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.
Preciousness
Morning’s rising face
Energizing peace below—
Fresh outlook embraced
Boundless
Clear night sky arrives
Breathing with infinite peace—
Tomorrow on deck
Permanence
Intimacy felt
Transforming peace covers earth—
Creator’s presence
This poem is written in a traditional sonnet style with 14 lines, and each line contains 10 syllables. I was fortunate to witness this park one day before the rising temperatures would begin transforming the park from its winter look.
Invitation from warmer winter day
Insisting on afternoon nature hike
Snowy Walnut Woods, waiting with sunshine
Feeling welcome, childlike emotions strike
Deep snow lining each trail, bright white border
Dressing in cozy layers, feeling warm
Park’s newest treasures, eager to explore
Thankful for winter’s freedom from snowstorms
Ancient sycamore tree branches glisten
Discovering cross-country skiers’ trail
Beaver dam holds back frozen Big Run creek
Precious winter moments bless, without fail
Looming big thaw will erase winter’s scene
Memories filling life’s unending screen
Originally published March, 2021.
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 Ephesians 3:14-15: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.”
Praising Father above
Light reflected in His Word
Boundless in its depth
Strengthening through what’s heard
Gathering in worship
Righteous-filled interactions
Boundless energy
Leading faith to action
Dwelling in every heart
Joined together through prayer
Boundless connections
Receiving peace to share
Trusting in tomorrow
Savior opens Heaven’s light
Boundless in its truth
Transforming mankind’s plight
Resurrecting each heart
Father’s glory to embrace
Boundless Spirit stirs
Raising Christ’s destined grace
From Ephesians 3:18-19: “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Reaching
Beyond shadows
Hardened heart restored
Walking in Father’s light
Salvation
Accepting
Father’s mercy
Heart’s rhythm cleansed
Each transgression blotted out
Forgiveness
Creating
Enlightened heart
Spirit refreshes thee
Father heals faith’s fabric
Peace
Landscape embraces warmth
Whispering from above
Fabric of spring descends
Sharing Creator’s love
Winter’s cold fades away
Transforming earth’s outlook
Tender grass comes alive
Following spring’s guidebook
Memories feeling young
Uncovering cherished prize
Charm awakens with peace
Filling morning’s blue skies
Today meets tomorrow
Nurturing every thirst
Breath of hope replenished
Witnessing rain’s cloudburst
Spring’s timely arrival
Beholding each snapshot
Precious life now reborn
Finding nature’s soft spot
Heartfelt
Christian faith
Walking with Jesus
Embraced in mercy’s light
Enthusiasm
Peaceful
Heavenly tides
Offering of grace
Comforted through Savior’s love
Witness
Contagious
In spirit
Softening hardened heart
Christ in every breath
Faith
From Exodus 20:2-3: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before Me.”
Each day’s beginning
Scheduling His Word
Moments with Father
Embracing what’s heard
Any given hour
Pausing for prayer
Spirit nurtures trust
Erasing despair
Daily worship time
Praising Lord above
Uplifted in faith
Witnessing His love
Blessed fellowship
Caring for others
Never too busy
Serving another
This day now ending
Resting in His grace
Heartbeat of Father
Transforming hope’s place
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Big Sky Buckeye 