Dressing in layers
Furnace running at top speed—
Now, who loves winter?
Kitchen’s window view
Yard’s relentless, frozen scene—
Calendar says “Spring”
Welcomed arrival
Spring bursting with treasured breath—
Red robin flies in
From Isaiah 6:3: “And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.'”
Darkness, evil abound
Our Champion arrives
Freeing chained hearts with praise
Faith growing in our lives
Graced by shed blood of Christ
Facing every hour
Wisdom, courage unite
Strongest bonds of power
Standing as God’s people
Walking as peacemakers
Sowing seeds from His faith
Harvest Glory’s acres
Christ’s journey lights His way
Centered on His people
Calling us, step forward
Blessed Cross, our steeple
Jesus’ pierced hands of change
Steady feet meet life’s quest
Lasting voice for justice
Renewing lives, each test
Glory fills God’s Kingdom
From His Heaven above
Nothing stops living grace
Salvation’s gift, free love
You are invited to sing or follow the lyrics of this blessed hymn, “God of Grace and God of Glory.”
Originally published February, 2021.
From Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Daily interactions
Shared through Father’s grace
Trusting His guidance
Patience rises to embrace
Bountiful blessings
Reaped from Father’s love
Trusting His outlook
Hope’s voice descends from above
Count on each promise
Heard in Father’s Word
Trusting His mercy
Heaven’s peace shares its password
Eternity’s breath
Shaped from Father’s grace
Trusting His boldness
Faith’s journey strengthens its pace
Spirit’s nourishment
Stirred with Father’s love
Tasting His sunrise
Compassion fed from above
Navigation’s light
Fueled through Father’s Word
Trusting His vision
North Star forever unblurred
From Proverbs 2:9-10: “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path, for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Father
Calling us
Accepting His Word
Trusting His divine plan
Faithfulness
Father
Empowering us
Igniting spirit’s fire
Lighting way through darkness
Trustworthy
Father
Teaching us
Forgiving each stumble
Sending out as disciples
Worthiness
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.
Envision every hillside
Covered in tranquility’s green
Beauty forever remains
Painting another scene
One road leads to paradise
Illuminated, trusted hope
Freedom’s quiet voice remains
Focusing journey’s scope
Darkness often threatens peace
Conquered by heart’s determined beat
Positive outlook remains
Walking each lighted street
Sunrise offers sweetest taste
Brightened with kindness, full of grace
Expression of joy remains
Sharing love to embrace
From Joel 2:1: “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near.”
Living in shadows of darkness
Lost in depths of hope’s despair
Looking upward to heavens
Light gathers from daily prayer
Hearing call of Zion’s trumpet
Trust found on wilderness road
Returning to walk with Christ
Heart gathers His grace to reload
Following hope-filled voice of Christ
Faith’s gathered army of One
Witnessing forgiving light
Darkness flees before Father’s Son
Gathering to witness mercy
Truth received from Christ’s own hands
Abounding with steadfast love
Peace nourishes each grain of sand
Raising hope’s breath of repentance
Calvary’s transforming night
Pouring from Spirit’s waters
Christ returning with gathered light
From Joel 2:13: “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”
Frozen tundra’s cold
Fireplace consumes final log—
When will winter end?
Sunny skies, all blue
Winter’s Arctic deception—
Days of lasting chills
Warm, westerly winds
Chinook’s welcome arrival—
Winter’s escape plan
From 2 Timothy 2:3-4: “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.”
Born as blessed children of God
Learning the Bible’s sacred truth
Strong in grace of Savior Jesus
Worthy soldier matures from youth
Listening to God’s witnesses
Faithful, Godly people speaking
Maturing in Father’s Spirit
Daily blessings from Christ’s teachings
Humbly serving in God’s army
Following footsteps, walked by Christ
Bolstered by our own suffering
Clutching faith, never underpriced
Our Father’s way, rich truth to say
Bringing total understanding
His Holy Word comes without chains
Gospel, forever commanding
From 2 Timothy 2:11-13: “The saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.”
Originally published January, 2021.
From 1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.”
On way to Heaven
With each passing day
Envisioning New Earth
Jesus leads our way
Righteousness proceeds
Praises filled with joy
All marching to Zion
Jesus leads convoy
Blessed harvest waits
Feast upon light’s grace
Leaving sin’s darkened street
Jesus takes our place
Chains of bondage break
Freedom’s bells now ring
Reaching heavenly peace
Jesus always King
On way to Heaven
Mercy’s opened door
Forgiving voice of love
Jesus evermore!
You are invited to sing or follow along with Isaac Watts’ hymn, “We’re Marching to Zion.” Watts, an English pastor, wrote these lyrics in 1707.
Stepping
From shadows
Leaving enemy’s darkness
Christ rises for us
Trusting
Strengthening
Faith’s heart
Building core values
Discipleship in Christ matures
Following
Sharing
Infinite love
Flowing with grace
Christ’s own daily delight
Interacting
Big Sky Buckeye 