leave just the same. But what if the person you loved most of all was eagerly waiting for you once you disembarked the flight? That ought to warm your heart and stop the trip from feeling like a Twilight Zone episode, right? Well, Jesus promises just this!

The joy of hoping on heaven purifies the lives of the redeemed. Paul says: If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). Paul toiled tirelessly for the Church’s sanctification because he knew heavenly eyes are the best shield against sin. 

We may be positionally righteous on this side of heaven, but none of us are practically perfect until we go to be with the Lord. We must look ahead to the sweet hereafter. And when our day of departure comes, may we share Paul’s desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Phil. 1:23). Amen and amen. Come Lord Jesus.

***

Edwin O'Hanlon

Christians celebrate both the Cross, where Jesus gave His life to rescue us, and the Crown, symbolic of His victory over sin and death. 

He died and rose again that sinners like me might forever know and love God. 

My mission now is to rejoice in Christ, explore Scripture, and magnify its loving author by publishing weekly articles at www.fromcrosstocrown.com

Poetry: I Love Your Word

I LOVE YOUR WORD

I love your Word.

What can I say

About the fears

It does allay.

Your Word is sweet,

A joy to me.

I eat and drink

Your Word with glee!

***

(c)Sandra Johnson/Draw Nigh To Hope

Poetry: NO PROBLEM TO WORSHIP YOU

NO PROBLEM TO WORSHIP YOU

Oh, to worship you!

No problem!

To get on my knees is to

Feel the loving kindness

Of a Father

Who sacrificed his Son

For my redemption.

There was no reservation

Or exception,

For I was fully embraced

And brought into

The greatest kingdom

In existence.

I will reign with Christ.

So to worship you?

No problem!

***

(c)Sandra Johnson/Draw Nigh To Hope

Book: God, I'm Tired Of Praying - What To Think About How You Feel

God, I'm Tired Of Praying: What To Think About How You Feel

Available at Amazon as hardcover, paperback and Kindle.

You are tired of praying and do not find joy in it like you used to. You have been faithful and diligent but your fondest desires have not been fulfilled. You are grateful to your Father In Heaven, but even some needs, as you see them, have not been fulfilled. You wonder, Should I give up on prayer?

Things have happened that you asked God to prevent. Things have not happened that you asked him to bring about. You have had tragedy or devastation in your life and prayers are not helping. They have not helped for a long time. You are sad and feel hopeless about your prayer life. You are afraid that you may never be able to pray in faith again.

Because God knows your heart, He knows that you want to pray. He knows when you think about praying and when your heart proclaims that you will, whether you are successful or not. He knows when you say to yourself, I should pray. I used to be able to pray. I need to pray. Your prayer desires are not lost on Our Heavenly Father. You may not feel faithful but he is aware of your faith.

Chapters in this book, such as Tired Of Believing In Prayer And Feeling Guilty and No Hope Of Ever Feeling It Again, confirm that you are tired of praying. The chapters I Can’t Pray Another Day and I Just Can’t Make The Effort Anymore, and other chapters, verify that you can't do it anymore.

Your real, deep feelings are supported by chapters like, If God Was Going To Give Me That Blessing He Would Have Done It By Now and Why Should I Pray When I Can't Stop What's Going To Happen?

You're hurting because you feel that these feelings are not like you. You don't understand what is happening to you. If you could, you would take yourself back to when you believed wholeheartedly in prayer and looked forward to it. When our hearts are crying out and the desire to pray has fled, we don't need more to-do lists, instructions or criticism. We need empathy.

Without judgement, I address the real feelings of Christians who are bone-weary from praying and believing in prayer. Within these chapters you will find validation for how you are feeling and comfort in learning that there is nothing wrong with you or your faith. As you read and I talk directly to you, you will also find inspiration and hope.

Come, let's talk about your weariness...

God, I'm Tired Of Praying: What To Think About How You Feel is a handy compilation of my You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary posts from my blog, Draw Nigh To Hope. It also includes new content not shared at the blog.

This is a good book for you and others that you know to have on hand in the valleys as you grow in your prayer walk.

Available at Amazon as hardcover, paperback and Kindle.

God, I'm Tired Of Praying: What To Think About How You Feel

He Is Also Coming Back

All of us who love him should make a commitment to think about Jesus always. When our minds stray, an alarm should go off, sirens should scream and red lights should flash to remind us to bring our minds back to Jesus.

As we all know, daily life is becoming more dangerous. While living in fear is not God's desire for us, we can no longer be assured that we will never encounter a fatal situation. We don't know when we could unexpectedly leave this earth. While I know that I am saved through the Shed Blood of Our Dear Savior, Jesus Christ, that is not enough for me. 

Should I leave unexpectedly in any way or should he return before I leave this earth, I want my mind to be as closely upon him as it can be at that moment. I don't want my mind consumed by the cares of this world, desires and distractions when the Word tells me that My Savior will come back in the twinkling of an eye.

During this Easter Day celebration, let us remember that yes, Jesus has risen. Yes, Jesus is alive but he also is coming back and is worthy of our daily thoughts.  

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. (I Thessalonians 5:2)

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Image Of Resurrection Garden: Domestically Blissful

DNTH Shop Pre-Summer Sale

 

The entire shop of Christian products online, including my new Christian bookmarks printable designs, is on sale at 25% off through April 15.

Draw Nigh To Hope Shop

Poetry: Lord, How Sweet Is Your Word

LORD, HOW SWEET IS YOUR WORD

How sweet is your Word in suffering,

Though oft' the burden is great.

It feels unbearably frequent,

Such difficulty of late.

Your Word is a precious ointment,

Oft' applied in much duress.

Your Word is a pathway lamplight.

With your Word I make progress.

I read and feel much freedom.

A breath of joy I breathe.

I lose myself in scriptures,

Where found is sweet relief.

Your Word, I'll never shun it,

Though hurting hinders me.

The two-edged sword of sweetness

Is what I need from thee.

***

(c)Sandra Johnson/Draw Nigh To Hope

Christian Bookmarks: Mountain Moving Faith

MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH 5 BOOKMARKS PK

Print these power to move mountains bookmarks onto heavyweight paper or card stock, cut out, laminate or leave as is, punch holes to add optional tassels or charm dangles.

The 5 paraphrased scriptures encourage anyone reading them to doubt not but be believing. Matthew 21:21, Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:23, II Samuel 22:34 and Psalm 18:33 are the featured verses.

These Christian bookmarks to print can be used in collage, journal designs, altered art, paper crafting, book arts and other creative techniques.

See more details about these bookmarks with scripture verses and other Christian printable bookmarks at Draw Nigh To Hope Shop.

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Use these printable faith bookmarks to fill your life with reminders of Christian living. 

Spend your money on merchandise that glorifies God Our Father and Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. 

Surround yourself everyday with products that invite in The Holy Spirit, Our Comforter and Guide.

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