Charles Swindoll Quote

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God will use failure in your life to break down that strong desire in your heart to see your name in lights.  And when He finally breaks you of that lust for recognition, He may place you before the lights like you’ve never imagined.  But then it won’t matter.  You won’t care if you’re prime time of small time, center stage or backstage, leading the charge or packing the baggage.  You’re just part of the king’s army.

From Galatians 5:26:  “Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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We can’t avoid darkness or pain in this life.  But we can go to the Lord in our weakness, knowing that In Him we are made stronger.

From 2 Corinthians 3:17-18:  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Follow Me (Elfchen Series #225)

Welcoming

Christ’s

Door opens

Inviting another sinner

Come, walk with me

Awakening

Promised

Messiah’s

Blessed grace

Opens wayward heart

Waiting at Heaven’s door

Transformation

Merciful

Savior’s

Faithful witness

Father’s door opens

Rising with Calvary’s forgiveness

Redemption

All images courtesy of Pinterest.

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.

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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Gathered Peace (Elfchen Series #221)

Alone

Overwhelming

Darkness surrounds

Facing numbing trials

Jesus draws ever closer

Grace

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Lost

Seeking

Life’s answers

Wayward miles traveled

Kneeling at Jesus’ feet

Forgiveness

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Found

Transforming

Light ahead

Resurrection’s eternal flame

Chains of transgressions broken

Redemption

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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.

Righteousness Feeds Faith

From John 4:23-24:  “But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

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Wilderness travels

Darkness trembles, taking flight

Father always with thee

Witnessing Savior’s light

 

Mayhem’s daily noise

Stepping away, seeking peace

Father delivers truth

Savior transforms faith’s lease

 

Hope flowing with joy

Aligning with Spirit’s heart

Father’s eternal love

Savior’s breath brings fresh start

 

Cross proclaims mercy

Paying for every debt owed

Father’s unselfish grace

His love paves Savior’s road

 

Righteousness feeds faith

Bearing Spirit’s timely fruits

From Father’s blessed vine

Savior nurtures each root

 

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From John 15:7-8:  “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.”

Share Savior’s Grace

From John 20:19-20:  “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side.  Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

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Witnessing faithful heart

Soul filling with boldness

Praying to Risen Savior

Transformed from Calvary’s coldness

 

Flowing from high mountains

Gift of living water

Feeding Jordan’s headwaters

Baptized each son and daughter

 

Proving mercy conquers death

Christ leads to faith’s rebirth

Walking no more in darkness

Anchored forgiveness at hope’s berth

 

Hearing “Peace be with you”

Spirit’s power now comes

Bestowing eternal joy

Heard from harmony’s faithful drum

 

Calling each believer

Go forth, share Savior’s grace

Blessing as He blesses us

Enriched with Resurrection’s embrace

 

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From Acts 4:32-33:  “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”

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.  

Monday Memories: God’s Word Reaches Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me.”

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Being careful with life’s missteps

Sinful disobedience waits

God’s Word touches our inner soul

Hell pleasing, never be our fate

 

Our truest, most faithful support

Shall always arrive from His love

God’s Word will endure forever

His Spirit reigns from high above

 

When life’s dark trials boil over

Creating quagmires of distress

God’s Word quells each predicament

His next move leads like playing chess

 

Our life’s journey travels by faith

Transformed by Christ’s merciful heart

God’s Word reaches out, filled with hope

Bringing a new day, let’s restart

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From 2 Corinthians 5:7:  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Originally published July, 2020.