When I rise up, let me rise up joyful like a bird. When I fall, let me fall without regret like a leaf.
The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector.
Wendell Berry (born 1934) is an American novelist and poet. Much of his writing embraces the goodness of protecting our environment and preserving agriculture’s way of life.
From Psalm 37:3-4: “Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Trusting Father’s plans
Accepting His grace
Breathing in wisdom
Worry no longer gives chase
Taking faithful steps
Embracing His ways
Walking with Father
His patience teaches each day
Lending mercy’s peace
Expressing His love
Filling heart with hope
Father’s joy breathes from above
Leaving sinful flesh
Departing from night
Honoring Father
His righteousness leads with light
Sowing truthful seeds
Viewing empty tomb
Trusting risen Christ
Redemption’s fruits fully bloom
From Psalm 37:29: “The righteous shall inherit the land and live in it forever.”
From Matthew 14:25-27: “And early in the morning He 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.'”
Facing life’s darkest times
Tempest sweeping over thee
Hiding from storm’s anger
Light’s shadow approaching thee
Fearing who comes forward
His tenderness touches thee
Rising from death’s darkness
His body’s blood saving thee
Recognizing Jesus
His hand reaches out to thee
Quieting surging tides
Joy now rushes upon thee
Hearing His faithful voice
Savior’s grace now covers thee
Forgiving life’s missteps
Redemption now awaits thee
Witnessing faith in Christ
Eternal love surrounds thee
Securing hope with peace
Tomorrow brightens for thee
From Matthew 14:28-30: “Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.”
From Psalm 77:14: “You are the God who works wonders; You have displayed Your might among the peoples.”
In days of trouble
Enemy’s darkness flees
Hearing heavens’ thunder
Father’s grace, always free
In midst of trials
Trusted light shall arrive
Feeling comforting peace
Father’s passion alive
In deepest abyss
Hopeless, yet not alone
Reaching for mercy’s hand
Father’s mighty deeds sown
One more miracle
Absent of His footprints
Transforming with wonders
Father’s breath offers hint
Another sunrise
Joy found in heaven’s love
Restoring fragile health
Father’s touch from above
From Psalm 77:19: “Your way was through the sea, Your path through the mighty waters, yet Your footprints were unseen.”
From Job 14:7-9: “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant.”
Born with innocence
Nurtured by mother’s love
Filled with newfound wonder
Shadow of Christ above
Tomorrow shall wait
Savior’s love comes this day
Nourished through grace from God
Faith follows hope’s walkway
Peace fills daily breath
Sprouts from living waters
God’s love feeds faith’s deep roots
For each son and daughter
Age gathering years
Yet, spirit remains strong
Love nourishes outlook
Christ writes salvation’s song
Joy fills every day
Darkness fades into light
God’s Word speaks of His love
Righteous faith knows what’s right
From Psalm 1:2-3: “But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.”
Friendship is a golden chain, the links are friends so dear.
Time is not measured by the years that you live, but by the deeds that you do and the joy that you give.
Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981) was an American writer who specialized in Christian and inspirational poetry.
From Psalm 30:4-5: “Sing praises to the Lord, O you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Trials of darkness
Arriving today
Feeling faith challenged
Hope slipping away
Another mountain
Blocking path of peace
Taking Father’s road
Trust builds, piece by piece
Truth comes each sunrise
Breathing with His love
Delivering hope
Joy fed from above
Heart’s rainbow brightens
Finding peace from light
Refilling faith’s cup
Mercy taking flight
Father’s promised grace
Gathering each crumb
Leading to Jesus
Tomorrow shall come
From Psalm 30:11-12: “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
If you are in the midst of a trial right now, choose to walk by faith. Choose to “count it all joy.”
From 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our slight, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Mark 12:29-31: “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Another blessed day
Celebrate Father’s goodness
Unlimited gifts of grace
From Heaven’s sacred place
With each day, come to serve
Opportunity’s freedom
Spelled out through Christ’s faithful love
Gathered from high above
Sunset follows sunrise
Encouraged by Spirit’s breath
Honor Father with actions
More than just transactions
Share kindness with others
Holds enthusiasm’s joy
Love Jesus with one’s whole heart
Hope journeys to fresh start
Excitement’s daily peace
Truth in Father’s righteousness
Faith’s trustworthy bridge designed
Follow with steps aligned
From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
First impressions count
Each smile creates another—
One more happy heart
Lifting up others
Laughter’s contagious spirit—
Feeling heartfelt joy
Sharing contentment
Cheerful heart opens one more—
Spirit’s gentleness
Big Sky Buckeye 