Daily
Upholding grace
Never forsaking man
Firm and loving hands
Blessings
Daily
Building hope
Strength and endurance
Standing as man’s Rock
Faith
Daily
Witnessing mercy
Quenching every thirst
Grace of Living Water
Hope
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.”
Single stone slows march of time
Needing release from ocean’s waves
Reaching beneath, faith clearly climbs
Mercy of Christ always saves
Patience fills time, every hour
Following brightest light of Christ
Ringing from Heaven’s bell tower
Grace flows from blood sacrificed
Nature’s lasting, treasured gifts
Offering wellspring of Christ’s peace
Awakening from sinful drift
Hope renews from Spirit’s lease
Empty heart fills with Christ’s love
Overflowing confidence shines
Bestowing His Word from above
Trust in following each sign
From Galatians 5:22-24: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
From Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Dreaming of tomorrow’s steps
Opportunities abound
Knocking now on hope’s doorstep
Unwavering faith aground
Staying awake and alert
Opportunities waiting
Willing spirit to assert
Seeing Father creating
Counting each heavenly star
Opportunities shining
Searching each earthly bazaar
Lauding Father’s designing
Taking more time to observe
Opportunities praising
Fulfilling notice to serve
Accepting grace . . . amazing!
From the words of Christian author and leadership speaker, John Maxwell: “With the right attitude and a willingness to pay the price, almost anyone can pursue nearly any opportunity and achieve it.”
Only the courteous can love, but it is love that makes them courteous.
From 1 Peter 4:9: “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”
From Matthew 4:16-17: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
Beneath ocean’s depths
Hearing whispers of hope
God’s mercy always reigns
Transforming life’s scope
Atop mountain peaks
Echoing faith sings out
God’s righteousness descends
Removing all doubt
Across each valley
Lasting hymns, filled with pride
God’s nurturing love acts
Sending grace, Son guides
Throughout darkest world
Navigating light now leads
Christ’s faithful message calms
Healing’s peace proceeds
From Calvary’s cross
Searching for sheep, now lost
Good Shepherd never fails
Paying every cost
From Hebrews 13:20-21: “Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do His will, as He works among us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.”
From Matthew 5:13-14: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”
Life’s human experience
Never-ending shortcomings
Darkness follows every step
Hearing its constant drumming
God’s Word shatters evil’s myth
Called to His righteous standing
Light shines with divine goodness
Offering safest landing
God’s eternal promises
Resurrection defines hope
Faith growing, following Christ
Scaling each slippery slope
God’s faithfulness never tires
Jesus fulfilling His law
Holy Spirit reaches out
Teaching, transforming life’s flaws
Kingdom of Heaven beckons
Earthly journey will be hard
Grace leading, trusting each day
Laying bricks toward God’s courtyard
From Matthew 5:19: “Therefore, whoever break one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see. (taken from lyrics of “Amazing Grace.”)
From Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
John Newton (1725-1807) was an English pastor who also was a writer of several hymns, including the beloved “Amazing Grace.” His early life is filled with contrasts, when compared to his later life. He served as a ship’s captain during the slave trade, but later renounced his work after his conversion to Christianity. He became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade later in his life.
Questions
Seeking help
Father never forsakes
Faith carries us through
Answers
Waking
Each morning
Day’s agenda reset
Grace sustains another soul
Living
Hearing
Daily prayers
Mercy brings patience
Father’s glory shall shine
Believing
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.
Daily
Blessed dialogue
God and self
Listening to His love
Prayer
Trusting
Christ’s light
Leading one’s journey
Along His chosen path
Faith
Creator’s
Lasting insight
Through free-flowing grace
Timing of life’s seasons
Fulfillment
From Isaiah 9:2: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
Walking without light
Actions filled with sin
False gods and idols
Faith absent within
Living in darkness
Gloom filled with torment
God’s conquered people
Called now to repent
Hearing prophet’s call
Shadows hidden theft
Nation’s ember glows
God has never left
Seeing promised grace
Filled with renewed hope
Evil crawls away
Faith grasps mercy’s rope
Easing life’s burdens
True light’s beating drum
Fear replaced with joy
Darkness overcome
From Isaiah 9:4: “For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian.”
Big Sky Buckeye 