Immanuel
Angel’s message
God with us
Living in human form
Jesus
Child
Humble birthplace
Sleeping in manger
Destined to save world
Redeemer
Rabbi
Parables taught
Faith’s promised answer
Arriving on Easter morn
Resurrection
From Philippians 3:10-11: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Living in darkness
Flesh from evil lasts
Searching for God’s light
Breaking from sin’s past
Walking with Jesus
Loss shall replace gain
Redeeming at cross
Witnessing His pain
Wanting to know more
Resurrection’s light
Pressing on in faith
Praising all that’s right
Spending time with Him
Eyes fixed on Jesus
Growing in His Word
Liberating us
Completing life’s course
Jesus waiting there
Fulfilling mercy
Answering prayers
From Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
From Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”
Observing man’s life without light
Sending grace from heaven to earth
Darkness to be vanquished outright
Harboring Spirit finds its berth
Witnessing Savior’s final task
Hanging from deadly, Roman tree
Filled with anguish, mercy unmasks
Taking man’s place, evil now flees
Sharing destiny’s greatest love
Bending God’s will upon one Son
Redemption designed from above
Breathing His last, mission now done
Seeing heaven’s eternal light
Descending upon empty tomb
Victory over sin takes flight
Overcoming enemy’s doom
From Romans 5:8-9: “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God.”
From Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Father filled with compassion
Reaching out with love-filled grace
Delivering eternity’s flame
Marked upon Calvary’s faithful place
Every whole heart giving thanks
Following Messiah’s voice
Blessings endure from His righteous deeds
Marked upon trust in faith’s lasting choice
Knowledge shall strengthen weakness
Resurrecting faith’s highway
Receiving mercy from one Savior
Marked upon covenant’s trusted way
Gospel spreads across nations
Moving every man to hear
Bearing Father’s truth to light each day
Marked upon faithful hearts, cross appears
Body and blood paying price
Sparing man from sin’s true cost
Tendering faithful actions of love
Marked upon new life, no longer lost
The chosen hymn to accompany this poem’s message is “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us.” The lyrics were crafted by English poet and hymn writer, Eliza S. Alderson (1818-1889). This video is presented by Mary Munson.
From Jonah 3:4-5: “Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.”
Called to live in tune
With our Father’s Word
Strengthened through His light
Path no longer blurred
Shaped by His patience
Never be shaken
Righteousness stands firm
Truth shall awaken
Set aside worries
Empowered to walk
With loving Father
Away from man’s talk
Transformed by faith’s light
Darkness now falling
Past sins nailed to cross
Follow Lord’s calling
Called to repentance
Step forward in Christ
Delivered through grace
His blood sacrificed
From 1 Corinthians 7:29-31: “I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.”
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 Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Sitting on grassy hillside
Hearing Christ’s blessed teachings
Thirst for righteousness, be filled
Spirit forever reaching
Gathering each disciple
Walking ahead of His flock
Shepherd leading faithful sheep
Kingdom’s always steady rock
Answering God in heaven
Blessing each thought and action
Each stranger shall be welcomed
Peace filling hope’s new traction
Lifting up from fallen steps
Bearing fruits, quiet manger
Power of praying Spirit
Faith’s confident game changer
Thirsting no more, risen Light
Resurrecting blood-stained love
God wipes away every tear
Joy forever sings above
From Revelation 7:16-17: “They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat, for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Rather than trying hard to grope our way through the maze of man-made ideas and opinions, through Christ we find ourselves empowered by the tragedy and triumph of the cross.
From Romans 5:10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life.”
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.”
Originally published April, 2020.
From 1 Thessalonians 4:14: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died.”
Big Sky Buckeye 