Experience teaches us when to wait and when to move forward.
Sometimes, the darkest part of the morning is just before dawn.
Janette Oke (born 1935) is a Canadian writer of inspirational fiction.
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Category Archives: Poetry
Monday Memories: Walking in Confidence
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Originally published July, 2020.
Defining Hope
From 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
From furnace of suffering
Comes self-reflection’s light
Joined with eternal heat
Burning away chaff in its sight
Trials open one’s closed eyes
Wakened senses now see
Embraced with Father’s grace
Witnessing what hope should be
Faith in mercy of Father
Reveals salvation’s gift
Undefiled, unfading
Transforming hope’s precious shift
Believe redemption’s promise
Testifies to Christ’s love
Destined to break sin’s chains
Raising Good News from above
Trust in Jesus, now rejoice
Tested by hottest fire
Revealed lasting glory
Defining hope, faith acquires
From 1 Peter 1:8-9: “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Trusted Opportunity (Elfchen Series #222)
Journey
Seeking
Father’s door
Hiding in darkness
Overcome with shameful sin
Finding
Repentance
Finding
Father’s door
Replacing selfish motives
Approach with sincere humbleness
Knocking
Restoration
Knocking
Father’s door
Releasing earthy idols
Transformed heart, knocking again
Opening
Quiet Retreat
Morning’s quiet retreat
Offering sunrise view
Taking splendor’s front seat
Sky sketched with clearest blue
Sanctuary of peace
Spirit’s closeness abounds
Renewal of life’s lease
Stillness felt all around
Harmony’s joyful tune
Brightening this new day
Filling every full moon
Mountain’s peak never gray
River’s gathering dreams
Shaped within ancient hands
Journey’s endless bloodstream
Tranquility’s heartland
Tomorrow always waits
Offering one more chance
Tasting now, nature’s fate
Spirit’s refreshing dance
Always at Work
From Job 12:13: “With God are wisdom and strength; He has counsel and understanding.”
Creator’s morning scene
Always at work, His hands
Shaping, each masterpiece
All following, God’s command
Tranquility breathing
Always at work, God’s plan
Designing, each journey
All inviting, with each scan
God’s wisdom shadows truth
Always at work, strength speaks
Teaching, with every breath
All scaling, each mountain peak
Tomorrow’s story waits
Always at work, God’s script
Sketching, every new page
All leading, faith’s fresh transcript
Creator’s morning scene
Always at work, His light
Witnessing, darkness fades
All praising, Savior’s birthright
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “Mark it down in permanent ink: God is always at work.”
Visions Awakened (Haiku Series #298)
Imagination Stirred
Immersed in reading
Daily trips to quiet spot—
Catalyst for dreams
Future Foretold
Lifetime of learning
Reaching for another sip—
Fountain filled with dreams
Stars Fulfilled
Climbing one more tree
No mountain ever too high—
Hope sown in each dream
Monday Memories: Twenty-Five Cents
Running a quick errand for mother
Feeling twenty-five cents in my hand
Heading to the nearby little store
Milk, bread—let’s see what candy looks grand
Years ago, two bits meant feeling rich
A few coins equal twenty-five cents
Today, this sweet tooth will be in luck
Let this candy shopping now commence
Below the front counter, treasures wait
Friendly woman cashier stands and smiles
A few pennies for Sweet Tarts and more
Licorice, Smarties add to the pile
Looking to spend one final nickel
Picking through endless, tempting choices
Spying at last, a sweet Hershey bar
Overcome by sugar-filled voices
Arriving back home without delay
Pockets filled with sweetest treasure
Mother asks about the milk and bread
Two bucks unspent, plus her displeasure
Growing up in my childhood neighborhood, there was a little store just a few blocks away. My brothers and I made many a journey to the store for milk, bread, and other quick-to-find essentials for our mother. I cannot recall forgetting the milk and bread, but having a few coins in my pocket was treasure waiting to be spent on the candy found there.
The poem lists a few of the types of candy found back in the 1960s. Do you have a favorite candy from your childhood?
Originally published July, 2020.
Faith’s Purpose
From Hosea 6:6: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Heavenly Father desires
Man’s loyalty, share His light
Glory lifted high, filled with joy
Faith’s purpose, now taking flight
Heavenly Father’s witness
Man matures through truth, grace leads
Thirsty for His Word, at last quenched
Faith’s planting, each tender seed
Heavenly Father gathers
Man’s attention, seeking peace
Christ offers details, believe each one
Faith’s motives, Spirit’s mouthpiece
Heavenly Father’s calling
Man finds knowledge, full of hope
Honored relationship, with Him
Faith’s voyage, up periscope
From John 17:1-2: “After Jesus had spoken these words, He looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.'”
Gathered Peace (Elfchen Series #221)
Alone
Overwhelming
Darkness surrounds
Facing numbing trials
Jesus draws ever closer
Grace
Lost
Seeking
Life’s answers
Wayward miles traveled
Kneeling at Jesus’ feet
Forgiveness
Found
Transforming
Light ahead
Resurrection’s eternal flame
Chains of transgressions broken
Redemption
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.
Big Sky Buckeye 