Taking bolder steps
Overcoming challenges—
Life’s daily exam
Deal with the present
Cope with today’s agenda—
Tomorrow can wait
Best partner and friend
Feeling fulfilled and nourished—
Look in the mirror
Facing disappointment for many months and more
Feeling frustration and despair starting to soar
Realizing that this journey needs a mid-course correction
Pointing an unsteady compass in a totally new direction
Tiring from how many others have treated thee in the past
Looking forward to a future that brings happiness at last
Beating up thyself for any past, painful mistakes
Needing renewed courage for a new life to make
Knowing that this life needs a helping hand
Wanting to scan for a nurturing place to land
Reaching out comes the helping hand of thy God
Sending forth His grace to be thy staff and rod
Shielding eyes from brightest sun at a new dawn
Walking forward with energy that’s never gone
Republishing this poem from February, 2019, brings out a theme many of us have experienced in our past. Take a moment today and look back at your life’s progress going forward from past challenges.
In a circle of true friends, each man is simply what he is: stands for nothing but himself.
From 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
From Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.”
Fulfilling His promises
Creating from His design
Cherishing every life
In God’s hands, futures shall shine
Calling upon our Father
Hearing our daily prayers
Listening with faithfulness
Blueprints, He lovingly shares
Restoring life’s direction
Gathering each of His flock
Distributing peacefulness
Spirit works around the clock
Teaching life’s daily lessons
Noting yesterday’s hardships
Offering timeless blessings
Tomorrow, we trust God’s script
Believing with faithful trust
Accepting our Father’s grace
Spending time with Gospel’s Word
Righteous living, life’s new base
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “If we want to discover the Lord’s best for our life, we must trust that His way is better than our plans and desires.”
Born to serve freedom
America lives
Liberty’s fabric
Lasting spirit gives
Nation remembers
Forefather’s boldness
Valley Forge unites
Despite war’s coldness
New country now born
Republic takes shape
Independence sings
Brave sovereign’s landscape
Young democracy
Learns from stumbling steps
Imperfect Union
Overcomes missteps
Legacy passed down
Each generation
Diverse history
Building one nation
From the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union . . . .”
Holy
Heavenly deliverance
Three in One
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Trinity
Faith
Heavenly Father
Hope and trust
Gathered in His hands
Cornerstone
Worthy
In Spirit
Gospel breathes forever
Lord finishes each task
Confidence
From Romans 7:23-25: “But I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Remolding, new creation in Christ
Transforming self, flesh passing away
Turning to Jesus, finding new life
Lighting each path, righteousness holds sway
Restoring heart, Lord always with us
Healing spirit from sin, His way
Accepting grace from Holy Father
Feeling inner faith renewed each day
Walking with trusting faith, not by sight
Deepening Spirit rekindles life
Leaving sin’s guilt on Calvary’s cross
Living under Christ’s watch, without strife
Forsaking darkness, crushing evil
Seeking Jesus, His love walks ahead
Rescuing this life from sin and death
Lasting faith renewed daily instead
From 2 Corinthians 5:17: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”
Ever shifting sands
Challenge life’s steady journey—
Changing paradigms
New day, new focus
Meeting today’s challenges—
Feeling satisfied
Mystery waiting
Hidden in darkest corner—
Flashlight discovers
Walking in the morning pre-dawn light
Waiting for the sun to resume its flight
Hearing the birds chirping familiar tunes
Feeling happy that spring will arrive soon
Stepping briskly along the charming path
Anticipating the sun bringing a warm bath
Seeing the shadows change and dance
Clearing a mind from its dormant trance
Witnessing God’s immense creation at dawn
Blessing with unique images that it spawns
Dashing in front goes a frightened rabbit
Making his morning visit a welcome habit
Dreaming of walking here each and every day
Picturing a scenic sunrise so appealing to say
Lifting above the distant horizon to bring a delight
Radiating sunrise brightens the morn with its light
This poem was written and published in March, 2019. I frequently walk at two nearby nature parks, and it is always a delight to catch the sunrise (especially if my camera is handy).
From Psalm 107:8-9: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind. For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Grace and peace filling life’s spirit
God, Creator, Holy Father
Gathering heavens, earth, and sea
Blessing east to west, north to south
His goodness shall never leave thee
Jesus Christ, Savior, Son of God
Commands and conquers stormy seas
Quiets endless wind into peace
Saving us from life’s gloomy breeze
Holy Spirit, Son’s Advocate
Wondrous works across land and sea
Turns desert to Living Water
Blessing days, Spirit true and free
Eternal Father, Three in One
Trinity’s mercy from above
Sing of Holy deeds, songs of joy
God’s Glory reigning with His love
English writer and hymnist, William Whiting wrote the lyrics to the hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” Used in a recent devotional, this hymn inspired the crafting of this poem. Written in 1860, this hymn is also known as “The Navy Hymn.”
Big Sky Buckeye 