Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.
Hope is sweet-minded and sweet-eyed. It draws pictures; it weaves fancies; it fills the future with delight.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) was an American pastor and abolitionist.
From Psalm 34:4-5: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed.”
Reading Father’s Word
Answers come to thee
Praising from heart’s depths
Darkness at last flees
Filling hope’s goodness
Father shares His grace
Nourishing with love
Wisdom to embrace
Walking with Father
His righteousness speaks
Directing each step
Enemy now meek
Praying for guidance
Father bends earth’s light
Sending Christ to lead
Mercy taking flight
Following Jesus
Faith’s journey brightens
Choosing Him each day
His peace enlightens
From John 5:20-21: “The Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wishes.”
From Isaiah 2:3: “Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
Seeking Father’s assurance
Darkness shall be overcome
Out of Zion, transformed hope
Embracing every breadcrumb
Praising every breath of grace
From root of Jesse will come
Messiah’s renewing hope
Rising to heavenly drum
Standing outside Bethlehem
Jerusalem shares her peace
Unity backed up with hope
Cradling redemption’s release
Waking to heavenly joy
Forces of darkness now quake
Manger caresses new hope
Witnessing Savior awake
Remaining always watchful
Shepherds innocently wait
Love piercing night sky with hope
Trusting in salvation’s fate
From Romans 15:12-13: “And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the gentiles; in Him the gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The popular hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has been a favorite of past Advent seasons. The original hymn can found in the music of monastic life over 1,200 years ago. The English version was translated in 1851 by John Mason Neale, who was an English Anglican priest and hymn writer.
Water is a picture of the Spirit of Jesus working in us. He’s not working to save us, mind you; that work is done. He’s working to change us.
From John 7:37-38: “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”
Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From the words of American Christian author, James Dobson: “It is important to know that you have to work to keep love alive, you have to protect it and maintain it, just like you would a delicate flower.”
Encouraged to trust Father’s Word
Hope sown with Christ’s patient love
Precious seeds of kindness
Heaven harvests from above
Cultivated with Father’s grace
Eternal light never ends
Rejoice with Spirit’s peace
Fragile love strengthens to mend
Answered with Father’s faithfulness
Calvary pays debits of man
Love rises with new life
According to divine plan
Called by Father, who always cares
Love each delicate flower
Maintain, always protect
Backed up with mercy’s power
Commanded by Father above
Always love one another
Just as faith’s Savior loved
Every sister and brother
From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”
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.”
Accepting life’s ongoing gifts
Filling wonder, never adrift
Marveling at heavens above
Inspiring vastness of God’s love
Walking in righteousness with God
Comforted by His love, unflawed
Looking ahead, with peace and hope
Holding tightly to God’s firm rope
Treating others with words which say
Sharing compassion’s rich bouquet
Gathering strength for life’s travels
Trusting God, nothing unravels
Listening to deepest feelings
Surveying each moment’s healing
Receiving mid-course corrections
Hearing God’s faithful directions
Sailing in darkness, never cursed
Navigating by God, headfirst
Achieving goals, each passing day
Tasting our Lord’s hope-filled buffet
Tackling challenges without fear
Taking risks, with God set to steer
Stepping forward beyond life’s dreams
Following each path as God deems
From 1 Corinthians 10:16: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
Originally published January, 2021.
From 1 Timothy 2:1: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.”
Embracing Savior’s peace
Heart replenished with grace
Walking with dignity
Faith’s most genuine place
Praying for each other
Words employing Christ’s love
Reaching to Heaven’s hands
Mediator above
Persevering to pray
Christ’s Holy presence felt
Encouraging boldness
Every word be heartfelt
Trusting always Christ’s light
Believer’s truthful way
Following Good Shepherd
Called now to simply pray
Sharing faith’s compassion
With everyone in need
Sowing Savior’s witness
Hope fulfilled with each seed
From Ephesians 6:18: “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”
Faith’s
Divine garden
Seeded without weeds
Nourished with Living Water
Maturity
Hope’s
Fertile soil
Cultivated with grace
Sunrise offers endless bounty
Harvest
Joy’s
Fruitful journey
Sustained with love
Sown with trusted hands
Gratitude
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Sunrise filling eastern sky
Singing praises to God’s love
Trusting in His divine Word
Hope breathes form heavens above
New day faithfully arrives
Reigning forever with grace
Nourishing with righteousness
Hope breathes from Savior’s birthplace
Prophecy’s promises true
Holding mercy in His hands
Sending His Son in man’s place
Hope breathes from Father’s heartland
Faith pursues with endurance
Approaching eternal light
Witnessing redemption’s peace
Hope breathes from Christ’s risen flight
Savior’s precious blood now shed
Granting forgiveness of sins
Calling all to walk with Him
Hope breathes from His love within
From 1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Alone and isolated
Empty calendar pages
Absent family and friends
Life walking in Dark Ages
Hour’s darkest shadows lengthen
Day’s hope missteps and stumbles
Sudden tears, any moment
Faith now tumbles, then crumbles
Day awakens, same old drill
Memories fade, bit by bit
Miles from nowhere, so alone
Silence fills heart, not close-knit
Few good days dwarfed by bad ones
Sunny smiles becoming few
Lonely heart needs titan’s lift
Shining light makes its breakthrough
Make it a point today to reach out to someone who could use a warm hug, a trusting smile, or a kind word. Lonely hearts fill many people with emptiness; share your light.
Originally published January, 2021.
Big Sky Buckeye 