Redeeming Love

From Isaiah 40:10-11:  “See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”

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Father’s passionate plan

His mercy offers one way

Defeating darkness of sin

Sheep shall no longer stray

 

Father’s earthly descent

Love bears mankind’s salvation

Shepherd leads those lost to peace

Faith grows hope’s foundation

 

Father’s redeeming love

Unconditional with grace

Calvary bearing man’s debts

Resurrection’s birthplace

 

Father’s ultimate deed

Tomorrow offering light

Spirit leading as Christ’s guide

Transgressions colored white

 

Father’s forgiving breath

Savior’s search will never end

Wayward return to His voice

Disciples, He now sends

 

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From Hebrews 13:20-21:  “Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do His will, as He works among us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.”

Mercy’s Enlightenment (Elfchen Series #256)

Guidance

Following

Spirit’s truth

Preparing faith’s way

Lighted bridge to Father

Jesus

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Compassion

Jesus

Twin commandments

Love thy Father

Love thy fellow man

Grace

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Redemption

Grace

Sinner’s salvation

Paying every debt

Savior bears man’s cross

Forgiveness

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Filled with Time

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Another morning rises

Hourglass filled with time

Adventures waiting

Spirit’s gentle touch leaves nighttime

 

Another wakening heart

Hourglass filled with time

Emotions sailing

Distant dreams surface to bell’s chime

 

Another page opens up

Hourglass filled with time

Happiness smiling

Nature’s radiance sure to climb

 

Another wilderness road

Hourglass filled with time

Transitions breathing

Tasting sweetest life, in its prime

 

Tomorrow naps in shadows

Hourglass filled with time

Hopefulness praising

Unending day, please no bedtime

 

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Freedom’s Eternal Road

From Isaiah 42:6-7:  “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

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Blindness to Gospel’s light

Following enemy’s false word

Nonbelievers walk in darkness

Tomorrow remains blurred

 

Alone in wilderness

Searching for trusted pathway home

God sends His righteous light to guide

Where Spirit always roams

 

Sheep never forgotten

Coming to Shepherd’s open gate

Mercy’s always forgiving light

Witness tomorrow’s fate

 

Vision no longer blind

Finding light’s genuine code

Faithful covenant sealed with love

Freedom’s eternal road

 

Savior’s voice heard from high

Shining through darkness, Heaven’s light

God’s glory seen in face of Christ

Salvation dressed in white

 

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From 2 Corinthians 4:6:  “For it is the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Subtle Reflections (Haiku Series #332)

Fresh Day

Shadows’ mysteries

Night’s sobering distortions—

Dawn’s reality

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Outlook’s Transitions

False reality

Kaleidoscope’s fading hues—

Returning to gray

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Timely Reminder

Steps without traction

Searching for reality—

Perhaps, turn day’s page

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Monday Memories: Crying Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

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Darkness shields life’s guiding light

Causing worries to take flight

 

Life’s trials, too much to bear

Ask, who really seems to care?

 

World seems to be crashing down

Running dry, emptiness drowns

 

Words and actions, meek and weak

Ask, who shall one run to seek?

 

Vacant wilderness, so dark

Crying out, life’s question mark

 

Heart and soul, feeling hollow

Ask, what voice shall one follow?

 

Voice answers, restoring hopes

Searching from distant slopes

 

Good Shepherd, looking for one

Saving His flock, one by one

 

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From John 10:14-16:  “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Wisdom’s Heart

From Ephesians 5:15-16:  “Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Wisdom’s heart

Filling with light

More than being smart

Spirit’s peace comes each night

 

Wisdom waits

God’s strength shall come

Patience’s blessed fate

Marching to heavens’ drum

 

Wisdom’s trust

Shared from above

Faith rises from dust

Calvary bears Christ’s love

 

Wisdom thrives

Apply God’s truth

Choices breathe alive

Life’s depth replaces youth

 

Wisdom’s grace

Righteousness roams

Salvation’s birthplace

Heaven’s redeeming home

 

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From Ecclesiastes 10:10:  “If the iron is blunt and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted, but wisdom helps one to succeed.”

Savior’s Light (Elfchen Series #255)

Trusted

Hearing

False promises

Enemy in darkness

Truth no longer hidden

Jesus

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Committed

Embracing

Faithful whisper

Leaving transgression’s darkness

Showered with daily grace

Jesus

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Engaged

Witnessing

Mercy’s forgiveness

Redemption’s Holy covenant

Hope transforms all darkness

Jesus

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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.

Wilderness Backpack

Central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park (June, 2020).

Hidden in forest’s depths

Creator’s kingdom reigns

Moving with quiet breath

Feeding nature’s unbroken chain

 

Spontaneous landscape

Creator’s rhythm sings

Breathing beauty’s freshness

Witnessing all that summer brings

 

Trees towering above

Creator fills each scene

Overflowing with peace

Reaching to heavens, grass so green

 

Tranquil waters roam free

Creator’s grace gives back

Nourishing youngest plants

Equipping wilderness backpack

 

Busy traffic drives by

Immune to forest’s sigh

Missing treasures within

Creator frames sunset’s goodbye

 

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Faith Nourished

From Habakkuk 2:4:  “Look at the proud!  Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.”

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Coming to worship

God inviting all

Praising Son above

Each saint finds landfall

 

Praying in earnest

God hears every Word

Lasting grace comes forth

Truth’s faithful password

 

Walking righteous path

God light’s trusted way

Raising up His Son

Faith nourished each day

 

Singing every psalm

God opens each door

Welcoming with peace

Hope ready to soar

 

Loving with each breath

God’s will never fails

Blessing at sunrise

Spirit set to sail

 

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From 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.   It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.”