Encourage others
Offering heartfelt kindness—
Relationships blessed
Sharing morning’s sun
Harnessing gratitude’s peace—
Light fills one more heart
Try another way
Every step marked with patience—
Staying flexible
From Psalm 118:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”
Rejoice and be glad in our God
His steadfast love endures forever
Giving thanks and praise to the Lord
His goodness shall reign forever
In our distress, God hears each cry
Without fear, we follow His way
His Peace driving away our fears
His Mercy filling up our hearts
His voice calls us to His refuge
Our confidence rests with the Lord
His Word comforting our sorrows
His Love healing our many wounds
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
His Holy Son, our cornerstone
Salvation arrives at the Cross
His Grace delivering His love
His righteousness covering sins
God, the Father, blessing Spirit
Through His beloved Son, Jesus
His Wisdom showing us the way
His Manna feeding hungry souls
God’s infinite strength, our fixed Rock
All foes challenging us . . . vanquished!
Rejoice and be glad in our Lord
His steadfast love endures forever
From Psalm 118:29: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”
Originally published November, 2020.
From Romans 12:11: “Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord.”
Passionate about living
God’s sunrise defines peace
Assuring each promise
His grace shall never cease
Embrace genuine love
God’s healing hand, His way
Holding fast, goodness comes
His wonder fills each day
Extend care to others
God’s harmony builds hope
Clutching His righteous Word
His truth extends faith’s rope
Redemption reaches out
God’s patience fills each breath
Suppressing every fear
His Son’s love defeats death
Life will become messy
Always follow Christ’s light
Restoring trust in faith
His mercy rises each night
From Romans 12:20-21: “Instead, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Absorbing
Precious grace
Burdens now lessened
Spirit’s breath instills strength
Light
Uncertainty
Unrelenting darkness
Jesus comes alongside
Grace strengthens today’s light
Certainty
Encountering
Questionable future
Praying for strength
Light replaces each worry
Grace
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.
Bloodied, yet unbowed
Facing another trial
With relentless pursuit
Victory’s quiet exile
Stubborn in spirit
Challenging expected norms
Overwhelmed emotions
Victory’s breath waits to form
Positive outlook
Rising from valley below
Fighter’s will surfaces
Victory’s cherished chateau
Darkness encroaches
Scaling mountain’s lofty peak
Game’s outcome in dire straits
Victory’s voice waits to speak
Lightning’s final strike
Framing improbable run
Overtime’s goal completes
Victory’s cheers, say we won
This poem was inspired from watching a recent high school lacrosse post-season match. Overcoming the odds, the victorious team fought back to win in overtime. My granddaughter played an inspiring match, and her steal and goal sealed a sudden victory.
From Psalm 92:1-2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”
Father in Heaven
Praising His blessed name
Eternity’s hope
Love lights redemption’s flame
Father, O Most High
Sharing His steadfast love
Each morning and night
Rooted in light above
Father, Lord of Hosts
Blessing with mercy’s hand
Depth of love’s light
Just as He always planned
Father’s grace offered
Calling Son’s love to serve
Eyes opened to light
Salvation shall preserve
Father’s promised path
Shredding darkness with light
Christ rises from death
Righteous love taking flight
From John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'”
Parched landscape cries out
Relay of scattered showers—
Raining tears of joy
Darkness arriving
Gentle sunset’s fading light—
Landscape’s nightly peace
Precious resources
Stewardship of earthly gifts—
Tomorrow brightens
The inspiration for this poem comes from an essay written by William E. Farr, “Troubled Bundles, Troubled Blackfeet: The Travail of Cultural and Religious Renewal.” This essay is part of a larger collection of writings that link Montana’s past with its future in the book, MONTANA LEGACY.
Facing an uncertain world
Life asking questions of “when”
Intertribal wars threaten
Hostile danger setting in
Preserving Blackfeet culture
Each passing generation
Saving sacred heritage
Hold for next generation
Ritual artifacts cache
Spiritual lives won’t rest
Supernatural visions
Medicine dreams will attest
Honoring warrior life
Holy treasures speaking out
Collected and safeguarded
Sacred bundles carry clout
Filling with key elements
Common and natural sought
Feathers, hides, shells, horns added
Teeth, wood, bones . . . each with a thought
Passing on these rituals
Mother Earth, Creative Sun
Guarding life’s sacred relics
Legacy, father to son
Originally published November, 2020.
Witnessing God’s mercy
Praises of joy heard above
Rejoicing in His presence
Angels’ voices share love
Flowing with love-filled peace
God’s divine plan offers hope
Turning back enemy’s breath
Grace flows down Zion’s slope
Gathering Shepherd’s flock
Each sinner trusts light ahead
Exulting in God’s glory
Fed from love’s daily bread
Coming to Calvary
Christ bearing salvation’s key
Raising love beyond heavens
Debts nailed to brutal tree
Embracing righteousness
Darkness no longer pursues
Proclaiming risen Good News
Savior’s love, always true
Embracing
Journey ahead
Trusting Father’s input
Spirit’s faithful, guiding light
Wisdom
Gathering
Precious seeds
Father’s wisdom sown
Harvesting His timely grace
Truth
Savoring
Positive outlook
Taking righteous steps
Empowered with Father’s wisdom
Contentment
Big Sky Buckeye 