Branching Out

From Joshua 24:15:  “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

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Glory of God breathes

Upon those who serve

Accepting His call

Filling faith’s reserve

 

Light’s pathway to serve

Faith growing robust

Witnessing Jesus

Branching out with trust

 

Christ’s blessed invite

Service taking root

Maturing in faith

Sharing Spirit’s fruits

 

Filled with reverence

Journey’s faithful prep

Holding fast to serve

Walking in Christ’s steps

 

Humble in spirit

Unselfish intent

Assisting faith’s growth

Serving as Christ meant

 

Promise to follow

Grace flowing with love

Growing faithfulness

Serving Father above

 

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From John 12:26:  “Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, there will My servant be also.  Whoever serves Me, the Father will honor.”

Faith Shall Trust

From Habakkuk 2:4:  “Look at the proud!  Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.”

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Too many demands

Fewer precious hours

Life out of control

Darkness set to devour

 

Light beams from God’s Word

Life’s frantic pace slows

Moment by moment

Steps finding high plateau

 

Fresh landscape of peace

In God, faith shall trust

Heart fills with new hope

Priorities adjust

 

Hidden darkness flees

Armor of light worn

God’s grace stretching out

His answers come each morn

 

Prayer’s conveyance

Journey with God’s love

Freedom at last found

Guidance breathes from above

 

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From Romans 13:12:  “The night is far gone; the day is near.  Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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We live our lives under the careful, loving, gracious, albeit sovereign, hand of our God.  And the movements of time and history tick off according to His reckoning, exactly as He ordained.

From Psalm 31:14-15:  “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in Your hand.”

Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.

In Step With Jesus (Elfchen Series #214)

Trust

Pursuing

Faith’s righteousness

Light opens path

Steps honor Savior’s grace

Found

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Community

Building

Lasting relationships

Quiet reflection’s refreshment

Accepting Savior’s timeless grace

Strengthened

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Harvest

Tasting

Precious wisdom

Cultivating Savior’s grace

Sprinkled with tomorrow’s hope

Behold

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Charles Swindoll Quote

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It is only through Scripture, applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that we receive the grace to trust God in everything.

From Hebrews 10:39:  “But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.”

Charles Hodge Quote

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To be in Christ is the source of the Christian life; to be like Christ is the sum of His excellence; to be with Christ is the fullness of His joy.

From 2 Corinthians 5:17:  “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:  everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!”

Charles Hodge (1797-1878) was an American theologian and Christian teacher.

Charles Hodge Quote

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Faith is not a blind, irrational conviction.  In order to believe, we must know what we believe, and the grounds on which our faith rests.

From 1 Corinthians 2:4-5:  “My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”

Charles Hodge (1797-1878) was an American theologian and Christian teacher.

Growing in Christ (Elfchen Series #193)

Trusted

Praises

Forever grateful

Faith’s resolute cornerstone

Resurrection’s truth rings out

Jesus

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Loved

Jesus

Contentment found

In Savior’s grace

No greater peace felt

Faith

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Saved

Faith

Eternal light

Bethlehem to Calvary

Victory over sin’s darkness

Redemption

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Beacon’s Night Thread

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Navigating stormy seas

Hazardous, rocky shore

Hidden perils loom ahead

Darkness waiting to score

 

Facing overwhelming odds

Danger swarms all about

Faith’s ally always waiting

Rescue coming, no doubt

 

Searching for safety’s refuge

Lighthouse offers assist

Brighter than any moonlight

Mercy found in its midst

 

Steering away from trouble

Calmer waters ahead

Eerie sky shines like daylight

Promised beacon’s night thread

 

Arriving at safe harbor

Harm retreating away

Gratitude’s voice welcomes home

Sunrise blesses this day

 

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Hope Fulfilled (Elfchen Series #184)

Reflection

Hope’s

Quiet trust

Faith lifted up

Light fortifies tender heart

Song

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Reaction

Hope’s

Faithful spirit

Following mercy’s light

Kneeling at Calvary’s cross

Prayer

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Restoration

Hope’s

Steadfast love

Watching for light

Faith waits with patience

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.