
Be confused, it’s where you begin to learn new things.
Be broken, it’s where you begin to heal.
S. C. Lourie is a British writer, poet, and artist.
Be confused, it’s where you begin to learn new things.
Be broken, it’s where you begin to heal.
S. C. Lourie is a British writer, poet, and artist.
From Psalm 25:5: “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
Living in God’s Kingdom
Providing all things
Sharing His steadfast peace
Grace forever springs
Healing our tattered souls
Witnessing our plight
Stirring up lasting faith
Eternity’s light
Filling hearts with mercy
Kindling each sunrise
Soaring on eagle’s wings
Glory in God’s eyes
Casting darkness aside
Saving every heart
Loving each child of God
New life now restarts
Blessing with His goodness
Hearing our sad cries
Raising us up in Christ
Salvation’s franchise
From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Baptismal
Mountainside spring
Filled with healing
Thirsty heart now restored
Waters
Receiving
Christ’s love
Following faithful steps
Paying forward to others
Compassion
Brokenness
Jesus builds
Redemption’s eternal bridge
Between sin and God
Living
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.
Accepting
God’s plan
Setting aside worries
Walking with His blessings
Obedience
Revealing
Our weaknesses
Relationship with Jesus
Transforming each into strength
Healing
Beholding
Faithful lifeline
With heavenly Father
Anytime, anywhere . . . He’s there!
Prayer
Turning life upside down
Darkness fuels discontent
Grief fills daily breakdowns
Hopelessness speeds descent
Reaching out to others
Care arrives through their grace
Like words from grandmother
Life moves to better place
Breathing, moving forward
Journey begins to smile
Ship now sails straightforward
Life transitions, each mile
Healing day by day
Sunshine now reappears
Precious words stop to say
Tender thoughts, always near
From Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.”
Challenges overwhelm
Accidents, poor health
Seeking God’s divine grace
His healing power
Come to gracious Father
Binding up these wounds
Through abundant mercy
Life restored again
Road of recovery
God strengthens, blesses
Built upon living Word
Peace offers comfort
Healing brokenhearted
Buoyant life returns
Praise Father’s compassion
Trust His mighty hand
Life filled with confidence
Praying back to God
Thankfulness to Father
His mercies abound
From Psalm 147:7: “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.”
Anticipation
Weekly worship
Word and Sacrament
Community response to God
Empowerment
Quest
Righteous justice
Transforming unruly sheep
Father dispatches Good Shepherd
Deliverance
Creator
Inviting us
Come to Him
Receive compassion, teaching, healing
Everlasting
From Psalm 103:1-5: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Scattered by earth’s hopeless winds
Relationships, bodies, hearts
Life filling with brokenness
Divine healing, God imparts
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Healing comes from purest source
Balm of hope offers treatment
Mind, body, and soul endorse
Amazing grace saves sinners
Hope now strengthens and rebounds
Mercy and love rebuild faith
Forgiveness heals and surrounds
Healing balm making us whole
Caring for lifetime of scars
Miracle restores fullness
God’s Glory shining from stars
Finding places and people
Savior Jesus leads our way
Bearing our burdens as well
Healing brokenness this day
A traditional African-American spritual, “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” serves as an inspiring complement to this poem. You are invited to take a moment to listen.
This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer. God’s peace!
Lives pretending to follow a Holy God
Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit
Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ
Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it
Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times
Behaving outside of our Father’s design
Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right
Only walking with Jesus, should lives align
Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest
Thirsty for true living water and care
This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace
Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers
Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation
Unifying voices throughout this nation
From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23: “So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
From Matthew 14:25:27: “And early in the morning He [Jesus] came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”
Dreaded Covid arrives, knocking at her door
Daughter takes refuge on a hospital floor
Fear challenges faith during this trying hour
Daughter and mother seek God’s love and power
Through their journey of faith, walking together
God steps forward, quieting stormy weather
Hand in hand with God, crossing scary tightrope
His love sustains their faith, resurrecting hope
Mother and daughter’s prayers, faithfully roam
This hellish scourge flees at last, sending her home
Singing praises of thanksgiving, with glad hearts
Walking hand in hand, their life journey restarts
Kneeling before a Holy, mighty Father
Feeling the Lord’s love, like a great grandfather
From Psalm 92:1-2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.”