Called to Follow (Eflchen Series #271)

Path Ahead

God’s

Divine nature

Trusting His spirit

Filling creation’s eternal breath

Reality

Photo by Oskar Gross on Pexels.com

Guidance Shared

God’s

Holy Word

Revealing His character

Teaching from righteous light

Expectations

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Redemption’s Witness

God’s

Clear vision

Loving His Son

Clothing Christ in flesh

Revelation

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

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.

Spiritual Awakening

From Hebrews 10:24-25:  “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Peering into depth of darkness

Seeking remedy to life’s ills

Light of perseverance comes forth

Trusting to obey Father’s will

 

Filling hope with light’s endurance

Tasting Father’s sustaining grace

Spiritual awakening

Walking toward salvation’s birthplace

 

Entering light’s sanctuary

Calvary’s cross, bloodstained

Redemption from sinful darkness

Forgiving debts, no longer chained

 

Thirsting to follow Christ, thy Lord

Receiving light of peace each day

Replenished from living waters

Embracing His hope-filled pathway

 

Replacing darkness with His light

Following Father’s divine Word

Righteousness fills faith’s every breath

Witnessing truth as prophets heard

 

Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com

From Hebrews 10:37-39:  “For yet in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay, but My righteous one will live by faith.  My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.  But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.”

Monday Memories: Quiet Life’s Turbulence

From Psalm 107:28-29:  “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven.”

Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

Life meeting relentless turbulence

Perpetual, never ending storms

Shaken by overwhelming defeat

Sinking beneath unending harsh swarms

 

Downtrodden, now hungry and thirsty

Clinging to life, in darkness and gloom

Shackled by sin’s shame, harshest irons

God’s steadfast love delivers from doom

 

Crying out to our Father above

At final end of life’s fraying rope

Nowhere else to turn, escape darkens

Realizing now, God’s way restores hope

 

Cutting and freeing lives from bondage

Storm’s wrath consumed by transformation

Into valley of richest harvests

Redeeming lost souls from damnation

 

Fleeing life’s turmoil, rescued by God

Trusting Him leads to gladness and praise

Faith grows by yards instead of inches

Life’s turbulence quiets, hope ablaze 

  

Photo by icon0.com on Pexels.com

From American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  “God knows we sometimes need to reach the end of our own resources before we will turn to Him.”

Originally published January, 2021.

Faith’s Hardy Seeds

From Psalm 4:3: “But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.”

Courtesy of Pinterest.

God’s invitation to pray

Strengthening faith’s shallow roots

Blessing hope’s journey each day

Harvesting heavenly fruit

 

God’s mercy never relents

Building faith’s firm foundation

Sending Christ as light unbent

Kindling peace in each nation

 

God’s energized light exhales

Writing faith’s eternal hymn

Witnessing Calvary’s nails

Deepening closeness to Him

 

God’s approaching grace descends

Filling faith’s heart to now trust

Raising His Son’s love to mend

Redeeming through actions just

 

God’s unselfish approach heals

Trusting righteousness to lead

Living waters now reveal

Transforming faith’s hardy seeds

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

From Acts 3:16:  “And by faith in His name, His name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given Him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.”

Monday Memories: Faith’s Encouragement

From 2 Timothy 1:3-4:  “I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.”

Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com

Witnessing God’s desires each day

Growing in faith, kneeling to pray

 

Coming to our Savior in faith

Sharing blessings of the Good News

Telling others about Jesus

Understanding the Gospel’s views

 

Calling on the name of the Lord

Believing in His divine Grace

Saving us through body and blood

Walking with Christ, our special place

 

Studying Biblical teachings

Guiding others, led by God’s love

Drawing ever closer to Christ

Coveting His peace, from above

 

Abiding in Christ, the true vine

Encouraging our daily walk

Building stamina and our faith

Lighting our path, around the clock

 

Living under God’s righteousness

Trusting our Father day and night

Submitting to sacred commands

Transforming lives through faith’s daylight

 

Breathing with Savior’s peace and joy

Running to Jesus, faith’s convoy

 

Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU on Pexels.com

From Philippians 4:19:  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Originally published December, 2020.

Hope’s Refreshing Pace

From Deuteronomy 30:19-20:  “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Photo by Peggy Anke on Pexels.com

Choosing to follow

Father’s divine Word

Walking in His ways

Heaven’s light unblurred

 

Cherishing each day

Father softens heart

Guiding Spirit’s breath

Truth offers fresh start

 

Taking trusted path

Father’s saving grace

Perishing no more

Hope’s refreshing pace

 

Strengthening faith’s roots

Father’s tender hand

Living waters shine

Darkness cannot stand

 

Observing sin’s filth

Father sends His Son

Washing away debts

Mercy breathes through One

 

Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

From Psalm 1:1-2:  “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night.”

Called to Forgive

From Ephesians 4:31-32:  “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Photo by Nikolett Emmert on Pexels.com

Faith filled with truth from Father

Anger rests with setting sun

Leaving quicksand’s bitterness

Forgiven through mercy’s Son

 

Eyes upon Calvary’s cross

Ultimate action of grace

Forgiven through Savior’s blood

His love takes sin’s former place

 

We, too, are called to forgive

Ourselves as well as others

Casting aside emotions

Now loving one another

 

Holding back words of darkness

Kindness leads each blessed day

Forgiving as Christ forgives

Holy Spirit leads faith’s way

 

Walking in shadow of grace

Forgiveness mends one more heart

Embracing love’s character

Trust in hope’s renewing start

 

Photo by James Frid on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Max Lucado:  “Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.”

 

Mercy’s Breath (Elfchen Series #263)

Redemption’s Truth

Darkness

Surrounds thee

God’s blazing fire

Enemy vanquished to shadows

Salvation

Photo by Eyu00fcp Krbck on Pexels.com

Words of Hope

Heart

Distress filled

God’s trusted answers

Lighting His righteous path

Confidence

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Blessed Journey

Songs

Of praise

God’s steadfast love

His goodness endures forever

Thankfulness

Photo by Israel Torres on Pexels.com

Redemption in Christ

From Deuteronomy 31:8:  “It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Photo by Manuel Keusch on Pexels.com

Always going before us

Seeing every tomorrow

Faith’s steadfast anchor

Courage, buoyed by Spirit’s shadow

 

Every moment in prayer

Feeling His daily kinship

Peace shared from Father

Grace sails, with encouragement’s ship

 

Journey’s turbulent moments

Shrinking in Calvary’s light

Christ wins each battle

Enemy’s darkness, taking flight

 

Imperfect oceans of faith

Sailing upon trusted rock

Redemption in Christ

Mercy’s strength, brings to Heaven’s dock

 

Photo by Malen Almonacid Trossi on Pexels.com

From 1 Corinthians 16:13:  “Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Fire Always Bright

Photo by mas_hha on Pexels.com

Darkness masks life’s landscape

Hiding sin’s heartless shame

Trying to flee past hurts

Shadows always aflame

 

Trials sometimes arise

Shrouding foundation’s cracks

Concealing hell’s façade

Tomorrow painted black

 

Misery breathes as one

Filling with cold despair

Seeing nothing beyond

Jesus descends with care

 

Dependence upon grace

Acknowledging past sins

Kneeling at Calvary

Forgiveness calling in

 

Redemption comes through Christ

Extending mercy’s light

Transforming soul’s battles

Spirit’s fire always bright

 

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com