Praising
Heavens above
Father’s steadfast love
Reigns over earth below
Assurance
Sharing
Heavenly truths
Father’s eternal Word
Faith’s promised building blocks
Guidance
Nurturing
Creation’s breath
Shadowing mankind’s steps
Father fulfills His purpose
Certainty
Receiving
Father’s grace
Nourishing future hope
Flowing with Spirit’s guidance
Deliverance
Pursuing
Tomorrow’s peace
Fulfilling Father’s promises
Building faith’s mighty fortress
Salvation
Rescuing
From darkness
Resurrecting fallen Savior
Lighting with eternal life
Redemption
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.
Calling
Upon Father
Hearing my voice
His righteousness nourishes faith
Energizing
Kneeling
Before Father
Accepting my repentance
His erasing sin’s scorecard
Forgiving
Trusting
Father’s promises
Transforming my wilderness
His steady compass navigates
Following
From Psalm 34:4: I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
In midst of dark wilderness
Lost, yet seeking His cover
Praying for Father’s response
Forgiveness whitens sin’s color
Life’s journey shall remain hard
Moral compass guides each heart
Praising Father’s steadfast love
Shallow hope finds blessed restart
Ember of faith’s glowing light
Mercy shared from Heaven’s voice
Treasuring Father’s wisdom
Holy Spirit guides every choice
Righteousness conquers darkness
His answers more clearly seen
Walking in Father’s refuge
Grace, flowing with truth, intervenes
Rescued from evil’s shadow
Faith growing, no longer crushed
Breathing through Father’s spirit
His Son’s promised peace, never hushed
From Matthew 3:17: “And a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'”
We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.
From Luke 12:40: “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) was an American pastor and Christian author.
Being alone when one’s belief is firm, is not to be alone.
From Psalm 18:30: “This God—His way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”
Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882) was a German poet and novelist.
The God who spoke still speaks. He comes into our world. He comes into your world. He comes to do what you can’t.
From Isaiah 46:4: “Even to your old age I am He; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”
From Philippians 4:4-6: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Offering God’s promises
Distant joy asking, who’s yet to come?
Echoing in wilderness
Voices no longer numb
Faithful witnesses of peace
Salvation’s Messiah now descends
Mercy’s joy-filled tenderness
Lasting goodness shall extend
Holy Spirit rejoices
Promised deliverance emerges
Virgin’s heart flowing with love
Angels praise as joy surges
Rejoice always, now rejoice
Eternity’s spring of love endures
Mankind’s hope shall be transformed
Filling joy from grace, so pure
Each believer investing
Ripples of God’s blessed love invite
Messiah opening gates
Outlook’s joy forever bright
Bethlehem’s joy in shining star
Gentleness in spirit, blessings come
Long-awaited Prince of Peace
Each knee bends, to heaven’s drum
Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son. Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.
German hymnwriter, Laurentius Laurenti (1660-1722), wrote a reverent hymn which works well with the expectations of the Advent season, but it also looks ahead to the return of Jesus Christ. Here is “Rejoice! Rejoice Believers.”
Grace
Unconditionally offered
Father’s timely gift
Propelling faith’s lasting peace
Love
Hope
Tomorrow’s destiny
God’s everlasting promises
His faithful, righteous Word
Trust
Courage
Undeniably witnessed
Savior’s steadfast journey
Mercy’s blood spilling over
Faith
The future is as bright as the promises of God.
From Jeremiah 29:11: “ For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) was an American pastor and missionary. He was one of the first Protestant missionaries in Burma, where he would serve for nearly 40 years.
Big Sky Buckeye 