Messages of Hope (Elfchen Series #153)

Righteousness

Offering

Wisdom’s enlightenment

God with us

Guiding toward tomorrow’s light

Hope

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Peacefulness

Pausing

Prayerful moment

Talking with God

Minutes filling with hope

Moving

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Preciousness

Lost

Descending darkness

Hope calling out

Returning to Good Shepherd

Found

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Charles Swindoll Quote

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When you find yourself slumping in shame or giving way to guilt, remind yourself of this:  You have been chosen by the Good Shepherd.  He wants you in His flock.

From John 15:16:  “You did not choose me, but I chose you.  And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask Him in My name.”

His Voice

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “Many voices compete for our attention, but abundant life comes when we listen to our Good Shepherd.”

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Good Shepherd’s voice

Searching for sheep

Finding lost ones

Mercy won’t sleep

 

Recognizing

True Shepherd’s Word

His voice shares grace

Forever heard

 

Good Shepherd’s faith

Persistence heeds

Calling His sheep

Voice gently leads

 

Shepherd holding

Salvation’s keys

Closed gate opens

God’s voice agrees

 

As faithful sheep

Hearing His voice

Safely at home

Always rejoice

 

Coming to Christ

Believers walk

Trusting His voice

Hope’s solid rock

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From John 10:3-5:  “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Shepherding Actions (Elfchen Series #109)

Serving Others

Christ’s

Central command

Love, care, feed

Shepherd’s hands at work

Disciples

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Extending Grace

Life’s

Puzzle pieces

Scattered and lost

Shepherd finds each one

Savior

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Coming Home

Hearing

Shepherd’s calling

Following in faith

Spirit leads our way

Believing

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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.

Charles Spurgeon Quote

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The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.

From Isaiah 43:2-3:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

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.”

Our Father’s Treasures (Haiku Series #101)

Good Shepherd

Leading precious sheep

Rod and staff always comfort

Caring tenderly 

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Invitation

Call upon the Lord

His love fills with righteousness—

Accepting His Grace

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Cherish

Our Father is near

Safeguarding our hearts and minds—

Rejoice in His peace

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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.”