Father’s
True foundation
Times of trouble
Witness Scripture’s divine promises
Truth
Surrender
In faith
Keep His commandments
Come to know God
Obedience
Called
By God
Sharing our abundance
Walking together with others
Community
Children and grandchildren
Each fills precious treasure
Hug this “Circle of Life”
Family time’s pleasure
Watching young daughters grow
Teaching lessons of love
Taking delight each day
Dad, where’s my softball glove?
Time moves much too quickly
Each day shares its rewards
Daughters become women
“Circle of Life” records
Transforming life’s landscape
Mastering how to crawl
Cherishing grandchildren
Grandpa, will you play ball?
Robust “Circle of Life”
Family roster grows
Memories made each day
Lifetime’s delightful rose
Some of the best poems are written from from the heart. Such is the case with this poem; created from just a thought about family and its blessings. My wife and I have been blessed with five daughters between our Montana and Ohio families. Our grandchildren now number ten. Our own “Circle of Life’ has indeed been a blessed one.
From Psalm 139:1-2: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.”
Seeking blessed comfort
Father always present
Inescapable God
Filled with Holy intent
Praising our faithful Lord
Saving us with His love
Trusting His steady hand
Searching Heaven above
God knows all and sees all
Unlike Jonah, we stay
Through morning until night
Come to worship and pray
Seeing God’s wondrous works
Enduring presence leads
Counting endless blessings
Protecting tender reeds
Changing darkness to light
God saves us from our sins
His grace covers each life
Forgiveness always wins
From Psalm 139:11-12: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
Facing life’s problems
Alone in harsh wilderness—
Hearing Father’s voice
Lord’s steady hand cares
Removes life’s withered, dark past—
Prunes with love and grace
Every morning
Faithfulness and righteousness—
God’s channel broadcasts
Love springs eternal in many, beautiful forms
Helping to ease some of life’s angry storms
A mother focuses on her handsome new boy
Rocking him fast to sleep, she’s filled with joy
A teacher reaches out to his unsettled class today
Filling the room with learning, discovering a way
A nervous man asks a pretty woman for a date
Dreaming, could marriage be their future fate?
A son calls upon his ailing mother quite often
Bringing love that helps her illness to soften
A mature couple capturing romance from afar
Tying ribbons of love, reaching heaven’s stars
A young girl eagerly waits by the window all day
Jumping into her father’s lap with much to say
A caring wife prepares a meal by candlelight
Inspiring a time of love with her man tonight
A family cherishes togetherness for all
Adding gentle love that will never fall
A romantic husband brings flowers to his bride
Adding fragrance and beauty, their love amplified
A young couple ties marriage’s knot with “We do”
Cherishing their love, feeling deeply rich and true
God sends His Son, offering His greatest gift
Washing away our sins, lives no longer adrift
This poem was written and published back in February, 2019. In looking at its original form, I found an opportunity to improve a few flaws in its presentation.
From Psalm 16:11: “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Witnessing daily life
Scanning God’s fingerprints
Saluting His presence
Growing from His blueprint
Recalling past events
Entering safety’s zone
Protecting us from harm
Kneeling at Heaven’s throne
Viewing God’s handiwork
Beholding how lives change
Embracing His Spirit
Moving from evil’s range
Learning from life’s lessons
Reading God’s Holy Word
Discovering His truth
Nourishing grace conferred
Casting out unholy thoughts
Boosting faith with each step
Living life of “I Can”
Knocking at God’s doorstep
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life. Live confidently knowing out living, omnipotent God dwells with in.”
Sputtering at sunrise
Human engine starts up
Needing its caffeine boost
Always more than one cup
Yes, speaking of coffee
Savor its mountain blend
Aroma-filled goodness
Taste morning’s boldest friend
Body grows accustomed
Medium grade of fuel
Drinking anything less
Makes for a sluggish fool
Life’s experience counts
Paying close attention
Day’s “Five Cup” minimum
Brew’s perfect dimension
Nourishment
God’s Word
Bread of Life
Fortified with faithful grace
Righteousness
Believe
God’s divinity
Coming to earth
Jesus walking among us
Faithfulness
Engulfed
Darkest storms
Lost and alone
Holy grace faithfully flows
Deliverance
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.
Eternal solitude
Everlasting, subdued
Morning moments alone
Glorious sunrise sown
Life’s daily rhythm glides
From dawn to evening tides
Harmony lights day’s lamp
Tranquility’s base camp
Flowing with ceaseless soul
Steady rivers patrol
Fragrant summer flowers
Beauty added each hour
Awesome mountaintop views
Quiet valleys diffuse
Warmest rays of sunshine
Hope never felt so fine
Oasis filled with spice
Matchless, pure paradise
Heavens praising with peace
Calmness shares newborn lease
Landscape’s lyrics compose
Midnight moonlight shadows
Precious moments of bliss
Breathtaking, sweetest kiss
From Psalm 85:8: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts.”
Another morning arrives
God’s open channel broadcasts
Peaceful encouragement speaks
Always accurate forecasts
Uploading His Holy Word
God’s message brings much to say
Faithfulness with righteousness
Quiet moments praise each day
Grace-filled gifts from Father’s heart
Neither big or small, just right
Peace, joy, and eternal life
Faithfully shining so bright
Bursting with His precious truth
God’s lessons fill the airwaves
Life’s daily restoration
Jesus Christ arrives to save
From Psalm 85:10-11: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”
Big Sky Buckeye 