To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.
From Romans 5:8: “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”
William R. Newell (1868-1956) was an American pastor, Christian writer, and evangelist.
From Joel 2:12-13: “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”
Even in our darkness
Hearing call from God above
Troubled waters’ rising tide
Vanquished by boundless love
Caught in sin’s wilderness
Mourning with daily fasting
Come now, embrace repentance
Trusted peace, long-lasting
Born in sin’s emptiness
Pursuing redemption’s door
God, create one more clean heart
Wandered away, no more
Broken righteous spirit
Escaping evil’s fire pit
Better days waiting ahead
Restored faith now submits
Hope’s journey pursues light
Thirsting for faith’s risen place
Glory waits at Calvary
Witnessed in Savior’s grace
From Psalm 51:10-11: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your holy spirit from me.”
From the “General Confession” found in the Book of Common Prayer: “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done.”
Skeptics whispering with doubts
Tomorrow shall never come
Priorities breathe empty
Hearing enemy’s distant drum
Disciples praise God each day
Indeed, His kingdom shall come
Priorities set on Christ
Hearing blessed, heavenly drum
Skeptics gather in darkness
Distant worries always come
Priorities ignore light
Hearing only, that hidden drum
Disciples find hope in God
Heaven’s light rises to come
Priorities embrace truth
Hearing faith’s righteous, heartfelt drum
Skeptic’s voices now wither
Tomorrow will surely come
Priorities flee darkness
Hearing echoes of faithful drum
Disciples accept God’s grace
Through Son’s love, sunrise will come
Priorities witness peace
Hearing redemption’s trusted drum
From 2 John 8-9: “Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for but may receive a full reward. Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
From Joel 2:12-13: “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”
Earth quakes, full of darkness
Wilderness surrounds thee
Wayward steps, no escape
Misplacing salvation’s key
Hope dwells in empty faith
Where is God’s gracious love?
Enemy’s fire burns bright
Obscuring Spirit above
Each transgression concealed
Yet, God views every one
Righteous breath covers land
Offering grace to outrun
Heart fills with repentance
Every sin be confessed
God’s forgiveness shall come
Redeeming faith’s final quest
Christ waits at Calvary
Hidden in faith’s Good News
Hope’s new pathway of peace
Offering love to infuse
From Proverbs 28:13: “No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
From Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.”
Coming to faith’s crossroads
Two unique trails offer choice
Trusting selves to wilderness
Or, following God’s voice
Like tree planted with grace
Waters nourish every root
Filling with life, staying green
Bearing always rich fruit
Sustained through steadfast trust
Even when darkness brings drought
Sustaining each righteous breath
Finding God’s faithful sprouts
Sunrise at Calvary
Resurrection’s risen hope
Witnessing His empty tomb
Grasping Christ’s promised rope
From 1 Corinthians 15:20-22: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”
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 Psalm 13:5-6: “But I trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Tomorrow’s uncertainty
Darkness surrounds thee
Asking, where to turn?
Confidence, ready to flee
Focused on Bethlehem’s star
God invites our trust
Savior’s love fills heart
Assurance grows, steps adjust
Unwavering peace stirs hope
No longer afraid
Spirit lifting faith
Comfort found in joy’s upgrade
Rejoice in life’s salvation
Christ’s redeeming love
Heavenly praise sings
Unafraid, fed from above
God’s righteousness shares vision
Blessing faith’s new lease
Seeds sown with mercy
Confidence blooms, lasting peace
From the words of Canadian writer and Christian blogger, Ann Voskamp: “There is an unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God.
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.”
Witnessing
Empty tomb
Victory, Jesus lives
Hope’s darkness forever vanquished
Light
Impossible
Calvary’s cross
Crucifixion, death, burial
Meeting along Emmaus Road
Possible
Believing
Messiah’s Resurrection
Chains forever broken
Enemy’s false assurances shattered
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.
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.”
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