Kingfisher home         GEMS Menu
back -- GEMS Vol. 8, part 1.            next -- GEMS Vol. 9, part 1.       


Inspirational Gems for Each Day --
                         VOLUME 8, part 2.

                 Written by Marilee Miller
 
Copyright (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller.

PLEASE READ THIS!

Copies may be given privately to about six friends, providing that text is not changed, and
that this full notice accompanies each document or part thereof.
One GEM or parts of two, per Volume, allowed for a public review or article, under the fair use clause.
No other public circulation, no mass copying or commercial or for-profit use without consent
of  the author -- e-mail to:    kingfisher crossing at gmail com (close up the spaces, etc.).

See the complete archive of 365 thoughtful Christian devotionals -- Gems -- at:
www.wordforlife.com/kingfisher/gems-complete/gems-menu

Scripture texts are from the King James Version.


16. GOD MAKES US WHOLE

God takes our sacrifice of offerings,
The lowly and the simple things:
Our deep regret over things not done,
Or battles lost instead of won,
Our griefs and aches and wonderings,
And makes them all delightful things.
His power transforms the weakest soul,
Despite our burdens makes us whole,
And so we still give offerings,
While he fills us from his living springs.

            "The whole earth is at rest, and
       is quiet: they break forth into singing.
       Yes, the fir trees rejoice at thee..."
               (Isa. 14:7-8a)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


17.  HE ACCEPTS YOU

Does your face show the mark of a tear
That trickles down,
         because loved ones dear
Have hurt you so deeply,
            becalming the soul,
Just when you yearned to be truly whole?

Are you shadowed by pain
            of things left undone,
Just when you hoped
        that the victory was won,
And now it seems that no end is in sight?
Dear soul, take heart:
                you're "God's delight".

Christ bore a tear when
            the night seemed too long,
The ones who hurt him most,
                 he'd known all along;
It must have been hard,
            this betrayal to take,
But he "let" it, dear saint,
               for your own sake!

His disciples thought he left
                  Messiahship behind
When he died on the cross,
                  when life wasn't kind;
But he rose from the dead,
      appearing to not just a few;
Now he holds out his hands,
         saying, "God accepts you."

            " ...Wherein he hath made us   
      accepted in the Beloved." (Eph.1:6b)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


18.  PRAYER FOR TROUBLED TIMES

Dear loving heavenly Father,
     Please give us the gift of your own
wisdom.  Fill us with knowledge of
yourself and your own dear Son.  Bestow
upon us all "blessings in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus."  Oh my Lord, we live in
such troubled times!  The world seems to
be crumbling and falling apart until many
people's "hearts fail them for fear". 
Yet, God, you are powerful and righteous. 
Do a mighty work!  For you have said that
for those who will learn to lean on you
and trust you, there will be a tremendous
revival and restoration and renewal and
refreshment and harvest of souls.  Oh, may
we be willing to receive revival from the
Lord.  And when it comes -- and it is
surely coming! -- may we "get in on it." 
For your glory has been promised.

            "But now in Christ Jesus ye    
       who sometimes were far off are
       made nigh by the blood of Christ.   
       For he is our peace..."
         (Eph. 2:13-14a)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


19.  GOLD

Oh Lord,
Let not people get locked
In a certain mold,
Until they cannot see the gold;
But let them break the mold:
'Come forth as gold!
Give them liberty.

            "Being enriched in every thing
       to all bountifulness, which causeth
       through us thanksgiving to God."
                 (II Cor. 9:11)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


20.  THE STRENGTHENING

The Lord of Hosts, and
           of all living things,
Strengthens us to become
      wholly his children,
So we no longer need to have any
    reservations or doubts
    about God and his Kingdom.
May we each, in our own way
          and time and place,
Surrender completely to his Lordship,
    then being enabled
    to "cast all our cares on him",
Knowing that he always cares for
           and looks after us.

            "...O Lord God, remember me,   
       I pray thee, and strengthen me, I
       pray thee...  "   (Jdg. 16:28)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


21.  OH GOD, COME DOWN

     Oh God, come down upon us, as
individuals, as communities, as nations. 
Come with your special mercy and love,
your "all-helps", your protection and
honor and rightness.  Guide us as we try
to walk with you.  Keep our minds and
hearts, our bodies and souls, clean and
holy -- and dedicated to you only.  And in
every circumstance, Lord, in every
situation, may we look to you, keep our
eyes on you.  May we not be drawn by the
side-ways and bypaths, but only focus our
vision on the straight path to God's glory.
 Surround us with your presence and
protection.  Be our guard, always.

            "Open ye the gates, that the   
       righteous nation which keepeth the
       truth may enter in."   (Isa. 26:2)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


22.  from the Scriptures

     "...Unto me, who am less than the 
least of all saints, is this grace given...
     "...To make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery [of the gospel
of Christ]...
     "According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
     "...That he would grant you,
according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit
in the inner man... "  (Eph. 3:8a, 9a, 11,
16, with addition)


23.  PRAYER FOR A FRIEND

     Lord, comfort my friend at this time. 
Equip him to be one of the saints of God,
full of your protection and holy honor. 
Lord, shield him, that the enemy of our
souls can't defeat him or discourage him,
but that he will come to know he belongs
to you only.

