In the midst of the struggles and the storms and the sufferings of life, we can advance our thoughts beyond today and see relief. Because, in the end, God does indeed win.
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Job 19:25-26: “For I know that my vindicator lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God.”
Darkness shadows day
Each forgotten path
Sown hope uprooted
Crushed by evil’s wrath
Consumed with anger
Future’s light escapes
Forsaken feelings
Each evolving shape
Innocence cries out
Emptiness of heart
Tomorrow frozen
Outlook breaks apart
Faith’s net cast away
Trust lacking within
Tide now rushing forth
God always knows when
Redemption assured
Risen Savior lives
Light’s ember blossoms
Peace forever gives
From Psalm 17:6-7: “I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show Your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at Your right hand.”
When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer.
Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.
John Lennon (1940-1980) was a English musician and activist. He was the founder of one of the most acclaimed groups ever, the Beatles.
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.”
Longing for inner peace
Patience fills every heart
Shepherds wonder this night
Spirit’s goodness imparts
Viewing Bethlehem’s peace
Mercy nestled with love
Deliverance of light
Precious to God above
Raising harmony’s peace
Root of Jesse shall bring
Spring of living waters
Hope abounds, joy will sing
Hearing God’s voice of peace
Salvation’s breath of light
Messiah’s truth to come
Angels now taking flight
Shining beacon of peace
Heaven’s intent descends
Hope wakens in stable
Love invites joy, God sends
From Psalm 72:12-13: “For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.”
Famine
Hungering faith
Savior raises hope
Living Bread feeds all
Nourished
Darkness
Uphill journey
Messiah infuses light
Courage travels mercy’s road
Illuminated
Battles
With flesh
Calvary rises up
Salvation breathes from Cross
Transformed
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.
Gray sky flies overhead
Winter’s cold arrives
Autumn now asleep
Chilling nature’s hard drive
Spirit fills every tree
Spring postpones her speech
Peace lands with each flake
Covering whitest beach
Silence rejoins landscape
Yet, very much alive
Transfusion hidden
Feeding grace to survive
Arctic freeze now coming
Double seal each hatch
Ship awaits next storm
Traversing icy patch
Night’s dreams seeking comfort
Winter’s frost deploys
Hope’s blanket of snow
Snuggling beneath warmth’s joy
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.
Big Sky Buckeye 