Usually on most days
Life’s journey moves along
Solving another maze
Each answer never wrong
Hourly reality check
Simple truths always guide
Avoiding any wrecks
Every step filled with pride
Tomorrow will bring change
Certain as each sunrise
Stirring thoughts to exchange
Nothing waits in disguise
Goodness set to deploy
Positive always leads
Going forward brings joy
Lasting happiness freed
From Matthew 4:10: “Then Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'”
Choosing to worship
Searching wrong places
Feeding soul more lies
Filling dark spaces
Choosing to worship
Searching earth’s treasures
Finding temptation
Offering pleasures
Choosing to worship
Searching for false gods
Yielding more sorrow
Seeing only frauds
Choosing to worship
Searching for new plan
Reading Scripture’s truth
Hearing Son of Man
Choosing to worship
Searching new measures
Praying to Father
Seeing His treasures
Choosing to worship
Searching for true joy
Discovering peace
Riding God’s convoy
From Psalm 100:1-2: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Stirred up, walk with Jesus
Taking mercy’s high ground
Sharing our Savior
Hope never wavers
Overjoyed with Jesus
Stepping forward to serve
Loving our Savior
Grace never wavers
Pumped up for Jesus
Witnessing to others
Trusting our Savior
Peace never wavers
Thrilled to follow Jesus
Accepting Him always
Blessing our Savior
Joy never wavers
Moved to be with Jesus
Praying for each other
Meeting our Savior
Trust never wavers
Excited for Jesus
Living in His Kingdom
Praising our Savior
Faith never wavers
From Philippians 1:6: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
No darkness lasts forever. And even there, there are stars.
If you evade suffering, you also evade the chance of joy.
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was an American author who achieved success in the realm of science fiction as well as fantasy.
Where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account.
From John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) was an American lay speaker and Christian author. She was an active voice during the women’s suffrage movement as well as the temperance movement in the United States.
From the words of American-born philosopher, Pema Chadron: “Be kinder to yourself, then let your kindness flood the world.”
Waiting in life’s shadows, another year
Thinking conscious thoughts, ready to embrace
Setting aside more time for daydreaming
Leading to tomorrow’s energized space
Allowing positivity to shine
Sowing today’s seeds, filled with future hope
Reaping lasting harvest of inner peace
Looking ahead through New Year’s vivid scope
Finding humor’s lessons in life’s darkness
Focusing on single tasks, without more
Filling each day with heartfelt gifts of joy
Witnessing blessed year, coming ashore
Creating reservoirs of lasting light
Passing each on to others taking flight
Trust
God’s promises
His actions awaken
Life’s wilderness shall blossom
Hope
Hope
For Savior
God’s desires fulfilled
Bethlehem stable’s Holy ground
Peace
Peace
Father’s gift
Lying in manger
Emmanuel, God with us
Joy
Joy
Angels proclaim
Humble shepherds attest
Christ comes to save
Love
From Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Facing constant waves
Overwhelming despair
Father seeking to save
Eternal grace cares
Bethlehem manger
Looking beyond today
Savior, joy’s game changer
Mercy’s light conveys
Hope breathes, Son of Man
King of Kings, Prince of Peace
God opens His divine plan
Joy’s new centerpiece
Angels’ choir deploys
Always singing above
Reflections full of joy
Peace filling with love
Scaling highest slopes
Locating lasting peace
Rebuilding life’s new hope
Joy shall never cease
Peace restored, anew
Joy’s steady, beating drum
Tomorrow’s hope accrues
Salvation to come
With lyrics composed by renowned English hymn writer, Issac Watts, “Joy to the World” has become the most published Christmas hymn in North America. These verses were penned in 1719, and they share an interpretation from Psalm 98. In this Advent season, the hymn holds a special place with its emphasis on the joy we have been patiently waiting for.
God’s
Magnificent creation
Praising every sunrise
Worshipping His blessed peace
Sustaining
God’s
Sustaining spirit
Sunset never closes
Reaching for tomorrow’s hope
Awakening
God’s
Awakening message
Endless joy sings
Mercy delivers His love
Forgiving
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.
We do not always feel joyful, but we are always to count it joy.
From James 1:2-3: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
A. B. (Albert Benjamin) Simpson (1843-1919) was a Canadian-born pastor, theologian, and Christian author. He founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Big Sky Buckeye 