Defining Hope

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.”

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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

 

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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.”

Trusted Opportunity (Elfchen Series #222)

Journey

Seeking

Father’s door

Hiding in darkness

Overcome with shameful sin

Finding

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Repentance

Finding

Father’s door

Replacing selfish motives

Approach with sincere humbleness

Knocking

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Restoration

Knocking

Father’s door

Releasing earthy idols

Transformed heart, knocking again

Opening

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John Owen Quote

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There is no way of deliverance from the state and condition of being in the flesh, but by the Spirit of Christ.

From Romans 8:3-4:  “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

John Owen (1616-1683) was an English Puritan church leader and theologian.

Messiah’s Light

From Isaiah 53:9:  “They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”

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Born before light breathes

God’s master blueprint

Only darkness exists

Waiting, His Son’s footprint

 

Sin breathes at Eden

Perfect light shattered

Tomorrow’s harsh darkness

Righteousness now scattered

 

From garden’s shadows

Bloody cross awaits

Savior’s light journeys on

From heaven’s open gate

 

God’s people wander

Darkness covers world

Divine plan’s fulfillment

Messiah’s light unfurled

 

Light moves against sin

Nailed to rugged tree

Every transgression paid

Saving grace sets man free

 

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From Isaiah 53:10:  “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction.  When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.”

John Greenleaf Whittier Quote

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Thine to work as well as pray, clearing thorny wrongs away; plucking up the weeds of sin, letting heaven’s warm sunshine in.

From Isaiah 61:11:  “For as the earth brings forth its shoots and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an American poet.  His Quaker background entrusted him to advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Elizabeth George Quote

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Obedience is a foundational stepping-stone on the path of God’s will.

From 1 John 2:1-3:  “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  Now by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commandments.”

Elizabeth George (born 1944) is an American Christian author and speaker.  

Charles Swindoll Quote

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Pride, fear, resentment, and habit are all tough evidences of the flesh.  But those who are being shaped into the image of Christ do not go the way of the flesh.

From 1 Timothy 4:7-8:  “Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Hope in Godliness

From 1 Timothy 6:6-8:  “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”

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Waking to another day

Spurning Father’s safety rope

This world demands perfection

Without Heaven’s faithful hope

 

Feeling pressure with each step

Witnessing ungodliness

Imperfect world falling apart

Father’s hope in godliness

 

Slowing down journey’s high speed

Pausing to count each blessing

Hope pursues His righteousness

Father’s truth now addressing

 

Discovering contentment

Filling hope with timely grace

Senseless desires abandoned

Father’s peace comes to embrace

 

Cherishing Oneness in hope

Sending trusted Light to bear

Forgiveness from divine Rock

Father’s Son shall truly care

 

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From 1 Timothy 6:13-14:  “ In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Embracing Grace (Elfchen Series #206)

Turning Point

Facing

Darkness alone

Another door opens

Patience discovers mercy’s reward

Opportunity

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Healing Brokenness

Tasting

God’s Word

Holy Spirit guides

Always toward Savior’s light

Redemption

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Coming Alive

Witnessing

Sinful nature

Separated from Father

Christ resurrects salvation’s bridge

Love

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Charles Swindoll Quote

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Instead of living in the grip of fear, held captive by the chains of treason and dread; when we release our preoccupation with worry, we find God’s hand at work on our behalf.

From Ephesians 2:13-14:  “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He is our peace; in His flesh He has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.”