Mercies
Surrounding thee
Light sustains faith
Beholding Father’s wondrous deeds
Fulfilled
Hunger
Empties spirit
Harvesting Father’s Word
From His eternal bounty
Nourished
Feeling
Alone, forsaken
Father’s mission complete
Bringing every lamb back
Loved
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.
Driving life’s busy highway
Just needing some time away
Leaving busy, urban noise
Seeking tranquility’s home
Recharging worn batteries
Favorite place, freedom roams
Returning to hidden lake
Aligning with nature’s bond
Feeling every peaceful breath
Slice of spirit’s “Walden Pond”
Stirring calm with each sunrise
Refreshing body and mind
Leaving behind each trouble
Life as Creator designed
Enjoying one more sunset
Viewing water’s dancing light
Witnessing lasting comfort
Lake’s rhythm, now taking flight
Bringing each melody back
Life finds its own steady track
From Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Sinking in despair
Worries adding up
Christ calls us forward
Grace shall be enough
Fearing tomorrow
Worries might return
Christ speaking with truth
Hold His righteous hand
Searching for freedom
Worries seek backdoor
Christ shall strengthen faith
Hope waits to mature
Praying each morning
Worries bundled up
Christ bearing them all
Darkness transformed now
Finding blessed love
Worries now swept free
Christ’s mercy takes flight
Rising to God’s way
From Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Speaking to others
Thoughtful grace shining outward—
Revealing kindness
Enthusiasm’s voice
Sunshine brightens one more life—
Spirits lifted up
Nurtured, fertile ground
Cultivation’s happiness—
Spreading seeds of joy
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com
Triumphantly
Jesus enters a joyous city
Jerusalem sings
Praising His name . . . Hosanna!
Witnessing
Emotional betrayal
Denying Christ
Then a rooster crows
Watching
Stunning procession fills the streets
Mocking with scorn
Would-be king, carrying our Cross
Hopes
Dashed by cruel Roman justice
Absent of sin
Son of Man, never to walk free
Numbness
With tears, seeing and hearing
Experiencing anguish
Horror at a blood-stained Cross
Photo by Alem Sánchez on Pexels.com
Silence
Covering the land, Father weeps
Messiah suffers
Many rejecting our Holy God
Hearing
Good News on Easter morning
Our Savior
Defeating sin and death
Empty
Dark tomb proclaims God’s plan
Jesus Christ
Risen! Reigning forevermore
Connecting
Dots between manger and Cross
Our Father
Love for us never wanes
Lingering
In the shadow of a criminal’s cross
Singing Alleluia!
To lasting, true meaning of the Cross
Glory
Residing forever in the Cross
Good Shepherd
Caring for His precious flock
Photo by icon0.com on Pexels.com
From Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Originally published April, 2020.
From Isaiah 9:2: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
Facing each new trial
Fearing defeat once more
Source of strength found in Christ
Witnessing His open door
Darkness shrinking away
Mercy’s light shining in
Source of hope found in Christ
Faith’s renewal now begins
Hearing His trusted Word
Walking truth’s righteous road
Source of hope found in Christ
Lessoning life’s heavy load
Bloodied cross flows with tears
Empty tomb sharing light
Source of joy found in Christ
Enemy’s lies taking flight
Accepting morning’s grace
Forgiving every sin
Source of love found in Christ
Believing what’s felt within
From Joel 3:16: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”
Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second.
From Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Sharing
Spirit’s light
Motivating one another
Love-filled grace working
Encouragement
Trusting
Father’s Word
Depths of understanding
Lighting faith’s bold path
Righteousness
Accepting
Resurrection’s light
Witnessed at Calvary
Jesus paid our debts
Love
Early morning darkness
Sleep filled with quiet dreams
Sudden interruption!
Storm alert’s pulsing beam
Wide awake, checking phone
Tornado touching down
Only miles west of home
Shelter sought all around
Weather’s constant updates
Safety makes its quick choice
Moving to surest place
Heart fills with peaceful voice
Warning shrieks from siren
Calling all to be smart
Retreating from harm’s way
Bathroom, now rescue cart
Outside, wind-driven rain
Pounding with clear intent
Will storm alter its path?
Praying calmness be sent
Storm front now moving east
Heaven’s safety net cast
Thoughts with others in need
“All Clear” arrives at last
On Wednesday, February 28, a series of tornadoes touched down west of the Columbus, Ohio outerbelt. At approximately 5:15 a.m. my wife and I were awakened by a storm alert on our phones. Fortunately, the worst of the storm stayed south and north of our location, but others did not fare so well. Here is a link to a photo update of the storm (courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch): Storm Update.
From Psalm 17:5: “My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
Day after day
Another journey waits
Absorbing Savior’s Word
Keeping our righteous path straight
Day after day
Enemy surrounds thee
Witnessing Savior’s love
Grasping His truth, always free
Day after day
Darkness shames life of sin
Rising, Savior confronts
Locking faith’s righteous linchpin
Day after day
Blindness in faith creeps in
Praying for Savior’s grace
Casting His light from within
Day after day
Hope finds security
Blessing from Savior’s heart
Bestowing His purity
From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Big Sky Buckeye 