Cherished (Haiku Series #303)

Faith

Most precious union

Trusted journey of marriage—

Love expressed each day

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Hope

Treasured daily gift

Twin hearts always together—

Love’s refreshing breath

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Peace

Couple sharing joy

Transforming experience—

Harmony’s grace sings

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Monday Memories: Healing Our Divisions

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

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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

 

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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.

God’s Answers

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.”

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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

 

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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.”

Treasured Gift (Elfchen Series #226)

Always Present

Sowed

God’s love

Ready to bloom

Nourished with His patience

Grace

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Tender Witness

Endowed

With grace

Shared with others

Offering of love’s kindness

Generosity

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Tomorrow’s Light

Cherished

Simple life

Accepting faith’s grace

Blessed with daily hope

Harvest

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Forsaken

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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

 

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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.”

Father’s Comforting Heart

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.”

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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

 

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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.”

Fresh Outlook (Haiku Series #302)

Wholesomeness

Warmest beginnings

Sunrise’s gift of welcome—

Youthful innocence

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Gentleness

Horizon’s shadows

Sunset offers gratitude—

Joyful innocence

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Peacefulness

Landscape now resting

Under serenity’s quilt—

Nightly innocence

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Monday Memories: From Her Window

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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

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Originally published August, 2020.

Chance Eliminated

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.”

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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

 

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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.'”

Follow Me (Elfchen Series #225)

Welcoming

Christ’s

Door opens

Inviting another sinner

Come, walk with me

Awakening

Promised

Messiah’s

Blessed grace

Opens wayward heart

Waiting at Heaven’s door

Transformation

Merciful

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.