Faith
Perishable, precious
Tested by fire
Rejoice with glorious joy
Indescribable
Love
Promises fulfilled
Born a Savior
Quenching world’s dry thirst
Salvation
Forever
Our Savior
Lights our way
His life, His truth
Jesus
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 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.”
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
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.”
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.”
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
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.”
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.”
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
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.
Allow
God’s Wisdom
To speak aloud
Permeate souls and minds
Truth
Courage
Young David
Clinging to God
Lasting perseverance over his
Trials
Witness
Christ’s body
Wounds and scars
Transformed by our Risen
Savior
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 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.”
Journey
Faith’s steps
Trusting in God
His love shall always
Sustain
Surrender
False notions
Accept Savior Jesus
True love frees us
Salvation
Jesus
With us
Sorrow lifted away
Reborn in our baptism
Messiah
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.”
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
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.
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.”
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
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.”
From Song of Solomon 4:12: “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.”
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
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.”
Big Sky Buckeye 