Garden’s Fountain

From Song of Solomon 4:12:  “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.”

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Heavenly garden, locked and closed

Eternal fountain, sealed and dry

Searching, Salvation’s hidden key

Faithless works, blinding sinful eyes

 

Body, soul, spirit in despair

Soul without spirit, dead to sin

Body without soul, starkest death

Life’s spirit, missing God’s linchpin

 

Holy Spirit, always at work

Lasting, heart-filled renovations

Infused into life’s coldest heart

Building restored soul’s foundation

 

Christ choreographs love-filled hearts

Breathing life into each saved soul

Lighting our way to Salvation

Father’s love leads to Christ’s patrol

 

Arriving at Heaven’s garden

Receiving its eternal key

Fountain flows with living water

Come rest under Salvation’s tree

 

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From Song of Solomon 4:16:  “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind!  Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad.  Let my beloved come to His garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”

Marked by God

From Romans 12:1-2:  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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True Christians, marked by God

Born again, in Jesus Christ

 

Love always be genuine

Grasping all of life’s goodwill

Forsaking evil’s shadows

God’s presence never stands still

 

Cherishing one another

Actions bring honor to all

Serving Heavenly Father

Holy Spirit’s blessings call

 

Rejoicing, tomorrow’s hope

Enduring patience, breathing

Persevering in prayer

Christ builds durable sheathing

 

Assisting with others’ needs

Sharing kindness with many

Walk as brothers and sisters

Heaven’s home offers plenty

 

Stay noble, take life’s high road

Hungry rivals, feed with love

Live as one, in harmony

Good News comes from God above

 

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From Romans 12:19-21:  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’  No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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To flourish and grow, a person must be completely dependent on Christ for spiritual nutrition.  That involves drawing near to Him each morning through His Word and prayer and receiving His Grace all day long.

From Isaiah 55:6-7:  “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Love’s Precious Gift

From the words of author and poet, Ana Claudia Antunes:  “True love is like little roses; sweet, fragrant in small doses.”

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Montana to Ohio

God joins this woman and man

Love bringing His precious gift

As only He really can

 

Love begins with our Father

Nurturing words speak each day

Hand in hand, with each other

God’s grace and peace lights His way

 

Love matures, like fall’s harvest

Built upon God’s rock of trust

Daily hope breathes at sunrise

Walk under angel’s stardust

 

Love meaning more than just words

Through valleys to mountaintops

Joining as one, each ribbon

God’s love never, ever stops

 

God’s Word builds a cornerstone for love’s words and actions in our lives.

From Song of Solomon 8:6-7:  “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.  If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Purity is not innocence, it is much more.  Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual journey with God.  We have to grow in purity.

From Matthew 5:8:  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Mother Teresa Quote

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Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

From Colossians 3:12:  “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

With Us (Elfchen Series #45)

Serving

Called

By Christ

Servants to all

Graced as faithful witnesses

Christ-like

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Restoring

Waiting

For God

Resting with quietness

Lord’s refuge and strength

Patience

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Beholding

Goodness

Holy uprightness

Stands blessed Father

Steadfast love and faithfulness

Teaching

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Charles Stanley Quote

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What greater joy could we have than to see our sons and daughters walking with Jesus, not just in the early years but even after they grow up and leave home?

From Matthew 4:19-22:  “And He said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  As He went from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

Love Never Dims

From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

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Winter’s snow, cannot hide

Cherished love, deep inside

During darkness of night

Her love shines, always bright

 

Spring’s blossoms, love shares

Life’s newness, always cares

Nature wakens, each land

Her splendor, in God’s hands

 

Summer’s glowing spirit

Longing to walk near it

Love growing, day by day

Her grandeur comes this way

 

Autumn’s colored venue

Love fills each day’s menu

Landscape treasures each thrill

Her warmth hides winter’s chill

 

Seasons, patient with time

Faith grows, ever in rhyme

Righteous gifts, sing as hymns

Father’s love, never dims

 

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From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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Grace is positive and unconditional acceptance in spite of the other person.  Grace is a demonstration of love that is undeserved, unearned, and unpayable.

From Micah 6:8:  “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”