Autumn’s fading pulse
Winter’s joy arrives
Bearing gifts from darkness
Morning’s sky alive
Welcome transition
Wood stove’s warmth alive
Sharing gifts from darkness
Morning’s peace high-five
Clearest eastern sky
Alarm clock shows five
Yielding gifts from darkness
Morning’s grace now thrives
Crisp winter sunrise
Treasured light now thrives
Raising gifts from darkness
Morning’s spirit drives
Clouds moving away
Distant light shall drive
Bearing gifts from darkness
Morning’s breath survives
From Jeremiah 31:2-3: “Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Brought out of wilderness
Darkness no longer speaks
Good Shepherd offers rest
Strengthened, no longer weak
Joyful journey of peace
Mountains singing with praise
Faith’s vineyards now planted
Harvest reaping God’s ways
Gladness fills every heart
Light rises to applaud
Good Shepherd gathers flock
Destiny’s Lamb of God
Redemption flows from love
Forgiveness sown from grace
Bethlehem bears God’s Son
Enemy gives up chase
Darkness replaced with hope
Mercy’s love fulfills peace
Good Shepherd quiets storm
Spirit transforms faith’s lease
From John 10:14-16: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Need direction? Look in God’s Book.
From Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
From 1 Corinthians 15:56-58: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Each advancing year
Blessed by Father’s love
Overcoming through faith
Joy’s praises soar above
Journey’s protector
Loved by Holy Son
Reconciling sin’s sting
Heaven’s work shall be done
Resurrection’s light
Powered by Son’s grace
Transforming forgiveness
Today’s peace to embrace
Steadfast in spirit
Encouraged by Son
Raising up hope’s outlook
Tomorrow’s rising sun
Mercy found in Christ
Discouraged no more
Witnessing Calvary
Redemption’s open door
From the words of English preacher, Charles Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
From Luke 2:8-11: “Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
Humble shepherds
Tending flocks at night
Angel sharing great news
Shining from Bethlehem’s light
Minds awaken
Praising with great joy
Hearts filling with wonder
Witnessing love in this boy
Promise fulfilled
Giving thanks to God
Savior comes to rescue
Raising hope, at last unthawed
Darkness conquered
Forgiving man’s sin
Forever, King of Kings
Locking redemption’s linchpin
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
A man’s heart is right when he wills what God wills.
From Daniel 2:22: “He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
St. Thomas Aquinas was an Italian priest and theologian during the 13th century. During his time, he became one of the foremost thinkers and philosophers.
Buried among seeds of darkness
Fragile ember of light
Fractured so long ago
Breathing without hope this night
Surrounded by hidden shadows
Life searches for its peace
Emptied of hopeful thoughts
Whispering pain won’t decrease
Overwhelmed by hope’s icy breath
Tomorrow’s missing voice
Captured by someone else
Drifting, without any choice
Comforted by nurturing peace
Spirit scatters each cloud
Rescued by tender light
Trusting hope, darkness unplowed
You have to water the flowers you want to grow.
Make small commitments and keep them. Be a light, not a judge. Be a model, not a critic. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
Stephen Corey (born 1948) is an American writer, editor, and poet.
Witnessing
Risen Savior
Salvation’s eternal light
Sharing heavenly Good News
Discipleship
Bending
Another knee
Toward Calvary’s light
Heaven descends upon earth
Humility
Cascading
From heavens
Glory’s blessed light
Filled with Spirit’s grace
Peace
God takes us through struggles and difficulties so that we might become increasingly more committed to Him.
From 1 Peter 4:12: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Big Sky Buckeye 