Child
Of God
Respect your Father
With love and obedient
Heart
Weariness
Day’s trials
God’s soothing Word
Heals fragile, tender hearts
Peace
Focus
Life’s attention
God’s secure refuge
Stabilized by His love
Jesus
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.
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
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 so 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.”
Pleasant, mid-winter day
Warm winds decide to stay
Touch of spring thaws the air
Ideal life, not a care
Hidden, in frigid North
Cold destined to call forth
Prairie living unaware
Grass uncovered, and bare
Few cowboys work the range
Life will soon see big change
Barren land, overgrazed
Cattle wander, unfazed
Calmness warns of trouble
Winter’s wrath comes double
Arctic-fed winds stir up
Wet snow creates pileup
Haunting storm now arrives
Few cattle will survive
Blizzard smothers this land
Conditions, out of hand
Cowboys wait out fierce storm
Snow and cold, nasty swarm
Waiting, hours become days
Prairie, now winter’s maze
Cattle’s cries go unheard
Snow-blinded, vision blurred
Storm’s cruel hand, plays its cards
Life stops, prairie graveyards
This poem attempts to capture the daunting winter of 1886-1887 on the prairies in the Montana Territory when the Open Range’s cattle industry collapsed from its near annihilation. Russell’s artwork says even more than words can describe.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
To see what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.
From Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Imperfect humans
Walking darkest trails
World twists upside down
Christ calls, without fail
World crying out with
Endless, empty claims
Filled with dead end thoughts
Christ drowns looming flames
Noisy distractions
Countless temptations
Follow His footsteps
Christ’s supplications
Waking to darkness
God’s will lights each day
Struggling with life’s sin
Christ bridges the way
Share genuine love
Holding fast to good
Serving the Father
Christ transforms driftwood
Zealous in spirit
Rejoicing in hope
Walk with humbleness
Christ’s love helps us cope
Marked with our Lord’s truth
Walk with Christian steps
Soul and mind renewed
Follow Christ’s footsteps
From Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
When you are feeling fearful, concerned, confused, or even angry, look to God’s Word, and take comfort in Jesus’ promise that the persecuted will be blessed.
From Matthew 5:10-12: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Brothers and sisters
God calling us to freedom—
Share our love with all
Loving the Father
Born into human likeness—
Christ empties himself
Trusting His guidance
Living in love of Jesus—
Submit to His will
Goodness and purity ought never to attract attention to themselves, they ought simply to be magnets to draw to Jesus Christ.
From John 3:28:30: [John the Baptist is speaking] “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This Christian poem was originally published in November, 2019. The verses recount the final minutes of Jesus Christ’s earthly life at Calvary.
A few believers stand in fear
God’s only Son dies a cruel way
Sorrow fills hearts so near
What will we now do and say?
Hope dies on a barren hill
Spotlighting a bloody cross
What happens—can’t be God’s will
Witnessing a life, now lost
Darkness fills a burial room
Feeling cold and forlorn
Sitting as an empty tomb
From here, hope is reborn
The sun rises on Easter morn
God’s Son fulfills His promise
Glorious Resurrection sets the norm
Even for a single, doubting Thomas
The greatest story ever told
We drop to a knee and pray
God’s action, never so bold
Victorious Christ, the final say
There is no social distancing between God and us.
From Exodus 20:2-3: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”
