Tag Archives: hope

Monday Memories: Failing Once Again

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woman in gray tank top showing distress

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Failing once again

Life’s troubles bomb away

 

Whom shall I turn to?

 

Failing once again

Darkness moves ever closer

 

Where is the light?

 

Failing once again

Shame swallows me up

 

How can my spirit be restored?

 

Failing once again

Life’s torments engulf me

 

Why . . . why?

 

Failing once again

Loneliness surrounds my heart

 

What recourse do I have?

 

Failing once again

Life’s hour glass, now nearly empty

 

When will I be free?

 

selective focus photography of hour glass

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Failing once again . . .

 

Turning to my Heavenly Father

Never thinking of me as a bother

 

From a Cross, Salvation’s light sheds hope

Pulled up from the Pit by a Holy rope

 

Kneeling before the Savior, sins and all

Humbling following Him will be my call

 

Through a broken body and shed blood

By Grace alone, escaping life’s flash flood

 

sky sunset person silhouette

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The structure of this poem features dual parts.  In the beginning verses, the reader is taken to a much darker place.  Using themes of sorrow, darkness, and hopelessness presents a challenge to both the reader and the writer.  In answering the questions found in the poem, the ending verses are structured around common Christian themes of hope, joy, light, and rebirth.

Originally published May, 2020.

Love Descending (Elfchen Series #187)

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Deliverance

Foreseeing

Insurmountable force

Against all odds

Trusting in God’s promises

Hope

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Transformation

Surrounding

Darkness surfaces

Never feeling forsaken

Heavenly light breaking through

Peace

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Jubilation

Encountering

Stormy seas

By faith alone

Grace delivers blue skies

Joy

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Faith’s Resurrection

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

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Hope’s refuge, waiting in Lord’s highest place

Father’s steadfast love endures forever

Lighting way for each faithful endeavor

Proclaiming Savior’s song of victory

 

Bond of peace, opened at Calvary’s cross

Unified as one with body of Christ

Sharing patient gentleness, though high-priced

Bearing one another in faithful love

 

Measure of forgiveness, joy’s lasting gift

Marvelous in Lord’s single, faithful breath

Overcoming lasting darkness and death

Waiting at heaven’s gate, His love-filled grace

 

Witnessing Savior’s nail-pierced hands and feet

Faith’s Resurrection, forever complete

 

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From Luke 24:36-39:  “While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.  He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Look at My hands and My feet; see that it is I myself.  Touch Me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.'”

Beloved Shepherd (Elfchen Series #185)

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Stability

Eyes

Always scanning

Shepherd leading home

Faith’s blessed green pastures

Hope

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Tranquility

Ears

Listening closely

Shepherd gathers each

Faith’s blessed still waters

Peace

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Eternity

Shepherd

Resurrection’s light

Rescued from darkness

Follow to be saved

Jesus

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Energized for Another Day (Haiku Series #261)

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Reaching for Comfort

Daily medicine

Ultimate stress reliever—

Laughter heals one’s soul

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Opening and Accepting

Turning from worry

Allow optimism in—

Joy mending one’s heart

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Waking to Peace

Perky morning song

Hope’s verses rejuvenate—

Shower of sunshine

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Monday Memories: God Walks Ahead

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green trees near rock formation

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From the words of Moses

Don’t fear, be unafraid

Our Lord will fight for us

Standing firm, comes His aid

 

Protecting evermore

God stands everlasting

Delivers from bondage

His love, full and lasting

 

Sending His Son to earth

Jesus’ footprints cry out

Step in line, follow me

His peace reigns, without doubt

 

Crying out to our Lord

Consumed by life’s furnace

Covered by eagles’ wings

Follow Him with sureness

 

Darkened tomb found empty

Jesus overcoming death

Knowing God’s in control

Stay faithful, with each breath

 

Father always with us

Never forsaking us

His hope, comforting us

Walking ahead of us

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From Exodus 14:13-14:  “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.'”

Originally published April, 2020.

Hope Fulfilled (Elfchen Series #184)

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Reflection

Hope’s

Quiet trust

Faith lifted up

Light fortifies tender heart

Song

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Reaction

Hope’s

Faithful spirit

Following mercy’s light

Kneeling at Calvary’s cross

Prayer

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Restoration

Hope’s

Steadfast love

Watching for light

Faith waits with patience

Redemption

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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.

Arnold Henry Glasow Quote

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The key to everything is patience.  You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.

From Psalm 130:5:  “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I hope.”

Arnold H. Glasow (1905-1998) was an American author and humorist.  He was a regular contributor to the humor sections found in Reader’s Digest.

Drink Deeply

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From 1 Corinthians 13:4-5:  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs.”

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Walking alone

Thirsty for love

Only darkness

Spirit above

 

Christ comes to earth

Love so daring

Gospel’s bright light

Filled with caring

 

Full of patience

Love now reveals

Finding God’s grace

Divine, yet real

 

Come, drink deeply

Receiving love

Hope grows through faith

Promised above

 

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From 1 Corinthians 13:13:  “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”

 

 

 

Love’s Assurance (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

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From Luke 2:15-16:  “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Love breathes at creation

Stirring throughout darkest void

Goodness pouring from light

Father’s plans fully deployed

 

Love’s promises share hope

Flowing with peace, yet to come

From depths of Father’s Word

Mercy’s steady, beating drum

 

Love fulfills prophecy

Abounding in Father’s grace

No longer in darkness

Joy framing faith’s new embrace

 

Love’s assurance descends

Flowing from Father’s goodwill

Bethlehem’s stirring peace

Silent night, shepherds stand still

 

Love pours into each heart

Enduring Father sows seeds

Messiah fulfills hope

Light releasing joy’s proceeds

 

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.

English pastor and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, wrote the lyrics for “Joy to the World” in 1719.  These verses embrace his interpretation of Psalm 98, which serves as a blessed completion of this Advent series of poems.