The night is long, and dark, and strong, but the morning must come; and how what a sunrise will it be.
From Psalm 30:4-5: “Sing praises to the Lord, O you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
John Angell James (1785-1859) was an English pastor and Christian writer.
From Psalm 17:15: “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding Your likeness.”
Darkness surrounds
Searching for light
God’s vision breathes
Faith’s trusted Knight
Peace from God’s Word
Lighting new road
Vision forgives
Mercy’s love code
Conscience wakens
Beholding God
Renewed vision
No longer flawed
Prayer’s answers
Hearing God’s voice
Hope’s fresh vision
Truth’s blessed choice
Purest in heart
Tasting God’s grace
Joy’s vision found
Faith’s trusted place
From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Faith’s
Divine garden
Seeded without weeds
Nourished with Living Water
Maturity
Hope’s
Fertile soil
Cultivated with grace
Sunrise offers endless bounty
Harvest
Joy’s
Fruitful journey
Sustained with love
Sown with trusted hands
Gratitude
From John 15:10-11: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Rejoicing with Father
Peace quiets every storm
Joy’s spirit transforms heart
Nurturing, always warm
Learning from Father’s Word
Faith nourished, always trust
Joy sails on eagle’s wings
Bringing light, always just
Receiving Father’s grace
Precious gift of each day
Joy cascades from His love
Rising sun, never gray
Walking in Father’s steps
Hope breathes with every stride
Joy’s anticipation
Filling outlook with pride
Kneeling at Father’s feet
Gratitude sweeps ashore
Joy flowing with gladness
Entering Heaven’s door
From the words of American evangelist, Bill Bright: “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God.”
Joy is the great note all throughout the Bible.
Joy is the serious business of heaven.
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Messiah
Speaking truth
Heavenly praises above
Leading believers to Eternity
Joy
Savior
Sharing grace
Light brightens tomorrow
Filling with love’s forgiveness
Hope
Jesus
Offering rest
Mercy shares peace
Bearing heaviest of burdens
Faith
From 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5: “But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
Embracing Gospel’s light
Strengthened through trust in our Lord
Faith’s destiny secure
Longing for Heaven’s reward
Proclaiming Scripture’s truth
Encouraged to follow Christ
Faith’s lasting breath fulfilled
Paying with blood sacrificed
Kneeling now in prayer
Dispirited no longer
Presence of light in Christ
Enduring faith grows stronger
Witnessing faithfulness
Redeemed through Good Shepherd’s love
Forgiveness rises up
Transforming saints from above
Setting sun blest with peace
Heartened faith savors Lord’s grace
Confidence fills with joy
Trusting hope’s redeeming place
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.”
From Psalm 5:11-12: “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield.”
Spirit infuses Scripture with God’s joy
Rejoice in His masterpiece of each day
Nourished with grace, forwarded to enjoy
Always Holy, shall be His fruitful ways
From heart’s depths, God composes grace with joy
Righteousness forever breathes from above
Mercy descends in Savior He deploys
Forgiveness rebuilds empty faith through love
God’s blessings harvest His fullness of joy
Truth’s timely interactions, never gray
Promises of faithfulness He employs
Gateway of grace received, let all now pray
Salvation’s light transforms darkness of sin
Joy praises covenant of faith’s linchpin
From Psalm 16:11: “You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
From Genesis 1:1-3: “When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Early morning giants
Creator in its midst
Forest landscape stirring
His breath offers assist
Glorious sky blossoms
Creator brightens light
Sunrise worships with praise
Night’s glory taking flight
Vision of what He wants
Creator wakens rain
Parched wilderness transformed
Gratitude fills each vein
Salvation always near
Creator sharing grace
Gentle waters flowing
Life reborn in this place
Heavenly eyes look down
Creator turns new page
Everlasting joy sings
Nature’s gifts come of age
From Genesis 2:1-3: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that He had done in creation.
Nature’s rendezvous
Tasting every breath of grace—
Tomorrow can wait
Morning peace gathers
Hiking on destiny’s trails—
Close to Creator
Joining for breakfast
Coffee plus conversation—
Life “over easy”
Big Sky Buckeye 