Sinking
Enemy’s darkness
Waves crashing down
Empty tomb’s salvation light
Rising
Light
Father’s plan
Love’s ultimate sacrifice
Resurrection’s grace shines forever
Victorious
Witnessing
Blessed assurance
Light conquers darkness
Every sin forever paid
Redemption
From Luke 24:13-15: “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.”
On life’s Emmaus Road
Walking closely with thee
Grace of Jesus bestowed
Calvary’s path sets us free
Wilderness gathers near
Walking down evil’s road
Christ’s love making it clear
Sinful darkness now implodes
Life’s burdens weighing down
Walking with Christ, our Lord
Mercy begins countdown
Redemption coming on board
Heaven’s kingdom awaits
Walking each faithful path
Salvation opens gate
Jesus bridges judgement’s wrath
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 Luke 24:6-7: “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.”
Enemy’s motives
Darkness full of fraud
Life spiraling down
Behind his facade
Trapped, with no escape
Caught in evil’s net
Each wave crashing down
Sinking deeper yet
Flowing river’s faith
Never left alone
Christ walks on water
Freed from this millstone
Hearing trumpet sound
Redemption’s surge swells
Blessed assurance
Now soul shall be well
Blood pays any cost
Sins nailed to this tree
Witness empty tomb
Rising, Light now free!
The hymn “When Peace, Like a River” inspired the writing of this poem. The lyrics were written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873. The song is sometimes titled from a line in the popular refrain, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
From Psalm 4:8: “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”
Lying awake in night’s darkness
Hearing promises from voices
Most too good to really be true
Filled with countless, empty choices
Tackling another stressful day
Witnessing contrasting voices
Thoughts quite overwhelming again
Faltered in making best choices
Retreating into quiet place
Searching, listening to voices
Father’s Word opens mind and heart
Found at last, His trusted choices
Hearing each righteous cry for help
Nurturing Father’s faithful voice
Enemy’s plan reduced to dust
Raised His Son, salvation’s sole choice
Harvesting empty void no more
Walking in step with Savior’s voice
Jesus cries out, journey finished
Saved man with mercy’s final choice
Seeing truth in these promises
Extending Father’s righteous voice
Grace deepens His Son’s love for thee
Accepting Christ, life’s blessed choice
From John 19:29-30: “A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
From John 12:12-13: “The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!'”
Son of Man enters city
Making final human walk
Fulfilling Father’s design
Ignoring others who mock
Many celebrate Jesus
Thinking He shall be their king
Throwing off Roman rulers
Ignoring grace, set to spring
Enemy sees victory
Overlooking supreme God
Forgetting Christ’s destiny
Ignoring his evil fraud
Calvary’s lonely Cross weeps
Covering in Savior’s blood
Setting up love to conquer
Releasing mercy to flood
Resurrection breathes forever
Proclaiming lasting Good News
Building bridge to salvation
Raising faith’s redemptive view
From Ephesians 1:7-9: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ.”
From Psalm 69:14: “Rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.”
Watching man’s plight
God takes human form
Breathing Scripture’s cues
Mercy conquers storm
Stumbling in faith
God sees lack of trust
Sending His own Son
Evil becomes dust
Breaking sin’s chains
Calvary’s blood flows
Kneeling in prayer
Light enters shadows
Walking through fire
Grace making descent
Pulsing with courage
God always present
Witnessing cross
Spirit opens eyes
Accepting Jesus
God, more than life-size
From 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Looking down from Heaven
Observing broken world
Father, Son, and Spirit
Designing rescue’s lifeline
Dispatching Son to earth
Walking among sinners
Light’s rescue comes to save
Taking perfect human form
Witnessing Father’s love
Executing rescue
Journey to bloody Cross
Rebuilding faith’s cornerstone
Voiding enemy’s lies
Saving flawed humanity
God’s rescue overcomes
Replacing darkness with light
Paying man’s debts in full
Bearing each transgression
Through Son’s body and blood
Raising salvation’s rescue
From Acts 2:37-39: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him.'”
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
Originally published October, 2019.
When you find yourself slumping in shame or giving way to guilt, remind yourself of this: You have been chosen by the Good Shepherd. He wants you in His flock.
From John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask Him in My name.”
When we view life from God’s perspective, every hardship becomes an opportunity to trust His good purpose, fully depend on Him, and respond in a manner that glorifies and exalts Christ.
From Philippians 1:27-28: “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.”
Big Sky Buckeye 