Fruitful Grace

From 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12:  “To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Photo by Lauri Poldre on Pexels.com

Holy shall be Father’s name

His grace praises morning sky

Walking life’s highway with Him

Prayer becomes faith’s reply

 

Righteousness fills Father’s Word

Fortified with fruitful grace

Embracing mercy’s outreach

Faith follows heavenly pace

 

Grace bears truth from Father’s light

Savior rises just as planned

Washing away sin’s darkness

Faith’s cornerstone henceforth stands

 

Love expressed in Father’s faith

Grace bequeathed in His Son’s name

Kneeling at Calvary’s cross

Forgiveness erases shame

 

Faith cherishes Father’s grace

Love fills hearts of every saint

Bringing glory in His name

Forever bright, never faint

 

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

From 2 Timothy 2:19:  “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.'”

Everyday Joys (Haiku Series #342)

This Very Hour

Nature’s rendezvous

Tasting every breath of grace—

Tomorrow can wait

Photo by Orhan Pergel on Pexels.com

Every Blessed Step

Morning peace gathers

Hiking on destiny’s trails—

Close to Creator

Photo by Roberto Shumski on Pexels.com

Taking Extra Time

Joining for breakfast

Coffee plus conversation—

Life “over easy”

Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Without Faith

From Hebrews 11:6:  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Photo by Jens Johnsson on Pexels.com

Living without faith

Never pleasing to God

Scripture grows musty

Seeing life as a fraud

 

Lacking true knowledge

Missing God’s living Word

Whole heart feels empty

Running with the wrong herd

 

Callous attitude

Faith absent, lonesome walk

Mind unbelieving

AWOL from Shepherd’s flock

 

Holy Trinity

Faith’s long forgotten light

Father, Son, Spirit

Blessed angels take flight

 

Photo by Darrell Fraser on Pexels.com

From Proverbs 3:5:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”

Originally published December, 2020.

Father’s Voice

From John 14:23-24:  “Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.  Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words, and the word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.”

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Called to daily worship

Time spent with Father’s Word

Sharing insight about life

His light no longer blurred

 

Worry replaced by faith

Closeness to Father’s voice

Praising every morning’s peace

His grace offers thee choice

 

Earthly things mean little

Truth found in Father’s Word

Seeking treasure in Heaven

His mercy freshly stirred

 

Wisdom gains its foothold

Nourished from Father’s voice

Understanding life’s purpose

His promises rejoice

 

Photo by Summer Stock on Pexels.com

From Psalm 18:13:  “The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice.”

Special Guest Post: New Life Has Just Begun

Photo by Sephina Cornwall on Pexels.com

You think my life is dull.

Your judgement has been made.

You haven’t given me a chance.

You’ve cast the part I’ve played.

But listen, friend.

Comprehend.

It’s far from the end when you give yourself to Christ.

New life will just begin!

 

We have fun too.

Life is not a drag.

We love to smile and laugh,

when things begin to lag.

Each day is a new adventure.

Each day is a joyful song.

Each day is a bright beginning,

laughing, loving, growing strong!

 

You think I have no friends.

That’s where you’re really wrong

Because the friends I have are true.

They last a lifetime long.

So, listen now.

Find out how.

You can see right now if you give your life to Christ.

New life will just begin!

 

We have fun too.

Life is not a drag.

We love to smile and laugh,

when things begin to lag.

Each day is a new adventure.

Each day is a joyful song.

Each day is a bright beginning,

laughing, loving, growing strong!

 

Today’s poem was written by my wife, Colleen.  It is another selection from her recently published book, BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART. 

Her work has been accepted to become part of a local bookstore’s Christian and Family collection.  Her own words describe the book:

BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART contains stories, devotions and poetry for the adults, activities to do with your children, and fun little songs.  The devotions and poetry will strongly open up your faith walk to more of God’s light.  Doing the fun activities and singing little songs with your children will bring smiles to everyone’s heart.

Faith’s Wholeness (Elfchen Series #265)

Empowerment

Following

Truth’s path

God’s trusted light

Filled with renewing hope

Preparing

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Destiny

Navigating

Journey ahead

God’s defining promises

Hope front and center

Encouraging

Photo by Ella Wei on Pexels.com

Validation

Embracing

Eternity’s joy

God’s merciful love

Hope fills another heart

Overflowing

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

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.

Autumn Sketches

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

August’s final countdown

School campuses alive

Summer’s vanishing breath

Autumn’s changes soon arrive

 

Dog days’ final heatwave

Students receiving books

Life’s transitioning steps

Autumn paints nature’s crisp look

 

Calendar page now turns

Summer’s final footsteps

Cooler weather ahead

Autumn’s leaf-colored doorsteps

 

Landscape’s pace quiets down

While football fans cheer on

Rustling of drying leaves

Autumn sketches, far from gone

 

Timeless journey transcends

Harvest complete, fields bare

Classrooms find their rhythm

Autumn’s presence everywhere

 

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

As Father Planned

From Hebrews 10:23:  “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful.”

Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren on Pexels.com

Worldly treasures

Sparkle every hour

Each temptation

Promises to empower

 

Never enough

Looking beyond God

Contentment sought

Destiny’s promises flawed

 

Hearing God’s Word

Faith’s truth becomes known

Sin’s journey fades

Dark promises stand alone

 

Honesty breathes

Eternity stands

Spirit leads on

Promised grace, as Father planned

 

Walking with Christ

Following hope’s light

Leaving darkness

Promising love, always bright

 

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

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.”

Quick Snapshots (Haiku Series #341)

Eager Helper

Dishwasher emptied

Mom searching, then asks Billy—

Where’s my coffee cup?

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

Slip, Sliding, Away

Hottest summer day

Hurry, take selfie of us—

Before ice cream melts

Photo by Katya Wolf on Pexels.com

Making a Buck

School cafeteria

Entrepreneurship’s classroom—

Rick’s noon candy sales

Photo by Pratik Gupta on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Coming Home

This poem is dedicated to the many lives which have come and gone along the tracks of the Great Northern Railroad from years ago.  Perhaps you can feel the living spirit still riding the Empire Builder passenger train across the Hi-Line of Montana.

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

Feeling a bit like heaven

Blessed Big Sky, almost home

Paradise spelled as two words

Riding free, spirit’s train roams

 

Scanning God’s creative touch

Mountains shaped by nature’s hand

Valleys carved out by rivers

Dreaming of this treasured land

 

Stirring up past memories

Iron horse roaring at top speed

Long ago, been here before

Coming home, spirits now freed

 

Flashing by Hi-Line’s vast farms

Cropland caresses these tracks

Golden fields of wheat ripen

Waiting for harvest’s comeback

 

Fading daylight turns to night

Darkness covers Montana’s peace

Town lights twinkle here and there

Thinking back to life’s past lease

 

Climbing through Marias Pass

Glacier Park saying good-bye

Big Sky’s wonder never fades

Ageless spirit, dropping by

 

Photo by Krivec Ales on Pexels.com

Originally published December, 2020.