Do the best you can with yourself and hope for the best.
In the long run, you make your own luck–good, bad, or indifferent.
Loretta Lynn (1932-2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. She was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky.
Experiencing
Father’s teachings
Moments of worship
Maturing with faithful steps
Hope
Praising
Heavenly Father
Rock of salvation
Inscribing faith’s enduring song
Joy
Witnessing
Father’s promises
Gentleness molding faith
Wayward sheep leaving wilderness
Peace
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.
Holy Commandments
Father’s blueprint guides
Filling every life
Steps called to abide
Heavenly lessons
Righteous hand sustains
Filling hungry mind
Father’s Word remains
Insight grows daily
Father’s grace-filled love
Filling wayward heart
Honor Him above
Crooked path made straight
Father’s faithful seeds
Filling with wisdom
Every tender reed
Shattered hope rebuilt
Father’s vision soars
Filling with His peace
Faith desiring more
From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher, Oswald Chambers: “If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly.”
Thinking as Jesus taught
Prayer’s breath offers peace
Blood enriched in one’s heart
Light fills faith’s every piece
Spurring each other on
Prayer links faith as one
Devotion encouraged
God sends His blessed Son
Believing Father’s Word
Prayer becomes hope’s voice
Each hour, without ceasing
Shepherd’s flock shall rejoice
Praising Christ for His light
Prayer leads to support
Faithful mercy arrives
Answers sail to each port
Walking always in faith
Prayer fills lungs with joy
Conscious of Savior’s grace
Holy Spirit deploys
From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
From 1 Peter 2:25: “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
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Like sheep, we wander astray
Turning away from our Lord
Feeling harassed and helpless
Sheep lost, by our own accord
God lays a new cornerstone
Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son
Calling us, hearing His voice
His work will never be done
Leading us, on this right path
Following His voice, love flows
With Him, we shall never want
Restoring souls, we all grow
Good Shepherd, loving His sheep
Bringing comfort, rod and staff
Green pastures, nourishing us
Still waters, on our behalf
Jesus, loving Good Shepherd
Unblemished, Lamb of God casts
Body and blood on that Cross
Risen Savior, His hope lasts
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From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller: “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”
Originally published May, 2020.
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.”
Facing each new trial
Fearing defeat once more
Source of strength found in Christ
Witnessing His open door
Darkness shrinking away
Mercy’s light shining in
Source of hope found in Christ
Faith’s renewal now begins
Hearing His trusted Word
Walking truth’s righteous road
Source of hope found in Christ
Lessoning life’s heavy load
Bloodied cross flows with tears
Empty tomb sharing light
Source of joy found in Christ
Enemy’s lies taking flight
Accepting morning’s grace
Forgiving every sin
Source of love found in Christ
Believing what’s felt within
From Joel 3:16: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”
From Psalm 17:5: “My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
Day after day
Another journey waits
Absorbing Savior’s Word
Keeping our righteous path straight
Day after day
Enemy surrounds thee
Witnessing Savior’s love
Grasping His truth, always free
Day after day
Darkness shames life of sin
Rising, Savior confronts
Locking faith’s righteous linchpin
Day after day
Blindness in faith creeps in
Praying for Savior’s grace
Casting His light from within
Day after day
Hope finds security
Blessing from Savior’s heart
Bestowing His purity
From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
From Psalm 107:28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress.”
Filled with hunger and thirst
Delivering mercy’s love
His wonderful works breathe
Living bread from God above
Bowed down under sin’s weight
Seeing all darkness and gloom
Chains of bondage hold tight
Witnessing Lord’s empty tomb
Stirred with faith’s reborn strength
Grasping Christ’s confident hand
Mighty waters run free
Rising above fertile lands
Transformed trust in God’s Word
Fixing each eye upon light
Vision’s ultimate hope
Living within Shepherd’s sight
Delivered from troubles
Receiving His steadfast love
Goodness reigns forever
Giving thanks to God above
From Psalm 107:31: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind.”
Horizon wakens
Sharing light’s glory
Nightly dreams shaken
Each treasured story
Inviting sunrise
Morning’s welcome sign
Colorful landscape
Postcard scene divine
Sky fully brightens
Sharing deep blue sky
Spirit enlightens
Few clouds flying high
Praising this new hour
Cherished and precious
Hope coming this way
Peace refreshing us
Dawn’s early brew
Stirring sweet backbeat
Morning’s harmony
Never obsolete
From Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Raging storms now surround
Trusting Him in hard times
Always, God by my side
With each step, hope shall climb
Anchoring in His peace
Nurturing faith through grace
Always, God by my side
Love flows from heaven’s place
Rising every morning
Spending time in prayer
Always, God by my side
Comfort found in His care
Silencing each tempest
Shining countenance beams
Always, God by my side
Journey heading downstream
Leading with righteous truth
Hearing mercy’s voice
Always, God by my side
Faith accepts blessed choice
Escaping from bondage
Following perfect light
Always, God by my side
Sheltered at His campsite
From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
Big Sky Buckeye 