His Promise Blesses

From John 14:15-16:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”

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Bringing light to follow

Christ’s promise comes with grace

Overcoming life’s doubts

Holy Spirit in place

 

Responding to life’s needs

Hope filling empty hearts

Interceding for Christ

Holy Spirit imparts

 

Pouring into others

Love shared across man’s world

Swelling as inner strength

Holy Spirit unfurled

 

Healing our brokenness

Steadfast love guiding lives

Gathering righteous faith

Holy Spirit’s “high-fives”

 

Trusting in Christ-filled light

God’s Word proclaims, our Rock

Wandering no longer

Holy Spirit unlocks

 

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From John 14:26-27:  “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

American Christian singer and songwriter, Francesca Battistelli, sings “Holy Spirit.”  While I have heard this song several times in Sunday worship, its lyrics always reach and out touch me.  I hope they will speak to you as well.

Nature’s Arrogance

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Summer-like weather arrives

Welcoming warmth, nature thrives

 

Snowy cold gone, long banished

Winter’s shadow, now vanished

 

Beaches open, pools start up

Outdoor chores now piling up

 

Paradise smiles, open now

But wait!  Winter’s final bow

 

Halt, recall nature’s humor

Winter’s back, not a rumor

 

Over Montana’s Big Sky

Snowflakes dance, find their bullseye

 

Cold and snow rudely drop in

Wrecking spring, crashing tailspin

 

How can this accident be?

Cold slides in, snow covers trees

 

Blessed with nature’s fairytale

Big Sky folks laugh, “Spring’s in jail”

 

Cornering winter’s good cheer

Just waiting a day my dear

 

Tomorrow’s change now coming

Spring’s freedom and homecoming

 

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A freak event of nature found Montana turned in a winter wonderland over a period of a couple of days.  In the meantime, nearly all of the United States was enjoying the arrival of an early summer.  At times, living under the Big Sky does require a sense of humor.

Godly Actions (Elfchen Series #59)

Linking

Relationship

With Father

Through timeless prayer

Grace connects us together

Hope

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Mentoring

Guidance

Holy Spirit

Empowering our obedience

Following God’s sacred will

Faith

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Speaking

Revelation

God’s Word

Strengthens our character

Transforming life’s imbalanced alignment

Believe

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Her Spirit Lives

Montana’s Crazy Mountains (courtesy of Pinterest).

Howling wind joins darkness

From mountains standing tall

Screaming into valleys

Her spirit lives to bawl

 

River bottom cuts through

Shudders at her loud cry

Escaping into night

Her spirit never dies

 

Myths and legends live on

Woman wanders away

Never noticed again

Her spirit roams to prey

 

Crazy Woman Mountains

Dramatic island range

Lives into eternity

Her spirit must not change

 

Another winter night

Shivering voice calls out

Noisy lungs never sleep

Her spirit lives throughout

Another view taken from the south with the Yellowstone River in the foreground with autumn’s colors (courtesy of Pinterest).

Montana’s Crazy Mountains stand as a sentry above the valley near the town of Big Timber.  Nicknamed the “Crazies,” the wind always seems to be blowing.  If you wish to read more about them, here is a link to the mountains.

Always Present

From Psalm 27:1:  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

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Father walking nearby

Hearing heartfelt prayers

Healing life’s brokenness

Always present, God cares

 

Dark fears and emotions

Steps stumble, almost fall

Slowly confidence grows

Feeding faith from God’s call

 

Recalling faithfulness

God’s hope covers this place

Healing former despairs

Love shining through His grace

 

During days of trouble

Stirring praises of joy

Father’s shelter protects

Grace’s refuge deploys

 

Once withdrawn in darkness

His light calling lives out

Always present, God cares

Love covering throughout

 

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From Psalm 27:13-14:  “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Life’s Morsels (Haiku Series #135)

Exploration

Perseverance roams

Ingenuity flies high—

Planet “Mars” explored

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Discovery

Hidden by dense woods

Living through generations—

Treasured, seasoned home

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Harvest

Sowing fertile fields

Nurturing with tender care—

Tomorrow’s goodness

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His Great Love

From Deuteronomy 8:3:  “He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

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Life’s darkening journey

Never exempt from pain

Evil always prowling

Adversity’s campaign

 

Seeking life’s foundation

Holy Word, God alone

Heavenly love provides

Troubles no longer groan

 

Praise our Great Comforter

Treasures open, His love

Understanding God’s law

Commandments from above

 

Freed from harsh wilderness

Rejoice with faithful trust

Delighting in God’s love

Filled with hope, life adjusts

 

Depend upon the Lord

Manna nourishing needs

Trials teach bold lessons

His great love always leads

 

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From Romans 8:28:  “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

Faith’s Journey (Elfchen Series #58)

Cornerstone

Anchor

God’s Word

Answers life’s doubts

Steadies each shaky step

Grace

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Beacon

Wilderness

Testing faith

Facing certain adversity

Christ walks with us

Strength

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Resilience

Guideposts

God’s wisdom

Growing in trust

Before life reaches new

Crossroads

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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.

Conquering Fears

From 1 John 4:17-19:  “Love has been perfected among us in this:  that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.  We love because he first loved us.”

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Bringing anxiety

Life’s darkness encroaches

Where can we always turn?

Father’s light approaches

 

Bitten by sinful grief

Burdened at life’s abyss

Time to admit these fears

Seeking truth to dismiss

 

Frightened by life’s trials

Being honest with self

True feelings now exposed

Finding Bible on shelf

 

Coming to our Father

Reaching out to His hand

Time now spent in prayer

God’s Word faithfully stands

 

God’s hand vanquishes fears

Lasting comfort and peace

Heavenly rod and staff

Salvation, life’s new lease

 

Father’s infinite love

Grace casting out these fears

Supportive hand and Word

Conquering fear-filled tears

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “When fear begins to sink in, I pray harder, study longer, and read my Bible more closely.  God wants to cast out the fear and doubt in your life.”

Living in Christ

From Colossians 3:1-2:  “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

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Living in Christ, never alone

Marked with genuine, lasting love

Walking in daily harmony

Bread of Life, feeding from above

 

Living in Christ, finding mercy

Filled with thirst for Holy kindness

Quenching faith with living water

Spirit healing sin-filled blindness

 

Living in Christ, cherished moments

Covered by His forgiving grace

Centering on infinite love

Patience guides, finishing life’s race

 

Living in Christ, tasting His love

Called to follow in faithful ways

Building new life with righteousness

Heavens singing with blessed praise

 

Living in Christ, God’s chosen ones

Baptized, newest children of God

Praising Heavenly Father’s love

Comfort received, His staff and rod

 

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From Colossians 3:14-15:  “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful.”