Stepping Into Light

From Romans 13:11-12:  “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.  Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

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Turning away from temptation’s path

Following God’s Holy, righteous road

Transforming self into Christ’s image

Experiencing His love, bestowed

 

Breathing, yet lost in evil’s darkness

Hiding in shame, past sinful landscape

Reaching for Salvation’s lasting grace

Wearing armor of light, faith reshapes

 

Sharing His Father’s Word, Christ teaches

Loving one another, sharing peace

Witnessing His greatest commandment

Living with openness, life’s new lease

 

Leaving His advocate, Christ assures

Coming Holy Spirit, lifts each life

Overcoming sin’s flesh-filled desires

Growing in submission, without strife

 

Offering path to new life, Christ comes

Forsaking life’s bold truth, darkness flees

Walking in faith, stepping into light

Remaining steadfast, in what He sees

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When we rely on Him [God] instead of ourselves, He produces godly desires within us, empowers obedience, and transforms our character into Christ’s likeness.”

Lenten Walk (Elfchen Series #49)

Hope

Journey

Faith’s steps

Trusting in God

His love shall always

Sustain

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Mercy

Surrender

False notions

Accept Savior Jesus

True love frees us

Salvation

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Joy

Jesus

With us

Sorrow lifted away

Reborn in our baptism

Messiah

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His Right Hand

From Psalm 139:9-10:  “If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast.”

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Story of doomed community

Losing its way, darkness surrounds

Hunger fueling gang violence

Crying out, injustice abounds

 

Life crushed in spirit, wandering

Wrecking faith, living defeated

Racism walks with extremism

Bringing sin’s death, feeling cheated

 

From dark despair, running away

Running to us, God with His grace

Love and mercy fill empty cups

Accepting His gift, let’s embrace

 

God’s right hand covers this land

Striking out envy, hate, and greed

Spirit finds us lost in life’s fog

Plowing under each sin-filled seed

 

Chaos no longer shatters dreams

Offering true, forgiving peace

God’s right hand, never grows weary

Lifting up lives, shall never cease

 

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From Psalm 89:13-14:  “You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, high Your right hand.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.”

Robert Schuller Quote

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Faith is the courage to face reality with hope.

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.'”

Christian Guideposts (Elfchen Series #48)

Growing

Actions

Strengthen faith

Praise in worship

Bible study and prayer

Maturity

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Reshaping

Love

None greater

Taught by Jesus

Transforming us today . . . and

Forever

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Living

Beginnings

Life’s quest

Dust we are

Dust we shall return

Endings

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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.

Grace Taking Root

From John 1:16-17:  “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

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Best and worst of times

God’s grace always chimes

 

Loving and caring

Promises bearing

 

God remains at hand

Faith and hope shall stand

 

Seeking empty hearts

Molding time’s restart

 

Life’s melody plays

Offer Him our praise

 

God’s grace taking root

Peace filling love’s flute

 

Gloom and doom appear

Allow Him to steer

 

God’s love shows He cares

Guiding day’s affairs

 

Hope’s beacon awaits

In His hands, our fate

 

Witness as His child

Life no longer wild

 

Forgiveness and love

Shared from God above

 

God’s grace shapes life’s frame

Praise His Holy name 

 

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From Lamentations 3:22-23:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

This poem is inspired from some past entries in my “Take-Aways” journal.  Each entry is based upon something read and studied in a morning devotional.

Single Timeless Moment

From Psalm 90:1-2:  “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

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Life’s amazing blessings

God’s Book of Life unfolds

Single timeless moment

Richer than any gold

 

Man and woman find love

Fragile lives share restart

Single timeless moment

Merging into one heart

 

Forsaken child needs home

Foster parents reach out

Single timeless moment

Love sows, ready to sprout

 

Student facing failure

Here comes love’s helping hand

Single timeless moment

Teacher pulls from quicksand

 

Family in crisis

Unemployed, dreams stand cold

Single timeless moment

Job opens, God beholds

 

Disaster strikes city

Many answer God’s call

Single timeless moment

Kindness stands ever tall

 

Sin’s temptation knocking

Christian brother steps up

Single timeless moment

Christ refills empty cup

 

Darkening, hopeless world

Father’s infinite grace

Single timeless moment

Love reaches out, embrace

 

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From Genesis 9:11-13:  “‘I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’  God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:  I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.'”

Promises

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When we trust God to provide the stamina for the work He calls us to do, we are clothed in power.”

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Walking these roads for so long

Sin short-circuits dusty steps

Trust’s gauge running on empty

Darkness knocking at doorstep

 

Facing life’s tall shortcomings

Empty promises sell short

Holy Spirit calling now

Time to seek Father’s support

 

Hearing faithful promises

His Spirit brings fortitude

Truly believe, seeking Him

Bread of Life, God’s daily food

 

Turning to Jesus Christ

Living water quenches thirst

Savior clothes with grace-filled love

His promises, always first

 

Strengthening life’s weaknesses

Holy promises bring light

Eyes open, hearts enlightened

New life trusts in Father’s might

 

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From Luke 24:49:  “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Robert Schuller Quote

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The good news is that the bad news can be turned into good news when you change your attitude.

From James 1:2-4:  “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Buried Faith

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, A. W. Tozer:  “Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”

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Winter’s lost, snow-covered faith

Father’s presence, long frozen

Buried faith, under deep drifts

Lack of any hope, blows in

 

Christ melts each frozen glacier

Ice turns to living water

Holy Spirit flows with hope

God’s Word molds, as faith’s potter

 

Spring arrives, God’s Holy love

Maturing into life’s fruit

Flowering trees, witness faith

Hope emerging, each new shoot

 

Resurrection brings new life

Hungry faith springs with fresh growth

Spirit warms forgotten hearts

Faith then hope, Christ unearths both

 

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From Proverbs 3:3-4:  “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people.”