God gives grace to us and and as it blossoms in our hearts we know him better.
BLOSSOM IN OUR HEARTS
Blossom in our hearts
the grace that you’ve bestowed
the grace that set us free
the grace that to us flows
Blossom in our hearts
the love that sent your Son
the love that draws us near
the love that said “it’s done”
Blossom in our hearts
the fragrance that shows you
the fragrance that says life
the fragrance that speaks truth.
Category Archives: hope
IT WAS NOT ME
This is my story about God and me. I didn’t make the first move; he did. And he has given me life that will not end. I praise his name.
IT WAS NOT ME
It was not me who called on God,
when I was in death's land.
But it was God who called on me--
grace extended from his hand.
It was not me who called on God
when I was in death's way.
But it was God who called on me
and pulled me in the day.
It was not me who called on God
to bring me into light.
But it was God who called on me
and gave to me true sight.
2016
EASTER IS COMING!
Easter is soon here! What a blessed day. Through it, we gain life as we repent and give ourselves to him! Praise to his name!
A GREAT DEEP CHASM
In me is a great deep chasm,
darkness showing only death.
In it lives no God of glory,
only that which is of earth.
But the God of all creation
looked on earth, then he chose me.
out of love he touched my heart,
saved me and he set me free.
Someday soon that blessed Savior
comes again to take me home,
taking out the sin and evil
causing me from him to roam.
Filling up the great deep cavern
with his life and righteousness,
I will ever in his presence,
praise him for his holiness.
Darlene Estlow
PRAY AND PRAISE
Christmas is a glorious time to step aside every so often and meditate on Jesus’s coming so many years ago and now how he has a center in my life. So I bring my needs to him, but also my praises for what he has and will do.
AS I PRAY
As I pray, I see your work
in others' lives and in my own.
So patiently I lift the needs
of those I love and of my own.
May you be praised in all our deeds
as we go forth in praising you,
living for your glory, Lord,
walking in your power, truth.
A Light Shines
Christmas is so close. How blessed we are to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior!
A LIGHT SHINES
In the darkness
a light shines
that cannot be quenched.
In the shadows
a light shines
and hope grows bright.
In the night
a light shines
and joy is birthed.
BORN A BABY
What hope Christmas brings. Life is scary and bad things are happening. But this is not all there is. God, in His love, sent His Son as a human being to give us hope.
BORN A BABY Born a baby Born a king Through the skies Glories ring. Peace with God the angels say He is bringing Freedom's day Worship Him the worthy one for the baby is God's Son Darlene Estlow 2021
EASTER
A few months ago, we celebrated Christmas–God incarnate, coming in the flesh as a baby. How neat to celebrate that time!
But now the baby is grown. He has died. He has risen. He is alive. I celebrate because I have life in Him, beginning when I came to believe in Him and accept His lordship, to go through eternity! So I celebrate. I have hope!
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you when he was still with you in Galilee?”
(Luke 24:5, 6)
THE TRUTH BE TOLD
The truth be told we’re tied to sin.
Iniquity, transgression tell the truth
of our lives. Sin tosses us bare bones for
life but death is our reward and takes our hope.
But One from heaven took human form and lived
in total submission to His Father, defeating
death and delivering deliverance to those
who choose His life. The truth be told,
our ties to sin are demolished.
Life is transformed.
We have hope.
(2018)
DEATH HAS LOST ITS STING
Rejoice! for death has lost its sting.
The grave is empty, for the King
no longer lies in chains of death.
He is alive, defeated death.
This living King will soon one day
rule earth and heaven in righteous way.
No longer will the evil stain
what God has made, for Christ will reign.
(2018)
HOPE
The results of our election for the President have left some feeling hopeless. They fail to realize that government isn’t the answer. Hope came to earth 2000 years ago when God Himself came to earth and with His life, death, and resurrection showed us there is more to life than what we see here. This life is not all there is. I am so glad.
For those who have lost hope, regardless of the situation:
HOPE
In the middle of bitter days,
God gave me a seed of hope.
I buried it deep in the soil
of my heart, far from the
probing eyes of the Spirit of God.
I feared the Light that He Is
would cause it to live and thrive
and bring pain. But God plowed
my heart with His Word and watered
the soil with His love. My heart
surrendered to the growing
seed and yielded a garden
of joy and trust in the living God.
Darlene ©2005
May God fill you with His hope in Jesus!
Christmas and Family
I went to my younger daughter’s place for Christmas–well not quite Christmas. I came back Christmas eve because they were going to my son’s-in-law family for Christmas. His sweet mother invited me to come along and share Christmas with them, but I decided it would be nice to spend Christmas at home with my sister and her husband.
Monday the six of us (daughter and 4 grandchildren and me) went to my older daughter’s house (about 2 hrs away) and visit her and her 3 boys. It was a full house with two sons of a friend of hers visiting for a couple days. Nine children, ages 14, 13, 11, 10, 10, 10, 8, 7, 5, made a full house. We were blessed that God sent a really nice day and all but the 14 year old ran around outside. What a good day! It was nice to have my daughters visit and to see their children together!
There was a lot this week to keep my mind off missing my mom this Christmas. It was neat time, though I was glad to get back last night to my own bed and the quiet!
I give thanks for this season. I am thankful for the fun, good things, like family. But when the times are not good, the Christmas message gives me peace and hope. When someone loves me enough to leave His kingdom to come to earth to die to satisfy His justice and extend mercy, it shows I can trust Him to act in love in my life, even in the “negative” things. And so, as Christmas day winds down, I am left with the Christmas message for all of my days. I hope all my readers are experiencing the joy and peace of this Christmas message!
MESSIAH HAS COME
In the shadows of the night
the heavens burst forth in glorious light.
Angels proclaimed Messiah had come,
peace on earth, death’s power done.
God incarnate, sent from heaven,
gift of love to women, men
to set us free from evil’s hold,
free to live, to sing, rejoice,
free to live beyond myself,
free in peace’s sweet hold to dwell.
©2011
December sadness
As Christmas approaches, I have been experiencing such a feeling of sadness. I understand why. This is the Christmas without my precious mom. She went home to be with the Lord in May. But I think there is more. December 18 would be my 49th anniversary if my husband was still living. He has been gone almost eight years, but I guess I’ll never stop having those moments when I miss him. And I think I am still a little tender about my brother’s dying in August 2012. And although my Daddy died in 1998, there are times I still miss him. So goes grieving. It catches us by surprise when those moments come. I guess it shouldn’t, but doesn’t it always?
All that makes me think of my poor little Mama. She and Daddy were married almost 56 years when she lost him. And then to lose a child, no matter how old, was terrible for her. I think it must have been harder than losing Daddy, if that is possible. Children shouldn’t die before their parents, but all through history, they have. My daughter almost lost her 2 year old son three years ago. But we were so thankful that we still have him and he is a normal, active 5 year old, full of mischief and life.
As I have thought a lot about losses this month. I realize that under my sadness, I still have joy. Not the giggly kind that is happiness, but the deep kind that holds onto hope. I think of the message of Christmas and the gift of Christmas: the baby, God in human form, who came to give us hope for each day, strength to go on and to know that the best is not in this life, but in the one to come where we will never have to say goodbye.
darlenescorner 