Author: gaillovesgod

It's not about me. It's all about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Just Captivity

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

How often, Lord, are our enemies
Given strength over us
Because we have turned from You,
And our captivity is just?
How long does the enemy prevail
Because of our ungodly choices?
When we reject the living God,
We soon hear the enemy rejoice.
Our favor is removed,
And the enemy moves in.
How long does it take
For us to see it is our sin?
We cry to the God we’ve forsaken,
And You intentionally do not hear.
You warned us so many times
You would laugh at our fear.
Our bondage is our own doing.
We created the oppression ourselves.
We said we could take care of it.
We did not need Your help.
Our only hope is You are faithful
To pursue us, and restore.
You deliver us from our enemies,
And take Your rightful place as Lord.

10.25.2021 Thursday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 38-48

Captivating the Captive

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

Captivating the Captive

Enemies seem to surround us
All the day long.
Weapons of words and swords,
And bragging they are strong.
The God who sees my every sin,
Sees the sin of every man.
He shakes the enemy of his pride,
And leaves him unable to stand.
God captivates the captive,
And frees him from self.
God only is the stronghold.
God alone can help.
God is a refuge for the displaced,
And a shelter for the weak.
He gladly fellowships with
Those who will seek.
Put your trust in God,
Where hope is not futile.
He longs to hold and nurture
His created child.

10.27.2021 Wednesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Psalms 61-70

True Wilderness

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

Dark and murky waters
Were once my familiar places.
Dark and angry people
Were once my familiar faces.
You brought a light
Into those foggy spaces.
You opened my eyes
To ill intended embraces.
You put my feet on a path
That led to where You were.
You removed the confusing stronghold,
And gave me faith to be sure.
My manna You have been.
My thirst You have quenched.
When I’ve needed protection,
You have been my defense.
Out of my Egypt, I live.
I serve the One who brought me out.
No more chains of naivety.
You have erased all doubt.
Now I know, and am known by
A saving strength that is You.
Even in my Wilderness,
I know You are True.

10.25.2021 Monday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Exodus 16-18

One True King

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

How sad when a testimony leads astray
Those led by it all the way.
Losing a leader causes fear.
“What if we have no one! Oh, Dear!”
We plot, discuss, and plan.
Our heart’s desire is to trust in man.
We place our faith in one man’s strength,
To provide, to fight, to be our defense.
We forget the God who gave us life,
Who saves us from our daily strife.
He nurtures, listens, and forgives.
We could never give back all He gives.
The One True King of all the earth
Has loved us from the day of our birth.
He is present and near, strong to lead.
He is capable of all we need.
May You find us faithful, Our Heavenly King.
We trust in You with everything.

10.26.2021 Tuesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: 1 Samuel 8-12

The Kind Love of God

On By gaillovesgodIn 20213 Comments

You are kind to the unthankful,
And to the evil too.
That is a powerful statement,
But I’m glad it’s true.
How long I lived ungrateful,
Finding pleasure in the evil of filth.
I was completely unashamed,
And ignored the accompanying guilt.
Yet You were kind in Your mercy
To warn me of my path
Being so wicked and evil
That I would deserve Your wrath.
In love, to save my soul
You experienced great loss
When Your only Son
Stretched out His arms on the cross.
Thank you, Luke 6:35,
For pointing out His grace.
Had it not been for His kindness,
I would not be in a better place.
Thank You, Jesus, for telling us
More about our Father God above.
The Judge who waits to justify
Is so filled with love.

10.23.2021 Saturday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Luke 5-7

Breathe Life Into Me

On By gaillovesgodIn 2021Leave a comment

Breathe into my bones.
Awaken my spirit so weak.
Bring healing to my disease.
Help my soul to speak.
Clothe my skin with life.
Light the darkness in my mind.
Lift the foggy veil,
And the nightmares so unkind.
Set my feet on straightened legs,
And strengthen my arms and hands.
Unravel my crooked spine.
Let me learn to stand.
You are the Creator of my flesh.
You know every single cell.
Use my earthly vessel
To serve You, and serve You well.

10.22.2021 Friday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 37
God’s breath breathing into dry bones.

Heed the Warning

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

Woe, ye watchmen, guard your charge.
The sword is on its way.
Blow the trumpet and warn the people.
Beg them to kneel and pray.
Woe, ye shepherds, focused on self.
Nurture and tend your flock.
Remember you have been entrusted with
God’s precious stock.
Woe, ye flock, fed and kept.
You, too, have accountability.
Remember your fellow sheep.
We are each other’s responsibility.
Woe, ye flock, watched and shepherded,
In community with faithful sheep.
Only you can decide to eternally live,
Or be cast into the deep.
God finds no pleasure in the death
Of the wicked who will change,
But He will destroy and desolate
The evil and deranged.
He is the Good Shepherd watching,
Searching and seeking the lost.
Let Him bring you back into the fold,
And avoid the coming cost.

10.22.2021 Friday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 33-37

Songs of the Psalms

On By gaillovesgodIn 20219 Comments

Praises and exaltations,
Loud and lifted voices,
Are just a few songs of the Psalms
That shout our rejoices.
Enemies, wars, and fighting,
Calling on Your Mighty Presence,
Are a few of those songs
Recognizing You as our Defense.
Nature, creatures, and beauty.
Songs of Your creative works.
Lingering in Your Psalms,
They are delightfully seen and heard.
Mercy, grace, protection,
Songs in the night seasons.
How loving You are
To give us purpose and reason.
Thank You for the Psalms
That teach us to raise
Our hands and our voices
With shouts of praise.

