Today
Pursuing Jesus
Cultivating your relationship
Drawing nearer to Christ
Salvation
Faith
First element
Christian life journey
Who is in control?
God
Darkness
Surrounding me
Challenging my faith
God says, “Don’t fear”
Jesus
Reading from Psalm 38, one finds David’s words as he asks for God’s healing. This poem’s verses bring to the forefront an active voice with feeling, praying, finding, healing, praising, and seeing.
Feeling darkness
Feeling unknown
Feeling empty
Feeling alone
Praying with faith
Praying this Psalm
Praying for hope
Praying for calm
Finding God’s love
Finding what’s heard
Finding new life
Finding His Word
Healing these wounds
Healing this soul
Healing my heart
Healing me whole
Praising Father
Praising accords
Praising heavens
Praising my Lord
Seeing the Cross
Seeing the light
Seeing Christ’s love
Seeing God’s might
From Psalm 38:15: “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”
I must admit that I have been feeling a bit homesick in thinking of my native state of Montana, where much of my family still lives. This poem and photographs share some past memories of experiencing these awesome wonders of the Big Sky state, and I look forward to visiting when Covid-19 finally takes a backseat.
Dreaming often of Montana’s Big Sky
Feeling more like an eagle, flying high
Revisiting wide open eastern plains
Watching combines harvesting ripened grains
Driving switchbacks on the Beartooth Highway
Topping amazing heights, wishing to stay
Floating the Yellowstone, like yesterday
Spending time with old friends, lasting all day
Scaling Baldy Mountain, there’s just one goal
Reaching the “M” without taking a roll
Fishing the scenic Madison once more
Joining Herb and his grandson, trout in store
Exploring limestone caverns underground
Enjoying mysteries, yet to be found
Walking the Bear Paw Mountains near Chinook
Learning Nez Perce history, without books
Motoring down the “Going to the Sun”
Chasing this highway to the setting sun
Flying over this amazing “Last Best Place”
Returning soon for another sweet taste
Unceasing rainfall
A minor inconvenience—
Landscape turning green
Around every bend
Nature offers surprises—
Mysteries waiting
Quiet stillness sits
Can you hear nature at work?
With each blade of grass
Life sometimes motors along much too fast
Leaving us hungry for something that lasts
A journey to a big city, feeling so alone
Thinking I should have stayed at home
I am not used to being in the big city, yes
Realizing my Lord has put me to this test
The final morning arrives, thank goodness
Dreaming of any place, filled with fullness
My morning walk takes me to a hidden place
Parking itself near a stadium, comes a taste
A botanical garden erupts with vibrant color
Blossoming the landscape, like none other
Colors of every imaginable shade and hue
Beholding God’s brilliance, eternally true
My eyes capture incredible memories that last
Experiencing heavenly tranquility, what a blast
God brought me here today for a special reason
Planning to share His love, no matter the season
This poem is inspired with Creation’s visions from Psalm 104 (the poem’s first 12 verses), and with a response from the hymn “My Life Flows On in Endless Song” (the poem’s final six verses).
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com
Clothed with Holy majesty and honor
Heavens stretching out to infinity
Our Lord’s masterpiece endures forever
Clouds witness this sacred affinity
Earth’s foundation, never to be shaken
Lofty mountaintops look upon it all
Safe refuge waiting in fertile valleys
Creation’s spirit fulfilling each call
From flowing springs, animals quenching thirst
Every season following moon’s phases
Birds singing praise from highest tree branches
Rising and setting sun painting praises
God’s creation flowing as endless songs
Nothing shall ever shake its inner calm
Echoing across earth’s fruitful valleys
Scaling each mountaintop as joyful Psalms
Creation’s fountain forever springing
Beauty of the Lord’s harmony singing
Photo by Aleksey Kuprikov on Pexels.com
From Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Here is the melody and lyrics to “My Life Flows On in Endless Song”:
One of my favorite places to walk is a short drive from my home. Walnut Woods Metro Park (the Woods) is a special place to find nature’s treasures along its easy to moderate trails. The photographs shown with this poem were taken a few days ago. Enjoy!
Early morning light beckons
Putting on worn hiking shoes
Overcast skies hold back rain
Nature waits with charming views
Driving to a park, the “Woods”
Tranquility always waits
Peace and beauty reaching out
Eager feet, needing no skates
Step by step, walking farther
Park’s vastness, shouting with joy
Around each bend, nature smiles
Many sights and sounds deploy
Morning excursion teases
Birds sing back and forth on cue
Precious blossoms smelling sweet
Coffee can’t top nature’s brew
Time seems to pause with each step
Today’s time comes to an end
Ticket punched for return trip
These “Woods” remain a best friend
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Our compassionate Lord shows His mercy upon me, a sinner not worthy of His love, through the Cross.
From Titus 3:4-7: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Running to Jesus
Feeling the Holy Spirit—
Finding still waters
Kneeling at the Cross
Praying for America—
Hearing the Gospel
Jesus’ teaches us
Always loving our neighbors—
Step forward as one
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
Failing once again
Life’s troubles bomb away
Whom shall I turn to?
Failing once again
Darkness moves ever closer
Where is the light?
Failing once again
Shame swallows me up
How can my spirit be restored?
Failing once again
Life’s torments engulf me
Why . . . why?
Failing once again
Loneliness surrounds my heart
What recourse do I have?
Failing once again
Life’s hour glass, now nearly empty
When will I be free?
Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com
Failing once again . . .
Turning to my Heavenly Father
Never thinking of me as a bother
From a Cross, Salvation’s light sheds hope
Pulled up from the Pit by a Holy rope
Kneeling before the Savior, sins and all
Humbling following Him will be my call
Through a broken body and shed blood
By Grace alone, escaping life’s flash flood
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
The structure of this poem features dual parts. In the beginning verses, the reader is taken to a much darker place. Using themes of sorrow, darkness, and hopelessness presents a challenge to both the reader and the writer. In answering the questions found in the poem, the ending verses are structured around common Christian themes of hope, joy, light, and rebirth.
Big Sky Buckeye 