Today, making big plans
Looking out, far ahead
Life’s landscape, calling out
Past now ready to shed
Yesterday, forgotten
Latching on to new tune
Positive, fresh outlook
Below night’s risen moon
Freedom filling each dream
Nourishing assurance
Confidence springs forward
Life’s steady insurance
Eager to keep moving
Opening novel’s page
Business taken care of
Wisdom heard from old sage
Timetable’s steady hand
Taking shortcut’s byway
No working overtime
Down tomorrow’s highway
From Isaiah 12:2: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.”
Resurrection revives
Eternal light reigns
Hope kept alive
God ordains
Holy Spirit active
Righteousness ahead
Faith proactive
Hope now fed
Love of Jesus rising
His power so high
Grace devising
Hope’s bright sky
God’s message never fails
Peace descends with hope
Journey’ trusted trail
Grasp His rope
Redemption’s light arrives
Promised by God’s Word
Hope kept alive
Faith’s password
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.”
Positive outlook
Autumn’s gift of timely peace—
Every falling leaf
Autumn’s final days
Cascading colors of leaves—
Playing its swan song
Fragile leaf dropping
Barren forest standing still—
Autumn says, “So long”
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Bless the Lord’s name forever
Sing praises for Holy deeds
His greatness stands infinite
Loving us like tender reeds
Witness our Lord’s mighty acts
Share with each generation
His greatness lauds His goodness
Building our firm foundation
Recall love works from His hands
Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love
His greatness flows with mercy
Protecting us from above
Call on the Father this day
Pray to Him on humble knees
His greatness lighting the way
Watching over all He sees
From Psalm 145:17-18: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Originally published August, 2020.
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.”
Blessed Jesus Christ
His mercy shares love
Brings forth faith’s new birth
Hope stirs from above
Resurrected Christ
His unfading light
He walks among us
Hope ready for flight
Revealed through Jesus
Grace walks within Him
Freed from sin’s darkness
Hope breathes with each hymn
Spirit filled by Christ
More precious than gold
Molds faith’s salvation
Hope rebuilds foothold
Trust in Jesus Christ
Father’s righteous Son
Called to embrace Him
Hope’s faith in the One
From 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when He is revealed.”
Singing
Worship hymns
Praising Father above
In His Holy name
Gathering
Gathering
Congregation’s joy
Honoring Father’s Word
Faith nourished with grace
Blessing
Blessing
One Body
Father’s welcoming place
Uniting voices with hope
Togetherness
New season dawning
Reaching out for change
Darkness now leaving
Feeling fresh exchange
Transitions welcome
Embracing hope’s light
Every new blessing
Welcoming headlights
Tomorrow waiting
Catching future’s scent
Morning shares rebirth
Gathering ascent
New landscape ahead
Moving from home base
Confidence growing
Walking with bold pace
This season finished
Looking for next one
Each day holds promise
Enjoying life’s run
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Encouragement in Christ
Sharing love-filled grace
Witnessing humility
Heart’s very special place
Of one mind with Jesus
Sharing selfless love
Caring first, for others’ needs
Led by Spirit above
Every breath mirrors Christ
Sharing mercy’s joy
Walking with unselfish thoughts
Honest actions deploy
Each step follows Jesus
Sharing Spirit’s light
Taking obedient path
Humbleness guides faith’s sight
Always focused on Christ
Sharing fresh outlook
Living within dignity
Tomorrow’s quiet brook
From Philippians 2:14-15: “Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.”
Heart’s deepest desire
Overcoming once again—
Triumph shall arrive
Facing challenges
Courage filled with inner fire—
Crossing finish line
Tested by darkness
Searching for light’s renewing strength—
Positive embraced
Sitting home, isolated and alone
Taking virtual trips, changes life’s tone
America’s landscapes invite us in
Scenic mountain vistas, adventures grin
Alaska Range, home to our northernmost peaks
Denali “the tall one” forever speaks
Cascade Range roams the Pacific Northwest
Snow-capped volcanoes offer stunning quests
Sierra Nevada’s enchanted land
Host national parks, majestic and grand
Rocky Mountains form this nation’s backbone
Stunning beauty, more precious than gemstones
Sawtooth Mountains salute from Idaho
Endless summits bring skiers to the snow
Bighorn Mountains, sacred to native ways
Montana-Wyoming border sings praise
Adirondack Mountains, New York’s playground
Winter skiing, fall foliage—best around
Great Smoky Mountains push for Tennessee
Fog-covered peaks, spellbinding all agree
Blue Ridge Mountains welcome us back home
Free-flowing Shenandoah smiles and roams
Wherever you live or where your travels take you, you may have a favorite mountain paradise. One of my precious favorites is the Beartooth Mountains in south-central Montana, a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone National Park.
You are invited to share one of your special places in the comments.
Originally published July, 2020.
Big Sky Buckeye 