Messiah’s First Breath

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.”

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Ultimate grace appears

Sharing Father’s every love

Savior’s purity shall breathe

Holy Spirit waits above

 

Virgin mother gives birth

Revealing destiny’s sign

Emmanuel will walk with us

Glory forever divine

 

Out of darkness stirs light

Echoing heavenly choir

Witness Messiah’s first breath

Peace honors Father’s desires

 

Come all to Bethlehem

Embracing hope born this night

Answer to prayers arrives

Shepherds praise this newborn Knight

 

Brilliant star fills with joy

Hearing each mountaintop sing

Timeless pledges beam with truth

Salvation this Prince shall bring

 

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As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their eternal Savior, you are invited to listen to one of the season’s most stirring hymns, “All Come, All Ye Faithful.”

 

Alexander Maclaren Quote

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Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be diligent in the present.

From Galatians 2:19-20:  “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) was an Scottish-born pastor and Christian writer.

Monday Memories: River of Life

From Psalm 92:12-15:  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

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River of life, unceasing in its travels

Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel

 

From heavenly source, cascades living water

Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter

 

When ultimate challenges travel too high

Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally

 

Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home

Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs

 

Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen

Traveling waters, transparent with routine

 

Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace

Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase

 

Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline

Looking back, years richer than any gold mine

 

Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled

River of life, journey which only God builds

 

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Abraham Kuyper Quote

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In the total expanse of human life, there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, “That is Mine!”

From Romans 8:28:  “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) was a Dutch pastor, journalist, statesman, and Christian theologian.  He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905.

Love Unfolds (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

From Psalm 80:3:  “Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”

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From highest heavens

Father’s love descends

Destiny of hope

Bringing light, darkness bends

 

Witnessed from above

Father’s love restores

Salvation’s light waits

Rising tides come ashore

 

Aligned with David

Father’s love defines

Gospel breathes through One

Restoring light divine

 

Filled with angel’s joy

Father’s love unfolds

Prophecy fulfilled

Embracing light so bold

 

Virgin carries child

Father’s love reframes

Emmanuel’s light

Bearing peace in His name

 

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From Isaiah 7:13-14:  “Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David!  Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also?  Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.'”

One of the most stirring of hymns during Advent is “What Child is This.”  The lyrics were composed by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, in 1865.  The melody follows the familiar tune of “Greensleeves.”  Here is American singer, Vikki Carr, sharing her interpretation of this beloved song.

Brian Keepers Quote

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Resilience is not about achieving big, extraordinary things for God; it’s about living an ordinary life in a beautiful way, loving others as Christ has loved us.

From Ephesians 5:19-21:  “As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Brian Keepers is an American pastor who has served in the ministry for over 20 years.

D. L. Moody Quote

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A holy life will produce the deepest impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.

From Titus 2:7:  “In all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity.”

D. L. Moody (1837-1899), also known as Dwight Lyman Moody, was an American evangelist and Christian teacher.  He is frequently credited with inspiring modern mass revivalism.

Advent’s Journey

From Luke 1:46-47:  “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'”

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Advent’s journey

Following Savior’s star

Walking toward Bethlehem

Nurturing hope from afar

 

Advent’s patience

Sowing fresh seeds of hope

Harvesting heavenly peace

Grasping eternity’s rope

 

Advent’s witness

Wrapping faith in God’s Word

Waiting for hope to be born

Seeing prophecy unblurred

 

Advent’s treasures

Rising without fanfare

Revealing Messiah’s hope

Answering every prayer

 

Advent’s cleansing

Leaving darkness for light

Replacing man’s sins with hope

Raising redemption forthright

 

Advent’s glory

Sharing from hope above

Bearing world’s ultimate joy

Believing in Father’s love

 

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From Luke 1:54-55:  [Mary continues speaking] “‘He has come to the aid of His child Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.'”

Max Lucado Quote

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God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.

From Matthew 7:7-8:  “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.

Monday Memories: Ready and Able

From John 15:4-5: “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

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Sometimes in life, failure knocking

Darkest times, odds stacked against us

God always, ready and able

His greatness, witness Glory’s plus

 

Heaven’s Father never ceases

Life’s moments of weakness erased

God always, ready and able

Strengthened, with His sweetest foretaste

 

Abraham’s Sarah, doubts the Lord

Blessing comes with birth of a boy

God always, ready and able

His covenant, flowing with joy

 

Hebrew slaves hunger for freedom

Moses feels uncertain, with fear

God always, ready and able

Israel now freed, while He steers

 

Toiling and sweating in darkness

Accomplish little on our own

God always, ready and able

His hope and peace, faith’s firm backbone

 

Coming to the Lord, trusting Him

Follow His path, at life’s crossroads

God always, ready and able

Willing to lift burdensome loads

 

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From Matthew 11:28-30:  “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Originally published January, 2021.