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.”
Winter’s shadow fades
Morning air sharing warm smiles—
Spring readies comeback
Tree’s empty bird nest
Waiting for newest tenant—
Turning spring’s fresh page
Bravest, greenest shoots
Breaking through quiet landscape—
Spring says, “I’m coming”
David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.
Each day life seems too normal
Monotonous and mundane
Beautiful bundle arrives
Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain
Blessing us each precious day
Spontaneous surprises
Praising our Father’s great name
Goodness comes in all sizes
Reaching depths of every sea
Loving each generation
Eclipsing highest heavens
Honoring God’s creation
Awesome and vast deeds come forth
Witnessing God’s mighty acts
Glorious splendor singing
Filling what life truly lacks
God’s everlasting kingdom
Harvesting abundant gifts
Faithful words stir greatest feats
Balancing life’s slips and shifts
Singing of God’s righteousness
Showering with compassion
Tasting His Holy goodness
Remembering His passion
Blessing His name forever
Amen
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Originally published June, 2020.
From Psalm 107:28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress.”
Filled with hunger and thirst
Delivering mercy’s love
His wonderful works breathe
Living bread from God above
Bowed down under sin’s weight
Seeing all darkness and gloom
Chains of bondage hold tight
Witnessing Lord’s empty tomb
Stirred with faith’s reborn strength
Grasping Christ’s confident hand
Mighty waters run free
Rising above fertile lands
Transformed trust in God’s Word
Fixing each eye upon light
Vision’s ultimate hope
Living within Shepherd’s sight
Delivered from troubles
Receiving His steadfast love
Goodness reigns forever
Giving thanks to God above
From Psalm 107:31: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind.”
Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father.
From John 17:20-21: “I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”
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.
Hearing
Father’s desires
Deepening faith’s steps
Heart filled with grace
Believing
Waiting
Faith’s adventure
Treasuring Father’s creation
Uniqueness of each day
Embracing
Floundering
Overwhelming trials
Father’s grace-filled light
Waiting at faith’s crossroads
Choosing
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.
Horizon wakens
Sharing light’s glory
Nightly dreams shaken
Each treasured story
Inviting sunrise
Morning’s welcome sign
Colorful landscape
Postcard scene divine
Sky fully brightens
Sharing deep blue sky
Spirit enlightens
Few clouds flying high
Praising this new hour
Cherished and precious
Hope coming this way
Peace refreshing us
Dawn’s early brew
Stirring sweet backbeat
Morning’s harmony
Never obsolete
From Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Raging storms now surround
Trusting Him in hard times
Always, God by my side
With each step, hope shall climb
Anchoring in His peace
Nurturing faith through grace
Always, God by my side
Love flows from heaven’s place
Rising every morning
Spending time in prayer
Always, God by my side
Comfort found in His care
Silencing each tempest
Shining countenance beams
Always, God by my side
Journey heading downstream
Leading with righteous truth
Hearing mercy’s voice
Always, God by my side
Faith accepts blessed choice
Escaping from bondage
Following perfect light
Always, God by my side
Sheltered at His campsite
From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
Big Sky Buckeye 