God’s love for us and our resulting love for Christ compel us to obey Him in all things.
From John 14:23-24: “Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.'”
Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope. Sometimes we cry with everything except tears.
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 or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
From 1 John 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
Vulnerable and broken
Young lives scattering like chaff
Fractured, alone in darkness
Story needs new paragraph
Emulating Jesus’ love
Family opens their home
One lost child, then another
Spirit reaches out, love roams
Called by Christ, door swings open
Wrapping His love around each
Two daughters bond as sisters
New lessons waken to teach
Family’s love grows daily
Centered around faith and trust
Christ’s joy filling each new page
Four lives together, robust
Future looking brighter now
Surrounded by parents’ love
Sisters linking together
Jesus smiles from above
In the United States, the month of November recognizes the significance of adoption. When a family reaches out to provide foster care for a deserving child, this is one of life’s most unselfish, blessed tasks. As in the case of our family, this story opens life’s new chapter for our granddaughters, both adopted into our family.
Sin
Darkness prowling
One eternal sacrifice
Savior’s blood breaks chains
Forgiveness
Awaken
New dawn
High Priest Jesus
Empty tomb forever rejoices
Salvation
Love
None greater
Father sends Son
World saved through Him
Believe
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.
Life crushed and shattered
Love’s undelivered intent—
Youthful innocence
Where walked once before
Narrative regains traction—
Now making new tracks
Confidence growing
Moments shared with life’s mentors—
Lessons never end
Hiding
World’s light
With swirling anarchy
Sharing Gospel, removing darkness
Faith
Seeking
Father’s heart
Giving of ourselves
Kneeling at Calvary’s cross
Hope
Reading
God’s Word
Grace and mercy
Calling us to repentance
Love
There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving. But wants easier?
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a best-selling American poet, who received many honors for her work. Her love of nature can be found in much of her writing, and it resulted in honors from the National Book Award in 1992 and Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
It is by loving and not by being loved that one can come nearest to the soul of another.
There is no harm in being afraid. The only harm is in doing what fear tells you. Fear is not your master! Laugh in his face and he will run away.
George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. His writings covered a variety of literary themes from fantasy to theological. He was also a mentor for writer Lewis Carroll.
Chosen by Jesus
Harvest love’s fruit from His vine—
Sharing with others
Embrace God’s commands
Filled with Holy Spirit’s love—
Walking with Jesus
Love one another
Watching out for each brother—
Christ’s chosen tenet
Blessed sun rises, starting a new day
A precious day, under Lord’s watchful eyes
Celebrate this day, riding in love’s sleigh
Nothing ever holding back, watching doves fly
Singing of praises, blessing this fresh start
Jesus walking with us, our daily bread
Sharing this day, between loving sweethearts
Together, God’s Word keeps us full and fed
Our love sparks an endless celebration
God’s love filling hearts, fulfilling our fate
Singing songs, with love and adoration
Celebrate this day, love’s delightful taste
Jesus shares His joy, smiling from above
Making our joy complete, filling with love
