Sovereign
Unlimited boundaries
God’s eternal presence
Penetrating life’s every moment
Assurance
Vision
Plans unhindered
God’s steady hand
Shaping with mercy’s breath
Divine
Purpose
Never doubt
God’s faithful promises
Reaching into man’s heart
Fulfilled
God’s plans are not hindered when the events of this world are carnal or secular. His presence penetrates, regardless.
From Psalm 138:4: “All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Witnessing
Empty tomb
Victory, Jesus lives
Hope’s darkness forever vanquished
Light
Impossible
Calvary’s cross
Crucifixion, death, burial
Meeting along Emmaus Road
Possible
Believing
Messiah’s Resurrection
Chains forever broken
Enemy’s false assurances shattered
Redemption
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.
From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
Every generation
Hope rests in Father above
His help in decades past
Built upon eternal love
From salvation’s refuge
Father’s strength grasps every hand
His presence shall defend
With faith’s shield, just as He planned
Hopeful hearts always trust
Father’s promises fulfilled
Morning’s light ever shines
Earthly ground now freshly tilled
Past, present, and future
Father’s guidance, count on it
Fed with living water
Darkness fades, ready to quit
Rejoice with today’s gift
Grace comes from Father above
Step forward, now accept
Songs of praise, filled with our love
With lyrics written in 1708 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” provides an enriching complement to Psalm 28. Watts fashioned this hymn from the verses of Psalm 90. You are encouraged to listen to American singer, Bing Crosby, as he presents this stirring hymn.
From Isaiah 9:2: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
Chained without freedom’s hope
Slaves to enemy’s grip
Bound in his deception
Lost in darkness, faith’s flagship
God sows fresh seeds of hope
Promised redemption’s road
Light upon wilderness
Blessed revelation’s code
Prayer seeks divine hope
Messenger prepares way
Foretold in prophet’s words
Endless night searches for day
God’s narrative shares hope
His Word shall become flesh
Faith’s promises fulfilled
Harvest’s righteous grain to thresh
New birth of living hope
Forgiveness leads outcome
Salvation shall rescue
Waiting for who is to come
Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son. Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.
One of Advent’s most enduring hymns is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The original text was composed in Latin during the 12th century. In 1861, English priest and scholar John Mason Neale translated the lyrics into what many Christians recognize and sing today.
From Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
Facing today’s darkness
Tomorrow’s light, shrouded
Uncertainty gathers
God’s answers, unclouded
Teaching His righteous ways
Mercy shared from above
Molded by potter’s hands
God’s faithful, steadfast love
Filling future with hope
Spirit, faith’s anchorman
Welfare’s future promised
God’s always fruitful plan
Strengthening character
Darkness fades into light
Heavens eternal voice
God raises faith’s White Knight
Offering redemption
Calvary opens heart
Grace from living waters
Christ blesses new life’s start
From Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
From Isaiah 43:1: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.”
Heavenly Father
Knowing what is best
His eternal presence
Leads man on his quest
Protection promised
Ford every river
Faith’s redeeming mercy
Spirit delivers
Encouragement brings
Restoration’s grace
Walking through every fire
Christ’s love to embrace
Precious in His sight
Hope fills cup, as planned
Chance eliminated
Gathered in God’s hands
Calling all nations
Eyes no longer blind
Accepting Father’s truth
Just as He designed
From Isaiah 43:9: “Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble. Who among them declared this and foretold to us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, ‘It is true.'”
From 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
From furnace of suffering
Comes self-reflection’s light
Joined with eternal heat
Burning away chaff in its sight
Trials open one’s closed eyes
Wakened senses now see
Embraced with Father’s grace
Witnessing what hope should be
Faith in mercy of Father
Reveals salvation’s gift
Undefiled, unfading
Transforming hope’s precious shift
Believe redemption’s promise
Testifies to Christ’s love
Destined to break sin’s chains
Raising Good News from above
Trust in Jesus, now rejoice
Tested by hottest fire
Revealed lasting glory
Defining hope, faith acquires
From 1 Peter 1:8-9: “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Don’t let obstacles along the road to eternity shake your confidence in God’s promises. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal that you will arrive.
From Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.”
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
One measure of your success will be the degree to which you build up others who work with you.
Never promise more than you can deliver, and always deliver what you promise.
James E. Casey (1888-1983) was an American businessman. He would be best remembered as one of the founders of American Messenger Company in 1907, which will later become known as UPS (United Parcel Service).
Big Sky Buckeye 