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.
Tag Archives: hope
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.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING!
To me, Christmas is more than just birth of Christ. It is his whole sacrifice of coming from glory to human form and then, not just to die, but to rise and go back to glory having made payment for our sins.
THE SHADOW OF A CROSS
The shadow of a cross
across a manger lay
where God became a man
to bear that cross someday.
The shadow of the cross
speaks life to sinful men.
The innocent would pay
the price for all our sin.
The shadow of that cross
became reality
when God himself had died
so man would now be free.
God as human
This morning I was listening to a post by Dutch Sheets. He asked some interesting questions to ask Jesus about his coming to earth to be human. What did it feel like to be hurt? What did it feel like to lose his father? What did it feel like to be rejected by his brothers and his people? I was reminded that Jesus went through all the things we go through. God came to earth and experienced all the hard things we do. Praise God, He loved us enough to come and show us the way to God–to be that way–bringing us peace and good will!
MESSIAH ACCROSTIC Man and God Eternal Sent from God Savior Immanuel Almighty Holy (2021)
May God bless you with His peace and joy this Christmas and New Year as He draws your heart to His.
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
This Child of Grace
THIS CHILD OF GRACE
This Child of Grace of Christmas fame
was sent to us who fail at life,
who struggle to find peace and hope,
but spend our lives in sin and strife.
This Child of Grace, one sent from God
for love of men who do not know
that through His grace this Child gives hope,
that life with peace from Him could grow.
This Child of Grace, the perfect One,
this Child of Grace, the worthy One,
who left His throne in heaven above—
this Child of Grace, God’s only Son.
(2018)
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)
Trust in the Lord . . .
Many years ago, my husband and I walked through a Japanese Tea Garden. It was a lovely, peaceful place. The land had been landscaped and the trees trimmed. It had been transformed.
So with my life. As I go through rough times, I am prone to dwell in fear or anger. It doesn’t help the situation, but it is hard not to react that way when I don’t the pain and grief.
But like the gardener who does beautiful things with the land, God is a gardener who does beautiful things with my life. He can give me peace in the midst of His trimmings and diggings. He has given me a promise that has become dear to my heart: Proverbs 3:5-8. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your way straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
Recently a friend told me her mother had died of brain cancer about four years ago. She had quoted those verses to her daughter many times. It was her life verse. Now, during this difficult time, she clung to it. It gave her peace and strength.
As I have experienced trials, God has used them to minister and strengthen others. I am grateful. I often think how God gave His Son so we may have life. Can I do less than suffer graciously so I can give comfort to others–maybe even life?
God alone knows where the trials lead and how they will end. I’m glad He does. Someday I can ask Him about those things. Meanwhile, I ask for grace to trust Him and experience His peace through all the stormy skies and rough roads.
COME
May your Christmas be blessed!
COME
Come into the night
where shadows cover all.
Hear the angels’ song:
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests.”
Come look to the sky
where darkness hides the day.
See the star’s light
that leads to the promise
of peace on earth to men
on whom his favor rests.
Come see the baby
lying in the manger,
fulfillment of the angels’ song,
fulfillment of the star’s promise
of peace on earth to men
on whom his favor rests.
©2010
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!
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