Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life, meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God’s goodness.
From Ezekiel 36:26-27: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.”
This poem is inspired from a post from Jan Beek, based upon a recent Sunday message from her church. The message enlightened me with some wonderful applications to “The Walk to Emmaus.” Visit her post for this wonderful message, complemented with some great hymns.
Photo by Sebastian Palomino on Pexels.com
Empty, very little hope
Weary, walking this grim road
Lonely, life hides in darkness
Misery, each step feels slowed
Believing, He would be king
Remembering, life seemed alive
Listening, His words brought hope
Blessing, barren lives would thrive
Ignored, a bloody Cross stands
Vanquished, His tomb sitting hushed
Restored, hope rises again
Conquered, sin and death now crushed
Raised, Savior walking with us
Transformed, our hope now restored
Energized, with daily steps
Saved, by our Lord’s new accord
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com
From Luke 24:13-16: “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”
From Christian campus ministry founder, Bill Bright: “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God–no matter the circumstances.”
Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com
Celebrating Jesus each and every day
Receiving our lasting, priceless gift of joy
Smiling faces, always with kind words spoken
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Child of God, leaping with joy
Messiah’s birth, sends great joy
Rejoicing, today rises up as God’s day
Praising our faithful, Almighty Lord with joy
Sending out His strength and hope, God’s justice reigns
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Fruit of the Spirit, brings joy
God’s love, proclaiming His joy
Fleeing life’s messy scene, sorrow and worry
Lasting an eternity, singing with joy
Restoring in us, His joy of Salvation
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Life’s trials, nothing but joy
Holy Spirit, shouts with joy
Waking all of the city on Easter morn
Singing praises of “Alleluia” with joy
Restoring hope, defeating death on the Cross
Experiencing our Lord’s vigorous joy
Jesus, lasting source of joy
He’s Risen! Salvation’s joy
Photo by Bekka Mongeau on Pexels.com
From John 15:11: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
From Romans 3:23-25: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
His Resurrection awakens a new pathway
Christ’s blood, painting it blazing white
Our Father remolds life, from a new clay
Pharisees claiming to be servants of God
Viewing our Lord as not worthy, a sinner
Walking with sinners makes Him a fraud
Son of Man, unblemished Lamb of God
No one but Jesus, can walk to the Cross
Humbled Christians kneel, totally flawed
Jesus’ blood ransomed for sinners, you and me
This executioner’s tool, a cruel criminal’s Cross
Darkest sins, all nailed to this old, rugged tree
Watching from a short distance, the Cross stands
God pours out His love through His faithful Son
Exchanging darkness for light, from His hands
Walking faithfully with Christ, never alone
Keeping the Cross, always front and center
Our Savior’s suffering, faith’s cornerstone
On an Easter morn, Christ defeats death
Leaving a darkened tomb empty, Alleluia!
Salvation and peace, with every breath
Moving closer to the Cross, forgiveness rings
Accepting Christ as Lord, filled with His mercy
Making a new covenant with Jesus, hearts sing
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
From John 15:10-11: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com
Triumphantly
Jesus enters a joyous city
Jerusalem sings
Praising His name . . . Hosanna!
Witnessing
Emotional betrayal
Denying Christ
Then a rooster crows
Watching
Stunning procession fills the streets
Mocking with scorn
Would-be king, carrying our Cross
Hopes
Dashed by cruel Roman justice
Absent of sin
Son of Man, never to walk free
Numbness
With tears, seeing and hearing
Experiencing anguish
Horror at a blood-stained Cross
Photo by Alem Sánchez on Pexels.com
Silence
Covering the land, Father weeps
Messiah suffers
Many rejecting our Holy God
Hearing
Good News on Easter morning
Our Savior
Defeating sin and death
Empty
Dark tomb proclaims God’s plan
Jesus Christ
Risen! Reigning forevermore
Connecting
Dots between manger and Cross
Our Father
Love for us never wanes
Lingering
In the shadow of a criminal’s cross
Singing Alleluia!
To lasting, true meaning of the Cross
Glory
Residing forever in the Cross
Good Shepherd
Caring for His precious flock
Photo by icon0.com on Pexels.com
From Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Reading through the last four entries in my journal, God brought inspiration to bring this praise to Him. There entries provide the bulk of the this poem, along with a few selected writings of Apostle Peter. I hope this poem sustains hope in you during your daily journey. During Lenten season, we are reminded of the hope we receive through Jesus’ walk to an old rugged Cross.
