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.”

Garden’s Fountain

From Song of Solomon 4:12:  “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.”

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Heavenly garden, locked and closed

Eternal fountain, sealed and dry

Searching, Salvation’s hidden key

Faithless works, blinding sinful eyes

 

Body, soul, spirit in despair

Soul without spirit, dead to sin

Body without soul, starkest death

Life’s spirit, missing God’s linchpin

 

Holy Spirit, always at work

Lasting, heart-filled renovations

Infused into life’s coldest heart

Building restored soul’s foundation

 

Christ choreographs love-filled hearts

Breathing life into each saved soul

Lighting our way to Salvation

Father’s love leads to Christ’s patrol

 

Arriving at Heaven’s garden

Receiving its eternal key

Fountain flows with living water

Come rest under Salvation’s tree

 

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From Song of Solomon 4:16:  “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind!  Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad.  Let my beloved come to His garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”

Meeting at Last

From Luke 1:27-27:  “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.”

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When shall we ever meet?

Longing to meet my Lord

His lamp, lighting the way

Filled with love, now on board

 

Life’s laboring turmoil

Enchained by sin’s shackles

Christ offers lasting Grace

Freed from darkest jackals

 

Heaven’s gifts come to earth

Filled with unselfish love

Each dawn brings liberty

Embracing newfound love

 

Rejoice, again rejoice!

No more trembling in fear

Appearing like day’s sun

Safely home, Jesus steers

 

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From Luke 24:50-53:  “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them.  While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”

Night

From Colossians 1:13-14 “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

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From the Creator, comes the day’s light

Why then, is there perpetual night?

 

Sin-filled darkness, traverses borders

Nations breathing endless disorders

 

Not a single country shall be spared

Few if any, seem ready . . . prepared

 

Partisan turmoil ignites unrest

Another sleepless night, minus rest

 

Social illness parks at each corner

Past ills, leaving many a mourner

 

Violence, injustice never pause

Out of this gloom, marches a new cause

 

Shroud of night’s blackness, tearing apart

Light conquers night, crashing our Lord’s heart

 

Blood-stained Cross, now-empty tomb proclaim

Son of Man, Son of God lights new flame 

 

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From Revelation 22:5:  “And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

Father’s Blueprint (Haiku Series #118)

His Word

Reading the Bible

Discover truth and wisdom—

God’s shadow lengthens

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Nourishment

Walking with the Lord

Spirit enters heart and soul—

Tasting Bread of Life

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Our Salvation

Sinful nature breathes

Separates us from our God—

Jesus builds a bridge

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