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Encouragement

For the joy set before him

The touch of Thine own piercéd Hand The sign of love that Thou art near; Thy word, quick-spoken in our hearts, Thy peace, to calm the kindling fear. Thy presence, through each hidden hour of pain, As earth doth drink the bitter rain, Each blow struck on Thy children first must strike on Thee, And […]

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Encouragement

Gathered

Oh Lord, we place each life into your hand With trust for each fresh mercy you have planned, In hope that at the shore of life’s long sea, We find those hearts we loved, at home with Thee. Teach us to trust your love ere heaven’s clear skies, To know, ere endless morning meets our […]

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Encouragement Scripture

When, Lord? Mt. 25:37

For one who gave a salve for wounds, For one who served one meal to thee, And when you wandered, had a room, And when in prison, had a key. For aching grief that no one heard, A simple heart that came to bide, The sound of soft, unspoken words, Love’s weakness, that shall turn […]

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Encouragement

Spring tide

The blanket of a winter snow, A coverlet for cradled hills, And earth’s reply, now whispered low Grows silent as a sea-tide swell. But none of windblown winter’s chains Can quench heaven’s sunbeam-golden power, For after winter, comes the rain, And after rain, the flower.

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Encouragement

Ezekiel

A solitary tower guards the great rock-rim Of stone, the granite cliff, and there a Salt sea bends its emerald waves, And fills the chasm-valley where No treasures are, but empty shells, All filled the night-long emptiness, No bird-song echoes there, The mist-wind meets the sail, And restless spirits murmur, feverish, Sea-breakers mourn incessantly, The […]

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Encouragement

And I pray

In silence of the morning dew The rippling breezes whisper there, I mark the moments, late and few, A curtain drawn in shimmering air. Red blossoms sleep, their silken heads, The rising sun will waken them, The garden paths the Lord God treads Will meet within Jerusalem. Yet now I wait, but in the hushed […]

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Testimonies

For the Author

Once from God’s words I sought My will to bend, To shape my thought, But as I read, I sinned. His word at once gave comfort, Warned, distressed; Both hell and heaven’s fire Burned, wrestled in my breast. I sought an answer firm, A portent given As of a sign Clear-written in the heavens. And […]

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Scripture Testimonies

Psalm 116

Ensnared by death’s cords, overcome, I wrestled, pierced with sorrow’s spears, And in my weeping, sought and found A One who answers prayers of tears. For when I called, I met his grace, And when I trusted, found him true. My feet set in a spacious place, My soul, God has been good to you. […]

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Scripture Testimonies

Psalm 37

From those who make their arm their god, Turn from the kindling of their flame, From mammon struck from Caesar’s gold, A breathless wind, without a name. The weavings of a weary mind, Hour upon hour of endless thought, Are torn now in my folded hands, In stillness, all my battles fought. No more to […]

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Scripture Testimonies

Psalm 63

In stillness, searching silent calm, The emblems of my God appear. The heralds of a star-pierced psalm, Breath of His presence in the air. Bright banners of desires that flew, Struck silent, see them still as death; A God who casts my world anew, For him, my tattered cloaks I left. Uprisen within me, o’er […]