Life’s Linchpin

From Isaiah 53:7:  “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth.”

Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren on Pexels.com

From Eden’s lush garden

Man’s sin corrupting all

God sees Calvary’s cross

Jesus accepts His call

 

God comes to earth as Christ

Son of God walks in light

Fallen world can’t crush Him

Darkness loses this fight

 

Jesus never wavers

Father’s plan never rests

World quakes under evil

His Son conquers each test

 

Like sheep, man has strayed

Lost in darkness and sin

Wheels of life falling off

Cross restores life’s linchpin

 

Do you truly believe?

Righteous Son pours self out

Sin’s death now defeated

Step forward, never doubt

 

Photo by Peter on Pexels.com

From Isaiah 53:11:  “Out of His anguish He shall see light; He shall find satisfaction through His knowledge.  The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities.”

Mountain Retreat

Photo by Adam Krypel on Pexels.com

Waking from short overnight nap

Mind navigating through dense fog

Seeing Venus, shining above

Campfire went out, hearing bullfrogs

 

Experiencing nature’s gifts

From this lofty mountain retreat

Rubbing shoulders with Creator

Simple life, better than Main Street

 

Viewing twinkling lights down below

Village sound asleep, missing this

Flickering campfire heats coffee

Tranquility Base, full of bliss

 

Cooking up heartiest breakfast

There’s plenty for both me and you

Inviting Christ to take His seat

Mountain retreat, feeling brand-new

 

Breathing in nature’s harmony

Alone, never feeling that way

Taking in this heavenly scene

Lord, please allow this hour to stay

  

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Pexels.com

Cherished Friend (Haiku Series #157)

His Mission

Chosen by Jesus

Harvest love’s fruit from His vine—

Sharing with others

Photo by Luiz M. Santos on Pexels.com

His Teaching

Embrace God’s commands

Filled with Holy Spirit’s love—

Walking with Jesus

Photo by Jessica Lynn Lewis on Pexels.com

His Example

Love one another

Watching out for each brother—

Christ’s chosen tenet

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Celebrate This Day

Photo by WARREN BLAKE on Pexels.com

Blessed sun rises, starting a new day

A precious day, under Lord’s watchful eyes

Celebrate this day, riding in love’s sleigh

Nothing ever holding back, watching doves fly

 

Singing of praises, blessing this fresh start

Jesus walking with us, our daily bread

Sharing this day, between loving sweethearts

Together, God’s Word keeps us full and fed

 

Our love sparks an endless celebration

God’s love filling hearts, fulfilling our fate

Singing songs, with love and adoration

Celebrate this day, love’s delightful taste

 

Jesus shares His joy, smiling from above

Making our joy complete, filling with love

  

Photo by Gary Barnes on Pexels.com

Faith’s Dilemma

From Romans 7:14-15:  “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin.  I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Even after salvation

Evil gathers temptation

 

Satan never giving up

His truth always false, made-up

 

Man continues to wrestle

Sin looks for place to nestle

 

Feelings of condemnation

Life bears guilty fixation

 

Inner conflict tears apart

Jesus speaks truth to each heart

 

Faith’s dilemma overcome

Favored, steady, beating drum

 

Savior’s blood wipes sin away

Blessed by love, trust never sways

 

God’s grace eternally flows

His constant love never slows

 

Father shall never reject

Those who faithfully connect

 

False promises never blind

Truth of Scripture filling minds

 

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

From Romans 8:1-2:  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Networking with God (Elfchen Series #80)

Plugged In

Creator’s

Voice abounds

Truly humbling ourselves

Taking time to listen

Holiness

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Father’s House

Worship

Gospel’s constellation

Connecting with God

Scripture, prayer, and song

Praiseworthy

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com

Faith Fortified

Gospel

Shared daily

One on one

Proclaiming Lord’s Good News

Discipleship

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

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.

Competitive Spirit

Photo by Gladson Xavier on Pexels.com

So much of life keeps score

From elections to sports

Competitive spirit

Churns in daily reports

 

Life’s clashing resistance

Much at too high a cost

All want to be winners

Loving brothers, now lost

 

Division without love

Life without sportsmanship

Forgetting our manners

People losing their grip

 

Imagine Super Bowl

Unresolved final score

Fans calling for justice

Final outcome called for

 

Pushing aside tension

Leaving muckraker’s trough

Muting all rhetoric

Turning life’s scoreboard off

 

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Pexels.com

Searching for Father

From Amos 5:4:  “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:  Seek Me and live.”

Photo by Gantas Vaiu010diulu0117nas on Pexels.com

Searching for Father

Walking stark valleys

Running through darkness

Checking back alleys

 

Seeking divine Lord

Wandering each day

Sinking, lost again

Retreating to pray

 

Finding Calvary

Kneeling at sin’s cross

Seeing scarlet stains

Witnessing God’s loss

 

Feeling Christ’s Spirit

Scanning empty tomb

Understanding now

Reaching Father’s room

 

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

From Amos 5:14:  “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.”

Autumn’s Arrival (Haiku Series #156)

Bless You!

Allergy time peaks

Summer moves into autumn—

Ragweed in full bloom

Golden, flowering ragweed sprouting everywhere.

Splendid Transition

Summertime fading

Crisp, cool mornings signal change—

Autumn’s billboard colors

Autumn colors Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

Poetic Time

Autumn comes knocking

Where have all the song birds gone?

Morning’s quiet peace

Quiet morning along the trail at Chestnut Ridge.