Life’s thorny issues
Tainting our experience—
Tasting bitterness
Sitting down to write
Rediscovering lost art—
Letter to dear friend
Sooner or later
Actions bringing correction—
Life’s daily cadence
This poem is inspired by a favorite hymn of many, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Photo by Peter on Pexels.com
Living weak in character
Laying at the Cross, past torts
Jesus, always our friend
Hearing our troubling reports
Stepping humbly to our Lord
Dumping these tribulations
Jesus, always through His love
Building our life’s foundation
Facing polarizing darkness
Bearing pain, feeling alone
Jesus waits, always trusting
Welcoming us to His own
Taking us, lifting us up
Rescuing us from sin’s shame
Jesus, always rebuilds faith
Saving through His Father’s name
Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com
From 1 Peter 1:21: “Through Him you have come to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.”
From Psalm 25:5: “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
Living in God’s Kingdom
Providing all things
Sharing His steadfast peace
Grace forever springs
Healing our tattered souls
Witnessing our plight
Stirring up lasting faith
Eternity’s light
Filling hearts with mercy
Kindling each sunrise
Soaring on eagle’s wings
Glory in God’s eyes
Casting darkness aside
Saving every heart
Loving each child of God
New life now restarts
Blessing with His goodness
Hearing our sad cries
Raising us up in Christ
Salvation’s franchise
From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
God’s
Endless wonders
Faithful, perfect design
Praising and giving thanks
Creation
Relationships
Divine plan
Family, colleagues, friends
Leaning on each other
Recharged
Approaching
Stormy seas
Righteous navigator leads
Guiding toward calmer waters
Faithfulness
Searching attic’s hidden treasures
Opening ancient cedar chest
Well-preserved photo album smiles
Connections with family’s quest
Scanning morning’s endless gray sky
Feeling forgotten and alone
Phone rings, lifting away sadness
Connections with daughter’s milestone
Driving endless summer backroads
Coming to destination’s gift
Rustic cabin by mountain lake
Connections waken life’s gearshift
Sitting near frosty window glass
Watching winter’s chilling landscape
Mail carrier drops off letter
Connections with friend’s warm escape
Spending lifetime in school’s classroom
Touching so many youthful lives
Cumulative cache of memories
Connections stir teacher’s archives
From Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”
Life’s stumbles and missteps
Seeing failure once more
Judging ourselves harshly
Father brings us ashore
Agony breathes again
Grabbing mercy’s lifeline
Lifting us up with grace
Anchored to Father’s vine
Evil tells us, stay down
Pushing through, comes His love
Pulling always forward
Father’s glory above
Faith feeds on righteousness
Taking up Savior’s cross
Believing in His Word
Father’s love comes across
Justice removes darkness
Marching to heaven’s beat
Singing hymns of praises
Joy sails with Father’s fleet
From Psalm 37:23-24: “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”
Transition’s river
Creation’s tireless seasons—
Lasting ebb and flow
Blessed reminder
Painting life’s daily landscape—
Creator’s witness
So much to enjoy
Waiting again to blossom—
Steady persistence
Photo by Eduardo Braga on Pexels.com
Standing and lifting eyes upward
Asking for help
But, from where will it come?
Reading from a cherished Bible
Finding the words
Of a patient and gracious Lord
Humbling images of God’s plan
Creating the heavens
As well as the earth
Feeling the grace of God
Providing shade
At one’s right hand
Sleeping is never His wish
Watching over
His people at every moment
Praying to a compassionate Lord
Listening now
His words bring comfort
Protecting us at all times
Witnessing Him
Forevermore
The background for this poem comes from the Bible; see Psalm 121.
From Daniel 1:17: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.”
Life’s empty vision
Forsaking this heart
Empty days and nights
Waiting for restart
Wisdom comes forward
Warming this cold heart
Heaven’s power stirs
Blessing life’s jumpstart
Father’s divine Word
Lifting up this heart
Treasures of mercy
Bringing life’s kick start
Victory arrives
Restoring this heart
Wisdom’s vision breathes
Gracing life’s bold start
This poem is inspired from the blessed Irish hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.”
Baptismal
Mountainside spring
Filled with healing
Thirsty heart now restored
Waters
Receiving
Christ’s love
Following faithful steps
Paying forward to others
Compassion
Brokenness
Jesus builds
Redemption’s eternal bridge
Between sin and God
Living
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.
