Mother joins baby
Replenishing energy—
Growing together
Past memories teach
Navigating one more storm—
Ship staying afloat
Every flowing verse
Drawn in deeper with each sip—
Not wanting to leave
Reading through the last four entries in my journal, God brought inspiration to bring this praise to Him. There entries provide the bulk of the this poem, along with a few selected writings of Apostle Peter. I hope this poem sustains hope in you during your daily journey. During Lenten season, we are reminded of the hope we receive through Jesus’ walk to an old rugged Cross.
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With God’s truth leading us
Our faith growing each day
Fueled by our Lord above
Hope responds, let us pray
God guides with steadiness
Navigating our ship
Through ever-present storms
Safe on our Lord’s flagship
Life-giving hearts may hide
Our emotional selves
Yet, other times we find
God’s Word within ourselves
Sometimes, life proclaims
Our “red badge of courage”
Straight into inner souls
Our faith will encourage
Much like a frigid wind
Freezing our tender face
Life challenges us to bear
Torment covered by grace
Through our Father’s mercy
A new birth, a living hope
Jesus . . . Resurrection
Life viewed through His new scope
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From 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Originally published April, 2020.
From Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Broken, yet chosen
Each doubt overcome
Following Jesus
Mercy’s sacred drum
Every believer
Jesus commissions
Making disciples
Spirit-led missions
God choreographs
Gospel-filled verses
Outlining faith’s map
Sin’s path reverses
Blessed tomorrow
One empty heart waits
Filling with Jesus
Shepherd opens gate
Hand-picked by Savior
Together as one
Stirring grace within
Eternity’s sun
From Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Nourishing
Inner self
Unconditional love received
Running toward sustaining light
Grace
Precious
Daily moments
Prayer sharpens focus
Faith connects with Scripture
Journey
Challenges
Weaknesses transformed
Trust strengthens endurance
Heart overflows with joy
Overcome
In recent weeks, high level winds have moved a thick, smoky haze from Canadian wildfires into the airspace in some of the northern regions of the United States.
Northern-based fires burn
Smothering southern skies
Nature under assault
Day-by-day forecasts advise
Hazy, smoky skies
Hiding morning sunshine
Air quality alert
Heavens covered in disguise
Filtered sky above
Waiting for winds to change
Today must continue
Even though feeling short-changed
Fires now flaming out
Welcoming back blue sky
Sun makes blessed comeback
Disruptive smoke says goodbye
Nature overcomes
Pushing through stressful days
Time ahead brings healing
Sky offers hours to stargaze
From 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.”
Showing gratitude, filled with praise
Daily worship focuses mind
Setting aside time for prayer
Bold journey’s mercy, never blind
Sharing devout faith with others
Treasured gift from Holy God’s hands
Serving with kindness, filled with joy
Bold journey follows His commands
Witnessing morning, Lord alive!
Death abolished, new life begins
Revealing eternity’s road
Bold journey sheds dark life of sin
Dying with Christ, now born again
Redemption drinks from blessed well
Enduring faithfulness shines bright
Bold journey freed from chains of hell
Teaching others from Lord’s Gospel
Strength received from His daily grace
Suffering shared, soldiers of Christ
Bold journey meets in Heaven’s place
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—He cannot deny himself.”
Afternoon hideout
Character’s introvert side—
Submerged with good book
Walking new avenues
Positive energy swells—
Restore and renew
Smallest achievements
Self-esteem’s power supply—
Brighter tomorrow
From John 4:23-24: [Jesus is speaking] “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
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Praising with faith the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day
But, our lives needing to connect in other ways
Worshipping each day, receiving God’s serenity
Setting aside daily moments, faithful identity
Reading Scripture from the Lord’s Holy Word
Praying, praising, giving thanks—voices heard
Coming to the Lord with sincere-filled thoughts
Spending time with Him, connecting life’s dots
Sowing seeds of worship and praise with our God
Transforming by His love, perfect and unflawed
Reaping abounding harvest, singing with gladness
Witnessing God’s sacred harmony, never sadness
Filling our hungry hearts, opening up our minds
Listening to our Lord, He comes and truly finds
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From American pastor and Christian author, A. W. Tozer: “If you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not really worship Him on one day a week.”
Originally published March, 2020.
From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Lost in fog of sinful flesh
Hidden from Father’s intent
Caught again in evil’s net
Faith’s ember waits to repent
Selfishness, full of darkness
One more transgression adds shame
Swallowed by false promises
Faith finds mercy’s trusted flame
Spirit breathes with precious grace
Savior’s blood washes sin clean
Paid for from Calvary’s cross
Faith’s pastures, forever green
In Christ, walking His high road
Old ways now passing away
Reconciled by Father’s love
Faith maturing, day by day
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “The only way to find happiness in the grind of life is to do so by faith.”
Searching
Unimaginable contrasts
Journey of paradox
Contentment as God intended
Faith
Trusting
Gospel’s vision
Nurturing healthy outlook
Spirit’s hand at work
Faith
Enduring
Challenging times
Tsunami of darkness
Firm foundation’s pilot light
Faith
