Echoing
Holy Word
Amplifying His love
Hope, grace, and peace
God
Stranded
In darkness
God reveals promises
Each heavenly, shining star
Found
Morning
Blessings awake
Landscape of grace
Responding to Creator’s peace
Prayer
From Psalm 31:9-10: “Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.”
Feeling earth’s numbing cold
Facing each new trial
Life’s winter darkness stirs
Filling another mile
Witnessing grief and loss
Traversing heavy snow
Life’s winter darkness stands
Causing impulse to slow
Prowling disease and strife
Reading storm’s latest news
Life’s winter darkness shouts
Raging snow sings the blues
Plodding in Arctic’s chill
Crushing social unrest
Life’s winter darkness tests
Failing every quest
Viewing world’s upheaval
Blinding blizzard’s whiteout
Life’s winter darkness runs
Bulldozing faith with doubt
Guiding light now arrives
Accepting Father’s grace
Life’s winter darkness fades
Walking in Spirit’s place
From James 4:5-6: “Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that He has made to dwell in us’? But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”
When we sin and mess up our lives, we find that God doesn’t go off and leave us–He enters into our trouble and saves us.
From Jeremiah 15:20: “And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.”
Fresh, fallen snowflakes
Morning’s glistening landscape—
Sparkling winter day
From winter’s postcard
Covered with fresh, powder snow—
Majestic pines rise
Calm valley meadow
Undisturbed snowy blanket—
Cautious buck deer waits
From Matthew 14:25-27: “And early in the morning He came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”
Photo by David Bortnik on Pexels.com
Following God’s commandments
Delivering steadfast courage
Building up one’s faith and trust
Go sends us forth, encouraged
Imagine walking each day
With Biblical superstars
Amazing stories with truth
God waiting near, not too far
Israel cries out in Egypt
God hears their anguish and pain
Moses’ courage answers prayers
Pharaoh’s heart, forever slain
God commissions a leader
Joshua destined to lead
His faith in God carries strength
His plan and vision succeeds
Daniel faces certain death
Overcoming his demise
God foils lions’ hunger
Courage arrives in disguise
Christ completes His final task
A Cross marks defeat, they say
His living breath creates light
Salvation, lives from that day
Boldness, defined by our Lord
Confronting uncertain pain
Faithful and steadfast courage
God’s love, never will abstain
Photo by Peter on Pexels.com
From American film actress, Dorothy Bernard: “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
From Psalm 37:39: “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble.”
Evil creeps into lives
Subtle in its motives
Fueling empty worry
Steaming locomotive
Walking endless circles
Worry filling each breath
Joy fading like parched grass
Hope withers into death
Come to God, trusting Him
Angels watching over
During times of trouble
Peace-filled, greenest clover
Lord’s refuge, hope reborn
Worry dims, mercy’s peace
Love sharing His goodness
Grace solves each puzzle piece
Walking God’s righteous road
His comfort soothes each soul
Empty worry exchanged
Forgiveness makes us whole
From Psalm 91:11: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
Blinded
Life’s blizzard
Plowing far ahead
God clears our path
Grace
Waiting
Father’s gift
Open it now
Grace and love offering
Salvation
Tempted
Highway’s darkness
Salvation’s bright floodlights
Follow, accept Christ’s grace
Forgiveness
From Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Praising his earthly work ethic
Man seeking Father’s lasting grace
Totally missing Gospel’s heart
By faith alone, shall love embrace
Preparing for Heaven’s homeland
Mercy of Christ walking ahead
Righteousness, marking worldly path
By faith alone, waits daily bread
Tasting God’s eternal goodness
Earthly trials, evil’s dark hand
Lord’s strength overcomes man’s weakness
By faith alone, His grace commands
Seeking blessings for things hoped for
Filled with promises, where love dwells
Thirsty for Christ’s living water
By faith alone, salvation swells
From Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
From John 3:16-17: “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. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Imagine receiving one gift
But, never accepting its love
Forsaking Father’s lasting grace
Angels witness all from above
This precious gift brings lasting peace
Why would God’s love remain unwrapped?
Sin continues weaving darkness
Triggering mankind to feel trapped
Spirit moves into heart’s fabric
Cosmic collision stirs within
Christ stepping into this dark breach
Divine love snaps sin’s frail linchpin
For God so loved this fallen world
His Holy Son pays for sin’s debts
Unlocking eternity’s gate
Christ’s mercy saves, without regrets
Now embracing and accepting
Father’s loving gift now received
Trusting in Savior’s greatest gift
Forgiveness, all who believe
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “The greatest gift ever given was the sacrifice of Jesus, and all we must do is accept this free gift in joy forever with Him.”
Looking to conquer
Bullies search for life’s island—
Mankind’s weakest link
Remember always
Our mirror’s self-reflection—
Misses life’s real truth
Life’s biggest challenge
Constructing each new puzzle—
Piece follows each piece
