Twenty-five sonnets tracing heaven’s ancient promise from Genesis’ dawn to Bethlehem’s holy night, where Christ the Savior came to rescue fallen man.
WEEK 1: THE PROMISE OF HOPE
NOVEMBER 30 – First Sunday of Advent
Behold, He comes with clouds upon the sky,
As lightning flashes from the east to west.
The trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ shall rise,
And saints shall meet their Savior manifest.
“Prepare ye way,” the wilderness voice cries,
Make straight the paths where crooked ways have been.
Repent, for near is He who justifies,
The Lamb of God who takes away our sin.
No merit ours, no works can make us clean,
But faith alone in Christ our righteousness.
From heaven’s throne He comes, the King and Priest,
To gather home His own from sin’s distress.
O watch and pray, for in an hour unknown,
The Bridegroom comes to claim His purchased throne.
DECEMBER 1
In Genesis the promise first was sown,
The seed of woman crushing serpent’s head.
Through Abel’s blood, through Seth’s believing line,
The hope of God with man should e’er be wed.
The rainbow covenant spans the heavens wide,
“No more the waters all flesh shall destroy.”
Through flood and fire, through Abraham’s tried side,
God’s faithful word no tempest can annoy.
The stars of heaven, sands upon the shore,
Shall measure forth the seed of faithful Abraham.
From Judah’s tribe, the Lion shall restore
The broken covenant through God’s own Son.
Advent begins where Genesis began,
The promise kept through God’s redeeming plan.
DECEMBER 2
Isaiah saw Him suffering for our peace,
By stripes made whole, by wounds our healing won.
No beauty found, no comeliness to please,
A man of sorrows, God’s beloved Son.
Yet willingly He bore the chastisement,
And opened not His mouth in His distress.
Led as a lamb to slaughter’s sacrament,
By His one offering God forever blesses.
The guilt of all upon His shoulders laid,
The iniquity of us all He bore.
By wicked hands to death’s dark tree betrayed,
Yet death could hold Him back from life no more.
O prophet true, thy words our hope sustain,
Until He comes to end all grief and pain.
DECEMBER 3
The voice of John across the Jordan rang,
“Behold the Lamb who takes sin’s curse away!”
No priestly line, no temple sacrifice,
But Christ alone the final offering’s price.
His baptism revealed the Trinity,
The Spirit as a dove descending came,
The Father’s voice from opened heavens free,
“Behold My Son, in whom I’m well pleased—claim!”
No works of man, no lineage can save,
But faith in Him who died and rose again.
The kingdom near, the axe at root is laid,
Repent and live through grace that cannot wain.
O Baptist bold, thy finger points us still,
To Christ our Savior, Lord, and King fulfill.
DECEMBER 4
From Malachi the final prophet’s scroll,
“The Lord ye seek shall suddenly appear!”
Before His face the refiner’s fire shall roll,
And fuller’s soap shall make His garments clear.
He comes to purge the sons of Levi clean,
That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.
No more the blood of bulls and goats be seen,
But Christ’s one sacrifice makes perfectness.
The Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing,
His wings shall cover those who fear His name.
For those who spurn Him, treading under healing,
The day shall burn as stubble put to flame.
O final word before the silent years,
Thy promise echoes through our waiting tears.
DECEMBER 5
By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed,
Not knowing where the path of promise led.
Upon the mountain Moriah displayed,
His only son, the ram provided spread.
Yet God Himself would one day there provide,
The perfect sacrifice for sin’s great cost.
No angel stayed the Father’s hand beside,
But Jesus died upon that hill—the lost
Found in His blood their perfect righteousness.
The shadows of the law are now fulfilled,
The promise made to faithful Abraham blessed,
Through Christ all nations shall in Him be filled.
Four thousand years of waiting now complete,
In Bethlehem the nations’ Savior meet.
DECEMBER 6
The psalmist sang of Zion’s coming King,
“Yet have I set My King upon My hill.”
From everlasting His dominion springs,
The nations all His righteous scepter fill.
“Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten,”
The promise stands through all eternity.
The ends of earth His rightful praise forgotten,
Yet He shall reign in perfect equity.
Ask of the Father, and He gives the nations,
For footstool made beneath the Savior’s feet.
No earthly power withstands His reign’s foundations,
The stone uncut shall all dominions beat.
O David’s greater Son, we wait for Thee,
To reign in glory for eternity.
WEEK 2: THE WORD MADE FLESH
DECEMBER 7 – Second Sunday of Advent
The Word was God, with God from time’s beginning,
All things by Him were made, in Him was life.
The light of men through darkness ever shining,
Received Him not, yet to His own He gives the right
To become children of Almighty God,
Not born of blood, nor of flesh’s desire,
But born of God through faith in Jesus’ blood,
The Word became flesh—our incarnate fire.
John bore witness, crying in the desert,
“Make straight His way,” the voice that prophets heard.
He was before the world, the great, eternal,
The grace and truth through Jesus Christ appeared.
O Word made flesh, in Advent we adore,
Thy glory as the Father’s only Son forevermore.
