Love
Bethlehem’s gift
Passion’s lasting peace
Witnessed in Messiah’s breath
Proven
Faith
Light ahead
Father’s promises fulfilled
Son’s passion at Calvary
Reborn
Hope
Passion’s breath
Scripture speaking truth
Blessed destiny in Christ
Resurrected
From Psalm 68:4: “Sing to God; sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides upon the clouds—His name is the Lord—be exultant before Him.”
Singing with praises to Father above
Filling high heavens with jubilation
Forgiving every stumble through His love
Writing righteousness on heart of each nation
Leading His people toward mercy’s light
Forsaking darkness, hidden far below
Washing away sin, with snow very white
Living where river of peace always flows
Leaving wilderness for greener ridgetop
Quenching faith’s thirst with living water
Sowing His grace among each fertile crop
Blessing family, each son and daughter
Hearing Father’s truth, spoken through His Word
Raising up eternal hope, undeterred
From Psalm 68:35: “Awesome is God in His sanctuary, the God of Israel; He gives power and strength to His people.”
From Psalm 84:1-2: “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”
Future expectations
Journey’s path filled with light
Another page to open
Tomorrow looking bright
Peace dwells in Father’s heart
Journey’s joy hears His Word
Hope’s breath gathers strength from Him
Faith prospers from what’s spurred
Family, friends, career
Journey’s love means much more
Kneeling at cross in prayer
Savior cancels sin’s score
Challenges shall arise
Journey’s road appears blocked
Trust in Jesus sends faith’s key
Salvation now unlocked
Darkness breathing no more
Journey’s destiny bright
Christ delivers victory
Future filled with His light
From Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
In stillness of morn
Single flame burning
Offering goodness
Each hour keeps churning
In stillness of day
Single flame burning
Sharing lasting peace
Heartbeat keeps churning
In stillness of work
Single flame burning
Energizing joy
Outlook keeps churning
In stillness of night
Single flame burning
Encouraging hope
Life shall keep churning
In stillness of dreams
Single flame burning
Grasping tender hand
True love keeps churning
From 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”
Stay alert, darkness lurks
Enemy remains at large
Believing in Savior’s strength
Faith in Him, taking charge
Faith sown with righteousness
Found in Christ’s merciful breath
Calling saints, wear His armor
Recall, Lord conquered death
Witness Calvary’s grace
Jesus suffers for man’s sins
Nailing each one to faith’s cross
His love shall always win
Hope’s perfect Good Shepherd
Always tending to His flock
Revealing glory’s goodness
Peace springs from faith’s bedrock
Hang on to faith’s Savior
Humble selves in mercy’s hands
Casting burdens upon Him
Heaven’s sunrise shall stand
From 1 Peter 5:11: “To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”
From Hebrews 3:12-13: “Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Liberty shall be defined
Opportunity arrives
Sharing peace from Jesus Christ
Future’s hope breathing alive
Unconditional spirit
Encouragement’s blessed Word
Turning toward Father’s grace
Benevolence always stirred
Present sufferings shall fade
New creation waits for all
Finding joy in light’s freedom
Chains of sin’s bondage shall fall
Faith’s blessed door now opens
Love invites all to enter
Hearing Father’s steady voice
Mercy waits at room’s center
All peace shines from Son’s goodness
Justified by Father’s hand
Walking in darkness no more
Light’s hope will forever stand
From 1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
Experiencing
Daily blessings
Heavenly Father above
Source of faith’s comfort
Joy
Praising
Father’s love
Redemption from Savior
Each sin washed white
Peace
Prayer’s
Intimate conversation
Father’s daily grace
Heart opened, hearing Him
Hope
From Luke 2:6-7: “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth and laid Him in a manger.”
Echoes ring with “Merry Christmas”
To everyone and all
Filled with goodwill’s peace
Witness in each joy-filled call
Deck every hall with love so rich
Each generation shall praise
Gifts of hope opened
Light from Bethlehem ablaze
World no longer suffers darkness
Humble manger shares love
Beneath heavens’ stars
Christ-child descends from above
Dreams of promised peace awakened
Gratitude filled with joy
Faithful kneel to pray
Each shepherd set to deploy
From Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”
Light
Overcoming darkness
No longer hurting
Binding up each wound
Jesus
Landscape’s
Gentle breeze
Spirit’s encouraging breath
Trusting each righteous whisper
Peace
Sunrise
Trust always
Calming journey’s storms
Navigation welcomes God’s steering
Deliverance
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.
War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed; peace is preferable to war in almost every contingency.
In the time of darkest defeat, victory may be nearest.
William McKinley (1843-1901) was the 25th President of the United States.
Big Sky Buckeye 