Shall be born for us
Our Wonderful Counselor—
Sharing endless peace
Walking in darkness
Witnessing a wondrous light—
Rejoice! God in flesh
Born in Bethlehem
Uphold justice, righteousness—
Mighty Prince of Peace
Christ has not abandoned us in our storms, but instead is intimately involved, using them for our ultimate benefit.
From Matthew 14:22-24: “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.”
From Isaiah 40:3-5: “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'”
Earth filled with gloom and doom
Sinful and fallen race
World empty of joy’s light
Love transforms from God’s grace
Love comes from the Father
Love bringing God to earth
Love for our salvation
Love born in His Son’s birth
Angels proclaim great news
Majestic, glorious
Never-ending peace sent
God’s love victorious
Christ delivers God’s love
Replacing life’s darkness
Silence and confusion
Overcoming starkness
Compassion sharing hope
Shepherd gathers His lambs
Lighting the world with love
Grace breaking sin-filled dams
Sunrise leads to Jesus
His Kingdom never ends
Rejoice in His Glory
Rising Son’s love now mends
From Ezekiel 34:15-16: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”
This final poem completes the series posted on each Sunday during Advent. If you missed any of the previous Advent-inspired poems, here are the links:
From Matthew 14:22-24: “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.”
Life’s storms intensify
Overcoming with fear
Facing each hostile sea
Darkness, nothing seems clear
Spiritual squalls come
Turning world upside down
Battered by strongest gales
Fearing each wave’s knockdown
Christ’s love intercedes
Praying hands, clay’s potter
Mountains to heavens
Walking on calm water
Jesus never leaves us
Storms quietly subside
His blessed protection
Lasting, sovereign guide
Fear not, faith’s spark ablaze
Christ’s true light boldly seeds
Following Son of God
Hope ripens from His deeds
From Matthew 14:25-27: “And early in the morning He came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”
As believers, we seldom call ourselves “servants of Christ,” but that is exactly what the Lord tells us to be.
From Matthew 20:26-28: “It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
From Luke 2:10-11: “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
Holy anticipation fills nightfall’s air
Preparing hearts, prophets’ promises fulfilled
Experiencing moments of boundless joy
Heavenly Father’s love, sharing grace to build
With life’s struggles, faith deepens in reflection
Celebrating the Messiah’s coming birth
Singing with host of angels, hearts fill with joy
Hope and peace, descending from heaven to earth
From above comes Immanuel, God with us
Lighting His way, never ceasing to cherish
Witnessing life’s true meaning, rejoice in joy
Love rekindles earth’s lamp, never to perish
Brightest stars illuminate earth’s darkest times
Fulfilling salvation’s journey, God’s love brings
Lighting Shepherd’s candle, delivering joy
Angelic hosannas, forever shall sing
From Philippians 4:4-5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”
From Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Love-filling peace coming to earth
Saving us from darkness and sin
Messiah’s birth bringing shalom
Born to us, root of Jesse’s kin
Precious child of peace shall be born
Ruling with righteousness, indeed
Heaven’s Wonderful Counselor
Prince of Peace proclaims Father’s creed
Glory to God, highest heaven
Peace sharing goodwill amongst man
Worshipping, now as one body
Trusting the way, His divine plan
Exchanging weakness for God’s strength
Blessed will be the peacemakers
Forever called children of God
Sowing peace, Holy Caretaker
Light the way into our future
Adoring child delivers peace
Born the hallowed King of Angels
Hope, peace, and joy shall never cease
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.”
Christ is like a river that is continually flowing. There are always fresh supplies of water coming from the fountain-head, so that a man may live by it and be supplied with water all his life.
From Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
From Isaiah 64:8: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Spiritual homelessness
Forcing hope’s darkest setbacks
With every passing day
Time stops, frozen in its tracks
How long will God stand silent?
Fading lives, like autumn’s leaf
Among earth’s darkest shadows
Hope’s flames, drowned by a sly thief
Expectations growing dim
Praying, Savior’s light to come
God’s love, molds life’s foundations
Our hope, plays its steady drum
Coming Spiritual light
Transforming power from God
Iniquities to be paid
Shepherd’s hope, His staff and rod
Hopeful world watches and waits
Appealing to God, save us
Hungry flock’s burdens cry out
God remains faithful, hear us
From Psalm 80:1-3: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”
The Christian season of Advent begins with this final Sunday of November. For myself, this will bring a time of meditation and prayer . . . filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ, the Messiah.
The Christian’s greatest goal is to be like Christ.
From 2 Corinthians 8:21: “For we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others.”
Big Sky Buckeye 