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.
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!”
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
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
From Psalm 25:4-5: “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”
God of Creation
Filling life with hope
Divine promised land
Future grasps His rope
God of Salvation
Teaching with His Word
Holy righteousness
Grace freely conferred
God of Faithfulness
Sending steadfast love
Mercy walks ahead
Truth shines from above
God of Redemption
Erasing stumbles
Lives forever changed
Faith never crumbles
God of Blessedness
Praising our goodwill
Acts of compassion
Life never stands still
From Psalm 25:20-21: “O guard my life and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”
Morning sunrise greets
Another new day
Taking love forward
Rainbows without gray
Bold, positive steps
Encourage each day
Taking love forward
Spirit won’t betray
Heart finds harmony
Melodies all day
Taking love forward
Happiness shall play
Impatient clouds brew
Compassion saves day
Taking love forward
Life’s innocent way
Nightfall now arrives
Day finally sleeps
Taking love forward
Tomorrow will keep
One of my favorite songs is “If I Were a Carpenter.” With lyrics and music composed by Tim Hardin, the song climbed the charts in 1966 when Bobby Darin recorded it. Darin’s interpretation of the lyrics is filled with love’s theme.
Pursuing
Flesh’s desires
Filled with works
Life falls short in
Darkness
Truth
Speaks boldly
Christ’s Holy Word
Building hope through Spirit’s
Fruits
Love
Thy neighbor
Obedience to Christ
Grace meeting our needs
Freedom
Cherishing small towns
America’s gift
Community pride
Life never adrift
Welcoming Main Street
Absent traffic lights
Community hub
Unique stores excite
People greet with “hello”
Strangers become friends
Community loves
Caring’s dividends
Close-knit neighborhoods
Immaculate yards
Community joy
Beauty fills postcards
Town’s crowning jewel
School engages minds
Community guides
Students’ daily grind
White wood-framed churches
God’s daily footprint
Community prays
Town’s faithful blueprint
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
On our way—
Following
Son of God,
Jesus Christ
On our way—
Witnessing
Faithful hope,
Filled with Christ
On our way—
Confronting
Day’s darkness,
Buoyed by Christ
On our way—
Restoring
Shattered lives,
Praising Christ
On our way—
Quieting
Stormy seas,
Christ as work
On our way—
Conquering
Evil’s foe,
Christ with us
On our way—
Redeeming
Wayward souls,
Christ’s love saves
On our way—
Proclaiming
Thankful hearts,
Blessed Christ
On our way—
Rejoicing
Forever,
Within Christ
From Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
The inspiration for this poem comes from the hymn, “On Our Way, Rejoicing.” Here are the lyrics and music of this beloved song.
All of these morning photographs were taken at two different Metro Parks (Walnut Woods and Chestnut Ridge) in central Ohio, not far from my home. I frequently walk both of these areas.
Morning awakens
Creation’s treasures stirring—
Lord above smiling
Season to season
Witnessing every change—
Praise God’s masterpiece
Nature never rests
Flora and fauna’s beauty—
Creator molding
Big Sky Buckeye 