Immersed in reading
Daily trips to quiet spot—
Catalyst for dreams
Lifetime of learning
Reaching for another sip—
Fountain filled with dreams
Climbing one more tree
No mountain ever too high—
Hope sown in each dream
Fulfilled
With confidence
Walking by faith
Light of righteousness leads
Trust
Encouraged
With assurance
Faith’s trusted steps
Perseverance carries hope forward
Endurance
Overwhelmed
With adversity
Grace transforms darkness
Faithful outlook trusts Jesus
Triumphant
From Isaiah 41:1: “Listen to Me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.”
Waking to morning’s silence
Praying to Father above
Faithful headwaters of strength
Renewing hope, filled with love
Energizing day’s journey
Tapping into Father’s grace
Coastlines reassured of strength
Offering peace to embrace
Joining in togetherness
Reciting from Father’s Word
River’s swift transforming strength
Navigating from what’s heard
Waiting with patience of Job
Seeing now through Father’s love
Each tide arrives with His strength
Restoring joy from above
Leaving wilderness for good
Fulfilling Father’s delight
Hope’s thirst quenched from water’s strength
Rising Son harbors faith’s light
From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
God’s providence is not blind, but full of eyes.
From Isaiah 46:8-10: “Remember this and consider; recall it to mind, you transgressors; remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the outcome from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My purpose shall stand,’ and I will fulfill My intention.”
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an American poet. His Quaker background entrusted him to advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States.
On our own, we can accomplish nothing. But with God, we have access to power beyond our comprehension.
From John 15:4-5: “Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Grace
Unconditionally planted
Rising with purpose
Faith’s emptiness now fed
Fulfilled
Faith’s
Seeds scattered
Night and day
Growing fully, then ripening
Harvest
Sowing
Tiniest seed
Maturing into fullness
Faith nurtured by Spirit
Righteousness
The German hymn, “We Plow the Field and Scatter,” was written by Matthias Claudius in 1782. The lyrics were set to music in 1800 by Johann A. P. Schulz. The hymn was translated into English in 1861 by Montgomery Campbell.
As you listen to this song, focus on the lyrics as they appear on the screen. They add a meaningful visual image to this series of poems. The hymn’s piano melody is played by Mary Munson.
Today invites pause
Recalling yesterday’s strength—
Tomorrow brightens
Weighing life’s balance
Filling heart with confidence—
From every high road
More precious moments
Found in life’s smallest details—
Each child’s uniqueness
From Psalm 107:1-2: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those He redeemed from trouble.”
Overcoming one more trial
Patience seeking unsteady heart
Navigating life’s endless miles
God’s light insuring faith’s fresh start
Bringing lost sheep to green meadows
Darkness replaced with mercy’s hope
Meeting truth, forever aglow
Savior extends light’s righteous rope
Giving thanks to Christ’s steadfast love
Redemption proven, empty tomb
Releasing grace from high above
Spirit’s light, transforms every room
Fulfilling Word, promised by God
Thirst now quenched, hunger at last fed
Witnessing His love, never flawed
Light at cross, enemy has fled
Transforming life, away from sin
Faithfulness renewed, finding grace
Blessing Resurrection’s linchpin
Savior’s light takes its righteous place
From Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
Mercies
Surrounding thee
Light sustains faith
Beholding Father’s wondrous deeds
Fulfilled
Hunger
Empties spirit
Harvesting Father’s Word
From His eternal bounty
Nourished
Feeling
Alone, forsaken
Father’s mission complete
Bringing every lamb back
Loved
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.
Immanuel
Angel’s message
God with us
Living in human form
Jesus
Child
Humble birthplace
Sleeping in manger
Destined to save world
Redeemer
Rabbi
Parables taught
Faith’s promised answer
Arriving on Easter morn
Resurrection
Big Sky Buckeye 