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Our trials are not superficial or irrelevant. They are vehicles of grace that God uses to bring us growth.
From Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
From Titus 3:4-7: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Running life’s perpetual marathon
Searching for finish line, never in sight
Scaling boundless mountains, summits hidden
Paddling always upstream, with all our might
Living foolishly through sin-filled choices
Thinking daily good works shall pay our way
Falling down exhausted, never enough
Realizing God brings His goodness each day
Loving us with kindness, comes the Father
Giving to us freely, eternal Grace
Sharing His Holy Word, wrapped in mercy
Renewing Holy Spirit will embrace
Chained in darkness as unrighteous sinners
Witnessing now—a mournful, blood-stained tree
Paying for our life’s transgressions in full
Accepting Jesus, chains broken and free
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “There is only one way to receive our heavenly Father’s favor, and that’s by faith in His Son, who did all the work for us.”
The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.
From Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
This poem was originally published in July, 2019, and it was inspired from artwork in a hotel room while traveling out west.
Most days, life experiences calming seas
Witnessing each moment, steady to see
God provides for us, through it all
Picking us up, even when we fall
Life moves along at its normal pace
Taking for granted, God’s free grace
Then, stormy seas appear in the west
Bringing worried looks, never the best
Life’s ship now encounters the storm
Feeling the sea’s fury, totally reborn
The storm smothers this helpless ship
Causing sure footing to slide and slip
Panic and worry fill helpless hearts
Asking God, may we try a restart?
Our boat takes on water, brisk and cold
Overwhelming our spirit, no longer bold
Has our Lord forsaken us at this time?
Sinking ship, as faith no longer climbs
Across the tempest sea, comes a voice
Calming the storm and sea, His choice
Our Lord and Savior walks over to thee
Releasing the terror caused by the sea
In an instant, the dark storm is gone
Restoring faith and hope, now strong
God prompts us to maintain our hope
Remaining faithful, steadies our boat
Calm or stormy seas, look straight ahead
Accepting God’s grace, always best said
Thank you Lord for being with us each day
Reminding us, Your Word points the way
What dark depths dwell in our lives?
Sinful nature, lost like sheep
Hearts fill with lasting troubles
Seeing life’s well, much too deep
Returning without promise
Jacob’s well cannot quench thirst
Our parched lips, where’s our relief?
Sinful souls, ready to burst
God’s Grace, in living water
Blessing in truth and spirit
Gushing with eternal life
Drink deeply, never fear it
Who will bring us this water?
We look, but the well is deep
Jesus draws living water
Saving His lost, thirsty sheep
From John 4:11-15: “The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.'”
Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem. America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation. The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.
From Jeremiah 6:14: “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”
Praying for peace in our city
Loving Jesus takes center stage
Welcoming peace into all hearts
Hearing love of God over rage
Listening to cries of anguish
Walking with Jesus protects all
Showing empathy for neighbors
Sharing His peace at every call
Stepping forward with trusting words
Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care
Saying “peace, peace” with conviction
Lifting hands high, love fills the air
Standing and feeding His lost flock
Replacing discord, Jesus comes
Proclaiming a new dawn today
Following Grace-filled, beating drum
From Isaiah 57:19: “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”
Looking outside from the kitchen table offers a view each morning of how our Lord presents each day as a precious gift. Here is a mini sonnet which witnesses a foretaste of the feast to come.
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Viewing the early morning
Welcoming each libation
Peering from kitchen’s window
Witnessing God’s creation
Growing greener, grass below
Blooming, flowers spelling love
Witnessing creative hands
Working each day from above
Taking in this peaceful scene
Witnessing each day’s foretaste
Blessing each feast, more to come
Tasting moments, without haste
Witnessing God’s daily Grace
Making life a happy place
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From Lutheran Communion liturgy, Christ’s people sing: “Grace our table with Your presence, and give us a foretaste of the Feast to come.”
From American theologian, Fulton J. Sheen: “God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.”
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God’s eternal love seeks
Intimate relationships
No longer standing back
Feeling love as He speaks
Our Lord loves each of us
Stepping forward with faith
Accepting His sincere truth
Our God, never to mistrust
When darker times arrive
Opening hearts to our Lord
Never to feel forsaken
Trusting, abiding, alive
Our Father always cares
Hearing faithful prayers
Watching trusting steps
Feeling moments of despair
Flowing from Heaven above
To a stable’s manger
Witnessing from a cruel Cross
God’s Grace delivers His love
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From John 15:8-9: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love.
From Romans 12:11: “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
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Offering our bodies to our Father
As a living sacrifice to the Lord
Forever transformed, through His renewal
Bringing new life, by God’s sacred accord
Accepting God’s will with sober recourse
Remaining faithful, God living with us
His Word, always cleanses our sinful ways
With God’s plan, a Holy and perfect plus
God’s love is genuine, filled with His grace
Stepping forward, stoked with spirited zeal
Remaining steadfast, to all which is good
Serving God, escaping heavy ordeals
Steering ourselves, with total discipline
According to God’s proud expectations
Living and serving His Holy Kingdom
Avoiding the Enemy’s temptations
Remaining patient, despite life’s trials
Providing His strength, God leading us all
Walking in faith, taking the Lord’s high road
Living peacefully, following His call
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From the words of American pastor, Harry Emerson Fosdick: “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.”
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Life’s wilderness breathes–this dark, lonely place
Falling away with sin, feeling disgraced
Searching for hope’s light, weary of darkness
Shame and guilt unmask tracks, never erased
Coming to this place, filled with prickly thorns
Plowing straight through, left bloody and battered
Searching for new hope, never forgotten
This harsh life’s future, forever shattered
Ominous clouds loom over horizon
Lightning strikes, temple curtain torn in two
Searching for a fresh start, to be reborn
Plodding into darkness, absent of clues
Deserving life’s worst, approaching the Pit
End of time arrives, stop and surrender
Searching for God’s Grace, feeling forsaken
Heavens brighten up, with newfound splendor
Stumbling steps make haste, Eternity waits
From bloody Cross, hope springs from empty tomb
Searching and accepting, come near this Cross
Salvation through Christ, our Father’s heirloom
Jesus beckons, come forward, taking knee
Bring sin’s burdens to the Cross, forever free
From Titus 2:11-13: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives hat are self-controlled, upright,and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
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Big Sky Buckeye 