DECEMBER 8
In Micah’s prophecy the town was named,
Though small among the thousands of Judah.
From Bethlehem Ephratah Jesus came,
To be the ruler of God’s chosen people.
Yet shall He stand and shepherd in God’s strength,
The greatness of Jehovah’s name confess.
He shall be great to earth’s remotest length,
And be the peace when Assyria oppress.
No human greatness, but divine descent,
The Ancient of Days in a baby’s form.
To Israel first, then to repentance sent,
The Gentiles called through Him from every storm.
O Bethlehem, thy name forever blessed,
Where God with man in perfect love did rest.
DECEMBER 9
The days were accomplished that she should be delivered,
The holy child in Bethlehem was born.
No room was found where kings might be received there,
Yet in a stable Christ the King was formed.
The shepherds heard the angels’ midnight chorus,
“Glory to God, good will to sinful men.”
They ran to see the Savior in His lowliness,
And found the Lord wrapped in a manger then.
No gold of kings, no frankincense or myrrh
Could measure worth of what that stable held.
The Creator of the universe lay there,
Immanuel—God with us—prophecy fulfilled.
The Word made flesh has dwelt among our race,
To bring salvation by His boundless grace.
DECEMBER 10
By faith we stand upon the sure foundation,
Christ Jesus, Rock where all our hope is stayed.
No other name beneath heaven’s vast creation,
By which we must be saved in that great day.
The prophets testified of Him who suffered,
The righteous servant bearing all our shame.
Through all their writings, by the Spirit uttered,
They pointed to the Savior’s saving name.
From Moses’ law to David’s royal psalms,
The Scriptures speak of Him who died and rose.
No private interpretation calms
The clear testimony that the Bible shows.
O Word of God, thy truth our souls doth free,
In Christ alone our perfect righteousness we see.
DECEMBER 11
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob,
Hath glorified His Son whom ye denied.
The Prince of Life, through wicked hands in malice,
By God’s determinate counsel crucified.
Yet God hath raised Him from the dead’s dominion,
And made Him both Lord and Christ on high.
Repent and be baptized for sin remission,
And ye shall receive the Spirit from on high.
Peter proclaimed this gospel in Jerusalem,
Three thousand souls that day to Christ did flee.
The same good news that works through every age them,
By faith alone brings life eternally.
O Pentecostal promise now fulfilling,
Through Christ the Spirit’s power keeps on filling.
DECEMBER 12
Zechariah’s son in Elizabeth’s womb bounded,
When Mary’s salutation reached her ear.
The Holy Spirit on the aged woman sounded,
And prophecy burst forth for all to hear.
“Blessed art thou among women,” she confessed,
And blessed the fruit of Mary’s womb divine.
The mother of my Lord hath come as guest,
The prophecy of ages now doth shine.
No mediation needed, face to face,
Two women filled with wonder at God’s plan.
The herald and the mother of all grace,
Fulfilling what the prophets saw back when.
Through simple faith in God’s almighty word,
Salvation came to all who trust the Lord.
DECEMBER 13
Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry:
Her warfare ended, double for her sins bestowed,
Her iniquity pardoned, God’s word cannot lie.
A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare His way,
Make straight in desert highway for our God.
Every valley lifted, every mountain made low,
The glory of Jehovah shall be shown abroad.
The grass withers, the flower fades, yet God’s word stands,
Forever shall His promise faithful be.
He comes with might, His arm His rule commands,
With strength for tender ones upon His knee.
O voice of God, thy comfort fills our days,
As Christ approaches through Advent’s haze.
WEEK 3: THE JOY OF SALVATION
DECEMBER 14 – Third Sunday of Advent
Rejoice in the Lord always, the apostle wrote,
Again I say rejoice, the Lord is near.
The God of peace shall soon with you be noted,
His kingdom drawing every passing year.
Though circumstances change and trials multiply,
Our joy is found in Christ who never fails.
His presence with us is our strength and supply,
His righteousness through faith forever prevails.
No legalism, works, or human merit,
But grace alone that saves completely through.
The joy of full salvation, sins’ full forfeit,
In Christ who bore the curse that was our due.
O joy unspeakable, full of glory bright,
Christ comes to fill our hearts with heaven’s light!
DECEMBER 15
The angel Gabriel to Mary came,
“Fear not, for thou hast found favor with God.”
The Holy Ghost shall come, the power of Highest shade thee,
That Holy One thou shalt bring forth—Emmanuel.
“Be it unto me according to thy word,”
The virgin’s faith made way for heaven’s plan.
No human understanding could record
The mystery of God becoming man.
Yet through her simple trust in God’s good pleasure,
The Word was planted in a virgin womb.
Salvation’s dawn through virgin birth’s great treasure,
The Son of God from David’s line has come.
O favored virgin, through thy faith we see,
The mighty God in humble humanity.
DECEMBER 16
Now learn a parable of the fig tree’s teaching,
When branches tender and leaves broad appear,
Ye know that summer’s near, the harvest reaching,
So likewise when these signs in heaven appear.
The gospel preached in all the world for witness,
To every nation, tribe, and tongue shall go.
