Lasting Presence (Elfchen Series #102)

Hope’s Spirit

Voice

Blessing us

God sharing peace

Awakening quietness in our

Hearts

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Faith’s Spirit

Source

Daily strength

God’s steadfast love

His wisdom shall always

Guide

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Truth’s Spirit

Experiencing

God’s presence

His Creation breathes

Divine, righteous Word speaks

Life

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Healing

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Turning life upside down

Darkness fuels discontent

Grief fills daily breakdowns

Hopelessness speeds descent

 

Reaching out to others

Care arrives through their grace

Like words from grandmother

Life moves to better place

 

Breathing, moving forward

Journey begins to smile

Ship now sails straightforward

Life transitions, each mile

 

Healing day by day

Sunshine now reappears

Precious words stop to say

Tender thoughts, always near

 

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Stand Firm

From 1 Peter 1:3-4:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

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Evil’s darkness surrounds

Encroaching with its sin

Life looks to turn around

Wolf hiding in sheepskin

 

Fraud’s light leads some astray

Moving away from God

Grace opens its doorway

Christ shatters hell’s facade

 

Resurrection’s new hope

Building faith’s foundation

Salvation, Christ’s tow rope

Father’s promised station

 

Word speaks of Lord’s power

Calling all to stand firm

Each and every hour

Holy Spirit confirms

 

Faith anchored in His care

Wearing God’s armored vest

All times, kneeling in prayer

Mercy braves each test

  

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From Ephesians 6:13:  “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.”

E. E. Cummings Quotes

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It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite of fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness:  the truth more first than sun, more last than star.

E. E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings (1894-1962) was a gifted American poet, writer, playwright, and essayist.  Many regard him as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.

Hope in Darkness

From Daniel 12:1-3:  “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise.  There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence.  But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.  Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

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Darkness invades man’s world

Painful times filled with loss

Perilous tragedies

Yet, hope calls from one Cross

 

Shattering brokenness

Heartache knowing no end

Grieving trauma scalds hearts

Yet, hope shall never bend

 

Prophets carry message

Few bothering to hear

Lasting shame and contempt

Yet, hope’s time coming near

 

God’s promises hold truth

Times of anguish shall fade

Deliverance knocking

Hope in darkness, now paid

 

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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.”

Vision Clears

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Broken and waiting

Stumble, now falling

Mankind blind and lost

Grace always calling

 

Spirit picks us up

Reach for Father’s hand

Love fills empty cup

Vision clears as planned

 

Ask God our questions

Read Bible’s story

Taste Scripture’s account

Witness His glory

 

Lift eyes up high

Breathe in heaven’s love

God’s promises fly

Goodness from above

 

Wait for our Father

Hold tight to faith’s hand

His hope comes on board

Salvation’s steel band

 

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Max Lucado Quote

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God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s tears untouched.

From Ephesians 1:17-18:  “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints.”

Billy Graham Quote

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Troubles we bear truthfully can bring us a fresh vision of God and a new outlook on life–an outlook of peace and hope.

From Isaiah 40:28-29:  “Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.”

New Hope

From 1 Corinthians 6:11:  “And this is what some of you used to be.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

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Witnessing renewing birth

Receiving Gospel’s new hope

Living through Christ on this earth

Grace flows down slippery slope

 

Leaving former sinful ways

Washing us clean with new hope

Walking in God’s trust each day

Resurrection’s firm tightrope

 

Raising up Christ, sin’s payoff

Blessings of faith fill new hope

Anchoring light, hell casts off

Holy Spirit, life’s tow rope

 

Sharing His goodness and grace

Sensing Christ fueling new hope

Grasping life’s new, righteous place

God justifies Glory’s scope

 

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From 1 Peter 1:3:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

In His Midst

From Psalm 29:3-4:  “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.  The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”

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Life’s calmest seas

Facing coming storms

Never alone

In His midst, strength forms

 

From God, our hope

Reaching out His hand

Safely sheltered

Upon His command

 

Witness His peace

Quieting these waves

Triumphant’s might

Father’s grace shall serve

 

Darkness retreats

Hearing comfort’s voice

Glory thunders

All saints will rejoice

 

Mercy rescues

Breathing with God’s love

Everlasting

Blessings from above

 

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The lyrics and music of “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” is a familiar hymn to many.  Inspired by Psalm 90, the lyrics were composed by English hymn writer and theologian, Isaac Watts, in 1708.