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GONE…BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

By Anita Mondragon
 
A small little embryo, just the size of a pea,
Not long ago sat on Jesus’ knee.
 
He told of the plans He had in store,
And the amazing life…just outside the womb’s door.
 
He said, “Son, you’ll be another Michael Angelo!
It won’t be long now, you’ll soon get to go!”
 
But mother was young and so afraid!
She ran to Planned Parenthood to abort this babe.
 
While in the womb, there was warmth and safety;
A tiny home where to reside.
 
Now, tiny limbs torn from their sockets…
Saline burns…no place to hide!
 
So, now for eternity, he’ll paint the skies,
And the bright yellow sun, as it starts to rise.

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BE NOT DISMAYED

By Anita Mondragon
 
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”       Isaiah 41:10 KJV

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The above verse came from my Promise Box.  I drew it this morning.  I’ve read/heard this verse many times, but as I read it this morning, the word dismayed caught my attention.  I decided to look it up…to find all the facets of the meaning.

It means:

cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress:


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TWICE MINE!

By Anita Mondragon
 
I wrote the following story for my grandchildren.  It was inspired by one of my dad’s illustrations in his sermons.
 
There once lived a young boy named David.  His grandfather and him were very close, and spent much time together.  Grandfather was an excellent wood-carver and made many toys for the local children.  Small sailboats were his specialty.  He introduced the art of wood carving to his grandson, David at the age of nine.
 
One day, David was playing with his small boat in a nearby stream.  He loved his boat…it was the first of many that he’d made.  He sat on the bank and watched it float down-stream.  As it floated lazily down the trickle of water, David laid back on the cool grass and watched the clouds go by.  He must have dozed off in the warm sun, for when he awoke, he discovered that his boat was nowhere to be found.  He searched everywhere, but to no avail!

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MARKERS IN A ROW

By Anita Mondragon

“NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 6:2

In John 10:9, Jesus said: “I am the door.  If anyone enters by ME, he will be saved.”  One day, the door of God’s mercy will close.  Our response to Jesus, and His offer of salvation will determine our destination.  Come now…while the door of mercy is still open!

I walked among the dead today;

I saw their markers in a row…

And not a sound was heard at all,

Except the wind, whispering soft and low.


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THE CAGE

By Anita Mondragon
 
As many of you know, my dad was a Baptist Preacher for over 40 years.  He used many illustrations in his sermons to get his point across.  He likened them to parables that Jesus used in the Bible so that folks could understand more easily.
 
The following is based on one of the illustrations he used.  I heard it many times during my growing up years and turned it into a poem for my grandchildren. 
 
“Gotcha!” screamed the boy,

With excitement and delight;

As the cage door slammed shut…


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A LIFEBOAT

By Anita Mondragon
 
The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Luke 19:10
 
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently, He will forgive if they only believe.  Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful…Jesus will save! -Fanny J. Crosby 1869 and William H. Doane, 1870

I wrote the following poem years ago.  It came about like this: Every day, I saw this man in my neighborhood on his way to the bus stop.  He was elderly, and in poor health. He walked with a cane, and would momentarily stop because he had trouble breathing. 


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BUY NOW…PAY LATER!

By Anita Mondragon
 
“For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back…no turning back! -Unknown

I received a catalog in the mail today…
YOU’RE PRE-APPROVED!  BUY NOW-PAY LATER The cover was striking!  It bore my name with some advice: Save your credit cards for other things – you’re pre-approved for ***** credit! There was also an ominous sticker below that read: LAST CHANCE:  We don’t want to bother you with unwanted catalogs.  This could be your FINAL CATALOG.  Please order TODAY to receive future editions! Payments as low as $20 per month.
 
Now, let me say…I’m not usually sucked in too easily by that kind of stuff, but it was packaged so attractively, and presented so well, that I have to admit…it looked pretty tempting!

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PRESENTS…OR PRESENCE?

By Anita Mondragon
 
I hear people all the time ask for the blessings of God…I daresay I’ve done it myself a few times.  Nothing wrong with that, except most of the time, we crave the blessings-the PRESENTS more than the actual PRESENCE of God.  There’s something about our flesh that desires the material things of this world more than the unseen indwelling of God with us.  
 
Have you ever found yourself in deep thought of God and His goodness?  You begin to thank Him for the big things in your life, you know…your health, your job, your house, your car….  Then you move to the “small” things, the things we take for-granted, like our next breath… 

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THE MOUSE IN MY GARAGE

By Anita Mondragon
 
“There he goes!” screamed grandma as she lifted her feet high in the air.  We were sitting on the patio, enjoying our breakfast when a tiny mouse ran by our feet.  He was running as fast as the wind!  We didn’t see him for the rest of the day…he was in hiding.  “I think we scared him more than he scared us!” I said, with a chuckle.
 
We didn’t see hide nor hair of him for days.  Then one day, as I sat on the patio, deep in thought, he stuck his wee head out the side door of the garage.  Our eyes locked, and we stared at each other for some time.  He was the cutest, tiniest, little creature I had ever seen.  He was dark brown and had two shiny black eyes that never seemed to blink.  All by himself, he seemed so insignificant and harmless; but, my husband saw him and said we needed to get rid of him.

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I DON’T KNOW YOU!

By Anita Mondragon
 
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’-Matthew 7:21-23
 
You speak to me and call out my name when others are around;
 
In pious tones, you thank me that you’re not like those OTHER sinners…there…kneeling on the ground. 
But…I don’t know you. 
You’re self-righteous, full of pride…oozing with conceit. 
You’d never bow, or smite your breast; you’d never humbly entreat. 
No…I don’t know you. 
I called out to you for many years before you tried to do things your own way; 
Before you relied upon yourself, you heard the things I’d say… 
But…I don’t know you. 
You did things in my name, but they were done for YOUR honor and glory. 
Now, here you stand before me, telling me you’re sorry. 
But…I don’t know you.

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One Response to “Forgiven- A Daily Devotional”

  1. Anita says:

    What a great prayer! As Believers, this is the kind of stuff we should be seeking God for on a daily basis!
    Thanks for the reminder sister Francine!
    -anita

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