Offering
Wisdom’s enlightenment
God with us
Guiding toward tomorrow’s light
Hope
Pausing
Prayerful moment
Talking with God
Minutes filling with hope
Moving
Lost
Descending darkness
Hope calling out
Returning to Good Shepherd
Found
How do you respond in times of crisis? When you encounter trouble and distress and don’t know what to do . . . fix your eyes on your mighty God.
From 2 Chronicles 20:12: “O our God, will You not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
From Psalm 34:6: “This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord and was saved from every trouble.”
Desiring smoother path
Journey faces pitfalls
Stressful days wait ahead
Darkness erecting walls
Showing what’s possible
Spirit lights Father’s way
Humbly see and follow
Walls crumble, new causeway
Turning toward Father
Life surrendered to Him
Troubled times diminished
Days no longer as grim
Tasting acts of goodness
Challenges overcome
Father’s peace now descends
Doubts reduced to breadcrumbs
Walking in Father’s love
Mercy remains steadfast
Every promise trusted
Faith transformed, hope recast
From Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.”
Enduring
Endless storms
Light’s navigation calms
Returning to tranquil waters
Faith
Surrounding
Darkness overcome
Light’s merciful hand
Leading to higher ground
Hope
Sustaining
Light answers
Prayer fills heart
Continued devotion to Jesus
Grace
From Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Photo by Jarosław Miś on Pexels.com
Life tempting us with enticing shortcuts
Most of these never seem to bring success
Gods speaks honestly, always asking us
Did we burrow deeper, rather than guess?
Clever world flooding us with remedies
Formulas for a more successful life
Simple, surefire, easy to use, guaranteed
God’s formula, always true without strife
Never shy from following the Father
He doesn’t promise a road without bumps
God offers promises with blessed love
His way leading us forward, our hearts jump
Requiring patience, life’s a marathon
God remains our Rock, faithful and steadfast
His blessings fill our lives in countless ways
Our ship sails, with eternal hope amassed
Losing hope at times, seeking a quick fix
Encouragement and trust arrives from God
Offering us Grace, filled with peace and joy
Grateful, He accepts us, totally flawed
Photo by Sanaan Mazhar on Pexels.com
From the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “We ought to make some progress, however little, every day, and show some increase of fervor. We ought to act as if we were at war–as, indeed, we are–and never relax until we have won the victory.”
Originally published March, 2020.
Creator’s
Transcending love
Each living witness
Handiwork crafted through faith
Forever
Free-flowing
God’s love
Never running dry
Eternal spring, drink deeply
Grace
Hope’s
Future envisions
Through Spirit’s eyes
Walking in Christ’s love
Fulfillment
Witnessing
Christ’s purpose
Opening up hearts
Inviting to follow Him
Faith
Nurturing
Life’s endurance
No longer suffering
Character molded by Christ
Hope
Connecting
With believers
Christ’s humble approach
Sharing love with others
Grace
This poem is inspired by a song which has been sung by many artists. Bobby Darin and later Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded their versions of “If I Were a Carpenter.” The song was written by Tim Hardin, and other artists have recorded and performed the song as well. Here is Bobby Darin’s version: “If I Were a Carpenter.”
Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com
If I was a teacher
Bringing energy, passion, and patience
Showcasing learning as school’s top feature
If I was a firefighter
Serving with unselfish duty and pride
Protecting all, making worries lighter
If I was an architect
Designing buildings for many uses
Looking ahead to challenging projects
If I was a farmer
Rising at dawn, working until sundown
Bringing a nation food, as God’s armor
If I was a nurse
Sharing with patient, compassionate care
Filling lives with hope, never for the worse
If I was a writer
Crafting words into stories and much more
Witnessing through eyes, open and brighter
If I was a musician
Creating good vibes through words and music
Entertaining songs’ perfect rendition
If I was a preacher
Instilling God’s Word within a church’s flock
Encouraged to be one of God’s teachers
If I was a soldier
Preserving peace and freedom in the world
Band of brothers, stand shoulder to shoulder
If I was a young tyke
Looking up to these inspiring adults
Growing up, each day feeling more alike
Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com
Originally published March, 2020.
I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be and I am not the man I hope to be, but, by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.
From 1 Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.”
John Newton (1725-1807) was an English pastor who also was a writer of several hymns, including the beloved “Amazing Grace.” His early life is filled with contrasts, when compared to his later life. He served as a ship’s captain during the slave trade, but later renounced his work after his conversion to Christianity. He became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade later in his life.
Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.
Things change . . . things happen . . . things you can’t imagine when you’re young and full of hope.
Judy Blume (born 1938) is an American writer who is best known for her children’s books and young adult novels.
Big Sky Buckeye 