Shadows’ mysteries
Night’s sobering distortions—
Dawn’s reality
False reality
Kaleidoscope’s fading hues—
Returning to gray
Steps without traction
Searching for reality—
Perhaps, turn day’s page
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.”
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
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.
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.”
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
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.”
Hearing
False promises
Enemy in darkness
Truth no longer hidden
Jesus
Embracing
Faithful whisper
Leaving transgression’s darkness
Showered with daily grace
Jesus
Witnessing
Mercy’s forgiveness
Redemption’s Holy covenant
Hope transforms all darkness
Jesus
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.
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
From Habakkuk 2:4: “Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.”
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
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.”
Obstacles ahead
Shading vision from darkness—
Coming into light
Bumpy road jumps up
Watch out . . . another crater—
Changing tire again
“Things” lose their luster
Instead, heart swells with people—
Living simple life
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.”
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!
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.
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.'”
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
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!'”
Embracing
God’s wisdom
Accepting priceless truth
Overcoming through His understanding
Perseverance
Practicing
Daily self-discipline
Listening to God
Maturing from righteous lessons
Diligence
Honoring
Unconditional love
Mother and Father
Guided by Spirit above
Family
Big Sky Buckeye 