Handmaidens -Poetry & Art

Fall, 2001

Poetry & Art	Topics
Father I cannot but trust You for all the things unseen. I cannot but praise You for the glory Your presence brings. I cannot but love You for the gift of Your only Son to man. Whose finished work of salvation was ordained before the world began. I cannot but thank You for opening the door, that I might inherit the riches of Your kingdom, now and forevermore. Tom Williams	Cover Page Christian Comedy Education Essays, etc. Health Home Letters Marriage Parenting Poetry/Art Stewardship Sites to See Work Extra

Faith, Hope and Love
by Peggy Hoppes
A Word for Today Ministries

We learn something new each day
As we walk along this path of life
But three things stand as a testament to God
Faith, Hope and Love.

The scriptures say,
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love."

Faith is
a gift from God
the indwelling Spirit
the knowing, not just believing,
the promises of God.

Hope is
the expectation of God
the indwelling Spirit
the knowing, no just wishing,
the promises of God.

So, why is love the greatest?

Love is
the manifestation of God
the indwelling Spirit
the knowing, not just by the believer
but also the world
the real presence of God.

The promise of God,
"I will be with you"
we know by faith
we know in hope
and the world knows by love.

There remains, faith, hope and love.
These three, but the greatest is love,
for it is the Word manifest for the world to see.

A poem written by Peggy Hoppes June 8, 2000

Blossoms in the Desert
By Susan C. Cunningham

Poet's Note: So many things are coming to pass so quickly...thought you might me interested in this verse that the Lord brought to me as I woke up from a nap this afternoon. It is about our moral complacency and the danger of false prophets and leaders.
In His love,
Susan

Blossoms in the Desert

A gathering of blossoms have sprung
From heated streaks of desolation
Characters drawn in the sand
From centuries that have come and gone.
How can a seed grow, a bud bloom
If winds are scattering and swirling with dust of gloom?

Outcries of prayer that lift above the desert floor,
Wars and rumors..terror ringing out from shore to distant shore.
A smattering of hope becomes a trek of everyday existence
Smiling through the facade of faithful witness;
We are dry and barren.

The blossoms, a remnant of the earth's beginning
The garden's promise, dark power generating
Lies and sin that cannot win
Speaking out as sprouts of green, prophets unseen
Blooming in the desert..waiting.
Do not be deceived!

Matthew 24:26
Susan C. Cunningham

Song of Life
(The Master Musician)
By Susan C. Cunningham

Listen! Do you hear?
Close your eyes..approaching melody..
I can see the graceful fingers of the Musician's hand
The beautiful lines of the woman's face,
a bride in waiting, the Poet's rhyme
Etched in blood upon the cross
A new song sung "Arise my love and come!"
But...
Our words offend, our actions pierce
Anger, ego's friend and error
Mercy's transfusion cast aside,
Challenged by the truth, we dare to override.

The pain within my heart I feel..society's ordeal, mundane appeal
The nails that stick and prick my soul
With hope and prayer I gasp and grasp..thoughts of fear, anxiety
I cry
Yet deep within my sleep the glimpse of Paradise I seek
"Stand up and fight, do not weep!"
Comes the gentle Voice of Peace.

Children dying, people lying, loved ones lost, disease, affliction..overwrought
Distress!
Listen! Do you hear?
"I AM the tender hand of song, the Author of creation, Corrector of all wrong
For My lady I'll appear..pure is she the affections of my lyric new, not
forgotten
Stand up and fight, do not weep!"
"Your hope is in My song of life-not earth
Victory over sleep!"

Healed and Whole
By Staff Writer Sharon Barrett

One day I dug a little hole
and put my hurt inside
I thought that I could just forget
I'd put it there to hide.
But that little hurt began to grow
I covered it every day
I couldn't leave it and go on
It seemed the price I had to pay.
My joy was gone, my heart was sad
Pain was all I knew.
My wounded soul enveloped me
Loving seemed too hard to do.
One day, while standing by my hole
I cried to God above
And said, "If You are really there --
They say, You're a God of love!"
And just like that -- He was right there And just put His arms around me

He wiped my tears, His hurting child
There was no safer place to be.
I told Him all about my hurt
I opened up my heart
He listened to each and every word
To every sordid part.
I dug down deep and got my hurt
I brushed the dirt away
And placed it in the Master's hand
And healing came that day.
He took the blackness of my soul
And set my spirit FREE!
Something beautiful began to grow
Where the hurt used to be.
And when I look at what has grown
Out of my tears and pain
I remember every day to give my hurts to Him And never bury them again.

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