The greatest way to witness is by walking that straight and narrow and also realizing that you’re going to mess up. That’s what grace is for.
In those places of doubt and even darkness I’ve realized that who I am has nothing to do with wins or loses, applause, or negative criticism. It has to do with whose I am.
Facing life’s problems
Alone in harsh wilderness—
Hearing Father’s voice
Lord’s steady hand cares
Removes life’s withered, dark past—
Prunes with love and grace
Every morning
Faithfulness and righteousness—
God’s channel broadcasts
From Psalm 85:8: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts.”
Another morning arrives
God’s open channel broadcasts
Peaceful encouragement speaks
Always accurate forecasts
Uploading His Holy Word
God’s message brings much to say
Faithfulness with righteousness
Quiet moments praise each day
Grace-filled gifts from Father’s heart
Neither big or small, just right
Peace, joy, and eternal life
Faithfully shining so bright
Bursting with His precious truth
God’s lessons fill the airwaves
Life’s daily restoration
Jesus Christ arrives to save
From Psalm 85:10-11: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”
Facing disappointment for many months and more
Feeling frustration and despair starting to soar
Realizing that this journey needs a mid-course correction
Pointing an unsteady compass in a totally new direction
Tiring from how many others have treated thee in the past
Looking forward to a future that brings happiness at last
Beating up thyself for any past, painful mistakes
Needing renewed courage for a new life to make
Knowing that this life needs a helping hand
Wanting to scan for a nurturing place to land
Reaching out comes the helping hand of thy God
Sending forth His grace to be thy staff and rod
Shielding eyes from brightest sun at a new dawn
Walking forward with energy that’s never gone
Republishing this poem from February, 2019, brings out a theme many of us have experienced in our past. Take a moment today and look back at your life’s progress going forward from past challenges.
From Psalm 107:8-9: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind. For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Grace and peace filling life’s spirit
God, Creator, Holy Father
Gathering heavens, earth, and sea
Blessing east to west, north to south
His goodness shall never leave thee
Jesus Christ, Savior, Son of God
Commands and conquers stormy seas
Quiets endless wind into peace
Saving us from life’s gloomy breeze
Holy Spirit, Son’s Advocate
Wondrous works across land and sea
Turns desert to Living Water
Blessing days, Spirit true and free
Eternal Father, Three in One
Trinity’s mercy from above
Sing of Holy deeds, songs of joy
God’s Glory reigning with His love
English writer and hymnist, William Whiting wrote the lyrics to the hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” Used in a recent devotional, this hymn inspired the crafting of this poem. Written in 1860, this hymn is also known as “The Navy Hymn.”
Carrying
Life’s transgressions
Savior’s mercy saves
Jesus bearing our debts
Cross
Witness
Solid rock
Faith’s living cornerstone
Savior’s righteousness and blessing
Jesus
Seeking
Holy Messiah
Accepting His grace
Faithfully walking with Jesus
Eternity
Feeling lost, alone, and unworthy
Walking forward to seek God
Questioning and asking, crying out
Gathering together, we trust God
Seeking Christ must come first
Contrasting himself to the Messiah
Foretelling of the One coming
Crying out in the wilderness
Baptizing believers at the Jordan
Sending John to baptize Jesus
Sensing himself to be unworthy
Finding Christ must come first
Expressing love now for family
Adoring father, mother, son, daughter
Returning from his sinful journey
Rejoicing, a prodigal son found
Suffering dishonor for Christ’s sake
Preaching, Apostles speak the Gospel
Loving Christ must come first
Accepting God’s gift of Grace
Blessing us as worthy Christians
Coming to believe Christ’s Salvation
Humbling praising His blessed truth
Creating all things, God cares
Receiving glory, honor, and power
Standing alone at the Cross
Ransoming His body and blood
Loving and accepting our Savior
This faith-based poem comes from my archives. It was originally written and posted in September, 2019.
From Psalm 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.”
No matter how life plays out
Encountering sea of waves
Big, small . . . quiet, turbulent
Sin’s cunning waits to enslave
No promise of easy life
Struggles crashing, day by day
Never learned how to ride waves
Grace anchors hope at each bay
Thankfully, never alone
Riding God’s steady surfboard
Trusting Him, surfing each wave
Building up faith, love’s reward
Healing our souls from darkness
Guiding us through stormy waves
Refreshing peace from God’s Word
Navigating, His grace saves
Walking on calmest waters
Shepherd’s mercy comes to save
Protecting from evil’s doom
Faith conquers incoming waves
From Acts 4:11-12: “The stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
God
Nourishes faith
Planted with righteousness
Reaping upright fruit
Grace
Love
From Father
Embraces and covers
Conquer, prevail, and live
Salvation
Praise
Heavenly Father
Eternal, steadfast love
Singing life’s new song
Faithfulness
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 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Father walking nearby
Hearing heartfelt prayers
Healing life’s brokenness
Always present, God cares
Dark fears and emotions
Steps stumble, almost fall
Slowly confidence grows
Feeding faith from God’s call
Recalling faithfulness
God’s hope covers this place
Healing former despairs
Love shining through His grace
During days of trouble
Stirring praises of joy
Father’s shelter protects
Grace’s refuge deploys
Once withdrawn in darkness
His light calling lives out
Always present, God cares
Love covering throughout
From Psalm 27:13-14: “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