Photo by Valdemaras D. on Pexels.com
With God’s truth leading us
Our faith growing each day
Fueled by our Lord above
Hope responds, let us pray
God guides with steadiness
Navigating our ship
Through ever-present storms
Safe on our Lord’s flagship
Life-giving hearts may hide
Our emotional selves
Yet, other times we find
God’s Word within ourselves
Sometimes, life proclaims
Our “red badge of courage”
Straight into inner souls
Our faith will encourage
Much like a frigid wind
Freezing our tender face
Life challenges us to bear
Torment covered by grace
Through our Father’s mercy
A new birth, a living hope
Jesus . . . Resurrection
Life viewed through His new scope
Photo by Matt Hardy on Pexels.com
From 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
From Romans 6:4: “Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Are we truly walking in Christ?
With a new life, born again
Follow Jesus, He paid our price
True sanctification will come
Only from burial of an old life
Known as “white funeral” to some
Baptized into Christ, the Holy Son
Baptized into His death
With His death, victory is won
Through the confirmed Resurrection
We humbly come to a Holy God
His defining purpose, brings reflection
God is leading, always out front
Facing trying times of adversity
Our duty shall be, always to confront
Come to almighty and loving God
Sanctify a promise with the Father
God’s will be done, by His rod
When Christ forever defeats the Cross
His lasting, living Resurrection offers
“Walking in newness of life,” without loss
To Jesus, surrender these sinful ways
Hear Him, accept Him, follow Him
Ask for His forgiveness, without delay
Mighty God of angel armies leads
His righteousness marches with us
Filling a hungry soul, His Word feeds
Freed from sin, obedient to God
Wages of sin only bring death
Accept Jesus, He overcomes all odds
Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com
From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher Oswald Chambers: “No one enters the experience of entire sanctification without going through a “white funeral”–the burial of the old life.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
From Luke 24:1-3: “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.”
A few believers stand in fear
God’s only Son dies a cruel way
Sorrow fills hearts so near
What will we now do and say?
Hope dies on a barren hill
Spotlighting a bloody cross
What happens—can’t be God’s will
Witnessing a life, now lost
Darkness fills a burial room
Feeling cold and forlorn
Sitting as an empty tomb
From here, hope is reborn
The sun rises on Easter morn
God’s Son fulfills His promise
Glorious Resurrection sets the norm
Even for a single, doubting Thomas
The greatest story ever told
We drop to a knee and pray
God’s action, never so bold
Victorious Christ, the final say
Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com
Photo by Simon Matzinger on Pexels.com
We have a clear path to choose
Anything else, we definitely lose
A godless enemy brings emptiness
He prowls and waits, eager to strike
His path only leads to unhappiness
Our lives feel like a bursting dike
We see the good life in front of us
But the light comes with false hopes
Glamour and riches without the fuss
Darkness clouds over life’s periscope
Gloomy doom brings promises, so empty
A champion bears our guilt and shame
There is a better way, filled with plenty
Life truly means more than just a game
The Light of Salvation chases away the dark
Christ bears our wounds at a bloody cross
The enemy slithers away, gone is his spark
Jesus’ Holy righteousness reaches across
Our loving Father sacrifices His only Son
His shed blood atones for our sinful ways
An empty tomb declares, Christ has won
Accept me and follow, He proudly says
We have a clear path to choose
Anything else, we definitely lose
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:14: “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Christ comes to the world
Bringing God’s love to us
Jesus sets the bar high
Higher than we can reach
Christ delivers two true teachings
To a sinful, unsaved world
Love your God, the Father
Love others more than yourself
Jesus does more than preach
He teaches us God’s truth
His hands heal the sick
Later pierced with sharpened nails
He raises up the dead
Just as He will rise
Christ, the Messiah, brings hope
He is Savior to mankind
Wearing a crown of thorns
Humbles himself on the Cross
Rising from a dark tomb
Christ forever defeats our sins
Christ serves His Holy Father
His sacrifice continues to give
He lives
The Resurrection lives
Eternal life lives
Respond to Christ in prayer
Humble, grateful—on our knees
Honor and praise Jesus Christ
Our eternal Savior and protector
His love lights the way
Accepting Jesus as our Savior
Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com
Big Sky Buckeye 