Redeeming Love

From Isaiah 40:10-11:  “See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”

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Father’s passionate plan

His mercy offers one way

Defeating darkness of sin

Sheep shall no longer stray

 

Father’s earthly descent

Love bears mankind’s salvation

Shepherd leads those lost to peace

Faith grows hope’s foundation

 

Father’s redeeming love

Unconditional with grace

Calvary bearing man’s debts

Resurrection’s birthplace

 

Father’s ultimate deed

Tomorrow offering light

Spirit leading as Christ’s guide

Transgressions colored white

 

Father’s forgiving breath

Savior’s search will never end

Wayward return to His voice

Disciples, He now sends

 

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From Hebrews 13:20-21:  “Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do His will, as He works among us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.”

Monday Memories: Crying Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

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Darkness shields life’s guiding light

Causing worries to take flight

 

Life’s trials, too much to bear

Ask, who really seems to care?

 

World seems to be crashing down

Running dry, emptiness drowns

 

Words and actions, meek and weak

Ask, who shall one run to seek?

 

Vacant wilderness, so dark

Crying out, life’s question mark

 

Heart and soul, feeling hollow

Ask, what voice shall one follow?

 

Voice answers, restoring hopes

Searching from distant slopes

 

Good Shepherd, looking for one

Saving His flock, one by one

 

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From John 10:14-16:  “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Answers Received

From Psalm 34:4:  “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

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Climbing faith’s gentle mountain

Every step blessed by God

Praising Him at all times

Life’s outlook no longer flawed

 

Seeking Spirit’s faithful light

Answers received from God

Bringing righteousness home

Love shatters evil’s facade

 

Escaping tomorrow’s fears

Never alone with God

Trusting His sacred Word

Hope’s frozen landscape now thawed

 

Feelings of loneliness cease

Heart warmed with love of God

Saving self from darkness

Goodness walks upon fresh sod

 

Turning to heaven above

Eyes now focused on God

Hearing faithful Spirit

Redemption forever shod

 

Finding joy on His mountain

Peace fulfills hope in God

Walking amongst faith’s saints

Shepherd guides with staff and rod

 

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From Psalm 34:22:  “The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

Phillips Brooks Quote

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For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all; no palace too great, no cottage too small.

From Matthew 2:6:  “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was an American pastor and Christian author.  He was remembered for his charismatic preaching as well as writing the lyrics of the beloved Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

Faith’s Tomorrow

From Psalm 142:3-4:  “When my spirit is faint, You know my way.  In the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me.  Look on my right hand and see:  there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.”

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Floundering at life’s darkest end

Feeling trust in patience sinking

Plunging ever deeper . . . deeper

Faith’s emptiness never shrinking

 

Wandering away from Shepherd

Seeing only darkness ahead

Feeling last breath of hope fading

Faith missing blessed, daily bread

 

Following one more false promise

Running into final dead end

Finding lost anchor’s solid rock

Faith at last, refuses to bend

 

Rising with hope’s trusted beacon

Lighting way on Emmaus Road

Praying without ceasing to God

Faith’s living water, overflowed

 

Worshipping in Gospel’s safe place

Facing each new day without fear

Tracking to follow Shepherd’s voice

Faith’s tomorrow, forever clear

 

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From Psalm 23:1-2:  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.”

God’s Home

From Psalm 98:1:  “O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.  His right hand and His holy arm have gotten Him victory.”

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Praising Lord high above

Singing favorite hymn

Overflowing with His peace

Returning love to Him

 

Revealing mercy’s grace

Descending from God’s rock

Filling earthly, mortal place

Shepherding wayward flock

 

Declaring His purpose

Severing chains of sin

Forgiving each indictment

Teaching what should have been

 

Praying for faith’s new hope

Calling upon Lord’s name

Grasping heaven’s righteous rope

Granting grace, without blame

 

Climbing final mountain

Leaving this worldly dome

Dwelling jointly, wolf with lamb

Summoning to God’s home

 

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From Isaiah 11:6:  “The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.”

Trusting to Follow

From Psalm 23:1-3:  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.”

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Walking through trials

Shepherd’s voice of peace

Trusting to follow

Grasping faith’s newfound lease

 

Seeking to believe

Wonders offer signs

Trusting to follow

Rising faith shall align

 

Affirming Lord’s Word

Each day follows night

Trusting to follow

Watching darkness take flight

 

Feeling love come forth

Savior’s light proclaims

Trusting to follow

Witnessing heaven’s flame

 

Overcoming death

Christ shall never rest

Trusting to follow

Tasting grace, faith digests

 

Filling hope with joy

Resurrection thrives

Trusting to follow

Knowing Shepherd’s alive

 

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From John 11:14-16:  “I am the good shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father.  And I lay down My life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Heaven’s Gate

From Psalm 118:19:  “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.”

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Glorious morning light

Blessings from Father’s heart

Angelic voices praise

Calling out faith’s fresh start

 

Tomb forever empty

Raising Messiah’s love

Hallelujah’s sing out

Praising heavens above

 

Risen Savior conquers

Draining river of sin

New covenant flowing

Uplifting quest begins

 

Divine plans now fulfilled

Spreading faith’s greatest news

Darkness vanquished at last

Breathing from mercy’s view

 

Bridge built to Heaven’s gate

Fulfilling gift of grace

Good Shepherd holds its key

Seeing at last, His face

 

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From John 10:9:  “[Jesus speaking] I am the gate.  Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

Monday Memories: Following His Voice

From 1 Peter 2:25:  “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

woman standing near sheep

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Like sheep, we wander astray

Turning away from our Lord

Feeling harassed and helpless

Sheep lost, by our own accord

 

God lays a new cornerstone

Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son

Calling us, hearing His voice

His work will never be done

 

Leading us, on this right path

Following His voice, love flows

With Him, we shall never want

Restoring souls, we all grow

 

Good Shepherd, loving His sheep

Bringing comfort, rod and staff

Green pastures, nourishing us

Still waters, on our behalf

 

Jesus, loving Good Shepherd

Unblemished, Lamb of God casts

Body and blood on that Cross

Risen Savior, His hope lasts

sky sunset person silhouette

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From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller:  “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”

Originally published May, 2020.

Beloved Shepherd (Elfchen Series #185)

Stability

Eyes

Always scanning

Shepherd leading home

Faith’s blessed green pastures

Hope

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Tranquility

Ears

Listening closely

Shepherd gathers each

Faith’s blessed still waters

Peace

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Eternity

Shepherd

Resurrection’s light

Rescued from darkness

Follow to be saved

Jesus

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