The only true remedy for discouragement is to put our hope in God. He alone can give us the courage to persevere.
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Written and published in June, 2019, this poem witnesses acts of courage through Scripture and history. Each and every day, people from all walks of life exhibit unwavering courage in the face of overwhelming odds . . . and they succeed through the convictions found in their hearts.
Appreciate the substance and strength of courage
Witnessing acts of bravery that always encourage
History and the Bible endorse many courageous acts
Honoring men and women from these truthful facts
A lost and sinful world moves without direction
God offers a living sacrifice with His only Son
Witnessing mockery, death, and Resurrection
Dutch people step out from safe location
During a horrible world war’s persecution
Hiding people from arrest and deportation
God listens to His people in Egypt under bondage
Choosing Moses, He dispatches this man to deliver
Bravely leading Israel to freedom and a new age
In America, runaway slaves flee to seek new lives
A network of collaborators facilitate their escape
Following the Underground Railroad, they survive
The Philistines prepare Israel’s army for defeat
A young boy’s valor and faith astonishes everyone
With God, David brings down Goliath, at his feet
A young boy faces serious and critical circumstances
Cancer ravages and impairs his brain and small body
Facing pain-filled treatments, he accepts his chances
Saul persecutes Christians, constant and persistent
Jesus transforms him on the lonely road to Damascus
Apostle Paul moves forward as God’s faithful assistant
American soldiers confront an overwhelming fate
Fighting their way out at Korea’s Chosin Reservoir
Legendary deeds of bravery, they no longer wait
Jesus models the Spirit of God in humble, human form
He faithfully obeys His Father, toward a bloody Cross
Bringing Salvation to a world filled with endless storms
Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering.
Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you’re exactly the same.
From 1 Corinthians 1:8-9: “He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Responsible actions
Stir God’s amazing grace
Making a difference
Foundation’s caring base
Lord, master, creator
From heaven to this earth
Making a difference
Anchors ships at His berth
Inviting each of us
Share His Word with others
Making a difference
Love sisters and brothers
Lord calling us to serve
Caring for those in need
Making a difference
Loving each tender reed
Blessed with Father’s goodness
Fortunate with enough
Making a difference
For others, do enough
Our Lord reaches deeply
Into souls, hearts, and minds
Making a difference
Servant’s gifts will He find
From 1 Peter 4:8-10: “ Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
Faith is the courage to face reality with hope.
From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”
Little Johnny hurried down the sidewalk. Catching his breath upon reaching his school bus stop, he waited and waited.
Soon his fate began sinking in. He had missed the bus . . . again!
The warm and sunny morning invited him to walk across the street to a park. Curious and feeling playful, he explored and enjoyed some spontaneous fun. Readin’ and writin’ and rithmetic could wait a spell.
Minutes turned into a couple of hours. Feeling hungry, Johnny discovered a perfect hideout under a nearby pine tree. He pulled out his brown bag lunch.
Following a quick lunch, he felt a bit sleepy. Fresh air, plenty of exercise, and a filling lunch made him drowsy. Curling up under the tree, Johnny was soon snoozing on a bed of soft needles.
Stirring awake, the noise of his rickety school bus shuttling down the street reminded him that school was over for another day.
Upon reaching his house, Johnny’s loving mother met him at the door. Her stern-looking frown told him to watch out . . . caught again!
The great law of culture: Let each become all that he was created capable of being.
From Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.”
Actions
Strengthen faith
Praise in worship
Bible study and prayer
Maturity
Love
None greater
Taught by Jesus
Transforming us today . . . and
Forever
Beginnings
Life’s quest
Dust we are
Dust we shall return
Endings
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.
You live up–or down–to your expectations.
From Psalm 90:17: “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands!”
From John 1:16-17: “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Best and worst of times
God’s grace always chimes
Loving and caring
Promises bearing
God remains at hand
Faith and hope shall stand
Seeking empty hearts
Molding time’s restart
Life’s melody plays
Offer Him our praise
God’s grace taking root
Peace filling love’s flute
Gloom and doom appear
Allow Him to steer
God’s love shows He cares
Guiding day’s affairs
Hope’s beacon awaits
In His hands, our fate
Witness as His child
Life no longer wild
Forgiveness and love
Shared from God above
God’s grace shapes life’s frame
Praise His Holy name
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
This poem is inspired from some past entries in my “Take-Aways” journal. Each entry is based upon something read and studied in a morning devotional.
