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.
How wonderful that God personally cares about those things that worry us and prey upon our thoughts. Not a single nagging, aching, worrisome, stomach-tensing, blood-pressure-raising thought escapes His notice.
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 Psalm 107:28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress.”
Filled with hunger and thirst
Delivering mercy’s love
His wonderful works breathe
Living bread from God above
Bowed down under sin’s weight
Seeing all darkness and gloom
Chains of bondage hold tight
Witnessing Lord’s empty tomb
Stirred with faith’s reborn strength
Grasping Christ’s confident hand
Mighty waters run free
Rising above fertile lands
Transformed trust in God’s Word
Fixing each eye upon light
Vision’s ultimate hope
Living within Shepherd’s sight
Delivered from troubles
Receiving His steadfast love
Goodness reigns forever
Giving thanks to God above
From Psalm 107:31: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind.”
Hearing
Father’s desires
Deepening faith’s steps
Heart filled with grace
Believing
Waiting
Faith’s adventure
Treasuring Father’s creation
Uniqueness of each day
Embracing
Floundering
Overwhelming trials
Father’s grace-filled light
Waiting at faith’s crossroads
Choosing
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 Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Raging storms now surround
Trusting Him in hard times
Always, God by my side
With each step, hope shall climb
Anchoring in His peace
Nurturing faith through grace
Always, God by my side
Love flows from heaven’s place
Rising every morning
Spending time in prayer
Always, God by my side
Comfort found in His care
Silencing each tempest
Shining countenance beams
Always, God by my side
Journey heading downstream
Leading with righteous truth
Hearing mercy’s voice
Always, God by my side
Faith accepts blessed choice
Escaping from bondage
Following perfect light
Always, God by my side
Sheltered at His campsite
From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
From Ephesians 2:3: “All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.”
Faith trampled with doubt
Filled with endless fear
Overwhelming worry
Chains of sin bring tears
Seeking to please God
Performance falls short
Overwhelming burdens
Endless works, abort
Accepting God’s way
His mercy sends light
Overwhelming presence
By grace, faith holds tight
Creating in us
Eternity’s bond
Overwhelming spirit
Redemption responds
Trusting in Jesus
Faith transformed by love
Overwhelming praises
Peace breathes from above
From Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
From Mark 13:11: When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit.”
From every corner
Darkness forecasting light
Voices filled with emptiness
Now standing firm, God’s faith airtight
One promised ticket
Risen from empty tomb
False prophets flee every scene
Now Savior breathes, faithful hope blooms
Suffering no more
Calvary’s blood-stained cross
Foundation of Father’s grace
Now sin flees, no longer faith’s boss
Mercy from heaven
Angels stir from above
Called to gather Shepherd’s flock
Now faith’s destiny, filled with love
From Mark 13:26-27: “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then He will send out the angels and gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
Reading from Psalm 38, one finds David’s words as he asks for God’s healing. This poem’s verses bring to the forefront an active voice with feeling, praying, finding, healing, praising, and seeing.
Feeling darkness
Feeling unknown
Feeling empty
Feeling alone
Praying with faith
Praying this Psalm
Praying for hope
Praying for calm
Finding God’s love
Finding what’s heard
Finding new life
Finding His Word
Healing these wounds
Healing this soul
Healing my heart
Healing me whole
Praising Father
Praising accords
Praising heavens
Praising my Lord
Seeing the Cross
Seeing the light
Seeing Christ’s love
Seeing God’s might
From Psalm 38:15: “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”
Originally published June, 2020.
Mirth is God’s medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.
From Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) was an American pastor and abolitionist.
From Isaiah 40:28: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.”
Have you never known?
God’s grace, covering this earth
Have you never heard?
Cold stable, virgin gives birth
Filling heavens with praises
God builds, He provides
Seeding faith with righteousness
His light serves as guide
Have you never known?
God’s Word shares His peace
Have you never heard?
Savior’s love renews faith’s lease
Hearing of Christ’s healing hand
God’s divine plan leads
Empowering man to change
Mercy’s tender reeds
Have you never known?
God’s desire to send His Son
Have you never heard?
Redemption forever won
Lamb of God, in heaven’s wings
God envisions hope
Bridge built between man and God
Savior levels every slope
From Mark 1:38-39: “He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also, for that is what I came out to do.’ And He went throughout all Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.”
Big Sky Buckeye 