Haiku Series #69 (With God)

Truth

Staying on message

Behold the vine’s Holy fruit—

Grace of Jesus Christ

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His Way

Jesus calls us out

Guiding us to change our ways—

Building up our faith

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First Disciples

Jesus calls Peter

Become a fisher of men—

You will be the rock

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Journey to Jerusalem

From John 10:9-10:  “I am the gate.  Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy,  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

green bamboo leaves

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Triumphantly

Jesus enters a joyous city

Jerusalem sings

Praising His name . . . Hosanna!

 

Witnessing

Emotional betrayal

Denying Christ

Then a rooster crows

 

Watching

Stunning procession fills the streets

Mocking with scorn

Would-be king, carrying our Cross

 

Hopes

Dashed by cruel Roman justice

Absent of sin

Son of Man, never to walk free

 

Numbness

With tears, seeing and hearing

Experiencing anguish

Horror at a blood-stained Cross

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Silence

Covering the land, Father weeps

Messiah suffers

Many rejecting our Holy God

 

Hearing

Good News on Easter morning

Our Savior

Defeating sin and death

 

Empty

Dark tomb proclaims God’s plan

Jesus Christ

Risen!  Reigning forevermore

 

Connecting

Dots between manger and Cross

Our Father

Love for us never wanes

 

Lingering

In the shadow of a criminal’s cross

Singing Alleluia!

To lasting, true meaning of the Cross

 

Glory

Residing forever in the Cross

Good Shepherd

Caring for His precious flock

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From Ephesians 2:8-10:  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

God Walks Ahead

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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.'”

Franklin Graham Quote

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There is not a single thing that Jesus cannot change, control, and conquer because He is the living Lord.

From Colossians 3:2-4:  “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

Elfchen Series #12 (With God)

Saved

Falling

Lost, orphaned

Following the Fall

Unrighteous, filled with sin

Jesus

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Faith

Lost

Jesus offers

God’s living water

Water of eternal life

Found

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Savior

Jesus

Saving me

Forgiving my sins

Accept and follow Him

Eternity

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Oswald Chambers Quote

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When we are born again we all have visions, if we are spiritual at all, of what Jesus wants us to be, and the great thing is to learn not to be disobedient to the vision, not to say that it cannot be attained.

From Acts 26:16:  [Jesus is speaking to Saul on the Damascus road] “But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen and to those in which I will appear to you.”

Haiku Series #61 (With God)

Seek His Light

Living a free life

Crumbling fortune cookie breaks—

Turn to our Savior

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Finding Christ

Living in darkness

Life’s journey shrouded in sin—

Jesus speaks to us

man wearing crew neck t shirt walking on gray pathway during nighttime

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Follow Me

Facing temptation

Stay in faithful alignment—

With our Lord Jesus

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Oswald Chambers Quote

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The only way we can be of use to God is to let Him take us through the crooks and crannies of our own characters.

From Mark 4:33-34:  “With many such parables He spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear it; He did not speak to them except in parables, but He explained everything in private to His disciples.”

Receiving Peace

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From John 14:25-27:  “I have said these things to you while I am still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Receiving peace, covering far and near

Generating from God’s genuine love

Peace be within us, God blesses our souls

Through His Word, accepting grace from above

 

Tranquility resting, among God’s flock

Lord forever standing, with heaven’s peace

Surpassing all of our understanding

Jesus lives, delivering life’s new lease

 

Rely on Christ, seeking His inner peace

Through our Savior, nurturing hearts and minds

In faithfulness, accepting Him as Lord

Teach us to follow, salvation we find

 

Living Holy Spirit, guided by God

Transforming love, joy, peace—granted from God

 

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God’s Team

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Jesus gathers up His apostles from humble ground

Making up God’s team, their witness shall abound

 

God’s Word oversees the performance of this team

Standing as chief executive, seeing holiest theme

 

The Holy Spirit earmarks the hearts and brains

Serving as the binding glue, better than chains

 

Returning to the beginning of God’s creative time

Transforming a land, His Word continues to climb

 

The Creator conceives of a perfect place for man

Placing Adam and Eve in Eden, always His plan

 

But, Adam and Eve journey on a sin-filled path

Leaving the ample garden, under God’s wrath

 

From this moment, God’s team stumbles and wanders

Facing estrangement from God, His people squander

 

Jesus comes to bridge what separates us from God

Sitting at the right hand, coaching a humbled squad

 

God establishes His expectations, perfectly high

Faltering and imperfect mortals, will never satisfy

 

The team continues to collapse over and over again

Forgetting God’s Commandments, sin seems to win

 

Many teams measure success by the flashy show

Works by themselves, will never add much glow

 

But, Jesus shepherds His team on a brand new track

Following by faith alone, Jesus always has their back

 

He reminds us to always love our God in Heaven’s seat

Loving each other as you have loved Me, always repeat

 

A bloody, criminal’s Cross summons all to take a knee

Accepting Jesus as Savior, teammates look up to see

 

Our Father orchestrates, with infinite patience and love

Creating and molding, the Great I Am looks from above

 

Jesus remains alert at the Creator’s side

Carrying keys to eternal life, all bona fide

 

As team members, we must trust, follow, and abide

Playing for Jesus, His coaching is forever our guide

 

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