Going Forward

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Usually on most days

Life’s journey moves along

Solving another maze

Each answer never wrong

 

Hourly reality check

Simple truths always guide

Avoiding any wrecks

Every step filled with pride

 

Tomorrow will bring change

Certain as each sunrise

Stirring thoughts to exchange

Nothing waits in disguise

 

Goodness set to deploy

Positive always leads

Going forward brings joy

Lasting happiness freed

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Choosing to Worship

From Matthew 4:10:  “Then Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'”

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Choosing to worship

Searching wrong places

Feeding soul more lies

Filling dark spaces

 

Choosing to worship

Searching earth’s treasures

Finding temptation

Offering pleasures

 

Choosing to worship

Searching for false gods

Yielding more sorrow

Seeing only frauds

 

Choosing to worship

Searching for new plan

Reading Scripture’s truth

Hearing Son of Man

 

Choosing to worship

Searching new measures

Praying to Father

Seeing His treasures

 

Choosing to worship

Searching for true joy

Discovering peace

Riding God’s convoy

 

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From Psalm 100:1-2:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.  Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”

Excited for Jesus

From John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

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Stirred up, walk with Jesus

Taking mercy’s high ground

Sharing our Savior

Hope never wavers

 

Overjoyed with Jesus

Stepping forward to serve

Loving our Savior

Grace never wavers

 

Pumped up for Jesus

Witnessing to others

Trusting our Savior

Peace never wavers

 

Thrilled to follow Jesus

Accepting Him always

Blessing our Savior

Joy never wavers

 

Moved to be with Jesus

Praying for each other

Meeting our Savior

Trust never wavers

 

Excited for Jesus

Living in His Kingdom

Praising our Savior

Faith never wavers

 

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From Philippians 1:6:  “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Ursula K. Le Guin Quotes

Courtesy of Pinterest.

No darkness lasts forever.  And even there, there are stars.

If you evade suffering, you also evade the chance of joy.

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was an American author who achieved success in the realm of science fiction as well as fantasy.

Hannah Whitall Smith Quote

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Where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account.

From John 14:27:  “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.”

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) was an American lay speaker and Christian author.  She was an active voice during the women’s suffrage movement as well as the temperance movement in the United States.

Looking Ahead

From the words of American-born philosopher, Pema Chadron:  “Be kinder to yourself, then let your kindness flood the world.”

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Waiting in life’s shadows, another year

Thinking conscious thoughts, ready to embrace

Setting aside more time for daydreaming

Leading to tomorrow’s energized space

 

Allowing positivity to shine

Sowing today’s seeds, filled with future hope

Reaping lasting harvest of inner peace

Looking ahead through New Year’s vivid scope

 

Finding humor’s lessons in life’s darkness

Focusing on single tasks, without more

Filling each day with heartfelt gifts of joy

Witnessing blessed year, coming ashore

 

Creating reservoirs of lasting light

Passing each on to others taking flight

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Advent’s Journey (Elfchen Series #131)

Prophetic

Trust

God’s promises

His actions awaken

Life’s wilderness shall blossom

Hope

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Witness

Hope

For Savior

God’s desires fulfilled

Bethlehem stable’s Holy ground

Peace

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Receive

Peace

Father’s gift

Lying in manger

Emmanuel, God with us

Joy

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Illuminating

Joy

Angels proclaim

Humble shepherds attest

Christ comes to save

Love

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Joy’s Game Changer (Third Sunday of Advent)

From Isaiah 35:10:  “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

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Facing constant waves

Overwhelming despair

Father seeking to save

Eternal grace cares

 

Bethlehem manger

Looking beyond today

Savior, joy’s game changer

Mercy’s light conveys

 

Hope breathes, Son of Man

King of Kings, Prince of Peace

God opens His divine plan

Joy’s new centerpiece

 

Angels’ choir deploys

Always singing above

Reflections full of joy

Peace filling with love

 

Scaling highest slopes

Locating lasting peace

Rebuilding life’s new hope

Joy shall never cease

 

Peace restored, anew

Joy’s steady, beating drum

Tomorrow’s hope accrues

Salvation to come

 

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With lyrics composed by renowned English hymn writer, Issac Watts, “Joy to the World” has become the most published Christmas hymn in North America.  These verses were penned in 1719, and they share an interpretation from Psalm 98.  In this Advent season, the hymn holds a special place with its emphasis on the joy we have been patiently waiting for.

God with Us (Elfchen Series #130)

Renewing

God’s

Magnificent creation

Praising every sunrise

Worshipping His blessed peace

Sustaining

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Affirming 

God’s

Sustaining spirit

Sunset never closes

Reaching for tomorrow’s hope

Awakening

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Cleansing

God’s

Awakening message

Endless joy sings

Mercy delivers His love

Forgiving

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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.

A. B. Simpson Quote

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We do not always feel joyful, but we are always to count it joy.

From James 1:2-3:  “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

A. B. (Albert Benjamin) Simpson (1843-1919) was a Canadian-born pastor, theologian, and Christian author.  He founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance.