Destiny’s Greatest Love

From Romans 5:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Observing man’s life without light

Sending grace from heaven to earth

Darkness to be vanquished outright

Harboring Spirit finds its berth

 

Witnessing Savior’s final task

Hanging from deadly, Roman tree

Filled with anguish, mercy unmasks

Taking man’s place, evil now flees

 

Sharing destiny’s greatest love

Bending God’s will upon one Son

Redemption designed from above

Breathing His last, mission now done

 

Seeing heaven’s eternal light

Descending upon empty tomb

Victory over sin takes flight

Overcoming enemy’s doom

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Romans 5:8-9:  “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.  Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God.”

Living Reflections (Haiku Series #262)

Change

Shifting paradigm

Lifetime of transformation—

Human poles reversed

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

Time

Sensing empty tank

Journey’s destiny now waits—

Pause life’s clock, refuel

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Discovery

Adding one more thought

Searching for life’s unusual—

Never pigeon-holed

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Guiding Star

From Matthew 2:10-12:  “When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they knelt down and paid Him homage.  Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Guiding star rises above

Magi journey on in peace

Leading toward Bethlehem

Seeking King, faith’s centerpiece

 

Destined to shepherd with love

Worshipping Almighty God

Heralded to spread righteousness

Unmasking evil’s façade

 

Bearing gifts, rejoicing praise

All fitting of promised King

Bending knees at sight of child

Adoring this wondrous thing

 

Overwhelmed with lasting joy

Seeing both mother and child

Offered gold, frankincense, myrrh

Exchanging peace, reconciled

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

With lyrics crafted by noted English hymnwriter, William Chatterton Dix, “As with Gladness Men of Old” offers a marvelous image of the Epiphany message.  Dix is best-remembered for writing the lyrics to “What Child is This?”

Innocent Dreams

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com

Sleeping beneath midnight stars

Dreaming of faraway lands

Tracing desktop’s spinning globe

Traveling with comfort’s hands

 

Searching for bold adventures

Filling imagination

Revolving world comes to rest

Discovering location

 

Boarding fastest clipper ship

Setting sail, freedom ahead

Lighting up destiny’s route

Leaving comfortable bed

 

Traversing treacherous seas

Sailing toward setting sun

Scanning distant horizon

Anticipating more fun

 

Pulsating alarm intrudes

Crashing through innocent dreams

Waking for Monday’s school day

Leaving journey in midstream

 

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com

Actions Never by Chance

From John 10:10-11:  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

Father almighty

Designing redemption’s plan

Actions never by chance

Good Shepherd, faith’s steady helmsman

 

Shepherd’s faith searches

Teaching His flock, hear My voice

Actions never by chance

Heavenly angels shall rejoice

 

Angelic choir sings

Rising from cold, empty tomb

Actions never by chance

Redeemer’s grace faithfully blooms

 

Redeemer sheds blood

Forgiving each transgression

Actions never by chance

Father blesses without question

 

Father’s greatest love

Offering His only Son

Actions never by chance

Forever, His will shall be done

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

From John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Shadows of Darkness

Photo by Andreas Fickl on Pexels.com

Encroaching darkness

Day slipping away

Mystery returns

Sunset turning gray

 

Ocean’s darkened shore

Tide rolling away

Ship pilots alone

Jagged rocky bay

 

Forest’s darkened sounds

Nature dreams away

Each scary echo

Owl’s nightly buffet

 

Time waits in darkness

Future turns away

Hourglass still broken

Quiet on Broadway

 

Street corner’s darkness

Music plays away

Opera’s phantom

Night’s eerie screenplay

 

Ship sails darkened seas

Wind turns peace away

Distress now gathers

Storm’s narrow causeway

 

Darkened stories speak

Silence rides away

Headless horseman roams

Midnight’s getaway

 

Shadows of darkness

Now turning away

Destiny unknown

Sunrise marks new day

 

Photo by Cu00e1tia Matos on Pexels.com

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher.  He was a leading voice in America’s transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.

George Bernard Shaw Quotes

Photo by Wanderwithhidayat on Pexels.com

I’m not a teacher:  only a fellow-traveler of whom you asked the way.  I pointed ahead–ahead of myself as well as you.

After all, the wrong road always leads somewhere.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish-born playwright, critic, and political activist.

 

Fueling Spiritual Needs

From Ephesians 1:3:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

Photo by Being.the.traveller on Pexels.com

Daily journey, full of needs

Holy God sees every one

With Living Bread, Father feeds

Faith’s light among us, His Son

 

Fueling spiritual needs

Son infusing them and more

Opening each heart, He seeds

Timely mercy, faith cared for

 

Adopted children of God

Trusted steps reach freedom’s place

Trinity, faith’s new tripod

Bestowing glorious grace

 

Forgiving life’s trespasses

Savior’s blood setting man free

Viewing faith through new glasses

From Calvary’s bended knee

 

Trusted insight, wisdom’s light

Destiny’s faith walks ahead

Spirit remains always bright

Leading to Heaven’s homestead

 

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

From Ephesians 3:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Charles Stanley Quote

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com

Our Savior loves us perfectly because He’s fully God and fully man–powerful and compassionate.

From Luke 22:69-70:  ‘”But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’  All of them asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God?’  He said to them, ‘You say that I am.'”