Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.
If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.
American writer and novelist, Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), spent much of her early life in China as a missionary. She was widely heralded for her book, THE GOOD EARTH, which was published in 1931. She garnered the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 and later the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.
Where there’s hope, there’s life.
Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.
From Romans 10:12-13: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call Him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
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Sitting here on a quiet, morning dawn
Drinking coffee, warming a drowsy mind
Passing the time with memories, all wrong
Looking for warmhearted hopes, none to find
Wishing countless troubles would go away
Thinking another day will bring some hope
Realizing now, my dreams are crushed today
Watching out the window, through hopeless scope
Opening a Bible, found by God’s Grace
Inviting me in, His Word reaches out
Sensing a way to change life’s dismal pace
Offering a new path, without a doubt
Witnessing Christ Jesus on a cruel Cross
Accepting my Savior, no longer lost
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From Isaiah 9:6-7: “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. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Faithful God’s Holy love
Shining from Bethlehem
Blessed virgin gives birth
In world filled with mayhem
Hope springs forth from God’s love
Filling manger with grace
Messiah born this night
Stable now Holy place
Divine love preaches faith
Sharing Lord’s precious gift
Behold man’s salvation
Satan’s plans now adrift
Peace covers earth’s landscape
Sowing eternal love
Savior’s mission begins
Father views from above
Lasting joy now goes forth
Hearing angels singing
Christ’s love, Calvary’s cross
Forgiveness now bringing
You are invited to join in prayer: Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace. During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior. Amen.
Written in 1865 by English hymn writer, William Chatterton Dix, the hymn of “What Child Is This?” is sung by Charlotte Church. The lyrics are based upon the verses from Isaiah 9:6-7, and the tune is “Greensleeves.”
Challenges
Embrace them
Fearless, with courage
Taste life’s treasured gifts
Blessings
Maturing
Home alone
World grows smaller
Embrace family and friends
Love
Embers
Burning low
Embracing more hope
Blazing back to life
Rekindled
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.
From Zephaniah 3:14-15: “Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, He has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.”
Looking inward, changing selves
Repenting, reversing course
Searching for life’s cherished peace
Joy spreads from Bethlehem’s source
Reading, praying, reflecting
Preparing our minds and hearts
Beaming starlight in dark times
Joy brightens, world seeks restart
Rejoicing always, Lord is near
Restoring fortunes, Prince of Peace
Renewing tomorrow’s hope
Joy transcends Father’s new lease
Trusting in God’s promises
Waiting with welcoming grace
Singing praises, justice calls
Joy blossoms in this birthplace
Proclaiming mercy-filled peace
Glowing, rising midnight sun
Igniting life’s dormant faith
Joy worships birth of God’s Son
You are invited to join in prayer: Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace. During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior. Amen.
“Joy to the World” is frequently sung during the Advent and Christmas season. Written in 1719 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, this hymn has been a favorite for well over 100 years in North America.
Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope. Sometimes we cry with everything except tears.
From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “ 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 or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
From Isaiah 11:1-2: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
Fragmented prayers lack faith
Hope’s seeds lost, now scattered
World filled with endless despair
Dazed, bruised, and battered
Hope conceived, chosen virgin
God preparing love’s way
Nothing impossible for Him
Holy Spirit holds sway
Bethlehem’s star shines at night
God’s love lights hope’s beacon
Future sparkles from His grace
Mercy never weakens
Heavens prepare peace and joy
Darkness brightens, rejoice!
God plants Holy seed of hope
Angels sing with His choice
Father’s goodness overflows
His everlasting gift
Living water promises
Hope transforms faith’s gearshift
You are invited to join in prayer: Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace. During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior. Amen.
Originally written in Latin during the 8th or 9th century, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is a frequently chosen song during the season of Advent.
From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Lost in hidden wilderness
Walking gloomy path, alone
Life’s never-ending circle
Frozen in time’s endless zone
Abandoned without refuge
Searching hellish, barren land
Emptiness speaks with silence
Tireless quest, sinking in sand
Days feel as chilling as nights
Shivering, icy outlook
Hopelessness without promise
Shadow circles, pause to look
Eagle flying overhead
Calling out to thee, follow
Sunrise filling empty heart
Journey no longer hollow
Calvary’s cross stands over
Kneeling upon sacred ground
Tears’ cascading emotions
Life no longer lost, grace found
From John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”
From Philippians 4:5-6: “ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Like Apostle Paul
Facing dark trials
Acts of injustice
Covering each mile
Never complaining
Rejoicing with joy
Each of life’s moments
Shirking evil’s ploy
Eyes fixed on Jesus
Refocusing lens
Worry set aside
Walking with our friend
Troubles fall away
Accepting Christ’s Word
Life’s highway brightens
Seeing hope, unblurred
Hearts and minds open
Learning more each day
Jesus strengthens us
Kneeling now, let’s pray
From Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Big Sky Buckeye 