Cross-Wise Words: an Acrostic Devotional

By Larry Hovee

In daily life an architect who works with the intricacies of designing buildings that are both functional and beautiful, Larry Hovee has, with the soul and sensitivity of a biblical poet, designed a series of simple yet profound acrostics to show us the beauty of Jesus, the wonder of His salvation and the glory of God in His free grace towards all who will hear His voice and come to Him through His only-begotten Son, the crucified and risen Christ. The authors aim is to provide a devotional volume that will be a primer for returning to daily Scripture reading. With a myriad of acrostic plays on words from A-B-I-D-I-N-G to Z-E-A-L, he succeeds in melding the heart of the Gospel to the Scriptures that show us our deepest needs and call us to new life in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Warmly recommended to readers of all ages...

-Gordon J. Keddie, Pastor and Author.

This hand-written book was a wonderful source of encouragement to my family as my husband was struggling with cancer treatments. The verses chosen for the acrostics were beautiful reminders of God's faithfulness and love. I'm so appreciative of this handcrafted book and the joy it brought to my family.

-Elaine Cerbus, widow and friend

The book came about as a result of going through a long, dark valley. It was first written for a church friend who was dying of cancer. It got its inspiration from ancient Hebrew and early Christian acrostics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512720280

Larry Hovee

Larry Hovee lives with his wife, Nora, in Indianapolis, Indiana. They have seven children, two boys and five girls, and one granddaughter. Larry is an architect and a commercial building inspector. Larry and Nora collect rocks, minerals, and fossils. They worship at a Reformed Presbyterian Church on the south side of Indy.

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Copyright © 2015 Lawrence Dayton Hovee.

Cover image by Larry Hovee.

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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-2028-0 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/7/2015

CONTENTS

Preface

Dedication

Agape (Love) Alphabet Acrostic

PREFACE

The word, acrostic, comes from the Greek word, akrostichis, which is a combination of akros, meaning, topmost, and stichos, meaning, a line of poetry. Acrostics have been used as a memory aid and teaching tool for centuries. The early Christians used the Greek word for fish, icthus, to spell out the phrase, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. Such an acrostic served not just as a memory aid, but as a succinct statement of faith and doctrine. First century believers also used a Latin acrostic, ROTAS, actually a word square, to teach the truths of Scripture relative to the concept of God as the Potter, and ourselves as the clay. Several of the Psalms are acrostic in nature, predating the Messiah’s first coming by a millennium, and were designed by God as a memory aid to the Hebrew people. Remembering God’s words is paramount. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11. But even more, God’s Word is key to knowing Jesus Christ, the Messiah, in a personal way. You search the Scriptures, because you think that in [the keeping of] them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me. John 5:39,40.

* * *

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Nora’s and my seven children. Our seventh child was named Faith, because it was a step of faith in God to have her. As the children had grown in number, I tried to come up with acrostics to help people remember their names … ACE, LACE, CAMEL, but none were ever meaningful. After Rosalind Faith was born, I tried once again to come up with an acrostic. It was a particularly difficult time in my life, so when I saw it, it had a profound impact on me, and brought comfort and reassurance. This was not something that I planned. All the children were in birth order, except for Benaiah, number six, who was moved to the top. As the Psalms say, they are a gift from God.

Benaiah

Evelyn

Corrie

Amy

Luke

Mary

[and have]

Faith

* * *

Authentic

Belief

Involves

Dwelling

Intimately

Near

God

Abide in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4,5

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7 (KJV)

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10 (KJV)

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16,17 (KJV)

Webster’s Dictionary defines "abide as to continue in one place and abiding as enduring, permanent". I was born in Alhambra, California, and abode there for four years. The longest I have lived in one place is twenty years. To abide in Jesus is to continue in Him forever. I have been in Jesus for fifty-three years, since I was eight, and He has lived in my heart for that long too. Forever is a long, long time, without end. But even though I will abide in Him forever, I will never fully know Him, because He is the deeply infinite Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth. He abides in me and knows me fully … He keeps me abiding in Him … He helps me to bear good fruit, much good fruit, abiding fruit.

* * *

AGAPE (LOVE) ALPHABET ACROSTIC

When Nora and I got married, we exchanged rings, as tokens of our love for each other. Inside my wedding band Nora inscribed the Bible reference 1 John 4:19, which says, "We love, because He first loved us." We wouldn’t know what real love is unless we had