Love children especially. They live to soften and purify our hearts.
The soul is healed by being with children.
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian writer and journalist. Numerous critics rank him as one of the finest novelists in all of world literature.
Praises
Forever grateful
Faith’s resolute cornerstone
Resurrection’s truth rings out
Jesus
Jesus
Contentment found
In Savior’s grace
No greater peace felt
Faith
Faith
Eternal light
Bethlehem to Calvary
Victory over sin’s darkness
Redemption
Teaching is one of the few professions that permit love.
I learn by going where I have to go.
Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) was an American poet. In 1954, he was awarded with the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
From Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
With every sunrise
Heart filling with grace
Overflowing love
From heavenly place
Freed of darkest clouds
Light removes blindness
Beginning at home
Power of kindness
Father’s chosen ones
Mercy stirs inside
Clothed with humbleness
Joyful, lasting ride
New life takes over
Love leads our labors
Voices singing psalms
Forgive each neighbor
Peace of Christ shall lead
“Golden Rule” thrives
Called as one Body
Compassion arrives
From Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
From Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
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Creating a rainbow, love inspires
Connecting two lives, becoming one
Merging together, feelings inside
Celebrating, we’ve only begun
Meeting at life’s crossroads, love brings truth
Confessing before our Lord, now one
Living as a twosome, sharing love
Spending time together, never done
Cherishing our love, always special
Sharing our dreams, dwelling between us
Leading us on a life adventure
Capturing a moment, on life’s bus
Depending on each other, love bonds
Growing tired of each other, never
Celebrating God’s gifts, shared with us
Changing our minds about us, never
Weathering life’s storms, love conquers all
Singing Hallelujah, love declares
Leaning on each other, love endures
Treasuring us, God’s love truly cares
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From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Originally published April, 2020.
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Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.
From Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was an American pastor and Christian author. He was remembered for his charismatic preaching as well as writing the lyrics of the beloved Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
Foreseeing
Insurmountable force
Against all odds
Trusting in God’s promises
Hope
Surrounding
Darkness surfaces
Never feeling forsaken
Heavenly light breaking through
Peace
Encountering
Stormy seas
By faith alone
Grace delivers blue skies
Joy
God is sheer mercy and grace.
From Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian author.
From Psalm 118:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”
Hope’s refuge, waiting in Lord’s highest place
Father’s steadfast love endures forever
Lighting way for each faithful endeavor
Proclaiming Savior’s song of victory
Bond of peace, opened at Calvary’s cross
Unified as one with body of Christ
Sharing patient gentleness, though high-priced
Bearing one another in faithful love
Measure of forgiveness, joy’s lasting gift
Marvelous in Lord’s single, faithful breath
Overcoming lasting darkness and death
Waiting at heaven’s gate, His love-filled grace
Witnessing Savior’s nail-pierced hands and feet
Faith’s Resurrection, forever complete
From Luke 24:36-39: “While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet; see that it is I myself. Touch Me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.'”
From Romans 3:20: “For no human will be justified before Him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Falling far short
With Father’s law
Darkness of sin
Man’s many flaws
False righteousness
Enemy seeks
Transgressions breathe
Judgment shall speak
Condemnation
Actions deserved
Love intervenes
Mercy preserved
Empty works fade
Grace filled with love
Sin meets Savior
Called from above
Calvary bleeds
Empty tomb’s light
Redemption saves
Heaven’s hope bright
Righteousness found
In Christ, our Lord
Through faith, not works
By His accord
From Romans 3:27-28: “Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”
