Sustaining Refuge

From Psalm 31:1-2:  “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me.  Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

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Facing life’s overwhelming odds

Darkness invades, hope crashing down

Searching for sustaining refuge

Forsaking another showdown

 

Emptiness penetrates deeply

Faith weakening, now feeling mocked

Each empty promise calling out

Distant future forever locked

 

Calling to Father above

Reaching for His righteous-filled hand

Praying for heavenly rescue

Grasping mercy, fleeing quicksand

 

Light overcomes evil’s doomsday

God’s promises, always to trust

Mighty fortress restoring faith

Distant future looking robust

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From Psalm 31:14-15:  “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.”

Mercy’s Light (Elfchen Series #154)

Hallelujah!

Sinking

Enemy’s darkness

Waves crashing down

Empty tomb’s salvation light

Rising

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Eternity Calls

Light

Father’s plan

Love’s ultimate sacrifice

Resurrection’s grace shines forever

Victorious

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Final Act

Witnessing

Blessed assurance

Light conquers darkness

Every sin forever paid

Redemption

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Tasting Life

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Looking into nearby trees

Visualizing every leaf

Moving with another breeze

Viewing each artist’s motif

 

Reminding of blessed life

Molding self, with every hour

Breathing in peace, without strife

Seasoning days, never sour

 

Touching greenest blades of grass

Remembering every step

Topping off another glass

Sitting at nature’s doorstep

 

Exploring depths of these woods

Imagining what’s waiting

Delivering timeless goods

Tasting life, captivating

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Faith’s Hope

From Hebrews 11:1-3:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

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Faith fills assurance

Light brightens day’s hope

What’s seen and unseen?

Love viewed through God’s scope

 

Faith moves through Scripture

Testaments make clear

Witness Abraham

Hope waits, then appears

 

Faith grows, trusting God

Hope’s great centerpiece

Foundations built strong

Life of blessed peace

 

Faith matures with time

God’s perfection reigns

His Word guides with truth

Hope makes lifelong gains

 

Faith’s hope, joined as one

Journey’s promised land

God forever praised

Mercy’s steady hand

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From the words of American pastor and Christian writer, Warren Wiersbe:  “Love increases our faith, and when we have faith and love, we will have hope.”

Precious Witnesses (Haiku Series #231)

Fast Forward

Winter to summer

Life’s annual rendezvous—

Fleeting taste of spring

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Smiling Prayers

Rainy clouds arrive

Farmers waited with patience—

Harvest time’s sunshine

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Silent Citadel

Majestic white pines

Sharing Creator’s presence—

Faithful guardians

Ohio’s Walnut Woods shares its white pines.

Walking Closely

From Luke 24:13-15:  “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself came near and went with them.”

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On life’s Emmaus Road

Walking closely with thee

Grace of Jesus bestowed

Calvary’s path sets us free

 

Wilderness gathers near

Walking down evil’s road

Christ’s love making it clear

Sinful darkness now implodes

 

Life’s burdens weighing down

Walking with Christ, our Lord

Mercy begins countdown

Redemption coming on board

 

Heaven’s kingdom awaits

Walking each faithful path

Salvation opens gate

Jesus bridges judgement’s wrath

 

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From Philippians 3:20:  “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Messages of Hope (Elfchen Series #153)

Righteousness

Offering

Wisdom’s enlightenment

God with us

Guiding toward tomorrow’s light

Hope

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Peacefulness

Pausing

Prayerful moment

Talking with God

Minutes filling with hope

Moving

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Preciousness

Lost

Descending darkness

Hope calling out

Returning to Good Shepherd

Found

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Freedom’s Stonewall

America’s Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. (courtesy of Pinterest)

Bruised and battered

Early morn brawl

Knockout punch felt

Still standing tall

 

Battleships crushed

Many lives lost

Never forget

Bearing each cost

 

Nation rallies

Unites as one

Called to duty

Work to be done

 

Together now

Fortitude speaks

Country won’t pause

Week follows week

 

Liberty shines

Courage rises

Grieving each loss

Flag arises

 

Thankful for peace

Remember all

Let’s never rest

Freedom’s stonewall

Washington D.C.: Arlington National Cemetery with the Washington Monument in the background. (courtesy of Pinterest)

This poem references images from World War II, from Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the final surrender in 1945.  America’s Memorial Day is approaching (final Monday in the month of May).  May we always remember the sacrifices of our military personnel in every war fought in this nation’s history.

God Will Provide

From Philippians 4:19:  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

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Looking to Almighty God

Reigning over His creation

Following His guiding rod

Praying without cessation

 

Seeing that God will provide

Nourishing Word filled with grace

Sending Spirit, as our guide

Blessing man, follow His pace

 

Witnessing divine kindness

Offering daily praises

Removing sinful blindness

Navigating life’s mazes

 

Kneeling under mercy’s hand

Worshipping our Risen Lord

Escaping evil’s quicksand

Vanquishing enemy’s sword

 

Obeying Holy One’s voice

Standing always as faith’s rock

Providing life’s better choice

Trusting in heaven’s crosswalk

 

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From Psalm 34:10:  “The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Poetic Connections (Haiku Series #230)

Future

Past links with today

Learning fills each tomorrow—

Venturing forward

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Revealing

Day’s epiphany

Outside one’s kitchen window—

Another clue waits

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Words

Preparing to share

Crafting yet another verse—

Soul opening up

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