THANK YOU

It is good to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

It is right to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

It is wise to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

So from the early rays of the rising sun,

To the brilliant hues when Day is done,

Remember this child,

Just say, Thank you.

When darkness seems to hide His face,

When strength fades and you can’t keep pace,

When hope is gone that you will finish the race,

Remember this child,

Just say, Thank you.

When pummeled by fiery darts of the enemy attack,

His onslaught complete from front to back,

The accuser’s condemnation for all you lack,

Remember this child,

Just say, Thank you.

When blessings and victories overflow,

When joy abounds at defeating your foe,

When the exhilaration of life is all you know,

Remember this child,

Just say, Thank you.

It is good to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

It is right to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

It is wise to say “Thank you”, to the Lord!

So from the early rays of the rising sun,

To the brilliant hues when Day is done,

Remember this child,

Just say, Thank you.

Author: Skip Ross

Skip Ross was the owner, founder, and director of Circle A Ranch. He and his wife Susan dedicated their lives to making a difference in the development of teens through their ministry and spent the over 40 years giving their summers to the work of Circle A.

Skip authored the books Say Yes to Your Potential and Daily Disciplines, and created the Dynamic Living Seminar and the Thrive Study Series. He traveled the globe teaching the principles of attitude development and leadership to millions of people for over 50 years. He also recorded numerous audio and video teachings that have been distributed around the world with the help of Network 21 and podcasts.

He was a successful business executive, recording artist, and motivational speaker. He was founder and president of the OFIDA Project, on the Board of Directors of the Fred L. Hansen Corp., a Crown IBO with Amway, and a graduate of Westmont College and Fuller Theological Seminary. He worked with many different ministry organizations over the years but has most recently been working with the Equip Organization, founded by John Maxwell, to produce highly effective Christian leaders around the world.

Skip Ross went home to be with Jesus on June 13th, 2021, at the age of 82.

I'll Find You

I am made for wilderness

For the long treks in silence

For the strange gift of loneliness

For the thrill of awareness at the sounds

            In the trees above

            And the waters below

            And the forest beyond

I found You in the wilderness

Because You are wild

And I am wild, too

In the wilderness, You call me

            Brave

            Beloved

            Beautiful

I am made for mountains

For the crisp air of the morning

For the steep climbs to the summits

For the breathtaking wonder of the

            Of the peaks above

            And the valleys below

            And the ranges beyond

I found You on the mountain

            Because You are strong

            And I am strong, too

In the mountains, You call me           

            Present

            Powerful

            Poet

I am made for home

For the steady, ordinary rhythms

For the work and the rest

For the unspeakable joy

            Of authentic community

            And faithful friendships

            And cherished family

I’ll find You at home

            Because You are love

            And I am love, too

At home, You call me

            Helper

            Healer

            Holy 

You are present

In both the silence and the noise

In both the calm and the storm

In both the stillness and the chaos

In both the rest and the work

You are present

In both the quiet streams and the busy highways

In both the sacred numbers and the unpaid bills

In both the red birds and the packed calendars

In both the tall trees and the small businesses

You are present

In both the healed bodies and the broken hearts

In both the new dreams and the old grief

In both the hallowed hope and the deep disillusionment

In both the life now and the life beyond

Until one day

When the mountains and wilderness become my home

Either in this world or the next

I’ll find You

In whatever place I find myself

Author: Melody Farrell

Melody Farrell is the co-founder and acquisitions editor of Lost Poet Press. She also serves as co-pastor of Element Church Tampa and operations manager of Echo Media Group. She is associate director of Circle A Ranch, a program which teaches teenagers principles of leadership. She serves on the board of Grow Into You Foundation, a non-profit that provides coaching, mentoring, and housing for teens aging out of the foster care system. She is a wife, podcaster, musician, and mother of two from Sarasota, Florida.

Gospel Grace

I met RJ at the beginning of his tenth grade year in a new school. He wasn’t known by the staff other than what was written on paper and on paper he looked like bad news.

But RJ was a calm, quiet, kind young man that lived in a local group home that I visited weekly. I went there to provide life coaching for any of the teens boys that wanted to meet with me.

RJ would sometimes come in to talk and sometimes he would choose not to which was totally cool with me because I wanted the boys to feel empowered to exercise choice in seeking out support.

Well, this one evening around the middle of the school year, he came in and told me that he was suspended from school. I knew he struggled a little in academics but he had been pretty well behaved at school and at his group home. He was also heavily involved in sports so it surprised me that he had gotten into some trouble. I started to ask a few questions about his suspension…

I said, “Why did you get suspended?” in a curious, non-judgmental tone.

