Monday Memories: Just in Case

From James 4:6:  “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”

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Our Creator’s divine plan

Offers fullest, living grace

Giving patience, just in case

When running life’s anxious race

 

Our Lord shares forgiveness

Relationships need healing

Forgiving sin, just in case

When each day seems freewheeling

 

Heaven’s Father, sharing peace

Imperfect lives needing change

Trimming each branch, just in case

When roaming lost on God’s range

 

God shares His timely wisdom

From Heaven, He sees us fall

Touching our hand, just in case

When we need His hope-filled call

 

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From John 15:1-2:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Trusted Patience

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll:  “When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives.”

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Surrounded by darkness

Human perspective fades

Thinking offers no choices

Feeling betrayed

 

Trusted patience in God

His fields of green shall sprout

Taking delight in His peace

Erasing doubt

 

Committed to God’s way

Today’s hope starts anew

Knowing mercy share His love

Transforming view

 

Witnessed truth in God’s Word

Calvary’s light unfolds

Rewiring faith’s new outlook

Praying tenfold

 

Rescued by Savior’s grace

Redemption now deploys

Forgiving, eternal love

Responding joy

 

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From Psalm 37:23-24:  “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

Maturity in Faith (Elfchen Series #281)

Truth Embraced

Witnessing

Risen Savior

Salvation’s eternal light

Sharing heavenly Good News

Discipleship

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Pride Emptied

Bending

Another knee

Toward Calvary’s light

Heaven descends upon earth

Humility

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Mercy Received

Cascading

From heavens

Glory’s blessed light

Filled with Spirit’s grace

Peace

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Messiah’s First Breath

From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

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Ultimate grace appears

Sharing Father’s every love

Savior’s purity shall breathe

Holy Spirit waits above

 

Virgin mother gives birth

Revealing destiny’s sign

Emmanuel will walk with us

Glory forever divine

 

Out of darkness stirs light

Echoing heavenly choir

Witness Messiah’s first breath

Peace honors Father’s desires

 

Come all to Bethlehem

Embracing hope born this night

Answer to prayers arrives

Shepherds praise this newborn Knight

 

Brilliant star fills with joy

Hearing each mountaintop sing

Timeless pledges beam with truth

Salvation this Prince shall bring

 

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As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their eternal Savior, you are invited to listen to one of the season’s most stirring hymns, “All Come, All Ye Faithful.”

 

Interactions (Haiku Series #357)

Just Couldn’t Sleep

Night wakens sweet tooth

Harvesting freezer’s ice cream—

Sundae anyone?

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Oops!

 Backyard football game

Unleashing perfect spiral—

Kitchen window scores

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Love’s Warmth

Snowball fight pauses

Hot chocolate with cookies—

Mother born to lead

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Monday Memories: River of Life

From Psalm 92:12-15:  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

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River of life, unceasing in its travels

Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel

 

From heavenly source, cascades living water

Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter

 

When ultimate challenges travel too high

Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally

 

Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home

Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs

 

Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen

Traveling waters, transparent with routine

 

Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace

Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase

 

Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline

Looking back, years richer than any gold mine

 

Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled

River of life, journey which only God builds

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Love Unfolds (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

From Psalm 80:3:  “Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”

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From highest heavens

Father’s love descends

Destiny of hope

Bringing light, darkness bends

 

Witnessed from above

Father’s love restores

Salvation’s light waits

Rising tides come ashore

 

Aligned with David

Father’s love defines

Gospel breathes through One

Restoring light divine

 

Filled with angel’s joy

Father’s love unfolds

Prophecy fulfilled

Embracing light so bold

 

Virgin carries child

Father’s love reframes

Emmanuel’s light

Bearing peace in His name

 

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From Isaiah 7:13-14:  “Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David!  Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also?  Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.'”

One of the most stirring of hymns during Advent is “What Child is This.”  The lyrics were composed by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, in 1865.  The melody follows the familiar tune of “Greensleeves.”  Here is American singer, Vikki Carr, sharing her interpretation of this beloved song.

One Journey (Elfchen Series #280)

Hope Reframed

Sharing

Gospel’s truth

Simple fishing boat

Serving as Christ’s pulpit

Witnessing

Grace Welcomed

Witnessing

Spirit’s presence

Life’s next appointment

Jesus will be there

Teaching

Peace Fulfilled

Teaching

Light embraced

Proclaimed in Scripture

Father loves His Son

Sharing

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This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Kitchen Table’s Witness

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Farm’s eternal footprint

Memories held tight

From each generation

Nurturing what’s right

 

Kitchen table’s witness

Writes each diary page

Chronicles history

Filling life’s rain gauge

 

Precious hope’s future link

Tough times overcome

History comes alive

Leaving each bread crumb

 

Confidence builds each spring

Another crop sown

Expected fall harvest

Paying back bank loan

 

Farmer’s faithful outlook

Every season’s birth

Tomorrow remains bright

Blessing Mother Earth

 

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Advent’s Journey

From Luke 1:46-47:  “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'”

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Advent’s journey

Following Savior’s star

Walking toward Bethlehem

Nurturing hope from afar

 

Advent’s patience

Sowing fresh seeds of hope

Harvesting heavenly peace

Grasping eternity’s rope

 

Advent’s witness

Wrapping faith in God’s Word

Waiting for hope to be born

Seeing prophecy unblurred

 

Advent’s treasures

Rising without fanfare

Revealing Messiah’s hope

Answering every prayer

 

Advent’s cleansing

Leaving darkness for light

Replacing man’s sins with hope

Raising redemption forthright

 

Advent’s glory

Sharing from hope above

Bearing world’s ultimate joy

Believing in Father’s love

 

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From Luke 1:54-55:  [Mary continues speaking] “‘He has come to the aid of His child Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.'”