Divine Favor

From Ephesians 2:8:  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

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Dead from our trespasses

Sin ruling over man

Living outside God’s law

Called to accept His plan

 

God opens grace-filled door

Cooling desires of flesh

Sharing His mercy’s love

Today begins afresh

 

Salvation accepted

Lord’s spring of grace will flow

Tasting divine favor

Mistakes washed white as snow

 

Life christened with God’s joy

Made alive in Jesus

Overcoming weakness

Lord’s divine grace frees us

 

Eternal age to come

Lord’s love shall see us through

Saving us from darkness

Grace through faith comes in view

 

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From 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:  “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’  So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

Single Voice (Elfchen Series #77)

Searching

Voices

Too many

Communing with Scripture

Listening to just one

God

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Arriving

Darkness

Surrounding thee

Sin’s guilt heckling

Now hearing mercy’s voice

God

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Blessing

Alone

Competing thoughts

Who truly cares?

One voice offers grace

God

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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.

Among Saints

From Psalm  31:23-24:  “Love the Lord, all you his saints.  The Lord preserves the faithful,  but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

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Every life thirsts

For eternal love

Some find it, some won’t

Shared from God above

 

Life writes its story

Father values each

Treasured Book of Life

Gospel lessons teach

 

Chapter lengths vary

Some long and filling

Others short and brief

All earn top billing

 

No favorites here

Tranquility’s peace

Resting as equals

Memories won’t cease

 

Walking among saints

Honoring each one

Final resting place

Blessed setting sun

 

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From Psalm 23:6:  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Follow Him (Haiku Series #150)

Daily

Seeking lasting peace

Reverent morning prayer—

Kinship with our Lord

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Any Moment

Take each perfect gift

Coming from our Creator—

Transformed by His grace

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Moved to Action

Respond to His call

Loving hearts serving neighbors—

God of Mercy leads

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Charles Stanley Quote

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When Jesus asks His followers to be like salt, He is reminding us that we are valuable and necessary in bringing out the best–in one another as well as the world–through ordinary acts of service, mercy, love, and humility.

From Mark 9:49-50:  “For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Do You Hear?

From Deuteronomy 6:4-5:  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

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Busy with daily lives

Pausing now, do you hear?

As God listens, we should

Opening minds and ears

 

As God’s chosen, come close

Father waits with patience

Intently, carefully

Despite our impatience

 

Read His Word with earnest

Focus on, meditate

God’s living stone, breathing

Do you hear Him, so great?

 

His mercy chooses us

With never-ending love

Calling us from darkness

Finding God’s grace above

 

Face each hour with new hope

Follow with faithful steps

Lives chosen and precious

God waits at our doorstep

 

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From 1 Peter 2:9-10:  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

His Right Hand

From Psalm 139:9-10:  “If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast.”

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Story of doomed community

Losing its way, darkness surrounds

Hunger fueling gang violence

Crying out, injustice abounds

 

Life crushed in spirit, wandering

Wrecking faith, living defeated

Racism walks with extremism

Bringing sin’s death, feeling cheated

 

From dark despair, running away

Running to us, God with His grace

Love and mercy fill empty cups

Accepting His gift, let’s embrace

 

God’s right hand covers this land

Striking out envy, hate, and greed

Spirit finds us lost in life’s fog

Plowing under each sin-filled seed

 

Chaos no longer shatters dreams

Offering true, forgiving peace

God’s right hand, never grows weary

Lifting up lives, shall never cease

 

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From Psalm 89:13-14:  “You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, high Your right hand.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.”

Future Glory

From Isaiah 6:3:  “And one called to another and said:  ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.'”

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Expecting our best

God shall never rest

 

God’s future glory

Becomes our story

 

Adopting each child

Life now reconciled

 

What’s lying ahead?

God’s plan weaves its thread

 

Life fosters trials

Coming with each mile

 

His Word, guidance, love

Shining from above

 

God’s sacred fitness

Our constant witness

 

Daring to dream now

God’s mercy allows

 

Caring, righteous Lord

Trusting His accord

 

Patience encouraged

Waiting with courage

 

Together working

Blessed networking

 

Humbleness fills life

Removing all strife

 

Sowing fertile seeds

Harvest’s bread now feeds

 

Called by Jesus Christ

His blood sacrificed

 

Glory fills God’s name

Building each life’s frame 

 

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From 1 Corinthians 10:31:  “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

His Greatness Stands

From Psalm 146:1-2:  “Praise the LordPraise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”

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Bless the Lord’s name forever

Sing praises for Holy deeds

His greatness stands infinite

Loving us like tender reeds

 

Witness our Lord’s mighty acts

Share with each generation

His greatness lauds His goodness

Building our firm foundation

 

Recall love works from His hands

Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love

His greatness flows with mercy

Protecting us from above

 

Call on the Father this day

Pray to Him on humble knees

His greatness lighting the way

Watching over all He sees

 

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From Psalm 145:17-18:  “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

On Our Knees

From Psalm 32:7:  “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”

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With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

 

Coming to the Cross, with repentance

Humbly laying our transgressions there

On our knees, breaking bread together

In remembrance, Jesus truly cares

 

Coming to the Cross, seeking its hope

With reverence, looking to our Lord

On our knees, drinking wine together

Singing with praise to His perfect chord

 

Coming to the Cross, stained with red blood

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior

On our knees, praising God together

Walking with transforming behavior

 

With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

You are invited to click on the photo to listen to the hymn which inspired this poem, “Let Us Break Bread Together.” [Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com]