The secret strength of a nation is found in the faith that abides in the hearts and homes of the country.
From Galatians 6:10: “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.”
From John 4:13-14: “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.'”
Waking up each morning
Running to look outside
Father’s world always waits
His purpose never hides
Listening, nature sings
Filling creation’s peace
Father’s world shares our hope
His labors never cease
Walking in His presence
Feeling trust ever grow
Father’s world honors life
His living water flows
Witnessing earthly wrongs
Perplexing sadness builds
Father’s world reaches out
His hands mold to rebuild
Praising God high above
Renewing faith’s wellspring
Father’s world reigns beyond
His Word forever rings
This poem was influenced by the beloved hymn, “This is My Father’s World.” Inspired by the scenery of upper state New York’s Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls, American pastor and Christian writer, Maltbie D. Babcock, wrote a poem. Following his death, his wife published the poem which later became the lyrics for this well-known hymn.
Only the man who follows the command of Jesus single-mindedly and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon Him, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way.
From Philippians 3:13-14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
German-born Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident. Many of his writings express the role of Christianity in mankind’s daily lives. He paid the ultimate price for his activism against the Nazi regime during World War II.
The location of Hope County can’t be found on any maps
Perhaps hope resides in our caring hearts, ready to tap
Last year’s drought
Brings misery and dried-up hope
Optimistic farmers seed spring crops with unwavering hope
A nearby processing plant
Will close soon with vanishing hope
Hurting families look to God for new hope
A nation’s inner fiber
Torn and ripped apart with faltering hope
Martin Luther King proclaims a message of rebuilding hope
A man sits despaired and forlorn
Being laid off with a future that offers spiritless hope
Receiving a new job brings praise to a God of immense hope
A crime-ridden neighborhood
Breathes each day with an absence of hope
Community spirit and love return with true hope
A charred Apollo spacecraft
Dashes an American moon journey with little hope
Neil Armstrong walks on the moon with restored hope
A scorned and forgotten child
Feels left out at school with fading hope
A passionate teacher smiles and brings refreshing hope
A middle-aged woman
Receives news that her body is filled with cancer and no hope
Prayers intercede filled with cancer-free and grace-filled hope
A sin-filled world
Awaits a Savior with never-ending hope
God sends His Son to deliver eternally-filled hope
Our world contains many places
Where hearts are filled with everlasting spirit and hope
Let’s never turn-off for a second our amazing hope
The Bible speaks a great deal about hope. Search for numerous examples such as from Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
As never before in this generation, we realize that we are dependent upon God for protection and strength. Our resolve is firm because our refuge is based on the eternal foundation of the living God.
From 2 Timothy 2:19: “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.'”
From Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Facing challenges
Darkest, stressful times
Feeling need to flee
Days no longer rhyme
Cresting floodwaters
Race seems lost, no doubt
Overwhelming doom
Path blocked, no way out
Inner voice speaking
Quitters never win
Winners never quit
Life’s new road begins
Looking to Jesus
Faith’s firm cornerstone
Enduring His fate
Never feel alone
Hearing His message
Persistence wins out
Yielding victory
Timeless turnabout
From James 1:12: “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
The Cross is not a mere event in history; it’s a way of life! Take up your Cross DAILY, Jesus said!
From Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.'”
John Piper (born 1946) is an American pastor, theologian, and Christian scholar. He is the founder and teacher of desiringgod.org.
Praying
For neighbors
Spreading Good News
Christ walks with us
Supporting
Praying
Holy Father
Hearing His wisdom
Spirit’s light ends darkness
Renewing
Praying
For adversaries
Sharing Christ’s love
Division begins to soften
Healing
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.
I may not be able to change the world I see around me, but I can change the way I see the world within me.
From Genesis 1:27: “So God created humans in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
John Maxwell (born 1947) is an American pastor, author, and speaker. He has written numerous books about leadership, with a Christian point of view.
From John 14:15-16: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”
Walking with Jesus
Seeing within Him
Father in Heaven
Praising with each hymn
Believing in Christ
Listening to God
Heavenly dwellings
Beating evil’s odds
Asking of Jesus
Filling with His love
Commandments followed
Blessings from above
Leaving Advocate
Stepping into lives
Holy Spirit breathes
His helping hand thrives
Fulfilling promise
Teaching everything
Spirit within hearts
Living truth to bring
From John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.”
Big Sky Buckeye 