
Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in any human life.
From Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”

Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in any human life.
From Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Blessed
Living water
Grace and forgiveness
Walking to eternal life
Jesus

Sinfulness
Seeking redemption
Looking to Jesus
Integrity and character sidetracked
Repentance

Remembering
Every morning
Our baptismal waters
Salvation found in Christ
Promises

From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Lost in hidden wilderness
Walking gloomy path, alone
Life’s never-ending circle
Frozen in time’s endless zone
Abandoned without refuge
Searching hellish, barren land
Emptiness speaks with silence
Tireless quest, sinking in sand
Days feel as chilling as nights
Shivering, icy outlook
Hopelessness without promise
Shadow circles, pause to look
Eagle flying overhead
Calling out to thee, follow
Sunrise filling empty heart
Journey no longer hollow
Calvary’s cross stands over
Kneeling upon sacred ground
Tears’ cascading emotions
Life no longer lost, grace found

From John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”
From Philippians 4:5-6: “ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Like Apostle Paul
Facing dark trials
Acts of injustice
Covering each mile
Never complaining
Rejoicing with joy
Each of life’s moments
Shirking evil’s ploy
Eyes fixed on Jesus
Refocusing lens
Worry set aside
Walking with our friend
Troubles fall away
Accepting Christ’s Word
Life’s highway brightens
Seeing hope, unblurred
Hearts and minds open
Learning more each day
Jesus strengthens us
Kneeling now, let’s pray

From Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Sin
Darkness prowling
One eternal sacrifice
Savior’s blood breaks chains
Forgiveness

Awaken
New dawn
High Priest Jesus
Empty tomb forever rejoices
Salvation

Love
None greater
Father sends Son
World saved through Him
Believe

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.
Chosen by Jesus
Harvest love’s fruit from His vine—
Sharing with others

Embrace God’s commands
Filled with Holy Spirit’s love—
Walking with Jesus

Love one another
Watching out for each brother—
Christ’s chosen tenet


Stirring from my deep sleep at midnight
Seeing someone moving in the dim light
Hearing a gentle voice whispering my name
Calling out, “Missing you has been a shame”
Recognizing that her gentle voice is familiar, not new
Appearing now, my beloved Grandma comes into view
Walking towards me, she carries no fear
Listening to a voice so true and very dear
Saying again that I’ve been deeply missed
Bowing down, my forehead receives a kiss
Remembering previous days with her brings a smile
Telling me kindly, let’s walk together now for awhile
Asking her a question, “Is it now my time?”
Replying back, “No, but you must climb”
Facing a wall that records each of my sins
Condemning me, comes Darkness again
Reaching down comes a firm, strong hand
Grabbing hold, my feet flee sinking sand
Gazing upward, my Grandma has departed and left
Taking her place arrives Christ, raised from death

Curious and ask
Just what is a Messiah?
Calvary’s cross speaks

Searching endless roads
Lord offering righteous route—
Built on trusted rock

Days fill with trials
Life’s journey walks with Jesus—
Promised Land ahead


An early winter blizzard covers the immense ranching country. The harshness of the storm threatens everyone’s safety, both people and cattle.
Phone lines are disconnected, with most on the ground. Electricity is off except where well-prepared ranchers turn on generators to provide for their needs. All roads into each ranch are drifted shut with the heavy, dense snow.
One rancher is overly concerned for the welfare of his family and his cattle herd. The family is warm and safe inside their home, and they have enough groceries to last for several more days.
However, the cattle stand in harm’s way. Their water supply and feeding schedule have been disrupted, and the rancher worries about the length of the storm and the consequences for his 300 plus head of Black Angus cows.
At suppertime on the third night of the storm, the atmosphere is tense. The rancher’s son sees the worry painted on his father’s face. This faithful, little soul of a five-year old reminds his father with words filled with hope, “Jesus will be with us.”
Overnight the storm begins to abate and move on. In the morning, crews begin to slowly and carefully clear the roads. In a matter of hours, they will reach the isolated ranch.
Using his powerful four-wheel tractor with its giant dozer blade, the rancher clears a path to where his precious cattle are nestled against the wall of a massive shelter. While he makes sure the water is running, and the cattle receive their hay with a helping of rolled oats, he smiles and remembers the faithful words of his young son, “Jesus will be with us.”

At some point, we all experience heartache. But one thing is certain: Jesus will be standing by our side to strengthen and deliver us in our time of need.
From Hebrews 13:5-6: “Be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence.'”