W. Phillip Keller Quote

Nature reclaims its breath from a nearby creek. Photographed at central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

As a tree by the waters grows, in spite of drought all around it, so I, by drawing upon the life of Christ, grow into His strength.

From Job 14:7-9:  “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its shoots will not cease.  Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant.”

W. Phillip Keller (1920-1997) was born in Africa as the son of missionary parents.  His life’s mission would allow him to become a world citizen as a photographer, agronomist, and Christian author.

Hope’s Olive Leaf

From Lamentations 3:22-24:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

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Life’s darkened landscape

Harvest empty of grain

Hope seems so distant

Forgotten in pain

 

Heart’s desolate scene

Hope’s answers in prayer

Now mercy arrives

Laden with love’s care

 

Family finds hope

Answers no longer wait

Body now healing

Doctor brings update

 

Scars from troubles heal

Set to travel hope’s road

Spirit strengthens heart

Faith harvests what’s sowed

 

Earth’s torrential flood

Faith anchored on firm ground

Noah’s dove soars free

Hope’s olive leaf found

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Genesis 8:10-11:  “He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark, and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.”

Ann Voskamp Quote

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There is unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God.

From Isaiah 26:3-4:  “Those of steadfast mind You keep in peace, in peace because they trust in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God.”

Ann Voskamp (born 1973) is a Canadian writer and Christian blogger.

Abiding Within (Elfchen Series #237)

Upholding

Faith’s

Patient peace

Accepting Spirit’s truth

Witnessing mercy taking flight

Righteousness

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Embracing

Hope’s

Guiding light

Accepting Christ’s challenge

Forwarding grace to others

Joy

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Confirming

Love’s

Stirring heartbeat

Accepting Father’s truth

Forgiveness comes through Thee

Cleansing

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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.

Mercy’s Steadfast Rock

From Nehemiah 8:9:  “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’  For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.”

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Journey flowing with peace

Tasting God’s blessed Word

Faith’s truth shall never cease

Sending His grace, freshly stirred

 

Spirit lifts up God’s voice

Rising with morning sun

Trust’s blessed, hopeful choice

Delivering through His Son

 

Scripture filled with God’s law

Teaching with righteous breath

Hope grows, never withdraw

Bringing light, defeating death

 

Forgiveness floods each heart

Raising man’s salvation

Joy’s beloved restart

Praising faith’s new foundation

 

Unity found in Christ

Shepherding hope-filled flock

Debts paid, blood sacrificed

Grasping mercy’s steadfast rock

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

From Psalm 19:14:  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Tomorrow Shall Come

From Psalm 30:4-5:  “Sing praises to the Lord, O you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name.  For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

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Trials of darkness

Arriving today

Feeling faith challenged

Hope slipping away

 

Another mountain

Blocking path of peace

Taking Father’s road

Trust builds, piece by piece

 

Truth comes each sunrise

Breathing with His love

Delivering hope

Joy fed from above

 

Heart’s rainbow brightens

Finding peace from light

Refilling faith’s cup

Mercy taking flight

 

Father’s promised grace

Gathering each crumb

Leading to Jesus

Tomorrow shall come

 

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From Psalm 30:11-12:  “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Faith’s Beloved Passion (Elfchen Series #236)

Defining

Love

Bethlehem’s gift

Passion’s lasting peace

Witnessed in Messiah’s breath

Proven

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Transforming

Faith

Light ahead

Father’s promises fulfilled

Son’s passion at Calvary

Reborn

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Uplifting

Hope

Passion’s breath

Scripture speaking truth

Blessed destiny in Christ

Resurrected

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Enthusiasm’s Joy

From Mark 12:29-31:  “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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Another blessed day

Celebrate Father’s goodness

Unlimited gifts of grace

From Heaven’s sacred place

 

With each day, come to serve

Opportunity’s freedom

Spelled out through Christ’s faithful love

Gathered from high above

 

Sunset follows sunrise

Encouraged by Spirit’s breath

Honor Father with actions

More than just transactions

 

Share kindness with others

Holds enthusiasm’s joy

Love Jesus with one’s whole heart

Hope journeys to fresh start

 

Excitement’s daily peace

Truth in Father’s righteousness

Faith’s trustworthy bridge designed

Follow with steps aligned

 

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From Matthew 5:6:  “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Father’s Truth

From Psalm 68:4:  “Sing to God; sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the clouds—His name is the Lord—be exultant before Him.”

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Singing with praises to Father above

Filling high heavens with jubilation

Forgiving every stumble through His love

Writing righteousness on heart of each nation

 

Leading His people toward mercy’s light

Forsaking darkness, hidden far below

Washing away sin, with snow very white

Living where river of peace always flows

 

Leaving wilderness for greener ridgetop

Quenching faith’s thirst with living water

Sowing His grace among each fertile crop

Blessing family, each son and daughter

 

Hearing Father’s truth, spoken through His Word

Raising up eternal hope, undeterred

 

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From Psalm 68:35:  “Awesome is God in His sanctuary, the God of Israel; He gives power and strength to His people.”

Faith’s Foundation (Elfchen Series #235)

Transcended

Witnessing

Empty tomb

Victory, Jesus lives

Hope’s darkness forever vanquished

Light

Promised

Impossible

Calvary’s cross

Crucifixion, death, burial

Meeting along Emmaus Road

Possible

Fulfilled

Believing

Messiah’s Resurrection

Chains forever broken

Enemy’s false assurances shattered

Redemption

All images courtesy of pinterest.

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.