Monday Memories: Walk of Faith

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Public baptism by immersion occurs on this date

Young girl reveals her guided walk to faith’s gate

 

Scripture speaks of baptism at every turn

From this girl, we all have so much to learn

 

Believe, be baptized, and continue to be brave

For Christ arose and escaped from His grave

 

All are baptized into one body so pure

Made to drink one spirit, totally for sure

 

Christ’s baptism launches His ministry, rich for all

In God’s presence, His words forever stand tall

 

Scorned persecutor of Jesus’ faithful, Christian way

Saul baptized as Paul, with Lord’s forgiveness to stay

 

Believers baptized under God’s authority of thee

Through Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which see

 

Baptism generates life’s faithful walk, filled with newness

Youthful girl accepts Jesus as Savior, blessed trueness

 

Feeling transforming spirit of Father’s Holy, living water

Accepting God’s purpose, living as newfound daughter

 

This young girl’s act of faith inspires so many others

Opening eyes to witness, every sister and brother

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This poem, written in February of 2019, has been updated in style.  The content reveals the public baptism of a granddaughter back on this date.

Hungry Feast

From John 6:35:  “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

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Gathering in community

Preparing for His Hungry Feast

Coming to Heavenly Father

Worshipping Christ, our Holy Priest

 

Traveling life’s difficult road

Hungering for peace in our hearts

Tasting fellowship with Jesus

Targeting us with grace-filled darts

 

Fulfilling hope from Father’s love

Joining at His holy table

Seeking lasting, peaceful comfort

Witnessing Bethlehem’s stable

 

Rejecting evil’s dark presence

Praising and worshipping our Lord

Filling our hunger from His feast

Riding Gospel’s train . . . all aboard!

 

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From Matthew 5:6:  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

The hymn “We Come to the Hungry Feast” inspired the writing of this poem.  Some churches also use this tune as a communion hymn.

Refreshing Rain

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Renewing dry, parched landscape

Resurrecting nature’s shape

 

Refreshing rain offers grace

Restoring peace to this place

 

Restarting with single drop

Reopening life’s closed shop

 

Reaffirming rain calling

Rallying lifeline falling

 

Recommitting faithful hand

Reassuring thirsty land

 

Reviving lost paradise

Rebounding rain’s special spice

 

Relieving vast acres’ stress

Rejuvenating success

 

Renovating rain’s duty

Recapturing land’s beauty

 

Rekindling valley’s lost spark

Reflecting light over dark

 

Repairing nature’s lost soul

Remaking her glory whole

 

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This nature-rich poem is crafted with a different style.  Beginning each verse with an “R” word as inspired by “refreshing rain,” offers a challenge for my poetic pen.  

Christian Reflections (Elfchen Series #70)

Steadfastness

God

Always present

Hearing heartfelt prayers

Every mountain and valley

Unwavering

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Transformation

Father’s

Forgiving grace

Opens up hearts

Reshaping darkness into light

Love

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Community

Fellowship

With believers

Sharing mutual burdens

Strengthened through the Gospel

Faith

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Morning Brew

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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

 

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Tempest Brewing

From Psalm 89:8-9:  “Lord God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LordYour faithfulness surrounds you.  You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.”

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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

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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.

God’s Steady Hand (Haiku Series #146)

Always

Beware of idols

Turning away, seeking truth—

Placing faith in God

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Everlasting

Love abides in God

Seeking lost and wayward sheep—

Welcoming each home

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Forever

Father, be gracious

Faithful promises leading—

Hearing each prayer

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Monday Memories: Lonely Road

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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

 

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Awesome Mystery

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.”

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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

 

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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.”

Defining Moments (Elfchen Series #69)

Endearing

Appreciate

Day’s treasures

Each precious minute

Fleeting moments pass by

Photographs

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Persevering

Freedom’s

Challenging task

Brick by brick

Renewing democracy’s fragile road

Courage

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Celebrating

Legendary

Life journey

Childhood’s early dreams

Maturing into life’s amazing

Accomplishments

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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.