Promises
A
‘Cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die’ promise is a ‘finish-line’ commitment. Robert W. Service said, “A promise made is a debt unpaid.”
A promise lightly given has an ‘unless’ wedged between the words and
the action.
‘Cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die’ promise is a ‘finish-line’ commitment. Robert W. Service said, “A promise made is a debt unpaid.”
A promise lightly given has an ‘unless’ wedged between the words and
the action.
We learn as children how to
keep promises from our parents – our earliest teachers. If they promise something and the promise is
not kept, we feel a sense of betrayal. A
new pair of shoes, a book, a trip to the park or an ice cream cone is serious
business to a child.
keep promises from our parents – our earliest teachers. If they promise something and the promise is
not kept, we feel a sense of betrayal. A
new pair of shoes, a book, a trip to the park or an ice cream cone is serious
business to a child.
A broken promise is
accompanied by tears and crushed hope. A
kept promise is like hope bright as new leaves on a tree at springtime. It has the scent of loyalty and trust deep
within.
accompanied by tears and crushed hope. A
kept promise is like hope bright as new leaves on a tree at springtime. It has the scent of loyalty and trust deep
within.
A promise is a solemn vow to
attend and commit. The most solemn promise I made came several times in my
lifetime. My first promise is when I
gave my heart to Jesus and sealed the promise with baptism. Though in my life I have stumbled, I have
always returned to that newness of heart that I experienced as an eight-year-old
child. Through the years God gave me
ways to learn lessons of faith, truth, everlasting hope and joy. The lessons
have not been easy. A Promise is
a fragile cord. A promise kept strengthens the cord, but a broken promise severs the cord. The only cure for a broken promise is the gentle salve of
forgiveness.
attend and commit. The most solemn promise I made came several times in my
lifetime. My first promise is when I
gave my heart to Jesus and sealed the promise with baptism. Though in my life I have stumbled, I have
always returned to that newness of heart that I experienced as an eight-year-old
child. Through the years God gave me
ways to learn lessons of faith, truth, everlasting hope and joy. The lessons
have not been easy. A Promise is
a fragile cord. A promise kept strengthens the cord, but a broken promise severs the cord. The only cure for a broken promise is the gentle salve of
forgiveness.
Each page in life turned and
each chapter finished with my Lord brings me new learning that enriches me and
prepares me for the promise of eternal life.
each chapter finished with my Lord brings me new learning that enriches me and
prepares me for the promise of eternal life.
Many times I sang the
traditional wedding song in older days, O
Promise Me, and wondered when I would find my love. The verse by Clement Scott ends with these
words:
traditional wedding song in older days, O
Promise Me, and wondered when I would find my love. The verse by Clement Scott ends with these
words:
Hearing God’s message while the organ
rolls/Its mighty music to our very
souls,
No love less perfect than a life with thee/
Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!
rolls/Its mighty music to our very
souls,
No love less perfect than a life with thee/
Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!
In 1952, my dear husband and
I made a commitment and a promise before God to love and cherish each other in
sickness and health, richer or poorer, until death do us part. Being in our 80’s brings the separation of death
ever nearer. We are anticipating the
celebration of 63 years soon of that promise to each other. Our lives are
richer with the blessing of four children and their spouses, twelve
grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Each birth is a promise of new
life and possibilities.
I made a commitment and a promise before God to love and cherish each other in
sickness and health, richer or poorer, until death do us part. Being in our 80’s brings the separation of death
ever nearer. We are anticipating the
celebration of 63 years soon of that promise to each other. Our lives are
richer with the blessing of four children and their spouses, twelve
grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Each birth is a promise of new
life and possibilities.
We just celebrated Easter,
commemorating the resurrection and assurance that Jesus lives. As we drove home through the streets after
worship, we exulted profusely over every tulip tree in bloom and every daffodil
that raises its joyful face to the sun.
Each new flower and blade of green expresses the greatest promise of all
– resurrection. Martin Luther understood
the joy that the promise of resurrection creates in our hearts. Our Lord has written the promise of
resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
commemorating the resurrection and assurance that Jesus lives. As we drove home through the streets after
worship, we exulted profusely over every tulip tree in bloom and every daffodil
that raises its joyful face to the sun.
Each new flower and blade of green expresses the greatest promise of all
– resurrection. Martin Luther understood
the joy that the promise of resurrection creates in our hearts. Our Lord has written the promise of
resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
In God’s creation of the seasons, He pictured the planting of seed beneath snow, birth and growth in Spring, fruit in the summer, gathering the
harvest in the fall. This is a picture
of our physical and spiritual lives.
harvest in the fall. This is a picture
of our physical and spiritual lives.
When I was a child, I grew weary of school and learning. It is a wonder I became a teacher. One day I
found learning to be an adventure and books simply propelled me into the
adventures. It was in that moment I
discovered the adventure in learning more of Jesus.
He is the author of promises and He is faithful… God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord. I Corinthians 1:9
found learning to be an adventure and books simply propelled me into the
adventures. It was in that moment I
discovered the adventure in learning more of Jesus.
He is the author of promises and He is faithful… God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord. I Corinthians 1:9
The promises God makes to us create joy and peace and love in our
hearts. There is no other joyous feeling
than belonging fully to God without holding back any part of my life than to
know His promises are mine with no reservations. In giving my all to Him, He has given life to
me through Jesus Christ.
hearts. There is no other joyous feeling
than belonging fully to God without holding back any part of my life than to
know His promises are mine with no reservations. In giving my all to Him, He has given life to
me through Jesus Christ.
The simple three words, I love you, paint a picture of promise. I
LOVE YOU, God said when He created the universe. I LOVE YOU, God said as He created each of us. I LOVE YOU, God said to us when He sent Jesus
to earth. I LOVE YOU, God said as He
raised Jesus from the tomb. I LOVE YOU,
God says each day as He provides daily sustenance. I LOVE YOU, God says when He strengthens our
faith and trust through grievous happenings.
How can we help but love and serve Him with all our hearts?
LOVE YOU, God said when He created the universe. I LOVE YOU, God said as He created each of us. I LOVE YOU, God said to us when He sent Jesus
to earth. I LOVE YOU, God said as He
raised Jesus from the tomb. I LOVE YOU,
God says each day as He provides daily sustenance. I LOVE YOU, God says when He strengthens our
faith and trust through grievous happenings.
How can we help but love and serve Him with all our hearts?
Some of the mighty promises of God are these:
• For
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfareand not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfareand not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
• “Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. Matthew 11:28-29
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. Matthew 11:28-29
• And
this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious
riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious
riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
• “I
am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27
am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27
• If
you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
• I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the
Father are one.” John 10:28-30 ESV
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the
Father are one.” John 10:28-30 ESV
Comments? eacombs@att.net