One of the noblest words in our language is “grace,” defined as “unearned blessing.” We live by grace far more than anything else.
From Romans 3:23-24: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Elton Trueblood (1900-1994) was an American Christian author and theologian. He served as chaplain to both Harvard and Stanford universities.
From 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
From furnace of suffering
Comes self-reflection’s light
Joined with eternal heat
Burning away chaff in its sight
Trials open one’s closed eyes
Wakened senses now see
Embraced with Father’s grace
Witnessing what hope should be
Faith in mercy of Father
Reveals salvation’s gift
Undefiled, unfading
Transforming hope’s precious shift
Believe redemption’s promise
Testifies to Christ’s love
Destined to break sin’s chains
Raising Good News from above
Trust in Jesus, now rejoice
Tested by hottest fire
Revealed lasting glory
Defining hope, faith acquires
From 1 Peter 1:8-9: “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Overwhelming
Darkness surrounds
Facing numbing trials
Jesus draws ever closer
Grace
Seeking
Life’s answers
Wayward miles traveled
Kneeling at Jesus’ feet
Forgiveness
Transforming
Light ahead
Resurrection’s eternal flame
Chains of transgressions broken
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 Isaiah 30:15: “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Father looks upon His design
His perfection draws each detail
Filling darkness with trusted light
Faith now strengthens, no longer frail
Father molds mercy’s truth to shine
His promises to be fulfilled
Sending Shepherd, care for His flock
Faith’s cornerstone, set to rebuild
Father plans enemy’s demise
His victory shall bring glory
Witnessing Teacher’s lesson plans
Faith refreshed with every story
Father pulls strings of righteousness
His forgiving love offers hope
Wiping away sin’s endless debt
Faith grips Savior’s eternal rope
Father calls out from Calvary
His boldness breathes with quiet might
Offering life through Jesus Christ
Faith’s peace, rising on heaven’s flight
From Isaiah 30:20-21: “Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any longer, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”
From John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'”
Overwhelming with darkness
Tomorrow’s vision unseen
Out of life’s impossible
Wondering what faith will mean
Calvary’s light beams ahead
Today offers blessed place
Possible waiting in view
Powering toward Christ’s grace
Prince of Peace offers his hand
Hour of hope at last arrives
Redemption shall be fulfilled
Seeing faith coming alive
Bitter sorrow fades away
In Christ, mercy filled with love
Answers to prayer’s journey
Touching Spirit high above
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Don’t let obstacles along the road to eternity shake your confidence in God’s promises. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal that you will arrive.
From Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.”
David Jeremiah (born 1941) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Isaiah 53:9: “They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”
Born before light breathes
God’s master blueprint
Only darkness exists
Waiting, His Son’s footprint
Sin breathes at Eden
Perfect light shattered
Tomorrow’s harsh darkness
Righteousness now scattered
From garden’s shadows
Bloody cross awaits
Savior’s light journeys on
From heaven’s open gate
God’s people wander
Darkness covers world
Divine plan’s fulfillment
Messiah’s light unfurled
Light moves against sin
Nailed to rugged tree
Every transgression paid
Saving grace sets man free
From Isaiah 53:10: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.”
From Philippians 2:1-2: “If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
Blessed encouragement
Resurrection’s light beams
Found in Savior Jesus
Redemption runs downstream
Being of same spirit
Heart’s beat filled with His love
Christ teaches righteousness
World finds peace from above
Acceptance of God’s will
Conscience stirs to confirm
Each element born in Christ
Faith’s trust breathes to affirm
Father always at work
Eternal light burns bright
Salvation finds its home
Tomorrow’s hope holds tight
Within every blessing
Enlightened with God’s Way
Holy Spirit defines
Obedience replays
From Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
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.
For all who thirst
Come to blessed waters
Now follow carefully
Every son and daughter
Listen with care
Abundance of hope waits
Covenant’s faithful love
Key found to Heaven’s gate
Witness David
Leadership born in him
All for Father’s glory
Faith’s light shall never dim
Truth from Heaven
Look toward Savior’s grace
No longer forsaken
Trust brings us to His place
Return to God
Leave each unrighteous thought
Sin’s indictment erased
Messiah’s blood has bought
Embrace His way
Mercy looks upon earth
Thorns transformed into blooms
Anchored at Spirit’s berth
Big Sky Buckeye 