Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you.
Let America be America, where equality is in the air we breath.
Langston Hughes (1901-1967) was an American writer and social activist. He was an influential leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
From Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.”
Creator’s grace at work
Chips away at inner soul
Molding changes with purpose
Character becomes whole
Spirit calmly at work
Transformation from within
Leading with heavenly light
Word’s breath no longer thin
Savior’s presence at work
Every parable speaks
Teaching with His gentle touch
Mercy leads to each peak
Faith’s endurance at work
Nope nurtured in Christ above
Maturing with each seed sown
Confident in His love
Man’s faithfulness at work
Warmed by each morning’s sunrise
Following God’s commandments
Integrity shall rise
From Hebrews 6:17-18: “In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.”
God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.
From Hebrews 10:22-23: “Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful.”
James H. Aughey (1828-1911) was an American minister. During the Civil War, he was imprisoned and scheduled to be executed for his anti-Secession and pro-Union beliefs. Fortunately, he was able to escape from his Confederate captors and reached the lines of the Union army.
Receiving
Lord’s calling
Trusting His Word
Journey filled with blessings
Strength
Embracing
Lord’s righteousness
Strengthening spiritual muscles
Faith built upon truth
Persistence
Accepting
Lord’s assurances
Persisting through grace
Light witnessed at Calvary
Promises
Prayer does not condition God; prayer conditions us. Prayer does not win God to our view; it reveals God’s view to us.
From Colossians 4:2-4: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray for us as well, that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.“
Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) was a British Christian author. Many of his chosen themes focused on prayer and revival.
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Resurrection’s breath
Eternal truth above
Joining hands with Savior
His light calls out with love
Good Shepherd’s clear voice
Every lamb follows Him
Praising new life in Christ
Journey no longer grim
Today’s stumbling steps
Faith’s imperfect avenue
Revealing Christ’s mercy
Spirit carries one through
Clothed in righteousness
Forgiven of one’s sins
Accepting Savior’s grace
Heaven’s joy, hope shall win
Trust welcomes Christ’s Word
Darkness leaving each heart
Tasting His peace at last
Eternity’s fresh start
From Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Darkness masks life’s landscape
Hiding sin’s heartless shame
Trying to flee past hurts
Shadows always aflame
Trials sometimes arise
Shrouding foundation’s cracks
Concealing hell’s façade
Tomorrow painted black
Misery breathes as one
Filling with cold despair
Seeing nothing beyond
Jesus descends with care
Dependence upon grace
Acknowledging past sins
Kneeling at Calvary
Forgiveness calling in
Redemption comes through Christ
Extending mercy’s light
Transforming soul’s battles
Spirit’s fire always bright
When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight.
From Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Richard J. Foster (born 1942) is an American author and Christian theologian.
From Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Journey through darkness
Consumed by fire of sin
Filled with desires of flesh
Bound for hell’s tailspin
Enemy’s false words
Promises unfulfilled
Confidence now waning
Whisper of hope killed
Shepherd’s gate opens
Calvary’s light beholds
Kneel now, accept His grace
Heaven’s path unfolds
Flesh left in darkness
Repentance of past ways
Leaving sin’s wilderness
Faith in Christ each day
Lord’s grace accepted
Covered with Father’s love
Savoring hope’s reward
Glory from above
Holding fast in trust
Faithful, transforming pace
Redemption forever
Joy’s heavenly place
From Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Father
Witnessing transformations
Smallest of steps
Raising faith’s enduring foundation
Rejoicing
Precious
Harvest gathered
Filled with destiny
From smallest of seeds
Possibilities
Daily
Hope embraced
From Savior’s light
Smallest voice sharing grace
Beginnings
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.
Big Sky Buckeye 