Living mystery
Breathing with hidden omens—
Tomorrow arrives
Another challenge
Hesitating once again—
Courage rises up
Seeking safe harbor
Overwhelmed with life’s darkness—
Friendship’s wisdom docks
From Habakkuk 2:4: “Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.”
Too many demands
Fewer precious hours
Life out of control
Darkness set to devour
Light beams from God’s Word
Life’s frantic pace slows
Moment by moment
Steps finding high plateau
Fresh landscape of peace
In God, faith shall trust
Heart fills with new hope
Priorities adjust
Hidden darkness flees
Armor of light worn
God’s grace stretching out
His answers come each morn
Prayer’s conveyance
Journey with God’s love
Freedom at last found
Guidance breathes from above
From Romans 13:12: “The night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Praising
Heavens above
Father’s steadfast love
Reigns over earth below
Assurance
Sharing
Heavenly truths
Father’s eternal Word
Faith’s promised building blocks
Guidance
Nurturing
Creation’s breath
Shadowing mankind’s steps
Father fulfills His purpose
Certainty
Sunset riding west
Daytime closes eyes
Darkness offers rest
Waiting for sunrise
As curtain lowers
Behold heavens’ stars
Pages turn slower
Dreaming from afar
Silence deepens breath
Moonlight’s fullness glows
Sleeping finding delight
Sailing each rainbow
Rhythm finds restart
Troubles take backseat
Calmness filling heart
Shaping night’s retreat
From Psalm 86:2-3: “Preserve my life, for I am devoted to You; save Your servant who trusts in You. You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to You do I cry all day long.”
Devoted to Father
Hearing His endless thoughts
Witnessing heavenly goodness
Life’s lessons always taught
Filled with Father’s steadfast spirit
Trusting His timely grace
Lifting wayward heart from darkness
Love offers mercy’s place
Called to walk in Father’s vision
Turning away from sin
Answering each burden’s prayer
Faith’s glorious linchpin
Delivered light shines upon thee
Words filling confession
Lifting soul from forgotten place
Forgiving transgressions
Comforted with Father’s favor
Rising from empty tomb
Sowing with every seeded field
Peace gathered from each bloom
From Psalm 86:11-12: “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere Your name. I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.”
Morning’s stillness breathes
Renewing peace returns home—
Dawn welcomes one back
Afternoon’s hope stirs
Gentle breezes come calling—
Spirit fills each heart
Nightly curtain drops
Horizon’s fading embrace—
Tomorrow’s light waits
From the words of British pastor and theologian, Charles Spurgeon: “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.”
Encountering another of life’s setbacks
Visitor from the darkness shouts, “I am back”
Old Man Trouble comes knocking at my front door
Relentless, he desires to even the score
How will I choose to deal with adversity?
His darkness masks the sky over this city
Tackle straight forward what Old Man Trouble brings
Or . . . wait timidly for his continued sting
God’s Word teaches us and brings us hope:
We all live preciously in God’s perfect sight
He gathers us in His loving, Holy might
Past—present—future . . . from the Great I Am
Making it through turbulent seas for each lamb
Through desolate wilderness, God shares a way
Bringing rivers of hope to this life’s gateway
Looking Old Man Trouble in his doom-filled eyes
With faithful courage, my hope begins to rise
Life waits to see . . . who will finally blink first?
With God’s living water, quenching my parched thirst
Listening, following God’s steadfast handbook
His love will save me with a whole new outlook
Bringing Godly fortitude, when needed most
Old Man Trouble defeated, nothing to boast
From Isaiah 43:2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Originally published August, 2020.
From James 1:2-3: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Facing life’s trials
Any and all kinds
Counting as joy
Faith never resigns
Testing endurance
Burdens grow lighter
Blessing as joy
Hope growing brighter
Maturing in faith
Every doubt erased
Feeling as joy
Father’s grace embraced
Growing every day
Inner self renews
Holding as joy
Spirit standing true
Preparing our way
Eternity’s flame
Seeing as joy
Peace in Christ proclaims
From 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For our slight, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen, for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”
Fulfilled
With confidence
Walking by faith
Light of righteousness leads
Trust
Encouraged
With assurance
Faith’s trusted steps
Perseverance carries hope forward
Endurance
Overwhelmed
With adversity
Grace transforms darkness
Faithful outlook trusts Jesus
Triumphant
Landscape witnessed, far and wide
Designed with painter’s vision
Praising daily, valley’s peace
Backdrop of divine precision
River slices through meadows
Lined with colonies of trees
Shining, crystal-blue waters
Beauty’s reflections, always free
Time never standing alone
Counted with infinite years
Honoring each precious gift
Postcard image, others find dear
Autumn paints its backstory
Borrowed from nature’s rainbow
Rising above, mountain peaks
Creator’s spirit freely flows
Seasons exchanging places
Poised to share wondrous treasures
Composing hope’s harmony
Melody of timeless pleasures
Big Sky Buckeye 