Puzzle Incomplete

From Romans 5:5:  “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

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Trust’s missing pieces

Empty vision’s space

Puzzle incomplete

Father’s grace, replace

 

Fear’s lack of patience

Filled with anxious space

Puzzle defective

Father’s grace, backspace

 

Shame’s torn-up pages

Tattered, sinful space

Puzzle uncertain

Father’s grace, erase

 

Hope’s shattered darkness

Doubts drain daily space

Puzzle fragmented

Father’s grace, embrace

 

Faith’s empty focus

Lost in prideful space

Puzzle imperfect

Father’s grace, retrace

 

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From Romans 8:27:  “And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Monday Memories: Witnessing a Foretaste

Looking outside from the kitchen table offers a view each morning of how our Lord presents each day as a precious gift.  Here is a mini sonnet which witnesses a foretaste of the feast to come.

photo of red flowering trees beside body of water

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Viewing the early morning

Welcoming each libation

Peering from kitchen’s window

Witnessing God’s creation

 

Growing greener, grass below

Blooming, flowers spelling love

Witnessing creative hands

Working each day from above

 

Taking in this peaceful scene

Witnessing each day’s foretaste

Blessing each feast, more to come

Tasting moments, without haste

 

Witnessing God’s daily Grace

Making life a happy place

wood light vacation picnic

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From Lutheran Communion liturgy, Christ’s people sing:  “Grace our table with Your presence, and give us a foretaste of the Feast to come.”  

Originally published May, 2020.

Gentleness

From Philippians 4:5:  “Let Your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.”

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Savior filled with truth

Gentleness flows

Outward to others

Spirit knows

 

Ready to listen

Gentleness stirs

Shared with believers

Grace transfers

 

Savior always near

Gentleness loves

Risen from dark tomb

Peace-filled dove

 

Prayer opens heart

Gentleness speaks

Light shatters darkness

Mercy seeks

 

Savior’s faithful bridge

Gentleness leads

Steady, trusted rock

Heaven’s seeds

 

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From Philippians 4:8:  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Transforming Light (Elfchen Series #173)

Straying

Lost

Wayward sheep

Surrounded in darkness

Shepherd’s light finding each

Gathering

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Unknowing

Questions

Empty answers

Life’s harsh wilderness

Shepherd’s light sharing grace

Illuminating

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Unsettling

Forsaken

Coldest nights

Enemy’s false promises

Shepherd’s light warming hearts

Nurturing

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Redemption’s Ticket

From Ephesians 2:8  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

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Dotting I’s, crossing T’s

Life’s performance checklist

Nice life bestowed on thee

Knowing Father shall insist

 

Worshipping each Sunday

Dollars fill collection

Mirror says, “Good Christian”

Seeking Father’s affection

 

Feeling faith’s emptiness

Life’s perfection falls short

Redemption’s ticket waits

Striving for Father’s passport

 

Hearing at last, Word’s truth

New covenant shall rise

Hope’s mercy calls for faith

Fulfilling Father’s franchise

 

Receiving salvation

Despite life’s sinful walk

By grace, Savior redeems

Grasping Father’s faithful rock

 

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Leaving life’s performance treadmill, the Gospel’s true road offers guidance through our Savior’s blessed grace–as we walk faithfully in His light into new life.

In His Hands

From Isaiah 46:3-4:  “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He; even when you turn gray I will carry you.  I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

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Praising Father above

Faithful promises speak

In His hands, mercy proves

Forsake idol’s mystique

 

Looking to heavens high

Courage to face trials

In His hands, time stands still

Return from dark exile

 

Reciting Father’s Word

Wisdom from light-filled grace

In His hands, answers found

Holy, this divine place

 

Walking in righteous steps

Troubles fading away

In His hands, peace shall reign

Salvation comes today

 

Believing Father’s Son

Life no longer adrift

In His hands, refuge found

Faith rises from Christ’s gift

 

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From Colossians 3:17:  “ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Fueling Spiritual Needs

From Ephesians 1:3:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

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Daily journey, full of needs

Holy God sees every one

With Living Bread, Father feeds

Faith’s light among us, His Son

 

Fueling spiritual needs

Son infusing them and more

Opening each heart, He seeds

Timely mercy, faith cared for

 

Adopted children of God

Trusted steps reach freedom’s place

Trinity, faith’s new tripod

Bestowing glorious grace

 

Forgiving life’s trespasses

Savior’s blood setting man free

Viewing faith through new glasses

From Calvary’s bended knee

 

Trusted insight, wisdom’s light

Destiny’s faith walks ahead

Spirit remains always bright

Leading to Heaven’s homestead

 

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From Ephesians 3:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Blessed Grace in One (Elfchen Series #170)

Unquestionable

Father

Transcending time

Divine, Holy presence

Eternal spring of grace

Uncompromising

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Insurmountable

Son

Revealing self

God among us

Grace conquers Calvary’s cross

Unwavering

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Unshakeable

Spirit

Entering hearts

Renewing faith daily

Timely grace flowing upstream

Unchanging

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Inevitable Storms

From Isaiah 43:2:  “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.”

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Life’s inevitable storms

Sweeping tides against mankind

Surging within, Father’s love

Mercy arrives, never blind

 

Darkness blocking out daylight

Masking goodness of mankind

Surging within, Father’s truth

Savior’s light fully aligned

 

Faith overwhelmed, strength waning

Subduing trust in mankind

Surging within, Father’s voice

Peace returns as he designed

 

Angry river waters flow

Raging in hearts of mankind

Surging within, Father’s grace

Heavenly spirit assigned

 

One more trial challenges

Flipping conscience of mankind

Surging within, Father’s Word

Life’s purpose better defined

 

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From John 16:33:  “I have said this to you so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you face persecution, but take courage:  I have conquered the world!”

Mercy’s Reassurance (Elfchen Series #168)

Trusted Promises

God’s

Unconditional love

Covering our shortcomings

Filling valleys, leveling mountains

Grace

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Trusted Word

Faith

Strengthened daily

Scripture’s inspirational light

Savior’s grace at work

Hope

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Trusted Journey

Today’s

Looking forward

Christ’s fulfilling peace

Opening faith to grace

Tomorrow’s

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