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.
Discouraged people don’t need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement. They need a refuge–a willing, caring, available someone.
From Proverbs 25:11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
Overwhelming
Darkness surrounds
Facing numbing trials
Jesus draws ever closer
Grace
Seeking
Life’s answers
Wayward miles traveled
Kneeling at Jesus’ feet
Forgiveness
Transforming
Light ahead
Resurrection’s eternal flame
Chains of transgressions broken
Redemption
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 John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'”
Overwhelming with darkness
Tomorrow’s vision unseen
Out of life’s impossible
Wondering what faith will mean
Calvary’s light beams ahead
Today offers blessed place
Possible waiting in view
Powering toward Christ’s grace
Prince of Peace offers his hand
Hour of hope at last arrives
Redemption shall be fulfilled
Seeing faith coming alive
Bitter sorrow fades away
In Christ, mercy filled with love
Answers to prayer’s journey
Touching Spirit high above
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
No journey is complete that does not lead through some dark valleys. We can properly comfort others only with the comfort wherewith we ourselves have been comforted of God.
From Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Vance Havner (1901-1986) was an American pastor and Christian author. During his many years of service to the Lord, he preached throughout America.
Someone in despair
Extending bright light of grace—
Hope fills one more heart
Lost in valley’s depths
Healing’s descending courage—
Quiet peace surrounds
Life’s roller coaster
Leaving peril’s ups and downs—
Straightened and smooth
From Isaiah 53:9: “They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”
Born before light breathes
God’s master blueprint
Only darkness exists
Waiting, His Son’s footprint
Sin breathes at Eden
Perfect light shattered
Tomorrow’s harsh darkness
Righteousness now scattered
From garden’s shadows
Bloody cross awaits
Savior’s light journeys on
From heaven’s open gate
God’s people wander
Darkness covers world
Divine plan’s fulfillment
Messiah’s light unfurled
Light moves against sin
Nailed to rugged tree
Every transgression paid
Saving grace sets man free
From Isaiah 53:10: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.”
From John 4:23-24: “But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Wilderness travels
Darkness trembles, taking flight
Father always with thee
Witnessing Savior’s light
Mayhem’s daily noise
Stepping away, seeking peace
Father delivers truth
Savior transforms faith’s lease
Hope flowing with joy
Aligning with Spirit’s heart
Father’s eternal love
Savior’s breath brings fresh start
Cross proclaims mercy
Paying for every debt owed
Father’s unselfish grace
His love paves Savior’s road
Righteousness feeds faith
Bearing Spirit’s timely fruits
From Father’s blessed vine
Savior nurtures each root
From John 15:7-8: “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.”
From John 20:19-20: “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”
Witnessing faithful heart
Soul filling with boldness
Praying to Risen Savior
Transformed from Calvary’s coldness
Flowing from high mountains
Gift of living water
Feeding Jordan’s headwaters
Baptized each son and daughter
Proving mercy conquers death
Christ leads to faith’s rebirth
Walking no more in darkness
Anchored forgiveness at hope’s berth
Hearing “Peace be with you”
Spirit’s power now comes
Bestowing eternal joy
Heard from harmony’s faithful drum
Calling each believer
Go forth, share Savior’s grace
Blessing as He blesses us
Enriched with Resurrection’s embrace
From Acts 4:32-33: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
From John 7:37-38: “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, He cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink.’ As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”
Resurrection’s eternal light
Enemy’s darkness surrenders
Glory of Christ, forever bright
Holy Spirit’s peace, so tender
Precious river shall always flow
Savior’s grace offers faithful hope
Living water shall never slow
Forgiveness offers mercy’s rope
Come all to witness freedom’s tomb
Believe and each shall receive grace
Light forever shines from this room
Spirit unites this Holy place
From heavenly vision above
Safest harbor rises from dust
Infinite mercy bearing love
Eternity’s river of trust
From Revelation 22:1-3: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.”
Big Sky Buckeye 