The happy sequence culminating in fellowship with God is penitence, pardon, and peace–the first we offer, the second we accept, and the third we inherit.
From Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Charles Brent (1862-1929) was the Episcopal Church’s first Missionary Bishop of the Philippine Islands. Canadian-born, he served as Chaplain General of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
Overflowing
Fatherly love
Destined to share
Pouring into another heart
Peace
Fulfilling
Prayer journey
Trusting Fatherly encouragement
Eternal love renewing hearts
Grace
Trusting
Fatherly wisdom
Navigating stormy seas
Strengthening each wayward heart
Faith
Nature wakening
Early morning hour
Dawn’s new arrival
Whispering stillness
Nature witnessing
Unique day ahead
Heavens’ face brightens
Breathing peacefulness
Nature prevailing
Sunrise lifts her shade
Nighttime put to rest
Stirring each creature
Nature conceiving
Life breathes easily
Blossoms swell upward
Seeking tender warmth
Nature gathering
World founded from light
Rhythms now salute
Beaming melodies
From Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”
Walking road of solitude
Every step heading somewhere
Today, meeting one stranger
“Come, follow me”—He declares
Hearing His witness of grace
Darkness transitions to light
Stranger’s Word sinking deeper
Rendezvous sealed with Spirit bright
Sharing His comfort of peace
Truth serving as Scripture’s guide
Stranger’s righteous heart affirms
Mercy’s breath comes alongside
Traveling as one each day
Faith’s journey follows high road
Stranger’s compass always true
Love unlocks atonement’s code
Seeing life’s purpose at last
Redemption at Heaven’s door
Stranger no more, Jesus Christ
Eternity comes ashore
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.”
God will see to it that in the eyes of those who are now your enemy, you will one day be esteemed. They will respect your stand because you are standing alone, doing what is right.
From Proverbs 16:7: “When the ways of people please the Lord, He causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.”
Life’s
Impenetrable walls
Love-filled kindness
Discovering smallest of cracks
Angels
Everlasting
God’s perfection
Illustrating another scene
Navigating life’s imperfect journey
Peace
Slowing
Life’s pace
Conversing with Father
Sensing His uncompromising grace
Shifting
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.
If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!
From Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.“
Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was a Christian author and speaker. She and her husband, Jim, spent time as missionaries in Ecuador.
From Luke 24:6-7: “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.”
Enemy’s motives
Darkness full of fraud
Life spiraling down
Behind his facade
Trapped, with no escape
Caught in evil’s net
Each wave crashing down
Sinking deeper yet
Flowing river’s faith
Never left alone
Christ walks on water
Freed from this millstone
Hearing trumpet sound
Redemption’s surge swells
Blessed assurance
Now soul shall be well
Blood pays any cost
Sins nailed to this tree
Witness empty tomb
Rising, Light now free!
The hymn “When Peace, Like a River” inspired the writing of this poem. The lyrics were written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873. The song is sometimes titled from a line in the popular refrain, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
If the pace and the push, the noise and the crowds are getting to you, it’s time to stop the nonsense and find a place of solace to refresh your spirit. The good news is God will hear and He will help.
From Psalm 42:1: “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.”
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.”
Big Sky Buckeye 