Christ’s
Central command
Love, care, feed
Shepherd’s hands at work
Disciples
Life’s
Puzzle pieces
Scattered and lost
Shepherd finds each one
Savior
Hearing
Shepherd’s calling
Following in faith
Spirit leads our way
Believing
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
Guilt is a gift that leads us to grace.
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Fred’s backyard shed is filled with his treasures. When he is busy tinkering and grooming his immaculate yard, he is often seen heading to his shed to find another tool or implement of some kind. Because he works from sunup to sundown every weekend, he is known around the neighborhood as “Farmer Fred.”
His next door neighbor, Milt, is a sociable and friendly sort of guy. However, he has one irritating flaw. He doesn’t own too many tools and such to help with his own yard work. And of course, he feels a need to keep up with Fred’s pristine garden oasis.
Every day or so, Milt walks over to Fred’s backyard. With a smile and a familiar voice, he calls out, “Hey neighbor!”
He asks Fred if he can borrow one of his precious tools from the shed. Fred always gives Milt the “okay” and watches him take it back to his place.
Over the next several days, Milt borrows a nearly endless list of Fred’s treasures . . . shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, trimmer, and even his brand new lawnmower.
On Saturday morning, Fred walks out to his nearly empty shed. He thinks to himself, “Yes sir! Milt has just about taken every piece of my valuable equipment and more to his place.”
With a scowl hidden by his ever-present smile, Fred swiftly marches over to Milt’s yard.
“Hey neighbor!”
A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
To reach a port we must set sail. Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945). Both of these quotes were spoken during one of his “Fireside Chats” on April 14, 1938. Roosevelt used these radio addresses to rally America during the Great Depression and World War II.
From Nehemiah 1:3: “They replied, ‘The remnant there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.'”
Shining locomotive churning along
Life ascending every mountain peak
Suddenly, trusty light turns to darkness
Disappointment abounds, whom shall we seek?
Loyal tracks of faith, now wrecked and ruined
Trusting walls of protection, now in shambles
Shepherd’s gate to heaven, forever crushed
Life in darkness, attempts to unscramble
Season of discouragement, shrouds small faith
Eyes filling with tears, overwhelming scene
Kneeling below bloody, Golgotha cross
Prayer fills with forgiveness, hope blooms green
God’s attentive ear, mercy listens in
Rebuilding life within Christ, faith’s linchpin
From Nehemiah 1:11: “O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give success to Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!”
Circumstances occur that could easily crush us. Unexpectedly, they come. Immediately we have a choice to make . . . an attitude choice.
From Psalm 107:43: “Let those who are wise pay attention to these things and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Lone grocery store
Bags filled with conversation—
Open every day
Main Street’s hardware store
Meeting neighbors face-to-face—
Day’s gathering place
Mealtime’s Joy Delights
Cozy diner greets
Town’s most favorite hang-out–
Morning, noon, and night
As we progress along the path we should adopt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is uniquely ours.
Love is the natural flow or outgrowth of the wisdom of oneness.
From Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings to closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Photo by Nina Uhlíková on Pexels.com
God’s footprints, visible for eternity
Filling our hearts with His joy, perfectly
Our Lord’s joy remains forever man’s strength
Overcoming the wicked, godless and fleeting
When distressed, our Lord brings answers
Sadness and worry turn to joy, never retreating
Through God, He restores the joy of Salvation
The Lord’s highway steers us on His Holy Way
Justice arrives, bringing joy to the righteous
For God’s Word, keeping all from going astray
Joy is a choice, feeling our Lord’s countenance
When tackling life’s endless, inevitable trials
Consider every one of them, nothing but joy
Walking with God, feeling joy with every mile
Faith produces endurance for God’s community
Endurance leads to maturity from God’s hand
Maturity through God, brings lasting, final joy
Trusting God’s Holy Word all across this land
God’s Kingdom delivers righteousness and peace
Through the Holy Spirit, souls experience joy
Clapping hands, singing praise to our Holy Lord
Redeemed man walks, filled with gladness and joy
Prophets foretell of the coming of a new King
Our Messiah’s birth brings magnificent joy
Joy later shattered on a bitter, bloody Cross
Only to defeat death, with Resurrection’s joy
Living as part of God’s redeemed, feeling His joy
Fruits of the Spirit sharing love, peace, and joy
Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com
Are you weak? Weary? Confused? Troubled? Pressured? How is your relationship with God? Is it held in its place of priority? I believe the greater the pressure, the greater your need for time alone with Him.
From Isaiah 50:4-5: “The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning He wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn backward.”
American-born Kay Arthur (born 1933) is an award-winning Christian author and Bible teacher.
Big Sky Buckeye 