On Our Knees

From Psalm 32:7:  “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”

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With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

 

Coming to the Cross, with repentance

Humbly laying our transgressions there

On our knees, breaking bread together

In remembrance, Jesus truly cares

 

Coming to the Cross, seeking its hope

With reverence, looking to our Lord

On our knees, drinking wine together

Singing with praise to His perfect chord

 

Coming to the Cross, stained with red blood

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior

On our knees, praising God together

Walking with transforming behavior

 

With faces toward the rising sun

Lord, share your mercy and forgiveness

You are invited to click on the photo to listen to the hymn which inspired this poem, “Let Us Break Bread Together.” [Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com]

God’s Word Reaches Out

From Psalm 23:4:  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me.”

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Being careful with life’s missteps

Sinful disobedience waits

God’s Word touches our inner soul

Hell pleasing, never be our fate

 

Our truest, most faithful support

Shall always arrive from His love

God’s Word will endure forever

His Spirit reigns from high above

 

When life’s dark trials boil over

Creating quagmires of distress

God’s Word quells each predicament

His next move leads like playing chess

 

Our life’s journey travels by faith

Transformed by Christ’s merciful heart

God’s Word reaches out, filled with hope

Bringing a new day, let’s restart

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From 2 Corinthians 5:7:  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Defeating Darkness His Way

From Ephesians 6:10-11:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

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God’s people under attack

Roaring lion on the prowl

Looking for prey to devour

Evil presence brings a scowl

 

Days becoming the darkest

Running away from the Lord

But, hope waits like eagles’ wings

Holy Spirit comes aboard

 

Remaining strong with our Lord

Under His mighty power

Wearing protective armor

God’s Word will carry the hour

 

Our Father’s righteousness speaks

Spirit with us on this day

Withstanding what evil brings

Defeating darkness His way

 

Time to witness hope-filled faith

Praying daily for action

Quench evil’s flaming arrows

Calling for man’s retraction

 

Behind His truth, standing firm

Urging others to repent

Proclaiming Gospel of peace

Our Holy God will relent

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From Psalm 85:6-7:  “Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.”

Calming Our Fears

From the words of Dr. Martin Luther King:  “Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.  Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.”

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Worry arrives with concerns never to come

Building upon past fears, stoking future ones

Life’s landscape fills with looming mountains

Instead of gentle molehills, fear gathers and stuns

 

Concerns about future challenges come forth

Transforming into worries, fueling more fear

Darkest clouds come together and gather

Who will grab the wheel and start to steer?

 

Waiting for our Lord, He renews our strength

Living by faith, His Word restores our soul

Rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering

Renewed by the Spirit, we feel more whole

 

God always walks with us, seek Him in prayer

Darkest valleys ahead, His love casts out fears

With compassion for our sufferings, hear His Word

Comforted by His rod and staff, God never veers

 

Asking of our Father, seeking His counsel

Bringing clearer witness, through His precise scope

His guidance renews our hearts, calming fears

His wisdom touches minds, filled with Gospel hope

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From Mark 5:35-36:  “While He was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’  But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.'”

Hope Overcomes Fear (Haiku Series #83)

Fear

Stormy clouds approach

Life’s storms threaten with darkness—

Christ quiets the wind

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With Us

Jesus promises

Another Advocate comes—

The Holy Spirit

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Hope

Jesus walks ahead

Emmanuel, God with us—

Coming to save us

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Embracing His Hope

Gleaned from some recent entries in my journal, this poem serves as a reflection of life as seen through many of the blog posts which I have recently read.  

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Our lost, troubled world

Rocked by oppression

Arriving overhead

Dark skies ask questions

 

God’s living Word shouts

Straighten our actions

Fueling empty faith

Healing infractions

 

Our Father shares His peace

Do you now feel it?

Discouraged hearts climb

Do you now see it?

 

From lofty heavens

God’s work perseveres

Lasting hope dries up

Years of tear-filled fears

 

Reminded daily

Our Lord’s grace-filled truth

His presence proclaims

Lasting light of truth

 

Navigating storms

Embracing His hope

Never stop dreaming

Through God’s telescope

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Hand in Hand

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.'”

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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

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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.”

Charles L. Allen Quote

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When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.

From John 16:32-33:  “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.  I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace.  In the world you face persecution.  But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Suffering No More

Reading from Psalm 38, one finds David’s words as he asks for God’s healing.  This poem’s verses bring to the forefront an active voice with feeling, praying, finding, healing, praising, and seeing.

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Feeling darkness

Feeling unknown

Feeling empty

Feeling alone

 

Praying with faith

Praying this Psalm

Praying for hope

Praying for calm

 

Finding God’s love

Finding what’s heard

Finding new life

Finding His Word

 

Healing these wounds

Healing this soul

Healing my heart

Healing me whole

 

Praising Father

Praising accords

Praising heavens

Praising my Lord

 

Seeing the Cross

Seeing the light

Seeing Christ’s love

Seeing God’s might

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From Psalm 38:15:  “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

Failing Once Again

woman in gray tank top showing distress

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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?

 

selective focus photography of hour glass

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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

sky sunset person silhouette

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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.