Then shall the sign of Son of Man appear in richness,
And all the tribes of earth shall mourn and know.
Lift up your heads, redemption draweth nigh,
Your full salvation at the door does stand.
The heavens shall pass, but not one word shall die,
Of all the promises from God’s own hand.
O Advent hope, thy certainty secure,
Christ comes again in power and glory pure.
DECEMBER 17
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, the prophet cried,
And glory of Jehovah on thee rise.
Though darkness cover earth, and clouds abide,
His light upon thee breaks from eastern skies.
The Gentiles to thy light shall come in wonder,
Their kings unto thy rising brightness go.
Thy gates shall open ever, never plunder,
The wealth of nations through thy portals flow.
No more thy sun go down, nor moon withdraw,
Jehovah thy light everlasting be.
Thy God thy glory through eternal day,
His presence fills thee to eternity.
O Zion, lift thy head, thy Savior nears,
Thy everlasting light dispels all fears.
DECEMBER 18
The first and second comings both foretold,
In Bethlehem and Olivet’s great day.
The prophets saw through ages yet untold,
The suffering Servant and the King arrayed.
First coming: born of woman, virgin’s Son,
To seek and save what willingly was lost.
Second coming: with power and fiery throne,
To judge the world, whatever be the cost.
Between these comings, grace and peace abound,
The gospel preached through every waiting age.
The Church made ready by the Spirit’s sound,
Until the Bridegroom comes to end the stage.
O double promise, first and second birth,
Christ came to save, He comes to judge the earth.
DECEMBER 19
My soul doth magnify the Lord, she sang,
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
He regarded low estate of handmaid young,
From henceforth generations call me favored.
The Mighty One hath done great things for me,
His name is holy, mercy sure to them
Who fear Him through all generations’ sea,
His arm shows strength, scatters the proud in dream.
He filled the hungry, sent rich men away,
Remembered mercy to His servant nation.
Through Mary’s song we see salvation’s way,
Accomplished through the humble incarnation.
O gospel song, through ages still resound,
In Christ our Savior, perfect grace is found.
DECEMBER 20
The wise men from the east beheld His star,
And journeyed far to worship newborn King.
No Herod’s throne, no palace gate ajar,
But stable lowly where their tribute bring.
Gold for His royalty, frankincense divine,
Myrrh for the death He came to undergo.
Through Gentile wisdom, heaven’s sign doth shine,
The nations called to worship at His throne.
No works of theirs could earn this privilege,
But faith that followed where the star did lead.
Their worship pictures every pilgrim’s siege,
Who find in Christ their all-sufficient need.
O star of Bethlehem, thy light still gleams,
To guide lost sinners to Emmanuel’s beams.
WEEK 4: THE FULNESS OF CHRIST
DECEMBER 21
For unto us a Child is born, the prophet sang,
A Son is given, government on His shoulder.
His name Wonderful, Counselor, God with us rang,
The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the true beholder.
Of peace there shall be no end, upon His throne,
The zeal of Jehovah shall this perform.
From David’s city, David’s greater Son,
Shall reign forever through the coming storm.
No human king, no earthly realm shall stand,
But Christ’s dominion shall forever grow.
From pole to pole, from sea to furthest land,
His righteous scepter all creation knows.
O promised Child, we wait thy birth with praise,
Thy endless reign fills all our Advent days.
DECEMBER 22
The angel host to shepherds made their way,
“Fear not, good tidings of great joy I bring.”
To you is born in City of David this day,
A Savior, Christ the Lord, the angels sing.
Ye’ll find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes laid,
In manger resting where the cattle feed.
Suddenly heaven burst with glorious parade,
Of thousands praising God for mankind’s need.
Glory to God in highest, peace on earth,
Good will to men on whom His favor rests.
The lowest first to hear salvation’s birth,
The poor in spirit by the Lord are blessed.
O heavenly choir, thy message still proclaims,
Through Christ alone God’s peace forever reigns.
DECEMBER 23
Simeon came by Spirit into the temple court,
And took the Child up in his arms to bless.
“Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Lord,
Which Thou prepared before the face of all confess.”
A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
The glory of Thy people Israel shown.
This Child appointed for the fall and rising,
Of many in Israel—a sign opposed alone.
The thoughts of hearts through Him revealed shall be,
And Mary’s soul the sword of sorrow pierce.
Yet through this Child all nations shall be free,
Salvation’s light through Him shall never cease.
O faithful servant, holding in thy arms,
The world’s salvation, free from all alarms.
DECEMBER 24 – Christmas Eve
The people walking in darkness have seen great light,
On those who dwell in death’s dark land it shone.
To Galilee of nations, banished from sight,
The people that in darkness sat alone.
For unto us a Child is born this night,
The Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God.
The zeal of Lord of Hosts shall set things right,
The government upon His shoulders broad.
No silence now, the Word made flesh is here,
The Word through whom all things were made and came.
In stable born, yet heaven’s King appear,
Immanuel’s name forever we proclaim.
O holy night, when God to man came down,
To raise us up to share His heavenly crown.
Passionately Pursuing Christ 