Searching
Unimaginable contrasts
Journey of paradox
Contentment as God intended
Faith
Trusting
Gospel’s vision
Nurturing healthy outlook
Spirit’s hand at work
Faith
Enduring
Challenging times
Tsunami of darkness
Firm foundation’s pilot light
Faith
Nature wakening
Early morning hour
Dawn’s new arrival
Whispering stillness
Nature witnessing
Unique day ahead
Heavens’ face brightens
Breathing peacefulness
Nature prevailing
Sunrise lifts her shade
Nighttime put to rest
Stirring each creature
Nature conceiving
Life breathes easily
Blossoms swell upward
Seeking tender warmth
Nature gathering
World founded from light
Rhythms now salute
Beaming melodies
From Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”
Walking road of solitude
Every step heading somewhere
Today, meeting one stranger
“Come, follow me”—He declares
Hearing His witness of grace
Darkness transitions to light
Stranger’s Word sinking deeper
Rendezvous sealed with Spirit bright
Sharing His comfort of peace
Truth serving as Scripture’s guide
Stranger’s righteous heart affirms
Mercy’s breath comes alongside
Traveling as one each day
Faith’s journey follows high road
Stranger’s compass always true
Love unlocks atonement’s code
Seeing life’s purpose at last
Redemption at Heaven’s door
Stranger no more, Jesus Christ
Eternity comes ashore
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Beyond one’s normal
New, exciting perspective—
Trusted lens focused
Remembering TEAM
Life’s “Together Everyone—
Accomplishes More”
Boarding faithful train
Departing from dark despair—
Riding fate’s bright light
Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com
Music permeates through the woods
Listen closely, can you hear it?
This melody brings a sense of calm
Nature witnesses a new hit
Calmness radiates from a banjo
Listen again, can you feel it?
Life pauses, taking in this song
Appreciate this moment, let’s sit
Even in darker times, comes light
Listen now, can you feel its blitz?
Calming tune filling every heart
Playing a banjo, without the glitz
People reaching out to others
Living as sisters and brothers
Steve Martin is an accomplished banjo player, and he shares a message of calmness and peace from the woods with his own self-video performance. This video inspired the writing of this poem.
Originally published March, 2020.
From Psalm 31:1-2: “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me. Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”
Facing life’s overwhelming odds
Darkness invades, hope crashing down
Searching for sustaining refuge
Forsaking another showdown
Emptiness penetrates deeply
Faith weakening, now feeling mocked
Each empty promise calling out
Distant future forever locked
Calling to Father above
Reaching for His righteous-filled hand
Praying for heavenly rescue
Grasping mercy, fleeing quicksand
Light overcomes evil’s doomsday
God’s promises, always to trust
Mighty fortress restoring faith
Distant future looking robust
From Psalm 31:14-15: “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.”
Sinking
Enemy’s darkness
Waves crashing down
Empty tomb’s salvation light
Rising
Light
Father’s plan
Love’s ultimate sacrifice
Resurrection’s grace shines forever
Victorious
Witnessing
Blessed assurance
Light conquers darkness
Every sin forever paid
Redemption
Looking into nearby trees
Visualizing every leaf
Moving with another breeze
Viewing each artist’s motif
Reminding of blessed life
Molding self, with every hour
Breathing in peace, without strife
Seasoning days, never sour
Touching greenest blades of grass
Remembering every step
Topping off another glass
Sitting at nature’s doorstep
Exploring depths of these woods
Imagining what’s waiting
Delivering timeless goods
Tasting life, captivating
From Hebrews 11:1-3: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”
Faith fills assurance
Light brightens day’s hope
What’s seen and unseen?
Love viewed through God’s scope
Faith moves through Scripture
Testaments make clear
Witness Abraham
Hope waits, then appears
Faith grows, trusting God
Hope’s great centerpiece
Foundations built strong
Life of blessed peace
Faith matures with time
God’s perfection reigns
His Word guides with truth
Hope makes lifelong gains
Faith’s hope, joined as one
Journey’s promised land
God forever praised
Mercy’s steady hand
From the words of American pastor and Christian writer, Warren Wiersbe: “Love increases our faith, and when we have faith and love, we will have hope.”
Winter to summer
Life’s annual rendezvous—
Fleeting taste of spring
Rainy clouds arrive
Farmers waited with patience—
Harvest time’s sunshine
Majestic white pines
Sharing Creator’s presence—
Faithful guardians
Big Sky Buckeye 