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
This re-edited poem, written in July, 2019, features an effortless style. The verses are structured with simplicity because this should be how love exists . . . simple and pure!
Love Conquers
Finding its way
With words to say
Boundless and rich
Love conquers
Despite distances great
Unlocking its fate
With faithful hope
Love conquers
Awakens each morn
Feels like being reborn
Lasts and lasts
Love conquers
Between two hearts
Eager for new start
Together at last
Love conquers
Each special day
Adventure comes our way
Exciting and endless
Love conquers
Thoughts to savor
Bringing each a favor
As sunrise arrives
Love conquers
Arriving without sound
Loving actions abound
Every special moment
Love conquers
Forgetting life’s past
Bringing smiles to last
Faithful and forgiving
Love conquers
God’s at hand
Footprints in the sand
Reigns into Eternity
From John 14:10-11: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”
Lord’s tree of life, saving us
Son of Man, bearing our flesh
Each morning, rising with us
Faith, hope, and love shall refresh
In His death, life be reborn
Like faithful rivers, love flows
Christ’s awesome mystery breathes
From darkened tomb, Jesus rose
Heavenly truth speaks, let’s hear
Love transforms through acts and words
Both mirror journey of Christ
His message, no longer blurred
Christ leading, we will follow
Always near, dwelling within
His hand steadies stumbling steps
Salvation forgiving sin
Much of this poem is inspired by the hymn “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery,” which is part of a morning devotional I regularly read and study.
From Psalm 90:1-2: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Life’s amazing blessings
God’s Book of Life unfolds
Single timeless moment
Richer than any gold
Man and woman find love
Fragile lives share restart
Single timeless moment
Merging into one heart
Forsaken child needs home
Foster parents reach out
Single timeless moment
Love sows, ready to sprout
Student facing failure
Here comes love’s helping hand
Single timeless moment
Teacher pulls from quicksand
Family in crisis
Unemployed, dreams stand cold
Single timeless moment
Job opens, God beholds
Disaster strikes city
Many answer God’s call
Single timeless moment
Kindness stands ever tall
Sin’s temptation knocking
Christian brother steps up
Single timeless moment
Christ refills empty cup
Darkening, hopeless world
Father’s infinite grace
Single timeless moment
Love reaches out, embrace
From Genesis 9:11-13: “‘I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.'”
Promises
Taking root
Hearing God’s Word
Overcoming life’s stressful times
Trusting
Persecution
Apostles imprisoned
Freed by angels
Teaching and proclaiming Jesus
Fearless
Praise
Jesus Christ
Always the same
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Rejoice
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “When we trust God to provide the stamina for the work He calls us to do, we are clothed in power.”
Walking these roads for so long
Sin short-circuits dusty steps
Trust’s gauge running on empty
Darkness knocking at doorstep
Facing life’s tall shortcomings
Empty promises sell short
Holy Spirit calling now
Time to seek Father’s support
Hearing faithful promises
His Spirit brings fortitude
Truly believe, seeking Him
Bread of Life, God’s daily food
Turning to Jesus Christ
Living water quenches thirst
Savior clothes with grace-filled love
His promises, always first
Strengthening life’s weaknesses
Holy promises bring light
Eyes open, hearts enlightened
New life trusts in Father’s might
From Luke 24:49: “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, A. W. Tozer: “Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”
Winter’s lost, snow-covered faith
Father’s presence, long frozen
Buried faith, under deep drifts
Lack of any hope, blows in
Christ melts each frozen glacier
Ice turns to living water
Holy Spirit flows with hope
God’s Word molds, as faith’s potter
Spring arrives, God’s Holy love
Maturing into life’s fruit
Flowering trees, witness faith
Hope emerging, each new shoot
Resurrection brings new life
Hungry faith springs with fresh growth
Spirit warms forgotten hearts
Faith then hope, Christ unearths both
From Proverbs 3:3-4: “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people.”
