The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
From Romans 15:2-3: “Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please Himself, but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me.'”
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a French-born theologian, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician.
From Psalm 118:21-22: “I thank you that You have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
Reminded with each sunrise
Praise Resurrection’s light
Redemption rises with Christ
Witness empty tomb at daylight
Gates of righteousness opened
Rejoice, be glad in it
Salvation’s final answer
At Calvary, Christ’s love submits
Freed from sin by Savior’s blood
Spirit stirs within man
Nourished with His mercy’s peace
Promises fulfilled through God’s plan
Each step, filled with repentance
Mercy always present
Believe in faith’s risen Lord
Gathered in prayer, as He meant
Follow Shepherd’s tender voice
Path ahead, filled with love
Grace shall cleanse, power to free
Truth speaks from Heaven’s throne above
From John 20:26-27: “A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it in My side. Do not doubt but believe.'”
Facing
Life’s detours
Unwavering faith breathes
Filled with Savior’s hope
Overcoming
Waiting
Patience nourished
Savior’s risen spirit
Filled with mercy’s connection
Reflecting
Believing
Savior’s light
Darkness swept away
Filled with love’s truth
Maturing
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.
When God sets His heart on you, you will be tried often. But the longer and harder your affliction, the more deeply God has set His heart on you, to show you His love and care.
From James 1:2-4: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) was an American evangelist, Christian author, and pastor.
From James 4:7-8: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Near to God
Treasured gift
Love’s presence
Faith never adrift
Faith in God
Prayer calls
Love’s patience
Grace lifts each downfall
Grace from God
Hope receives
Love’s goodness
Trust within believes
Trust in God
Peace draws near
Love’s result
Light overwhelms fear
Light from God
Chains shattered
Love’s mission
Darkness now scattered
From the words of American Christian author, Angela Thomas Pharr: “But what we can know, what we can settle in our soul, is that He is faithful to come when we call.”
From 1 Samuel 17:48-49: “When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.”
Within Father’s intentions
Seeding His daily grace
Overflowing with love
Faith’s harvest to embrace
David carries trusted sling
Sowing faith with hope’s trust
Harboring Father’s strength
Goliath’s armor rusts
Moses discards royal roots
Seeking God’s righteous hand
Leading all to freedom
His staff reaps hope as planned
Dorcas, disciple of Jesus
Planting works, full of love
Dying, then breathing free
Alive through grace above
Son of God, born in manger
Raising Gospel’s design
Leading man’s every step
Redemption’s finish line
Faith’s fruits transformed to greatness
Tasting hope from God’s Word
Empowering each seed
Harvest’s vision unblurred
From Acts 9:39-40: “So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.”
Standing
With Jesus
Encouraged to forgive
Making peace with past
Together
Nourishing
Faith’s strengths
Capacity to forgive
Maturing in spiritual waters
Growth
Receiving
Father’s counsel
Acts of forgiveness
Filling with His light
Grace
When you worry about what you don’t have, you won’t be able to enjoy what you have.
From Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Psalm 119:1-2: “Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are those who keep His decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart.”
Faith’s steady journey
Walking in God’s way
Keeping His decrees
Spirit sings each day
Glories of God’s law
Marking path ahead
Embracing His Word
Faithful, daily bread
Righteousness leading
Grasping trusted rope
Fixing eyes on God
Faith seals promised hope
God remains steadfast
Sharing divine love
Treasuring His flock
Grace flows from above
Commandments followed
Running to God’s light
Forgiving man’s sin
Cleansed heart taking flight
From Psalm 119:14-16: “I delight in the way of Your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
From Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Early morning surroundings
Freshly brewed coffee now poured
Moments of light compounding
Conversation with faith’s Lord
Bible’s pages reopened
Study begins with God’s Word
Grace knocking, heart now opened
More than coffee being stirred
Gentle spirit settles in
Wisdom seeks receptive ear
Father finds trusted plug-in
Lessons become crystal clear
Coffee cup now filled with grace
Sunrise seals Savior’s snapshot
Rising in this humble place
Redemption forever bought
From Ephesians 1:7: “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Big Sky Buckeye 