Holy Deliverance

From Psalm 34:17-18:  “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.”

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Praying for His guidance

Needing our Lord each day

Kneeling in humbleness

Love answers with His way

 

Troubles overtake thee

Confessing now to Him

Finding peace in Jesus

Blessings fill saintly hymns

 

Taste and see, God is good

Life’s every heartbeat

Casts temptation aside

Walking to His drumbeat

 

Departing from evil’s sin

Each day, every hour

Come, listen to Father

Grace fuels mighty power

 

Calvary’s cross beckons

Love’s road to salvation

Empty tomb proclaiming

Life’s faithful foundation

 

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This poem’s message of “Holy Deliverance” is intensely felt through the singing of Chris Tomlin in “Lord, I Need You.”

Boundless Gifts (Elfchen Series #54)

Transformed

Faith

Perishable, precious

Tested by fire

Rejoice with glorious joy

Indescribable

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Forgiven 

Love

Promises fulfilled

Born a Savior

Quenching world’s dry thirst

Salvation

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Enduring

Forever

Our Savior

Lights our way

His life, His truth

Jesus

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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 Blessings

From Ephesians 1:13-14:  “ In Him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in Him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.”

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Adopted as God’s children

Following His Word of truth

Spiritual blessings sprout

Sharing wisdom since our youth

 

Holy Spirit breathes insight

Glorious grace singing out

Love and peace, freely granted

Hope from heaven, rousing shouts

 

Holy Word reigns eternal

Gospel of salvation acts

Forgiving our trespasses

Life renewed with Savior’s pact

 

Baptism with Holy Spirit

Redemption through Jesus’ blood

Called and claimed by our Father

True faith restored, life’s new bud

 

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From the words of German pastor and Christian theologian, Martin Luther:  “The Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.”

No Greater Love

From 1 John 4:9-10:  “God’s love was revealed among us in this way:  God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

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Jesus shows us God’s way

No greater love than His

Sharing all of himself

For us, taking our quiz

 

Coming in human form

Living His humble way

Obedient to God

For each sinner, He prays

 

Taking our place in death

His body bears our sins

Shedding His precious blood

Defeating death, God wins

 

Above darkest valleys

Highest mountains tremble

No greater love shall breathe

Saintly choir assembles

 

Greatest exchange ever

Washing sin, white as snow

Christ’s love covers darkness

Spirit forever glows

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From Philippians 2:9-11:  “Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Awesome Certainty

From John 3:14-17:  “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

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Holy God of Abraham and Sarah

His Tree of Life blesses generations

Throughout Creation’s awesome certainty

Into Christ’s death, reborn as new nations

 

When rising with each new, precious morning

Blessed by our Father’s love, mercy, and grace

Witnessing His divine truth, now spoken

Passing on to each act and word we place

 

Walking as His body, the Son of Man

Sanctified through His sacrificial blood

Christ leads, encouraging all to follow

Life streaming to pristine sea, free of mud

 

Broken lives, breathing as imperfections

Life’s daily missteps, forever stumbling

Christ’s forgiveness showers each soul with love

Pardoning sinners, no longer tumbling

 

Grace-filled Holy Spirit moves within us

Offering necessary strength and hope

Fueling deep faith, God’s awesome certainty

Go forth, blessed and ready, walk life’s tightrope

 

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Here is a special song, written by American composer, Marty Haugen, “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery.”  This short tune is filled with inspiring verses.

Christian Witness (Elfchen Series #50)

Absorbing

Allow

God’s Wisdom

To speak aloud

Permeate souls and minds

Truth

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Believing

Courage

Young David

Clinging to God

Lasting perseverance over his

Trials

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Rescuing

Witness

Christ’s body

Wounds and scars

Transformed by our Risen

Savior

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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.

Stepping Into Light

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.”

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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

 

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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.”

Lenten Walk (Elfchen Series #49)

Hope

Journey

Faith’s steps

Trusting in God

His love shall always

Sustain

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Mercy

Surrender

False notions

Accept Savior Jesus

True love frees us

Salvation

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Joy

Jesus

With us

Sorrow lifted away

Reborn in our baptism

Messiah

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Dwelling Within

From John 14:10-11:  “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does His works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”

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Lord’s tree of life, saving us

Son of Man, bearing our flesh

Each morning, rising with us

Faith, hope, and love shall refresh

 

In His death, life be reborn

Like faithful rivers, love flows

Christ’s awesome mystery breathes

From darkened tomb, Jesus rose

 

Heavenly truth speaks, let’s hear

Love transforms through acts and words

Both mirror journey of Christ

His message, no longer blurred

 

Christ leading, we will follow

Always near, dwelling within

His hand steadies stumbling steps

Salvation forgiving sin

 

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Much of this poem is inspired by the hymn “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery,” which is part of a morning devotional I regularly read and study. 

Breaking Free

From Psalm 31:3-4:  “You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.”

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Crying out from devilish wasteland

Surrounded by desert’s empty sand

Caught, tangled in sin’s deceptive net

Buried under life’s heaviest debt

 

Captured by evil’s sly temptations

Confined to cellblock’s harsh reception

Engulfed by relentless guilt and shame

Throwing key away, dimming life’s flame

 

Praying to Holy Father above

Singing of His steadfast, faithful love

Seeking His mercy in valley’s distress

How will life move forward, from this mess?

 

Coming to life’s rescue, Jesus Christ

Accepting His grace, He pays full price

Breaking free from sin’s ongoing grip

Sailing on Spirit’s armored flagship

 

Exiting darkest, shame-filled prison

Beholding blood-stained Cross, He’s Risen!

Remaking character, with each day

Walking with Jesus, never shall stray

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From Psalm 18:1-2:  “I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”