10.20.2021 Wednesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Psalms 51-60

Judgment Designs A Day

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

Judgment walks through the earth
Waiting to right the wrong.
It does not ask for permission.
It will sing its righteous song.
The waiting is merely strategy
To deliver the fiercest wrath
To each and every enemy,
And everyone along its path.
Judgment protects the right,
And honors those lost to its cause.
The enemy’s pain intensifies.
Just vengeance puts time on pause.
Woe to those whom Judgment pursues.
You will be found.
You will not escape your sentence.
You will be put in the ground.
To those who walk with Righteousness,
God has not forgotten you.
Judgment has designed a day
You will see God’s word be true.

10.21.2021 Thursday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 25-32 Judgment of the Nations

The Ebenezer of My Life

On By gaillovesgodIn 2021Leave a comment

The Ebenezer of my life
Has helped me more than I can say,
Yet I don’t want to go without trying
To praise You for leading all the way.
Without Your correction,
I never would have learned.
Without Your protection,
I would have forever burned.
Your loving shelter You provide
Covers me with Your blood.
Your hand like a levy
Keeps me from the flood.
The paths of danger and sin
Were constant in their companionship,
But Your pursuit for me was greater,
And now I have a faithful relationship.
Thank You for being my Ebenezer,
My help in bringing me safely along.
I know and trust in Your good pleasure
To bring me safely home.

10.19.2021 Tuesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: 1 Samuel 4-7 and Come Thou Fount hymn

Validating Word

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

The word was written, and the written word cites
All that is needed to validate wrong and right.
It speaks, proclaims, warns, and praises,
And answers all the questions it raises.
It’s well thought out to make you think,
And helps you find what it draws you to seek.
It is the work of its mighty Author,
And delivers on all that it offers.
It is the scroll, the account, and the record
Of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Take a moment to walk through the pages.
It is life’s guidebook for all ages.

10.9.2021 Saturday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Luke 1

The Diet of Obedience

On By gaillovesgodIn 2021Leave a comment

The diet of obedience
Is a discipline that nourishes,
A wisdom that grows,
Faith that flourishes.
That diet of obedience
Can be harsh to bear,
The ingredients bitter
With no mercy to spare.
The recipe often includes
Shame, grief, and sorrow.
Pains with no end in sight,
Yet hope for tomorrow.
Digesting the instructions,
We follow every word.
We eat the roll,
And swallow the sword.
We wait in dungeons,
In prisons, and pits.
We wait in captivity,
And learn to appreciate it.
Sovereign Lord, we kneel
To gain the strength to stand.
We humbly seek Your will.
We honor Your command.

10.8.2021 Friday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Ezekiel 4

Good Captivity

On By gaillovesgodIn 2021Leave a comment

Captivity can be good, Lord?
I never would have thought.
By reading in Your Holy Word,
I am wonderfully taught.
You have provided shelter
In the midst of correction.
Though we wandered away,
You have given direction.
Despite our human tendencies
To turn our back on You,
You are faithful to your people.
You are faithful to pursue.
You make a place of refuge
In the hands of our enemies.
You take away our freedom
To bring us to our knees.
We thought we were right
In our own eyes,
Yet You are loving and merciful
To teach us to be wise.
Captivity can be good for us,
And allow You to restore
If we will just trust
The sovereignty of our Lord.

10.7.2021 Thursday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Jeremiah 24:5-7 and Ezekiel 1

 

Thoughtless Oaths

On By gaillovesgodIn 20215 Comments

Oh the careless things we say
Out of hurt and bitterness.
When we want to retaliate,
We could care less.
We open our mouth,
And let the words fly,
Carrying weapons to wound
Anyone standing by.
But our omniscient God
Hears every word,
And does not give permission
To pass on our hurt.
He is not to be used
In a thoughtless oath.
We cannot use our circumstances
As a scapegoat.
We must cry out to God,
And desperately repent,
Take a step of faith
That He just might relent.
But if there is
A price to be paid,
It is ourselves on the altar
That must be laid.

9.7.2021 Tuesday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: Jephthah and his only daughter (Judges 11)

Your Walking Museum

On By gaillovesgodIn 20211 Comment

Whew! Lord, what a walking museum
You have written down through the ages.
There is so much bewilderment
Within Your Holy pages.
Slavery, incest, slaughters,
Complete disobedience of Your law.
Though I read typed and printed paper,
I cringe at what I saw.
Bloody battles, family fights, land wars.
It’s amazing we exist.
The evidence of sin runs rampant
Without You in the midst.
Yet many of those battles are You,
Clearly fighting for us.
You take down Your enemies
And fight for the just.
And then there are times You
Test, discipline, and cleanse.
You help our feeble minds to learn,
And see life through Your lens.
Help me, Lord, to trust You with
My life and Your plans.
Thank You for Your Holy Word,
To help me understand.

9.6.2021 Monday
Written by Gail Brookshire
Inspiration: God’s Holy Word