Emotions boiling
Hate-filled rhetoric building—
Where has reason gone?
Mankind’s fading peace
Far too many emotions—
Bleeding in silence
Hope in tomorrow
Listening to each other—
Emotions stand down
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Failing once again
Life’s troubles bomb away
Whom shall I turn to?
Failing once again
Darkness moves ever closer
Where is the light?
Failing once again
Shame swallows me up
How can my spirit be restored?
Failing once again
Life’s torments engulf me
Why . . . why?
Failing once again
Loneliness surrounds my heart
What recourse do I have?
Failing once again
Life’s hour glass, now nearly empty
When will I be free?
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Failing once again . . .
Turning to my Heavenly Father
Never thinking of me as a bother
From a Cross, Salvation’s light sheds hope
Pulled up from the Pit by a Holy rope
Kneeling before the Savior, sins and all
Humbling following Him will be my call
Through a broken body and shed blood
By Grace alone, escaping life’s flash flood
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The structure of this poem features dual parts. In the beginning verses, the reader is taken to a much darker place. Using themes of sorrow, darkness, and hopelessness presents a challenge to both the reader and the writer. In answering the questions found in the poem, the ending verses are structured around common Christian themes of hope, joy, light, and rebirth.
Originally published May, 2020.
Foreseeing
Insurmountable force
Against all odds
Trusting in God’s promises
Hope
Surrounding
Darkness surfaces
Never feeling forsaken
Heavenly light breaking through
Peace
Encountering
Stormy seas
By faith alone
Grace delivers blue skies
Joy
From Psalm 118:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”
Hope’s refuge, waiting in Lord’s highest place
Father’s steadfast love endures forever
Lighting way for each faithful endeavor
Proclaiming Savior’s song of victory
Bond of peace, opened at Calvary’s cross
Unified as one with body of Christ
Sharing patient gentleness, though high-priced
Bearing one another in faithful love
Measure of forgiveness, joy’s lasting gift
Marvelous in Lord’s single, faithful breath
Overcoming lasting darkness and death
Waiting at heaven’s gate, His love-filled grace
Witnessing Savior’s nail-pierced hands and feet
Faith’s Resurrection, forever complete
From Luke 24:36-39: “While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet; see that it is I myself. Touch Me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.'”
Eyes
Always scanning
Shepherd leading home
Faith’s blessed green pastures
Hope
Ears
Listening closely
Shepherd gathers each
Faith’s blessed still waters
Peace
Shepherd
Resurrection’s light
Rescued from darkness
Follow to be saved
Jesus
Daily medicine
Ultimate stress reliever—
Laughter heals one’s soul
Turning from worry
Allow optimism in—
Joy mending one’s heart
Perky morning song
Hope’s verses rejuvenate—
Shower of sunshine
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From the words of Moses
Don’t fear, be unafraid
Our Lord will fight for us
Standing firm, comes His aid
Protecting evermore
God stands everlasting
Delivers from bondage
His love, full and lasting
Sending His Son to earth
Jesus’ footprints cry out
Step in line, follow me
His peace reigns, without doubt
Crying out to our Lord
Consumed by life’s furnace
Covered by eagles’ wings
Follow Him with sureness
Darkened tomb found empty
Jesus overcoming death
Knowing God’s in control
Stay faithful, with each breath
Father always with us
Never forsaking us
His hope, comforting us
Walking ahead of us
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From Exodus 14:13-14: “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.'”
Originally published April, 2020.
Hope’s
Quiet trust
Faith lifted up
Light fortifies tender heart
Song
Hope’s
Faithful spirit
Following mercy’s light
Kneeling at Calvary’s cross
Prayer
Hope’s
Steadfast love
Watching for light
Faith waits with patience
Redemption
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.
The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
From Psalm 130:5: “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I hope.”
Arnold H. Glasow (1905-1998) was an American author and humorist. He was a regular contributor to the humor sections found in Reader’s Digest.
From 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Walking alone
Thirsty for love
Only darkness
Spirit above
Christ comes to earth
Love so daring
Gospel’s bright light
Filled with caring
Full of patience
Love now reveals
Finding God’s grace
Divine, yet real
Come, drink deeply
Receiving love
Hope grows through faith
Promised above
From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”
Big Sky Buckeye 