Freedom’s Eternal Road

From Isaiah 42:6-7:  “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

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Blindness to Gospel’s light

Following enemy’s false word

Nonbelievers walk in darkness

Tomorrow remains blurred

 

Alone in wilderness

Searching for trusted pathway home

God sends His righteous light to guide

Where Spirit always roams

 

Sheep never forgotten

Coming to Shepherd’s open gate

Mercy’s always forgiving light

Witness tomorrow’s fate

 

Vision no longer blind

Finding light’s genuine code

Faithful covenant sealed with love

Freedom’s eternal road

 

Savior’s voice heard from high

Shining through darkness, Heaven’s light

God’s glory seen in face of Christ

Salvation dressed in white

 

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From 2 Corinthians 4:6:  “For it is the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Subtle Reflections (Haiku Series #332)

Fresh Day

Shadows’ mysteries

Night’s sobering distortions—

Dawn’s reality

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Outlook’s Transitions

False reality

Kaleidoscope’s fading hues—

Returning to gray

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Timely Reminder

Steps without traction

Searching for reality—

Perhaps, turn day’s page

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Monday Memories: Crying Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

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Darkness shields life’s guiding light

Causing worries to take flight

 

Life’s trials, too much to bear

Ask, who really seems to care?

 

World seems to be crashing down

Running dry, emptiness drowns

 

Words and actions, meek and weak

Ask, who shall one run to seek?

 

Vacant wilderness, so dark

Crying out, life’s question mark

 

Heart and soul, feeling hollow

Ask, what voice shall one follow?

 

Voice answers, restoring hopes

Searching from distant slopes

 

Good Shepherd, looking for one

Saving His flock, one by one

 

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From John 10:14-16:  “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Wisdom’s Heart

From Ephesians 5:15-16:  “Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Wisdom’s heart

Filling with light

More than being smart

Spirit’s peace comes each night

 

Wisdom waits

God’s strength shall come

Patience’s blessed fate

Marching to heavens’ drum

 

Wisdom’s trust

Shared from above

Faith rises from dust

Calvary bears Christ’s love

 

Wisdom thrives

Apply God’s truth

Choices breathe alive

Life’s depth replaces youth

 

Wisdom’s grace

Righteousness roams

Salvation’s birthplace

Heaven’s redeeming home

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Ecclesiastes 10:10:  “If the iron is blunt and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted, but wisdom helps one to succeed.”

Savior’s Light (Elfchen Series #255)

Trusted

Hearing

False promises

Enemy in darkness

Truth no longer hidden

Jesus

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Committed

Embracing

Faithful whisper

Leaving transgression’s darkness

Showered with daily grace

Jesus

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Engaged

Witnessing

Mercy’s forgiveness

Redemption’s Holy covenant

Hope transforms all darkness

Jesus

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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.

Wilderness Backpack

Central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park (June, 2020).

Hidden in forest’s depths

Creator’s kingdom reigns

Moving with quiet breath

Feeding nature’s unbroken chain

 

Spontaneous landscape

Creator’s rhythm sings

Breathing beauty’s freshness

Witnessing all that summer brings

 

Trees towering above

Creator fills each scene

Overflowing with peace

Reaching to heavens, grass so green

 

Tranquil waters roam free

Creator’s grace gives back

Nourishing youngest plants

Equipping wilderness backpack

 

Busy traffic drives by

Immune to forest’s sigh

Missing treasures within

Creator frames sunset’s goodbye

 

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Faith Nourished

From Habakkuk 2:4:  “Look at the proud!  Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.”

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Coming to worship

God inviting all

Praising Son above

Each saint finds landfall

 

Praying in earnest

God hears every Word

Lasting grace comes forth

Truth’s faithful password

 

Walking righteous path

God light’s trusted way

Raising up His Son

Faith nourished each day

 

Singing every psalm

God opens each door

Welcoming with peace

Hope ready to soar

 

Loving with each breath

God’s will never fails

Blessing at sunrise

Spirit set to sail

 

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From 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.   It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.”

Each Day (Haiku Series #331)

Illuminating

Obstacles ahead

Shading vision from darkness—

Coming into light

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Overcoming

Bumpy road jumps up

Watch out . . . another crater—

Changing tire again

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Harmonizing

“Things” lose their luster

Instead, heart swells with people—

Living simple life

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Monday Memories: Faith and Mountains

From Mark 11:23:  “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.”

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Life facing complex, hurting world

Rugged mountain peaks, blocking us

Never be in doubt, but believe

Accepting God’s grace, ride His bus

 

Immovable mountains stand tall

Remaining steadfast in prayer

Requiring faith in our Father

He watches over our welfare

 

Lacking faith, walking in darkness

Our Father sends His lasting grace

Prepared and willing to assist

His energy, ready to embrace

 

God seeks men and women of faith

Follow His Word, forever speaks

For our Lord’s glory and kingdom

Trusting Him, tackling mountain peaks

 

Believe totally in the Lord

Walking in faithfulness each day

Our faith moves our Father to act

Thanks be to God, He shows the way! 

 

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From the words of American pastor and author, E. M. Bounds:  “Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer can move God.”

Originally published November, 2020.

Grace Forever Free

From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

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Enemy only brings

Darkness upon thee

Emptiness clings

Again, lost at sea

 

Trapped in wilderness maze

No escape for thee

Sun’s missing rays

What does Spirit see?

 

God’s arrow finds its mark

Peace comes upon thee

Redemption’s ark

His Word’s faithful key

 

Salvation’s open gate

Savior’s love for thee

Mercy’s soulmate

Evil’s breath now flees

 

Bethlehem’s blessed light

Shineth upon thee

Hope taking flight

Praying on both knees

 

Freedom from heavy chains

Sins’ debts paid for thee

Christ shoulders pain

Grace forever free

 

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From Lamentations 3:55-57:  “I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea, ‘Do not close Your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!’  You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!'”