Love lights more fire than hate extinguishes.
The two kinds of people on earth are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) was an American writer and poet. Her most famous poem was “Solitude” which begins with the following line: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”
Night vanishes
Dreaming of promised grace
Unfolded from moon’s light
Gratitude’s place
Morning’s darkness
Penetrating with cold
Surrounded without light
Yet, feeling bold
New day begins
Feeling comfort’s sunrise
Thrusted forward with light
Spirit’s franchise
Joy warms each heart
Breathing with renewed hope
Fulfilled with newfound light
View through life’s scope
Tomorrow waits
Drafting another page
Engaged with freshened light
Truth’s conscious stage
From Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
Called by Father’s grace Renewing Heaven’s light Receiving forgiveness Redemption takes flight
Called by river’s strength Flowing with nature’s rain Living waters fill light Taste of harvest’s grain
Called by Savior’s peace Discovering true hope Following blessed light Faith grips mercy’s rope
Called by Calvary Kneeling again to pray Witnessing Risen Light Transformation’s clay
Called by Spirit’s light Embracing Scripture’s Word Honoring every verse Truth no longer blurred
Called by destiny Walking in Christ’s shadow Matching His faithful steps Light’s grace always flows
From 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do this.”
From Luke 18:31-34: “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the gentiles, and He will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.’ But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what He said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
Only God above
Could design this script
Most wondrous love
Salvation’s light
Son of Man descends
Life among Gentiles
God’s love extends
Redemption’s flight
God shapes faith’s outcome
Through Christ’s crushed body
Truth’s kingdom comes
Fulfillment breathes
Tomorrow’s new hope
Inscribed on Christ’s heart
Viewed through God’s scope
Ultimate joy
God’s glorious plan
Covenant’s fresh voice
Debts paid for man
Christ sheds His blood
Most wondrous love glows
From heavenly seas
God’s peace shall flow
Purpose defined
First published in 1811, “What Wondrous Love Is This” shares a traditional American folk hymn (author unknown) which expresses the deep wonder of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love. You are invited to listen to the Concordia Choir from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Evolving
Creation unfolds
Stalwart mountains echo hope—
Valley’s breath of peace
Revealing
River’s distant past
Creation flowing as one—
Energy of life
Abounding
Darkness slips away
Light’s innocence beams above—
Creation’s bouquet
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
From Matthew 22:36-39: “‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'”
From Psalm 103:2-4: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”
Gracious Father’s mercy
Abounding depth of love
Steadfast, unconditional
Foresight received from above
Heavenly redemption
Healing each hardened heart
Grace flowing with forgiveness
Savior’s light confirms hope’s start
Father’s witness bears truth
Fulfilling righteous norms
Always love one another
Armor of light now transforms
Christ’s clearest instructions
Building love’s exercise
Works of darkness laid aside
Messiah’s trusted franchise
Called to forgive others
Shedding blindness through light
Love’s faithful fabric now sown
Relationship’s comfort bright
From Romans 13:10: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
From 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Eternity’s light
Calling mankind home
With every sunrise
Peace forever roams
Leaving sin’s darkness
Renewing faith’s lease
Forgiveness heals hearts
God’s love shall release
Truth speaks through Jesus
Transcending from light
Spiritual food
Strengthened to unite
Hope shall be fulfilled
Ascending faith’s rock
Savior’s blood cleanses
Each sheep of His flock
Grace in forgiveness
Breaking every chain
Each shadow of sin
Fades in Heaven’s rain
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Jim Cymbala: “God’s heart of mercy provides for us not only pardon from sin but also daily provision of spiritual food to strengthen us.”
Touching each distant star
Heavens open with joy
Journey’s welcome radar
Preparing to deploy
Viewing horizon’s light
Landscape’s inviting scene
Echoes of spirit’s flight
Embracing all that’s green
Flowing from river’s grace
Life awakens from peace
Eagerly keeping pace
Fitting each puzzle piece
Scaling mountainous peak
World sharing its footprints
Tomorrow’s hope one seeks
Sharing every imprint
Hearing contented voice
Comfort softens each heart
Truth offers steadfast choice
Stepping into day’s start
There was nothing dark and hidden about Jesus. He was and is the Light of the world, and He welcomed the Light.
From John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'”
Samuel Logan Brengle (1860-1936) was a Commissioner in the Salvation Army. He served as a leading author, teacher, and preacher on the doctrine of Holiness.
