No Longer Waiting

From Psalm 25:4-5:  “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Darkness filled with stormy seas

Navigating all alone

Waiting and watching

Jesus witnesses man’s every groan

 

Better days surely coming

Spring forward, full of grace

Watching and hoping

Jesus shares righteous branch, now embrace

 

His way leads to higher ground

Bringing mercy’s salvation

Hoping and trusting

Jesus rebuilds faith’s new foundation

 

Moments of earnest prayer

Transforming grace taking flight

Trusting and praising

Jesus forgives with redemptive light

 

Faith nourished with comfort’s love

Raising Resurrection’s bridge

No longer waiting

Jesus offers way to heaven’s ridge

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10:  “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”

Abounding in Truth (Elfchen Series #232)

Rejoice

Experiencing

Daily blessings

Heavenly Father above

Source of faith’s comfort

Joy

Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels.com

Harmony

Praising

Father’s love

Redemption from Savior

Each sin washed white

Peace

Photo by Julia Volk on Pexels.com

Trust

Prayer’s

Intimate conversation

Father’s daily grace

Heart opened, hearing Him

Hope

Photo by Aj Collins Artistry on Pexels.com

Peace Awakened

From Luke 2:6-7:  “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth and laid Him in a manger.”

Photo by Jessica Lewis ud83eudd8b thepaintedsquare on Pexels.com

Echoes ring with “Merry Christmas”

To everyone and all

Filled with goodwill’s peace

Witness in each joy-filled call

 

Deck every hall with love so rich

Each generation shall praise

Gifts of hope opened

Light from Bethlehem ablaze

 

World no longer suffers darkness

Humble manger shares love

Beneath heavens’ stars

Christ-child descends from above

 

Dreams of promised peace awakened

Gratitude filled with joy

Faithful kneel to pray

Each shepherd set to deploy

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Luke 2:14:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”

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.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

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

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

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.

Hope Descends (Elfchen Series #231)

Healing

Light

Overcoming darkness

No longer hurting

Binding up each wound

Jesus

Photo by Being.the.traveller on Pexels.com

Guiding

Landscape’s

Gentle breeze

Spirit’s encouraging breath

Trusting each righteous whisper

Peace

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Leading

Sunrise

Trust always

Calming journey’s storms

Navigation welcomes God’s steering

Deliverance

Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Pexels.com

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.

Henri Nouwen Quote

Photo by Bekka Mongeau on Pexels.com

The spiritual life is a life beyond moods.  It is a life in which we choose joy and do not allow ourselves to become victims of passing feelings of happiness or depression.

From Philippians 4:4:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.

Directing Our Best

From Psalm 118:1:  “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Giving thanks, praising Father

His enduring, steadfast love

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Embracing grace from above

 

Kneeling in daily prayer

Father listens with patience

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Transforming our impatience

 

Taking refuge with Father

His righteousness leads forthwith

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Overcoming evil’s myth

 

Surrounding witness of light

Father blazes road ahead

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Nourishing with daily bread

 

Grasping wisdom of Father

Skies no longer full of gray

Faith today, hope tomorrow

Directing our best, His way

 

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

From Psalm 118:24:  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Joyce Meyer Quote

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Patience is not simply the ability to wait–it’s “how” we behave while we’re waiting.

From Romans 12:12:  “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. “

Joyce Meyer (born 1943) is an American Christian author and speaker.  

Peace Upon Earth (Second Sunday of Advent)

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

World’s hopeful emotions

Searching for inner peace

In midst of life’s struggles

When will this darkness cease?

 

Peace waits for Messiah

Unlocking hopeful light

Goodwill comes upon man

Bethlehem’s star beams bright

 

Hope fills faithful journey

Waiting for Father’s Son

Shall be called Prince of Peace

Darkness cannot outrun

 

Through precious, promised child

Blessing all with His peace

Emmanuel comes near

Hope renewed through faith’s lease

 

Father’s steadfast vision

Sending peace upon earth

Man called to trust His plan

Wilderness finds hope’s berth

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

This poem’s hymn selection comes from “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”  Finding inspiration from Luke 2:14, American pastor, Edmund H. Sears, wrote these beloved lyrics in 1849.

Frederick Buechner Quote

Courtesy of Pinterest.

For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning–not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.

From Luke 2:13-14:  “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!'”

Frederick Buechner (1926-2022) was an American pastor, Christian theologian, and author.  His writings were published in 39 books, which included several different genres.