Night vanishes
Dreaming of promised grace
Unfolded from moon’s light
Gratitude’s place
Morning’s darkness
Penetrating with cold
Surrounded without light
Yet, feeling bold
New day begins
Feeling comfort’s sunrise
Thrusted forward with light
Spirit’s franchise
Joy warms each heart
Breathing with renewed hope
Fulfilled with newfound light
View through life’s scope
Tomorrow waits
Drafting another page
Engaged with freshened light
Truth’s conscious stage
From Luke 18:31-34: “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the gentiles, and He will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.’ But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what He said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
Only God above
Could design this script
Most wondrous love
Salvation’s light
Son of Man descends
Life among Gentiles
God’s love extends
Redemption’s flight
God shapes faith’s outcome
Through Christ’s crushed body
Truth’s kingdom comes
Fulfillment breathes
Tomorrow’s new hope
Inscribed on Christ’s heart
Viewed through God’s scope
Ultimate joy
God’s glorious plan
Covenant’s fresh voice
Debts paid for man
Christ sheds His blood
Most wondrous love glows
From heavenly seas
God’s peace shall flow
Purpose defined
First published in 1811, “What Wondrous Love Is This” shares a traditional American folk hymn (author unknown) which expresses the deep wonder of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love. You are invited to listen to the Concordia Choir from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.”
From 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.“
Billy Graham (1918-2018) was an American Christian evangelist.
It takes time for an acorn to turn into an oak, but the oak is already implied in the acorn.
We get such a kick out of looking forward to pleasures and rushing ahead to meet them that we can’t slow down enough to enjoy them when they come.
Alan Watts (1915-1973) was a British-born writer and philosopher.
Transplanted
Children’s transfusion
Grace opens heart to transmit—
Love flowing outward
Committed
Trust joining twin hearts
Husband shares love with his bride—
Both rising with peace
Fulfilled
Love’s innocence shines
Decades can never erase—
Hearts forged together
We are never more fulfilled than when our longing for God is met by His presence in our lives.
From Psalm 16:11: “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Billy Graham (1918-2018) was an American Christian evangelist.
Submission’s
Trusted journey
Transformation through Jesus
Envisioning beyond man’s world
Resilience
Eternity’s
Treasured peace
Reconciliation through Jesus
Receiving mercy’s forgiving breath
Fulfillment
Truth’s
Dedicated light
Redemption through Jesus
Welcoming every resolute step
Endurance
Family’s
Earthly realm
Born of virgin
Son of skilled carpenter
Jesus
Destiny’s
Heavenly presence
Light replaces darkness
Fulfillment of God’s Word
Savior
Resurrection’s
Unselfish love
Rising with forgiveness
Shattering chains of sin
Messiah
From Luke 2:8-11: “Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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.'”
Humble shepherds
Tending flocks at night
Angel sharing great news
Shining from Bethlehem’s light
Minds awaken
Praising with great joy
Hearts filling with wonder
Witnessing love in this boy
Promise fulfilled
Giving thanks to God
Savior comes to rescue
Raising hope, at last unthawed
Darkness conquered
Forgiving man’s sin
Forever, King of Kings
Locking redemption’s linchpin
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
From Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
God hears cries of anguish
Transmitting hope from above
Heaven’s spirit of joy
Assigning Bethlehem’s love
Out of darkness, light comes
Raising everlasting peace
Filled with harmony’s joy
Granting New Covenant’s lease
Patience fills righteous hearts
Waiting, Savior shall arise
His birth will bring great joy
Shepherding salvation’s prize
Virgin filled with Spirit
Bearing Father’s only Son
Grace reaches out with joy
Praising all that will be done
Prophecy’s truthful sight
Sharing Father’s divine plan
Hearts nourished with His joy
Kneeling before Son of Man
From Psalm 146:8-9: “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin.”
