Love’s Transforming Scope (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

From Isaiah 7:14:  “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.”

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God’s plan of redemption

Viewed through love’s transforming scope

Faithful virgin shall bear His Son

Fulfilling flame of eternal hope

 

God’s warm heart offers love

Promised Prince at Heaven’s gate

Empty darkness shall fill with joy

Breathing from cold, humble stable’s fate

 

God’s peace nurtures man’s trust

Filled with mercy’s lasting grace

Sacred Word witnessed in Son’s flesh

Living waters share love to embrace

 

God’s creation speaks truth

Blessed news fills shepherds’ ears

Advent’s greatest virtue breathes love

Silencing night, morning’s sun appears

 

Light born in Bethlehem

Delivered hope sharing peace

Angels’ unbelievable joy

Praising Savior’s love, shall never cease

 

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Advent Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son.  Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas:  hope, peace, joy, and love.  Amen.

The final hymn of this Advent series comes from the inspiration of American pastor and Christian writer Phillips Brooks.  Recalling his 1865 trip to Bethlehem, he wrote the lyrics for “O Little Town of Bethlehem” in 1868.

Promise Fulfilled (Elfchen Series #230)

Devotion

Witnessed

Discipleship’s faith

Always take courage

Christ offers His peace

Love

Vision

Trusted

Father above

Rising above darkness

Christ’s light delivers peace

Hope

Gratitude

Seasoned

Spirit descends

Righteousness fills journey

Guided by Christ’s peace

Joy

 

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Common Ground

From Matthew 5:1:  “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  And He began to speak and taught them.”

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Father’s Word becomes flesh

Now living among man

Gentleness of potter’s hands

Fulfilling promised plan

 

Truth found in Savior’s voice

Faithfulness, heaven bound

United as one Body

Traversing common ground

 

Touched by Messiah’s grace

Forgiveness now descends

Chains of sin breaking away

Finding hope, darkness ends

 

Christ’s lesson plans share love

Hillside offers classroom

“Sermon on the Mount” teaches

Sowing faith, seeds shall bloom      

 

Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ

His peace shall never end

Always with man in spirit

Blessing each knee to bend

 

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From Matthew 28:20:  “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many”

Uncertainty Arrives

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Turning life’s empty page

Optimism running dry

Uncertainty arrives

Shifting darkness stands by

 

Flickering light of thoughts

Mind never seeking rest

Sporadic, impatient

Inviting nightly guest

 

Dreaming, story unfolds

Deeper into its script

Narrative continues

Typing empty transcript

 

Soothing spirit walks in

Please, please never depart

Stardust now raining down

Replacing mind with heart

 

Waking at early dawn

Empty page, still waiting

Writer’s pen left untouched

Seeing light, dictating

 

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Visions Awakened (Haiku Series #298)

Imagination Stirred

Immersed in reading

Daily trips to quiet spot—

Catalyst for dreams

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Future Foretold

Lifetime of learning

Reaching for another sip—

Fountain filled with dreams

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Stars Fulfilled

Climbing one more tree

No mountain ever too high—

Hope sown in each dream

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Sustaining Fortitude (Elfchen Series #215)

Following Jesus

Fulfilled

With confidence

Walking by faith

Light of righteousness leads

Trust

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Renewing Spirit

Encouraged

With assurance

Faith’s trusted steps

Perseverance carries hope forward

Endurance

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Reaching Mountaintop

Overwhelmed

With adversity

Grace transforms darkness

Faithful outlook trusts Jesus

Triumphant

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Faithful Headwaters

From Isaiah 41:1:  “Listen to Me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.”

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Waking to morning’s silence

Praying to Father above

Faithful headwaters of strength

Renewing hope, filled with love

 

Energizing day’s journey

Tapping into Father’s grace

Coastlines reassured of strength

Offering peace to embrace

 

Joining in togetherness

Reciting from Father’s Word

River’s swift transforming strength

Navigating from what’s heard

 

Waiting with patience of Job

Seeing now through Father’s love

Each tide arrives with His strength

Restoring joy from above

 

Leaving wilderness for good

Fulfilling Father’s delight

Hope’s thirst quenched from water’s strength

Rising Son harbors faith’s light

 

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From Isaiah 40:31:  “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

John Greenleaf Whittier Quote

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God’s providence is not blind, but full of eyes.

From Isaiah 46:8-10:  “Remember this and consider; recall it to mind, you transgressors; remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the outcome from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My purpose shall stand,’ and I will fulfill My intention.”

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an American poet.  His Quaker background entrusted him to advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Charles Stanley Quote

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On our own, we can accomplish nothing.  But with God, we have access to power beyond our comprehension.

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.”

Mercy’s Tender Fields (Elfchen Series #208)

Timeless

Grace

Unconditionally planted

Rising with purpose

Faith’s emptiness now fed

Fulfilled

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Bountiful

Faith’s

Seeds scattered

Night and day

Growing fully, then ripening

Harvest

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Harmony

Sowing

Tiniest seed

Maturing into fullness

Faith nurtured by Spirit

Righteousness

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The German hymn, “We Plow the Field and Scatter,” was written by Matthias Claudius in 1782.  The lyrics were set to music in 1800 by Johann A. P. Schulz. The hymn was translated into English in 1861 by Montgomery Campbell.  

As you listen to this song, focus on the lyrics as they appear on the screen.  They add a meaningful visual image to this series of poems.  The hymn’s piano melody is played by Mary Munson.