Grace Forever Free

From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

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Enemy only brings

Darkness upon thee

Emptiness clings

Again, lost at sea

 

Trapped in wilderness maze

No escape for thee

Sun’s missing rays

What does Spirit see?

 

God’s arrow finds its mark

Peace comes upon thee

Redemption’s ark

His Word’s faithful key

 

Salvation’s open gate

Savior’s love for thee

Mercy’s soulmate

Evil’s breath now flees

 

Bethlehem’s blessed light

Shineth upon thee

Hope taking flight

Praying on both knees

 

Freedom from heavy chains

Sins’ debts paid for thee

Christ shoulders pain

Grace forever free

 

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From Lamentations 3:55-57:  “I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea, ‘Do not close Your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!’  You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!'”

John Ortberg Quote

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The best place to start doing life with God is in small moments.

From Psalm 33:18-19:  “Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.”

John Ortberg (born 1957) is an American pastor as well as a Christian author and speaker.

Forward with Hope

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Catching each golden ray

Glowing from morning sunrise

Motivating from depths within

Opportunity’s faithful prize

 

Embracing journey’s breath

Pursuing trials ahead

Moving always forward with hope

Opportunity’s next beachhead

 

Freshening life’s outlook

Following trusted light’s way

Stepping through one more open gate

Opportunity’s grateful play

 

Exploring adventures

Discovering hidden road

Seeking one final victory

Opportunity’s next crossroad

 

Pausing now to give thanks

Relishing each blessed day

Looking toward day’s next chapter

Opportunity’s true gateway

 

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Harvest of Righteousness

From James 1:5-6:  “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.  But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

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Journey faces trials

Faith tested by each

Producing endurance

God shall faithfully teach

 

Wisdom found in God’s Word

Daily lessons speak

Granting transforming grace

Never doubt what He tweaks

 

Gracious God offers hope

Truth’s new direction

Walking on mercy’s path

Filled with Christ’s perfection

 

Taste Heaven’s purity

Spirit bringing forth

Trusting in risen Christ

Compass setting, true north

 

Harvest of righteousness

Sown with seeds to cope

Rising from Calvary

Spirit filled with Christ’s hope

 

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From James 3:13:  “Who is wise and knowledgeable among you?  Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”

Restoring Trust

From Romans 12:11:  “Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord.”

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Passionate about living

God’s sunrise defines peace

Assuring each promise

His grace shall never cease

 

Embrace genuine love

God’s healing hand, His way

Holding fast, goodness comes

His wonder fills each day

 

Extend care to others

God’s harmony builds hope

Clutching His righteous Word

His truth extends faith’s rope

 

Redemption reaches out

God’s patience fills each breath

Suppressing every fear

His Son’s love defeats death

 

Life will become messy

Always follow Christ’s light

Restoring trust in faith

His mercy rises each night

                       

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From Romans 12:20-21:  “Instead, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Hope Regenerated (Elfchen Series #253)

Faithful Assuredness

Absorbing

Precious grace

Burdens now lessened

Spirit’s breath instills strength

Light

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Faithful Opportunity

Uncertainty

Unrelenting darkness

Jesus comes alongside

Grace strengthens today’s light

Certainty

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Faithful Steps

Encountering

Questionable future

Praying for strength

Light replaces each worry

Grace

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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.

Praises of Joy

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Witnessing God’s mercy

Praises of joy heard above

Rejoicing in His presence

Angels’ voices share love

 

Flowing with love-filled peace

God’s divine plan offers hope

Turning back enemy’s breath

Grace flows down Zion’s slope

 

Gathering Shepherd’s flock

Each sinner trusts light ahead

Exulting in God’s glory

Fed from love’s daily bread

 

Coming to Calvary

Christ bearing salvation’s key

Raising love beyond heavens

Debts nailed to brutal tree

 

Embracing righteousness

Darkness no longer pursues

Proclaiming risen Good News

Savior’s love, always true

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Monday Memories: Anthem of Grace

From Hebrews 11:1:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

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Weary times, filled with quiet tears

Witnessing mankind’s cruelest hurts

Hate, division, violence, fears

God’s grace, peace, love . . . never deserts

 

When witnessing injustice, stand

Lift up voices, sing with passion

Offer a loving, helping hand

Filled with oneness and compassion

 

No longer sit with thoughts muzzled

Liberty-filled harmonies ring

God’s grace flows, days never puzzled

Loud as roaring seas, let us sing

 

God’s Word lighting eternal fires

Inside our faith, unwavering

Hope fills each heart, never expires

Teachings of Jesus, favoring

 

Jesus always front and center

Faithfully walking as His feet

Loving as His hands, our mentor

Marching on, His grace ever sweet

 

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From 1 John 5:3-5:  “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Originally published October, 2020.

Faith’s Harvest

From 1 Samuel 17:48-49:  “When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.”

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Within Father’s intentions

Seeding His daily grace

Overflowing with love

Faith’s harvest to embrace

 

David carries trusted sling

Sowing faith with hope’s trust

Harboring Father’s strength

Goliath’s armor rusts

 

Moses discards royal roots

Seeking God’s righteous hand

Leading all to freedom

His staff reaps hope as planned

 

Dorcas, disciple of Jesus

Planting works, full of love

Dying, then breathing free

Alive through grace above

 

Son of God, born in manger

Raising Gospel’s design

Leading man’s every step

Redemption’s finish line

 

Faith’s fruits transformed to greatness

Tasting hope from God’s Word

Empowering each seed

Harvest’s vision unblurred

 

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From Acts 9:39-40:  “So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs.  All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed.  He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’  Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.”

Lewis B. Smedes Quote

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Forgiving does not erase the bitter past.  A healed memory is not a deleted memory.  Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember.  We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.

From Ephesians 4:32:  “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002) was an American author and Christian theologian.