Journey
Faith’s steps
Trusting in God
His love shall always
Sustain
Surrender
False notions
Accept Savior Jesus
True love frees us
Salvation
Jesus
With us
Sorrow lifted away
Reborn in our baptism
Messiah
From Psalm 139:9-10: “If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast.”
Story of doomed community
Losing its way, darkness surrounds
Hunger fueling gang violence
Crying out, injustice abounds
Life crushed in spirit, wandering
Wrecking faith, living defeated
Racism walks with extremism
Bringing sin’s death, feeling cheated
From dark despair, running away
Running to us, God with His grace
Love and mercy fill empty cups
Accepting His gift, let’s embrace
God’s right hand covers this land
Striking out envy, hate, and greed
Spirit finds us lost in life’s fog
Plowing under each sin-filled seed
Chaos no longer shatters dreams
Offering true, forgiving peace
God’s right hand, never grows weary
Lifting up lives, shall never cease
From Psalm 89:13-14: “You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, high Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.”
This poem is written in a traditional sonnet style with 14 lines, and each line contains 10 syllables. I was fortunate to witness this park one day before the rising temperatures would begin transforming the park from its winter look.
Invitation from warmer winter day
Insisting on afternoon nature hike
Snowy Walnut Woods, waiting with sunshine
Feeling welcome, childlike emotions strike
Deep snow lining each trail, bright white border
Dressing in cozy layers, feeling warm
Park’s newest treasures, eager to explore
Thankful for winter’s freedom from snowstorms
Ancient sycamore tree branches glisten
Discovering cross-country skiers’ trail
Beaver dam holds back frozen Big Run creek
Precious winter moments bless, without fail
Looming big thaw will erase winter’s scene
Memories filling life’s unending screen
Feeling all alone
Facing dark, uncertain times—
God offers refuge
In life’s stressful times
His promises taking root—
Trusting in the Lord
Christ rises above
Life’s battered, darkest-filled ruins—
Beacon of love’s hope
Written and published in June, 2019, this poem witnesses acts of courage through Scripture and history. Each and every day, people from all walks of life exhibit unwavering courage in the face of overwhelming odds . . . and they succeed through the convictions found in their hearts.
Appreciate the substance and strength of courage
Witnessing acts of bravery that always encourage
History and the Bible endorse many courageous acts
Honoring men and women from these truthful facts
A lost and sinful world moves without direction
God offers a living sacrifice with His only Son
Witnessing mockery, death, and Resurrection
Dutch people step out from safe location
During a horrible world war’s persecution
Hiding people from arrest and deportation
God listens to His people in Egypt under bondage
Choosing Moses, He dispatches this man to deliver
Bravely leading Israel to freedom and a new age
In America, runaway slaves flee to seek new lives
A network of collaborators facilitate their escape
Following the Underground Railroad, they survive
The Philistines prepare Israel’s army for defeat
A young boy’s valor and faith astonishes everyone
With God, David brings down Goliath, at his feet
A young boy faces serious and critical circumstances
Cancer ravages and impairs his brain and small body
Facing pain-filled treatments, he accepts his chances
Saul persecutes Christians, constant and persistent
Jesus transforms him on the lonely road to Damascus
Apostle Paul moves forward as God’s faithful assistant
American soldiers confront an overwhelming fate
Fighting their way out at Korea’s Chosin Reservoir
Legendary deeds of bravery, they no longer wait
Jesus models the Spirit of God in humble, human form
He faithfully obeys His Father, toward a bloody Cross
Bringing Salvation to a world filled with endless storms
From 1 Corinthians 1:8-9: “He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Responsible actions
Stir God’s amazing grace
Making a difference
Foundation’s caring base
Lord, master, creator
From heaven to this earth
Making a difference
Anchors ships at His berth
Inviting each of us
Share His Word with others
Making a difference
Love sisters and brothers
Lord calling us to serve
Caring for those in need
Making a difference
Loving each tender reed
Blessed with Father’s goodness
Fortunate with enough
Making a difference
For others, do enough
Our Lord reaches deeply
Into souls, hearts, and minds
Making a difference
Servant’s gifts will He find
From 1 Peter 4:8-10: “ Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
Actions
Strengthen faith
Praise in worship
Bible study and prayer
Maturity
Love
None greater
Taught by Jesus
Transforming us today . . . and
Forever
Beginnings
Life’s quest
Dust we are
Dust we shall return
Endings
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.
From John 1:16-17: “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Best and worst of times
God’s grace always chimes
Loving and caring
Promises bearing
God remains at hand
Faith and hope shall stand
Seeking empty hearts
Molding time’s restart
Life’s melody plays
Offer Him our praise
God’s grace taking root
Peace filling love’s flute
Gloom and doom appear
Allow Him to steer
God’s love shows He cares
Guiding day’s affairs
Hope’s beacon awaits
In His hands, our fate
Witness as His child
Life no longer wild
Forgiveness and love
Shared from God above
God’s grace shapes life’s frame
Praise His Holy name
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
This poem is inspired from some past entries in my “Take-Aways” journal. Each entry is based upon something read and studied in a morning devotional.
Winds no longer blow
From cold Arctic ice
Snow stays far to north
Winter pays her price
Days growing longer
Nature now smiling
Winter’s time shall pass
Spring begins dialing
Nature’s busy tone
Some days, springtime halts
Hibernation plays
Winter’s final waltz
Trees wait with patience
Soon nature will green
Sun replacing clouds
Spring’s finest cuisine
Seasons come and go
Nature makes her call
Time for winter’s end
Spring’s voice now enthralls
Daily decisions
God, teach us to trust and love—
Walking in balance
Grasp His Salvation
Can you hear the Lord calling?
Accepting His grace
Father Abraham
Trusting God with faithfulness—
Promises answered
Big Sky Buckeye 