God
Always present
Hearing heartfelt prayers
Every mountain and valley
Unwavering
Father’s
Forgiving grace
Opens up hearts
Reshaping darkness into light
Love
Fellowship
With believers
Sharing mutual burdens
Strengthened through the Gospel
Faith
Another morning
Alarm clock droning
Sleepy head’s warning
Waking and groaning
Almost hitting snooze
Crawling out of bed
Mind singin’ the blues
Brain needs to be fed
Morning brew ready
Caffeine right on time
Never unsteady
Brilliance set to rhyme
Arriving at work
Second cup in hand
Tackling paperwork
French roast takes command
From Psalm 89:8-9: “O Lord God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.”
Approaching storms
Burdened with fear
Now darkness forms
Hope’s light unclear
Tempest brewing
Drowning with fright
Life’s undoing
Faith must invite
Our Prince of Peace
Seeing our plight
Renews life’s lease
Turns night to light
Lord’s mighty voice
Storm’s rage resigns
Angels rejoice
Peace rules divine
Heart’s calmness grows
Lord takes control
Dark chaos slows
Christ on patrol
From Psalm 107:28-29: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”
Here is a familiar hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” While I have used this hymn in the past, this shortened version features the true intensity of the “tempest brewing.” We can always look to our Father’s strength to help us persevere.
Beware of idols
Turning away, seeking truth—
Placing faith in God
Love abides in God
Seeking lost and wayward sheep—
Welcoming each home
Father, be gracious
Faithful promises leading—
Hearing each prayer
Sometimes life resembles a lonely road
Walking endless miles, filling with shame
Surrounded by darkness, bearing life’s load
Feeling mixed up, never into the game
God’s Word and Spirit bring transformation
Empty, spiritual desert . . . leaving now
Bringing dramatic change, new foundation
An oasis of faith becomes a vow
Discovering new hope, suffering ends
God’s light shines ahead of our faithful steps
Stumbling and failing, no longer contend
God’s Glory reigns supreme, without missteps
Old ways transforming to a better life
Exchanging total control with our Lord
God’s Grace gives, without cutting like a knife
His everlasting love, brings rich accord
God’s army of angels, walking ahead
Lonely road left . . . following Christ instead
From Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”
God nurtures His creation
Sharing its ageless treasures
Rising with life’s morning sun
Earth boldly sings with pleasure
Love passed with each spoken word
Flowing through God’s gentle hands
Breathing newness with each day
Earth remembers where He stands
Unsurpassed beauty looks up
Praising God’s own perfection
Shining from Heaven’s mirror
Earth glows in His reflection
Awesome mystery to touch
Inheriting Master’s aim
Setting sun applauds each day
Earth salutes His Holy name
From 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.”
Appreciate
Day’s treasures
Each precious minute
Fleeting moments pass by
Photographs
Freedom’s
Challenging task
Brick by brick
Renewing democracy’s fragile road
Courage
Legendary
Life journey
Childhood’s early dreams
Maturing into life’s amazing
Accomplishments
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 Psalm 145:2-3: “Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.”
God’s worthy promises
Remembering always
Encouraging Word leads
Gratitude stirs our praise
Our God of Israel
Sharing thoughts in prayer
Trumpeting His greatness
Father’s Holy Word cares
Daily meditation
Worshipping His glory
Confessing transgressions
Faithful Gospel story
God’s firmness offers hope
Praising His blessed name
Infusing daily routines
His love lights brightest flame
To each generation
Walking with God’s mindset
Facing Calvary’s cross
Son of God pays our debts
Everlasting kingdom
Receiving gifts of grace
Hearing God’s steadfast truth
Heaven’s Spirit in place
From Psalm 145:8-9: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made.”
Boyhood memories
From summers long past
Adventures waiting
Hot weather forecast
Sandlot invites fun
Baseball games on tap
No umpires needed
Wearing well-worn caps
Bike hike across town
Returning back home
Pedaling with haste
Where’s slowpoke Jerome?
Backyard sleepover
Under heavens’ stars
Awake at midnight
Sharing candy bars
Afternoon calling
Under cloudless sky
Swimming pool waiting
Diving board banzai
Waiting for darkness
Nighttime doorbell fun
Hiding in shadows
Ditch ‘em on the run
Christ’s own humble acts
Open eyes to witness God—
Awash with wonder
Life’s jigsaw puzzle
Searching through God’s Holy Word—
Find our missing peace
Asleep in our boat
Approaching dark, stormy clouds—
Christ fully aware
Big Sky Buckeye 