Faith
Most precious union
Trusted journey of marriage—
Love expressed each day

Hope
Treasured daily gift
Twin hearts always together—
Love’s refreshing breath

Peace
Couple sharing joy
Transforming experience—
Harmony’s grace sings

Most precious union
Trusted journey of marriage—
Love expressed each day

Treasured daily gift
Twin hearts always together—
Love’s refreshing breath

Couple sharing joy
Transforming experience—
Harmony’s grace sings

This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer. God’s peace!

Lives pretending to follow a Holy God
Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit
Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ
Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it
Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times
Behaving outside of our Father’s design
Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right
Only walking with Jesus, should lives align
Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest
Thirsty for true living water and care
This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace
Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers
Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation
Unifying voices throughout this nation

From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23: “So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
Originally published August, 2020.
From Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

Facing today’s darkness
Tomorrow’s light, shrouded
Uncertainty gathers
God’s answers, unclouded
Teaching His righteous ways
Mercy shared from above
Molded by potter’s hands
God’s faithful, steadfast love
Filling future with hope
Spirit, faith’s anchorman
Welfare’s future promised
God’s always fruitful plan
Strengthening character
Darkness fades into light
Heavens eternal voice
God raises faith’s White Knight
Offering redemption
Calvary opens heart
Grace from living waters
Christ blesses new life’s start

From Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
Sowed
God’s love
Ready to bloom
Nourished with His patience
Grace

Endowed
With grace
Shared with others
Offering of love’s kindness
Generosity

Cherished
Simple life
Accepting faith’s grace
Blessed with daily hope
Harvest


Running away to nowhere
Sky absent of any joy
Hope feeling forsaken
Worry arrives to destroy
Driving along road’s darkness
Sky absent of moonbeam’s light
Hope feeling forsaken
Worry invades every night
Fleeing from life’s harsh outcomes
Sky absent of any peace
Hope feeling forsaken
Worry refuses to cease
Navigating stormy seas
Sky absent of any stars
Hope feeling forsaken
Worry bleeds from every scar
Wasting each forgotten day
Sky absent of all sunlight
Hope feeling forsaken
Worry forever in flight

Indeed . . . there is a faithful and forgiving Light, filled with unseen hope, as found in these verses of Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
From Isaiah 49:13: “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His suffering ones.”

Peace rises above
Father’s comforting hand
Over every high mountain
Answers cover distant lands
Love rises above
Father’s comforting sense
Compassion lifts up each saint
Answers come to one’s defense
Hope rises above
Father’s comforting voice
Light eradicates darkness
Answers offer trusted choice
Joy rises above
Father’s comforting grace
Every storm becomes quiet
Answers which all should embrace
Grace rises above
Father’s comforting heart
Discipleship feeds spirit
Answers sustain faith’s restart

From the words of American Christian writer, Lettie B. Cowman: “Put your hand into the hand of God. He gives the calmness and serenity of heart and soul.”
Warmest beginnings
Sunrise’s gift of welcome—
Youthful innocence

Horizon’s shadows
Sunset offers gratitude—
Joyful innocence

Landscape now resting
Under serenity’s quilt—
Nightly innocence


Peering out from her window
Times changing much, much too fast
Being alone many years
Husband and friends having passed
Small home meets her meager needs
But, the neighborhood has changed
Folks come and go, few she knows
Life blurs by, as if arranged
Sheltered from the outside world
Homebound most days by herself
Family in distant states
Ignored like books on a shelf
Watching some television
Staying away from the news
Remembering old classics
Dreaming of Julie Andrews
Reading occupies her time
Local newspaper connects
Crossword puzzle smiling back
Novels thrill with their suspects
Peering out from her window
Another sunset draws near
Unfamiliar car drives up
Grandchildren bring happy tears

Originally published August, 2020.
From Isaiah 43:1: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.”

Heavenly Father
Knowing what is best
His eternal presence
Leads man on his quest
Protection promised
Ford every river
Faith’s redeeming mercy
Spirit delivers
Encouragement brings
Restoration’s grace
Walking through every fire
Christ’s love to embrace
Precious in His sight
Hope fills cup, as planned
Chance eliminated
Gathered in God’s hands
Calling all nations
Eyes no longer blind
Accepting Father’s truth
Just as He designed

From Isaiah 43:9: “Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble. Who among them declared this and foretold to us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, ‘It is true.'”
Christ’s
Door opens
Inviting another sinner
Come, walk with me
Awakening

Messiah’s
Blessed grace
Opens wayward heart
Waiting at Heaven’s door
Transformation

Savior’s
Faithful witness
Father’s door opens
Rising with Calvary’s forgiveness
Redemption

All images courtesy of Pinterest.
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.