     God, guide him.  Lead him.  Let him
entrust his hand to you, as a trusting
child walks with a parent.  Heal his
wounds, oh God, and make him to really
know you deeply within his heart.  Let the
hungering and thirsting in his heart, which
can only be satisfied by more of you, be
filled up to overflowing.  Comfort him,
oh comfort him and bless him abundantly.
Fill him up inside, with you, Lord.

            "...But our sufficiency is of  
       God."  (II Cor. 3:5b)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


24.  PRAYER FOR A FRIEND (II)

     Lord, bless my friend.  Help her to keep
her eyes only on you.  Give her strength to
keep her life pure and dedicated to you.
Lead her.  Oh, help her in every way.  That
she may know your glory, your kingdom-
come.  May the perfect prayer, which
Jesus taught us to pray, become the focus
 of her life today.  Fulfill her every need.
Satisfy her soul with "more of you."  In the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I pray for my friend.  And I send her love,
love, and more love.  Amen.

            "Our Father, which art in
       heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy
       kingdom come.  Thy will be done in
       earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us
       this day our daily bread.  And for-
       give us our debts [tresspasses, 
       shortcomings, faults, sins] as we
       forgive our debtors.  And lead us
       not into temptation, but deliver us
       from evil.  For thine is the king-
       dom, and the power, and the glory,
       for ever, Amen."
         (Matt. 6:9b-13, with addition)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


25.  I NEED NOT QUESTION MY FUTURE

The future is not mine
To hold, to grasp fast;
"Tomorrow" shall be sent from the Lord
For me to know -- someday, at last,
When I stand before him!

And this great hope I know
Comes not from intellect to lift
Me high, to set me free --
But rather, expectation is a gift
Worthy of my praises offered
To God as a hymn.

            "By him therefore let us offer
       the sacrifice of praise to God
       continually, that is, the fruit of
       lips giving thanks to his name."
          (Heb. 13:15)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


26.  LET THE FIRE FALL

Let the fire from heaven fall:
May we heed the Spirit's call,
Giving God our life, our all;
Let the fire of glory fall.

Let the fire from heaven abide,
Purifying things that we would hide,
Freeing us, stirring us beside:
May hearts open to God's mercy wide.

            "And they were all filled with
       the Holy Ghost..." (Acts2:4a)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


27.  IN YOUR PRESENCE, GOD

Oh God, on your people pour your power,
Make us clean for this, your hour,
Give us mission pure and deep,
Though the way seems hard and steep;
In your presence, may we flower,
And be immersed in Spirit's shower!

            "...That the promise by faith  
       of Jesus Christ might be given to
       them that believe."   (Gal. 3:22b)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


28.  GOD'S WILL FOR US

Dear God, we are your own,
Destined for the throne
To sit beside the Lord
And feast upon your Word.
Your helpers we would be,
But first, please set us free
From all that blinds our eyes
And stops our hopeful sighs;
Dear God, we ask that you please show
Us your will to surely know.

            "Blessed are they that do his  
       commandments, that they may have    
       right to the tree of life, and may
       enter in through the gates into
       the city."   (Rev. 22:14)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


29.  GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

     So many persons are going through so
many hardships.  Truly, it seems that
Satan is trying to "wear out the saints"
(see Dan. 7:25).  Many times, we face
trials that are too much for us.  We
haven't the ability to deliver ourselves
from trouble.  Then we must cling to our
God, for "he is able."

     It's not our power or might or
strength or cleverness or stamina.  It's
God's faithfulness.  He says he will not
allow "our foot to be moved", or let us
face greater temptations than "we are able
to bear."  Let us do what we can, and
leave the rest in the Lord's hands.

            "Trust in the Lord, and do     
       good; so shalt thou dwell in the
       land, and verily thou shalt be
       fed."   (Ps. 37:3)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


30.  A GOOD LISTENER

A good listener!  Where to find one?
Hang on to the one that you discover.
For such a person is a treasure,
Bringing blessings beyond measure.

My prayer is that you may uncover
Just such a caring, listening one!
Someone to lighten your day with           
                   pleasure:
Yes, a "listener" is a treasure!

            "Hear this, all ye people;     
       give ear, all ye inhabitants of
       the world..."   (Ps. 49:1)
 (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller   


31.  from the Scriptures

       "And I say unto you, Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened.
       "For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be     
opened.
       "If a son shall ask bread of any of
you that is a father, will he give him a
stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he
for a fish give him a serpent?
      "Or if he shall ask an egg, will
he offer him a scorpion?
      "If ye, then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how
much more shall your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"     
(Lk. 11:9-13)
=

back -- GEMS Vol. 8, part 1.         next -- GEMS Vol. 9, part 1.
Kingfisher home           GEMS Menu