Learning’s cherished time
Child’s endless observations—
Watching we adults
Epic adventures
Wearing out each pair of shoes—
Growing with each step
Noticing youngsters
Teaching through their carefree lens—
Simple as child’s play
From 1 Peter 2:25: “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
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Like sheep, we wander astray
Turning away from our Lord
Feeling harassed and helpless
Sheep lost, by our own accord
God lays a new cornerstone
Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son
Calling us, hearing His voice
His work will never be done
Leading us, on this right path
Following His voice, love flows
With Him, we shall never want
Restoring souls, we all grow
Good Shepherd, loving His sheep
Bringing comfort, rod and staff
Green pastures, nourishing us
Still waters, on our behalf
Jesus, loving Good Shepherd
Unblemished, Lamb of God casts
Body and blood on that Cross
Risen Savior, His hope lasts
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From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller: “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”
Originally published May, 2020.
From John 17:25-26: “Righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made Your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them and I in them.”
With every waking hour
Reading from faith’s Good Book
Guided by Jesus Christ
Spirit waits by quiet brook
Righteous steps lead to God
Praying for mercy’s light
Gathered by Jesus Christ
Faith growing, now taking flight
Journey of faith goes forth
Approaching grace-filled curve
Propelled by Jesus Christ
Goodness awaits those who serve
Endless lessons of faith
Teaching fills precious space
Mentored by Jesus Christ
Hope speaks, “Let’s finish this race”
Given tasks to complete
Hearing One lasting voice
Promised by Jesus Christ
Faith always trusting His choice
From 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”
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.”
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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
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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
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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.
Big Sky Buckeye 