Though we don’t always know what God is doing, we can always rely on who He is.
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
When a man carries a gun all the time, the respect he thinks he’s getting might really be fear. So I don’t carry a gun because I don’t want the people of Mayberry to fear a gun. I’d rather they respect me. (Thoughts of Sheriff Andy Taylor from “The Andy Griffith Show.”)
I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have tried to walk a Christian life. And now that I’m getting older, I realized that I’m walking even closer with my God.
Andy Griffith (1926-2012) was an American actor, television producer, and singer. As an actor, he will be remembered for his television roles as beloved Sheriff Andy Taylor (1960-1968) and folksy lawyer Ben Matlock (1986-1995). He was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Christ’s
Defining mercy
Encourages faithful steps
Sharing grace with others
Discipleship
Savior’s
Righteous journey
Conquering fallen world
Taking Father’s high road
Redemption
Messiah’s
Resurrected body
Sets us free
Fulfilling faith’s blessed tomorrow
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.
One of the noblest words in our language is “grace,” defined as “unearned blessing.” We live by grace far more than anything else.
From Romans 3:23-24: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Elton Trueblood (1900-1994) was an American Christian author and theologian. He served as chaplain to both Harvard and Stanford universities.
From John 1:38-39: “When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.”
Meeting stranger
On life’s remote road
One calls Him, “Lamb of God”
Holy seeds, already sowed
Messiah found
Another saint born
Faithful see Father’s light
Trust growing, from grace airborne
Blessed greeting
Shared from Son of Man
Faith’s opportunity
Son of God’s trusted game plan
Always present
Christ be everything
Believers find their home
Hope transformed by stalwart King
Self-pride now sleeps
Spirit set to soar
Mercy’s reign opens wide
Discipleship’s righteous door
From John 8: 31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. We “sit together in heavenly places.”
From Romans 14:7-9: “For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
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.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Originally published July, 2020.
From 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
From furnace of suffering
Comes self-reflection’s light
Joined with eternal heat
Burning away chaff in its sight
Trials open one’s closed eyes
Wakened senses now see
Embraced with Father’s grace
Witnessing what hope should be
Faith in mercy of Father
Reveals salvation’s gift
Undefiled, unfading
Transforming hope’s precious shift
Believe redemption’s promise
Testifies to Christ’s love
Destined to break sin’s chains
Raising Good News from above
Trust in Jesus, now rejoice
Tested by hottest fire
Revealed lasting glory
Defining hope, faith acquires
From 1 Peter 1:8-9: “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Worry ends when faith begins.
From 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
From Hosea 6:6: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Heavenly Father desires
Man’s loyalty, share His light
Glory lifted high, filled with joy
Faith’s purpose, now taking flight
Heavenly Father’s witness
Man matures through truth, grace leads
Thirsty for His Word, at last quenched
Faith’s planting, each tender seed
Heavenly Father gathers
Man’s attention, seeking peace
Christ offers details, believe each one
Faith’s motives, Spirit’s mouthpiece
Heavenly Father’s calling
Man finds knowledge, full of hope
Honored relationship, with Him
Faith’s voyage, up periscope
From John 17:1-2: “After Jesus had spoken these words, He looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.'”
Big Sky Buckeye 