God
Nourishes faith
Planted with righteousness
Reaping upright fruit
Grace
Love
From Father
Embraces and covers
Conquer, prevail, and live
Salvation
Praise
Heavenly Father
Eternal, steadfast love
Singing life’s new song
Faithfulness
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.
Early morning dawn arrives
Missing nature’s boldest light
Covering heavens and earth
Thickest fog masks sun’s headlight
Ghostly, ominous shadows
Cloaking trees by hidden creek
Slithering mist moves unchecked
Nature fills with blind mystique
Stillness surrounds paradise
Witnessing morning on hold
Waiting patiently for change
Nature removes her blindfold
Suddenly, haze disappears
Hailing sun’s brilliant return
Switching on morning’s magic
Thankfully, fog now adjourns
From Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Burdened by life’s BIG problem
All of man living in sin
Selfishness fueling mistakes
Where should we turn to begin?
Come forward to accept Him
Forgiveness granted from God
Washing away timeless guilt
Can’t forgive self, living flawed
Struggle with self-forgiveness
Guilt’s shadow never pulls back
God’s grace-filled pardon waiting
Feeling unloved, sin attacks
Filling ourselves with sadness
Self-imposed standards now crash
Rely on works over faith
Sin making us feel like trash
Kneeling at Calvary’s cross
Jesus’ blood setting us free
No longer chained to darkness
Forgiving ourselves, guilt flees
From Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
Craving nightly snack
Lover of potato chips—
Ready to “Pringle”
Montana? Where’s that?
Easy to find, just look up—
Under the Big Sky
Shortest baseball game
First batter up, downpour starts—
Hit it and quit it!
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.”
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
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.
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
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.
Relationship
With Father
Through timeless prayer
Grace connects us together
Hope
Guidance
Holy Spirit
Empowering our obedience
Following God’s sacred will
Faith
Revelation
God’s Word
Strengthens our character
Transforming life’s imbalanced alignment
Believe
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
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.
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?”
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
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!”
Perseverance roams
Ingenuity flies high—
Planet “Mars” explored
Hidden by dense woods
Living through generations—
Treasured, seasoned home
Sowing fertile fields
Nurturing with tender care—
Tomorrow’s goodness
