Early morning hour
Imagination gathers—
Reflections within
Evening’s new anchor
Thinking, reflecting sunset—
Walking beach again
Writer’s empty page
Searching vibrant reflections—
Written words transform
From the words of American Christian author, Kay Arthur: “To be courageous is to step out in faith–to trust and obey, no matter what.”
Each fear tests quiet resolve
Holding tightly to God’s Word
Strength in faith, stepping forward
Waiting courage, to be stirred
Another mountain to scale
Taking every fear to God
Faith’s shield shall always protect
Dissolving evil’s facade
Disappointment knocks at door
Believing in faithful Lord
Unspoken fears leaving heart
Sustaining grace, comes aboard
Endless wilderness journey
Seeing mercy’s light ahead
Every roadbed now smoothed out
Darning each fear, with faith’s thread
Dark challenges setting sail
Meditating day and night
Prayer surrounds every fear
Transforming faith, Savior’s light
Yesterday’s failures vanish
Removing fear’s daily stress
Faith encased with timeless love
Coming sunrise brings success
From Joshua 1:9: “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Gentle, overnight rain
Adding rhythm to dreams
Shrouded in twilight
Floating distant streams
Midnight trip saddles up
Riding into unknown
Sheltered within clouds
Flying each cyclone
Moonlight awakens
Hearing familiar tone
Surrounded in peace
Feeling not alone
Surreal journey wraps up
Rejoining deepest rest
Covered in stardust
Chasing nightly quest
Waiting
Endless wilderness
Lessons in patience
Mercy rewards faith’s journey
Perseverance
Feeding
Resurrection breathes
Faith carries righteousness
Mercy reigns over Cross
Redemption
Witnessing
Father’s love
Person to person
Sharing Spirit’s blessed light
Reflections
God brings to a standard of life by His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others.
From Luke 10:20: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
This poem embarks on an emotional journey, and I hope that my words have been respectful to all. For some readers, these verses may bring back painful memories. For others, a greater awareness of war’s images may come about.
Forceful, overnight tears
Halting rhythm to dreams
Shrouded in darkness
Dreading war’s extremes
Night’s stillness collapsing
Watching another scene
Filled with emotion
Fighting war . . . obscene!
Memories burst apart
Reliving fateful night
Cherished love taken
Losing precious knight
Distant battle breathes
Recalling sacrifice
Honored for courage
Paying supreme price
Sorrows of rain salute
Weeping nation holds fast
Gathered now as one
Clutching future’s past
From John 12:12-13: “The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!'”
Son of Man enters city
Making final human walk
Fulfilling Father’s design
Ignoring others who mock
Many celebrate Jesus
Thinking He shall be their king
Throwing off Roman rulers
Ignoring grace, set to spring
Enemy sees victory
Overlooking supreme God
Forgetting Christ’s destiny
Ignoring his evil fraud
Calvary’s lonely Cross weeps
Covering in Savior’s blood
Setting up love to conquer
Releasing mercy to flood
Resurrection breathes forever
Proclaiming lasting Good News
Building bridge to salvation
Raising faith’s redemptive view
From Ephesians 1:7-9: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ.”
Every precious day
With another step taken—
Rhythm’s magic leads
Three strikes and you’re out
New inning, second chances—
Back in batter’s box
Feeling reclusive
Feeds introvert’s humbleness—
Autographing prose
This poem is inspired by a song which has been sung by many artists. Bobby Darin and later Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded their versions of “If I Were a Carpenter.” The song was written by Tim Hardin, and other artists have recorded and performed the song as well. Here is Bobby Darin’s version: “If I Were a Carpenter.”
Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com
If I was a teacher
Bringing energy, passion, and patience
Showcasing learning as school’s top feature
If I was a firefighter
Serving with unselfish duty and pride
Protecting all, making worries lighter
If I was an architect
Designing buildings for many uses
Looking ahead to challenging projects
If I was a farmer
Rising at dawn, working until sundown
Bringing a nation food, as God’s armor
If I was a nurse
Sharing with patient, compassionate care
Filling lives with hope, never for the worse
If I was a writer
Crafting words into stories and much more
Witnessing through eyes, open and brighter
If I was a musician
Creating good vibes through words and music
Entertaining songs’ perfect rendition
If I was a preacher
Instilling God’s Word within a church’s flock
Encouraged to be one of God’s teachers
If I was a soldier
Preserving peace and freedom in the world
Band of brothers, stand shoulder to shoulder
If I was a young tyke
Looking up to these inspiring adults
Growing up, each day feeling more alike
Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com
Originally published March, 2020.
From Psalm 69:14: “Rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.”
Watching man’s plight
God takes human form
Breathing Scripture’s cues
Mercy conquers storm
Stumbling in faith
God sees lack of trust
Sending His own Son
Evil becomes dust
Breaking sin’s chains
Calvary’s blood flows
Kneeling in prayer
Light enters shadows
Walking through fire
Grace making descent
Pulsing with courage
God always present
Witnessing cross
Spirit opens eyes
Accepting Jesus
God, more than life-size
From 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
