Joseph Charles Price

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I do not care how dark the night; I believe in the coming of the morning.

From Luke 1:78-79:  “Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Joseph Charles Price (1854-1893) was the founder of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.  He was a gifted orator as well as a leader in the African-American community in the southern United States.  He also served many congregations as pastor.

Everlasting Light (Elfchen Series #142)

Follow

Beholding

God’s Kingdom

Built upon righteousness

Come, receive His peace

Light

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Accept

Grace

Unselfishly given

Justified by faith

Always surrounded with Light

Jesus

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Witness

Personal

Lenten journey

Walking alongside Jesus

Darkness replaced with Light

Repentance

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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.

Grace Leading

From Matthew 5:13-14:  “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”

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Life’s human experience

Never-ending shortcomings

Darkness follows every step

Hearing its constant drumming

 

God’s Word shatters evil’s myth

Called to His righteous standing

Light shines with divine goodness

Offering safest landing

 

God’s eternal promises

Resurrection defines hope

Faith growing, following Christ

Scaling each slippery slope

 

God’s faithfulness never tires

Jesus fulfilling His law

Holy Spirit reaches out

Teaching, transforming life’s flaws

 

Kingdom of Heaven beckons

Earthly journey will be hard

Grace leading, trusting each day

Laying bricks toward God’s courtyard

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From Matthew 5:19:  “Therefore, whoever break one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails.

From 2 Corinthians 3:18:  “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher.  Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons.  Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.  I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Darkness Overcome

From Isaiah 9:2:  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

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Walking without light

Actions filled with sin

False gods and idols

Faith absent within

 

Living in darkness

Gloom filled with torment

God’s conquered people

Called now to repent

 

Hearing prophet’s call

Shadows hidden theft

Nation’s ember glows

God has never left

 

Seeing promised grace

Filled with renewed hope

Evil crawls away

Faith grasps mercy’s rope

 

Easing life’s burdens

True light’s beating drum

Fear replaced with joy

Darkness overcome

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From Isaiah 9:4:  “For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian.”

God’s Embrace

From Psalm 85:5-6:  “Will you be angry with us forever?  Will you prolong your anger to all generations?  Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?”

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Searching to find peace

Hidden by dark winds

Discomfort arrives

For mankind hath sinned

 

Touched by God’s embrace

Peace steps into light

Feeling His comfort

Grace washes flesh white

 

Praying to Father

Hope now reaches out

Finding peace at last

His Word carries clout

 

Steps walking in faith

God’s love shall not cease

Replacing darkness

Sharing endless peace

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From Luke 2:12-14:  “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!'”

Praising His Light

From Isaiah 9:2:  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Bethlehem, arrives light

Lying in stable’s manger

Humble birth of hope’s Savior

Grace no longer man’s stranger

 

Shepherds witness God’s glory

Kneeling and praising His light

Justice shall cover this land

Mercy’s, one eternal flight

 

Christ answers His Father’s call

Saving every tender reed

Light pushes away darkness

Evil shall never impede

 

Righteousness shall mark all days

Opening each heart and mind

Jesus shall never waver

His light, perfectly aligned

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From Isaiah 42:6-7:  “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

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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Eugene Peterson Quote

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You’re here to be LIGHT . . . Shine!  Be generous with your lives.

From Matthew 5:16:  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian author.

Coming King

From Isaiah 9:2:  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

World stumbling in darkness

God’s promises breathe truth

Shining cosmos bright light

Love’s descendant of Ruth

 

Heavy, burdensome tasks

Father sees mankind’s plight

Living life without joy

Heavens glow with His light

 

Son of God, born to us

Wonderful, Prince of Peace

Coming King, righteous reign

Never shall His light cease

 

Heavenly host praises

Angelic chorus sings

Kneeling shepherds humbled

From Bethlehem, light brings

 

Emmanuel’s new hope

God with us evermore

Turning darkness away

Light upon mercy’s door

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From Isaiah 9:6:  “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.”