And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:50
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By faith stood Abraham,
in the promise of Isaac.
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By grace it came to pass.
overcoming natural life,
birthing a child,
in a lonely golden year.
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Faith took the promise,
and blew life into lifelessness.
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Faith saw Isaac as the sown seed,
laughter come at last,
then grace matured it,
multiplying it.
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Fourteen generations flowed,
from Abraham to David,
through Jacob and Obed,
and Jesse.
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Fourteen generations flowed from David,
until the carrying away into Babylon,
through Solomon,
through Manasses,
through Josias.
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Then fourteen more flowed,
from Babylon to Christ,
the Word manifest in flesh,
the Keeper of eternity.
Through Achim,
Eleazar to Jacob,
the father of Joseph,
the husband of Mary,
the mother of Christ.
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By faith did Mary accept the promise,
that grew within her womb.
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By faith did Joseph accept Mary,
heavy with child,
not of his loins,
not of his love.
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By grace they stood as one,
on a destined night,
the sky brightened,
by the Glory of God,
in the shape of a star,
pointing down to the Son.
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By faith Joseph took Jesus,
adopted now,
into the lineage of Abraham,
adopted now,
as a child of promise.
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By grace Joseph watched,
as He grew to a man,
well before His years.
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Our perfect pattern,
our Shepherd and King.
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Now, by faith, we trust in His Word,
our heritage blessed by driven saints,
and tarnished by those who did evil,
in the sight of the Lord.
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By faith are we accepted,
are we adopted,
into His kingdom,
joint-heirs with Christ,
children of promise,
just as He did,
so long ago.
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By grace will we walk,
in His footsteps,
as best as we are able,
crying out for strength,
for peace, for love.
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By faith we receive all,
grace has promised,
and more,
for only by our limited faith,
can we see into,
God’s limitless plan.
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Written 11/8/98
Linda J. Humes 