Readiness
Destiny awakened
Walking with Jesus
Overcoming trials with joy
Perseverance
Submission
Faith tested
Believing in Jesus
Accepting His eternal love
Resilience
Prayer
Hope embraced
Kneeling before Jesus
Transforming away from doubt
Endurance
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.
Buried among seeds of darkness
Fragile ember of light
Fractured so long ago
Breathing without hope this night
Surrounded by hidden shadows
Life searches for its peace
Emptied of hopeful thoughts
Whispering pain won’t decrease
Overwhelmed by hope’s icy breath
Tomorrow’s missing voice
Captured by someone else
Drifting, without any choice
Comforted by nurturing peace
Spirit scatters each cloud
Rescued by tender light
Trusting hope, darkness unplowed
From Psalm 103:2-4: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”
Praising Father’s goodness
Knowing His love never ends
Forgiving sin’s transgressions
Humbling pride, truth never bends
Redeeming life from darkness
Trusting Father’s light of grace
Renewing hope from His peace
Allowing love to embrace
Teaching from Father’s Word
Abounding in steadfast love
Erasing darkest shadows
Descending Son from above
Dispersing mercy’s breath
Feeling Father’s tender hand
Breaking apart chains of sin
Sowing love across this land
Following Father’s light
Witnessing Calvary’s blood
Paying man’s debts with Son’s love
Living covenant’s fresh bud
From Psalm 103:13-14: “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we were made; He remembers that we are dust.”
Daughter plays all day
Riding Dad’s motorcycle—
Up for excitement
Mall’s escalator
Roller-coaster up, then down—
Child’s favorite ride
One more dollar, please?
Loving Dad empties wallet—
Grinch on vacation
From James 4:6: “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”
Our Creator’s divine plan
Offers fullest, living grace
Giving patience, just in case
When running life’s anxious race
Our Lord shares forgiveness
Relationships need healing
Forgiving sin, just in case
When each day seems freewheeling
Heaven’s Father, sharing peace
Imperfect lives needing change
Trimming each branch, just in case
When roaming lost on God’s range
God shares His timely wisdom
From Heaven, He sees us fall
Touching our hand, just in case
When we need His hope-filled call
From John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”
Originally published January, 2021.
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives.”
Surrounded by darkness
Human perspective fades
Thinking offers no choices
Feeling betrayed
Trusted patience in God
His fields of green shall sprout
Taking delight in His peace
Erasing doubt
Committed to God’s way
Today’s hope starts anew
Knowing mercy share His love
Transforming view
Witnessed truth in God’s Word
Calvary’s light unfolds
Rewiring faith’s new outlook
Praying tenfold
Rescued by Savior’s grace
Redemption now deploys
Forgiving, eternal love
Responding joy
From Psalm 37:23-24: “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”
Witnessing
Risen Savior
Salvation’s eternal light
Sharing heavenly Good News
Discipleship
Bending
Another knee
Toward Calvary’s light
Heaven descends upon earth
Humility
Cascading
From heavens
Glory’s blessed light
Filled with Spirit’s grace
Peace
From Isaiah 9:6: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Ultimate grace appears
Sharing Father’s every love
Savior’s purity shall breathe
Holy Spirit waits above
Virgin mother gives birth
Revealing destiny’s sign
Emmanuel will walk with us
Glory forever divine
Out of darkness stirs light
Echoing heavenly choir
Witness Messiah’s first breath
Peace honors Father’s desires
Come all to Bethlehem
Embracing hope born this night
Answer to prayers arrives
Shepherds praise this newborn Knight
Brilliant star fills with joy
Hearing each mountaintop sing
Timeless pledges beam with truth
Salvation this Prince shall bring
As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their eternal Savior, you are invited to listen to one of the season’s most stirring hymns, “All Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Night wakens sweet tooth
Harvesting freezer’s ice cream—
Sundae anyone?
Backyard football game
Unleashing perfect spiral—
Kitchen window scores
Snowball fight pauses
Hot chocolate with cookies—
Mother born to lead
From Psalm 92:12-15: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
River of life, unceasing in its travels
Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel
From heavenly source, cascades living water
Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter
When ultimate challenges travel too high
Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally
Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home
Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs
Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen
Traveling waters, transparent with routine
Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace
Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase
Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline
Looking back, years richer than any gold mine
Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled
River of life, journey which only God builds
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”
Originally published January, 2021.
