I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love

““When Israel was a child, I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.

As they called them,

So they went from them;

They sacrificed to the Baals,

And burned incense to carved images.

“I taught Ephraim to walk,

Taking them by their arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

I drew them with gentle cords,

With bands of love,

And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.

I stooped and fed them.”

Hosea 11:1-4

With the conviction of a river meandering through the land

And the steadfastness of the ground that cradles the river flow

That is how I am in relation to you.

I stand in awe of you LORD God of Abraham.

-EMH

I have loved you with an everlasting love

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Jeremiah 31:3

In the torrents of rain that soak me to the bone and drench my very being

In the terror of the raging sea which pulls me into its unsearchable depths

In the scorching rays of the desert sun that bleeds new colors into my skin

In the oppressive heat of the jungle where moist air clogs every pore of my skin

In the despairing skies of northern pastures where the howling wind offers me solace

In the trails of icy glaciers where the touch of winter and long nights leave me bereft

In the secret place of stillness where Your Spirit makes Your Name known to me 

I taste and see that the LORD is good. 

-EMH

This one is too old as well. I guess I was waiting around for divine inspiration to make it even wordier!?! But I guess this must be its fullness.

As many as the Lord our God will call

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:39

You’re old brother Bear, and only YHWH’s left to care

Get it right sister Fox, who cares if you’re unorthodox

Taste and see aunt Lioness, truly YHWH has plenty left to bless

Roam free uncle Hound, He has freed you to a life unbound

Lay down your life grandma Gull, the murmur of the envious is such a sinful lull

So I had big plans with this one, it has been laying around for years. But I the words to continue it have dried up. Maybe one day I will also make the small illustrations that belong to it. God willing.

-EMH