Abiding
Embracing
Savior’s light
Holiness of righteousness
Enriched by Father’s Word
Truth
Promising
Transformed
By grace
Accepting disciplined steps
Honoring commitment to Christ
Faith
Reassuring
Enlightened
Through Jesus
Loving Him back
Daily praises of joy
Peace
From Romans 13:11-12: “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Turning away from temptation’s path
Following God’s Holy, righteous road
Transforming self into Christ’s image
Experiencing His love, bestowed
Breathing, yet lost in evil’s darkness
Hiding in shame, past sinful landscape
Reaching for Salvation’s lasting grace
Wearing armor of light, faith reshapes
Sharing His Father’s Word, Christ teaches
Loving one another, sharing peace
Witnessing His greatest commandment
Living with openness, life’s new lease
Leaving His advocate, Christ assures
Coming Holy Spirit, lifts each life
Overcoming sin’s flesh-filled desires
Growing in submission, without strife
Offering path to new life, Christ comes
Forsaking life’s bold truth, darkness flees
Walking in faith, stepping into light
Remaining steadfast, in what He sees
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “When we rely on Him [God] instead of ourselves, He produces godly desires within us, empowers obedience, and transforms our character into Christ’s likeness.”
Originally published March, 2021.
Assurance
Embracing
Father’s outlook
Righteousness must lead
Supported with His love
Light
Breakthrough
Leaving
World’s darkness
Righteousness fills spirit
Highlighting journey toward Jesus
Discovering
Guidance
Possessing
Treasured grace
Righteousness offers peace
Father’s eternity of love
Faith
From Acts 2:38: “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
Sitting at Father’s side Christ, our Savior lives Overcoming darkness Empty tomb proves He lives Trusting faith’s witnesses Christ lights Father’s way Calling for repentance Many baptized this day Transforming fiber’s flesh Christ welcomes each saint Sharing love’s forgiveness Holy Spirit repaints Receiving redemption Christ intervening Teaching with righteous breath Faith accepts spring-cleaning Calling upon His name Christ shares trusted grace Breaking chains of bondage Heaven’s light to embrace
From Psalm 116:12-13: “What shall I return to the Lord for all His bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”
From Psalm 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.”
Hearing Good Shepherd’s voice
Peace transforms valley’s lament
Flowing with living waters
Greenest pastures present
Forgiving our missteps
Sinless Christ rises above
Transplanting His righteousness
Reclaimed hearts filled with love
Comforting grace descends
Mercy raises goodness strong
Resurrecting faithfulness
Spirit uplifts with song
Leading generous hearts
Fellowship under Christ’s care
Seeking to follow His ways
Hope fills every prayer
Breaking bread together
Believers worship as one
Praising faith in Risen Christ
Darkness shall be undone
From Acts 2:46-47: “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
From Matthew 5:1-3: “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He began to speak and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'”
Christ’s devotion to teaching sprouts
Spirit stirs within, reaching out
God’s people face darkness and mourn
Jesus rises, mercy reborn
Humbleness fills each grateful heart
Jesus delivers life’s fresh start
Righteousness quenches every thirst
Jesus fills hunger, love immersed
Forgiveness offers Living Bread
Jesus leaves Spirit in His stead
Purity in heart brings God near
Jesus offers breath of grace to steer
Peace sown in trusting hearts of man
Jesus offers hope from God’s own plan
Children of God shall overcome
Jesus blesses kingdom to come
Christ’s motivations never cease
Spirit’s fruits cherish joy-filled peace
From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Expecting
Faithfully listening
Seeking Father’s guidance
Immersed in His Word
Direction
Mentoring
Mercy transcending
Counseling with righteousness
Savior’s grace upon thee
Instruction
Surrounding
Peace forgiving
Promising Calvary’s light
Thorns of sin crushed
Redemption
Jesus
Always first
Easing life’s burdens
Grace fills another moment
Faith
Messiah
Offering light
Mercy’s navigational compass
Comforted through His love
Trust
Savior
Destiny’s truth
Shaping every step
Each worry set aside
Righteousness
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 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.”
Faith’s redemptive journey
Along this wilderness route
Seeking salvation’s light
Removing seeds of doubt
Shepherd’s constant presence
Along tranquility’s stream
Leading to Savior’s light
Trusting hope’s rising beam
Darkness from long ago
Consumed with enemy’s flesh
Finding merciful light
Rising, peace shall refresh
Wholesome eyesight restored
No longer blind to thy sin
Embracing Savior’s love
Forgiving light within
Father’s Word crystal clear
Righteousness nurtures faith’s way
Leaving darkest shadows
Following light each day
From Ephesians 5:8-9: “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.”
Discipleship’s
Pivotal investments
Spirit’s motivating breath
Redeeming grace offers transition
Witness
Faith’s
Maturity embraced
With every truth
Purity experienced through Spirit
Righteousness
Salvation’s
Journey defined
Spirit’s guiding light
Altering human nature’s mainspring
Transformation
Big Sky Buckeye 