Seed of Hope (First Sunday in Advent)

From Isaiah 11:1-2:  “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

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Fragmented prayers lack faith

Hope’s seeds lost, now scattered

World filled with endless despair

Dazed, bruised, and battered

 

Hope conceived, chosen virgin

God preparing love’s way

Nothing impossible for Him

Holy Spirit holds sway

 

Bethlehem’s star shines at night

God’s love lights hope’s beacon

Future sparkles from His grace

Mercy never weakens

 

Heavens prepare peace and joy

Darkness brightens, rejoice!

God plants Holy seed of hope

Angels sing with His choice

 

Father’s goodness overflows

His everlasting gift

Living water promises

Hope transforms faith’s gearshift

 

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You are invited to join in prayer:  Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace.  During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior.  Amen.

 

Originally written in Latin during the 8th or 9th century, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a frequently chosen song during the season of Advent.

Devotion to Prayer (Elfchen Series #86)

Messaging

Prayer

Seeking God

Focusing on Him

Grasping His Holy text

Dependence

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Rejoicing

Prayer

Righteous faith

Praising Lord Jesus

Growing knowledge of Him

Transformation

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Rewarding

Prayer

Spirit’s interaction

Divine grace transcends

Love touches each heart

Faithfulness

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Morning Impressions

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Looking out kitchen’s window

Hot coffee warming chilled hands

Cherishing deepest blue skies

Thankful to breathe freedom’s brand

 

Geese fly across nearby pond

Wishing life could be simple

Photo of children smiling

Catching each happy dimple

 

Sensing morning’s frosty air

Furnace cranks, erasing cold

Listening to nature’s peace

Fewer song birds to behold

 

Airplane flying overhead

Gliding to scheduled landing

Mankind dances with nature

Asking, without demanding

 

Looking toward tomorrow

Life’s cards showing all Aces

Feeling blessed beyond reason

Cherished keepsake embraces

 

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Early morning is my preferred time to craft poetry, short stories, and other writings.  Occasionally, the pre-dawn atmosphere outside of the kitchen window encourages my pen to just take off and write.  There is no real plan or objective, but the words flow until a rough outline is coming together.  This poem is a result of such an endeavor, and hopefully you–the reader–will find your place in the verses as well.

Sorrow to Joy

From John 16:20:  “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”

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Frightened, behind closed doors

Sorrowful tears cry out

Yesterday, filled with light

Today, darkness brings doubt

 

Disciples and others

Bewildered and scattered

Christ’s death crushes spirit

Faith’s fragileness shattered

 

No place to run toward

Trapped and shut-off from God

Tomorrow’s hope now gone

What makes this picture flawed?

 

Peter, John, and Mary

Cold, empty tomb proclaims

Resurrection witnessed

Evil’s planning in flames

 

Sorrow turning to joy

Messiah comes to save

Bloodied cross bears man’s sins

Chains no longer enslave

 

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From John 20:18:  “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”

Nature’s Crossroads (Haiku Series #162)

Dusk Evaporates

Horizon merges

Pulled along by setting sun—

Stirs nocturnal bliss

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Savoring Again

Autumn’s entree fades

Winter’s taste arrives on cue–

Sweet frosting and all

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Life’s Adaptation

Facing challenges

Nature transforms to survive—

Will mankind follow?

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Monday Memories: Waiting For Rain

long exposure photography of water drop

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What is so special about simple rain?

Have you truly witnessed God’s gift of rain?

 

Everywhere, anticipation of rain

Withering crops crave God’s rainfall today

Farmers wait faithfully for rains to come

Without rain, hearts and plants start to decay

 

The farmland depends on these vital rains

Last year, little rain arrives to help out

Sunny skies chase away clouds too often

“Next year” cries out from thirsty lands of drought

 

Farmers sow their spring crops on faith alone

Waiting for nature to moisten the ground

Praying to the Lord, asking for His rain

Rain arrives, new life rising skyward bound

 

God sends righteousness, in the form of rain

Fulfilling prayers, easing farmers’ pain

From Isaiah 45:8:  “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

green tractor

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Eagle’s Shadow

From Isaiah 40:31:  “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

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Lost in hidden wilderness

Walking gloomy path, alone

Life’s never-ending circle

Frozen in time’s endless zone

 

Abandoned without refuge

Searching hellish, barren land

Emptiness speaks with silence

Tireless quest, sinking in sand

 

Days feel as chilling as nights

Shivering, icy outlook

Hopelessness without promise

Shadow circles, pause to look

 

Eagle flying overhead

Calling out to thee, follow

Sunrise filling empty heart

Journey no longer hollow

 

Calvary’s cross stands over

Kneeling upon sacred ground

Tears’ cascading emotions

Life no longer lost, grace found

 

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From John 20:18:  “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”

Nothing Greater (Elfchen Series #85)

Be True

Confession

With repentance

Walking with righteousness

Stepping forward into light

Obedience

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Be Fed

Invitation

Hungry feast

Nourishes spirit’s needs

With faith and grace

Forgiveness

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Be Saved

Resurrection

Empty tomb

Grace overcomes darkness

Transforming our “broken glass”

Redemption

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Family’s Love

From 1 John 4:7:  “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

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Vulnerable and broken

Young lives scattering like chaff

Fractured, alone in darkness

Story needs new paragraph

 

Emulating Jesus’ love

Family opens their home

One lost child, then another

Spirit reaches out, love roams

 

Called by Christ, door swings open

Wrapping His love around each

Two daughters bond as sisters

New lessons waken to teach

 

Family’s love grows daily

Centered around faith and trust

Christ’s joy filling each new page

Four lives together, robust

 

Future looking brighter now

Surrounded by parents’ love

Sisters linking together

Jesus smiles from above

 

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In the United States, the month of November recognizes the significance of adoption.  When a family reaches out to provide foster care for a deserving child, this is one of life’s most unselfish, blessed tasks.  As in the case of our family, this story opens life’s new chapter for our granddaughters, both adopted into our family.  

Refocusing Lens

From Philippians 4:5-6:  “ Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

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Like Apostle Paul

Facing dark trials

Acts of injustice

Covering each mile

 

Never complaining

Rejoicing with joy

Each of life’s moments

Shirking evil’s ploy

 

Eyes fixed on Jesus

Refocusing lens

Worry set aside

Walking with our friend

 

Troubles fall away

Accepting Christ’s Word

Life’s highway brightens

Seeing hope, unblurred

 

Hearts and minds open

Learning more each day

Jesus strengthens us

Kneeling now, let’s pray

 

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From Philippians 4:13:  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”