We can never fathom the agony . . . Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us.
From Matthew 26:36-38: “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then He said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.'”
From John 14:10-11: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”
Lord’s tree of life, saving us
Son of Man, bearing our flesh
Each morning, rising with us
Faith, hope, and love shall refresh
In His death, life be reborn
Like faithful rivers, love flows
Christ’s awesome mystery breathes
From darkened tomb, Jesus rose
Heavenly truth speaks, let’s hear
Love transforms through acts and words
Both mirror journey of Christ
His message, no longer blurred
Christ leading, we will follow
Always near, dwelling within
His hand steadies stumbling steps
Salvation forgiving sin
Much of this poem is inspired by the hymn “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery,” which is part of a morning devotional I regularly read and study.
Father
Almighty God
Never sits silent
From sunrise to sunset
Righteousness
Voices
Seeking attention
Single voice calls
Come, walk with Me
Jesus
Journey
Never ends
From Calvary’s cross
Resurrection faithfully assures tomorrow’s
Hope
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.
From Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
True Christians, marked by God
Born again, in Jesus Christ
Love always be genuine
Grasping all of life’s goodwill
Forsaking evil’s shadows
God’s presence never stands still
Cherishing one another
Actions bring honor to all
Serving Heavenly Father
Holy Spirit’s blessings call
Rejoicing, tomorrow’s hope
Enduring patience, breathing
Persevering in prayer
Rejoicing, tomorrow’s hope
Enduring patience, breathing
Persevering in prayer
Christ builds durable sheathing
Assisting with others’ needs
Sharing kindness with many
Walk as brothers and sisters
Heaven’s home offers plenty
Stay noble, take life’s high road
Hungry rivals, feed with love
Live as one, in harmony
Good News comes from God above
From Romans 12:19-21: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
To flourish and grow, a person must be completely dependent on Christ for spiritual nutrition. That involves drawing near to Him each morning through His Word and prayer and receiving His Grace all day long.
From Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
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.”
From Luke 1:27-27: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
When shall we ever meet?
Longing to meet my Lord
His lamp, lighting the way
Filled with love, now on board
Life’s laboring turmoil
Enchained by sin’s shackles
Christ offers lasting Grace
Freed from darkest jackals
Heaven’s gifts come to earth
Filled with unselfish love
Each dawn brings liberty
Embracing newfound love
Rejoice, again rejoice!
No more trembling in fear
Appearing like day’s sun
Safely home, Jesus steers
From Luke 24:50-53: “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”
From Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Imperfect humans
Walking darkest trails
World twists upside down
Christ calls, without fail
World crying out with
Endless, empty claims
Filled with dead end thoughts
Christ drowns looming flames
Noisy distractions
Countless temptations
Follow His footsteps
Christ’s supplications
Waking to darkness
God’s will lights each day
Struggling with life’s sin
Christ bridges the way
Share genuine love
Holding fast to good
Serving the Father
Christ transforms driftwood
Zealous in spirit
Rejoicing in hope
Walk with humbleness
Christ’s love helps us cope
Marked with our Lord’s truth
Walk with Christian steps
Soul and mind renewed
Follow Christ’s footsteps
From Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
What’s true of creatures in the forest is true of Christians in the family. God has not made us all the same. He never intended to.
From 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross at Calvary, a love we never can and never shall merit.
From Romans 8:37-38: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