RJ said, “Well, someone stole this girl’s phone at school. She was freaking out about it because she got it for Christmas. So everyone in the classroom was looking for it. Someone found it stashed in a textbook on the shelf and the book was assigned to me so they thought I took it, but I didn’t.”

I asked gently, “Did you tell them that you didn’t take it?”

He said, “No.”

So I asked, “Why not?”

RJ said, “Well, there was this other boy at school that took the phone and I knew he did but I had heard one of the APs tell him in the hall that if he got in trouble again, he would get expelled. I kind of felt bad for him because he was having a rough time and I haven’t been in no trouble this year so I knew I could take the consequence but I knew he couldn’t. So I just let them think it was me.”

He added, “I also didn’t want to look more guilty by denying it, so I just didn’t say anything.”

And finally, he said, “I felt really bad for the girl so I am going to tell her I am sorry for what she had went through when I get back to school.”

This young man knew a little bit about the story of the other boy and it caused him to have compassion, understanding and grace for him.

The school didn’t think to ask about RJ’s story so they made a judgment based on words on paper and assumptions that this boy was deserving of the consequences that didn’t actually belong to him at all.

It hit me as I drove home from our meeting that night that this was the Gospel.

Jesus knowing our stories, the trouble we’d be in, the hurt we would cause, the consequences we deserved and would decide to take all of it upon himself for our benefit.

Jesus’ story, his Truth, was that he was innocent. And he didn’t have to take the cross for us. Just like RJ didn’t have to take the fall for the other boy.

But he did it-Jesus did it-because he could. Because he could choose to show such grace and mercy for others whether they would ever know it, acknowledge it or appreciate it.

Our world is filled daily with noisy stories about what’s mine, what’s owed, what’s conspiracy and what’s unfair for selves.

But God and RJ, focused on what can be done, what gift could be given, what burden could be lifted and what love could be lavished on someone else.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be more like RJ, realizing that everyone has a story and that that story could drastically change, not just the way we see things but actually change the way they are.

Author: Erin NeSmith

Erin NeSmith graduated from the University of South Florida in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication and a minor in Music. She also earned her Professional Coaching Certification as a life coach in 2016. Mrs. NeSmith has spent the majority of her career serving at-risk populations as a Re-entry Counselor, Teacher, and Program Director at New Life Village, a intergenerational adoptive community. She has a strong desire to partner with at-risk teens through coaching and mentoring as they become the best version of themselves. To that end, she founded Grow Into You Foundation, Inc. in 2016, which seeks to plant hope, shift perspectives, and restore power to at-risk youth, particularly those in and aging out of the foster care system. Mrs. NeSmith enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, reading professional development books, clowning (no, really!), singing and songwriting and participating in karaoke nights with friends.

Buy Into Hope

There once was a man who had no reason to hope, yet hoped.  He was thrown into prison, falsely accused, ridiculed, and his country was under siege by a foreign empire. This man’s name was Jeremiah.  It was just a matter of time before the capital city would fall, the people would be taken captive, and the temple would be burned. So why did Jeremiah hope? And more curiously, how did he hope? 

Jeremiah demonstrated his hope by doing something that appeared foolish.  

He heard that his cousin was selling some property.  The land was outside the city gates and currently occupied by enemy forces.  So from prison, Jeremiah called his cousin, filled out the paperwork, signed the documents, and purchased the property.  Now who in their right mind would do such a thing? This was crazy because at the time he made the purchase, the enemy army was encamping around his city gates ready to invade.  Why would anyone bother to go through the hassle of buying property if the land was currently occupied by the enemy? Would he ever step foot on the land he purchased?

Shortly before this, Jeremiah had prophesied that even though the kingdom of Judah was going to be taken over and destroyed, that God had given them a hope and a future.  In Jeremiah 32:14-15 he says to his scribe, “Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.  For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’” He believed that although the nation was being destroyed that one day God would rebuild the nation and one day fields would be bought and sold again.  He believed that though the people were being taken into exile that one day they would return.   It would just take a while for reality to catch up with his hope.

Jeremiah’s decision to buy a field shows two key features about the nature of hope. Christian hope involves risk and action. 

Jeremiah risked his reputation. This must’ve looked foolish.  Afterall the enemy army was pounding at their gates, but he bought the field anyway.  Why? Because he was more convinced of the promises of God than he was of his current circumstances and aligned his actions with these beliefs. He knew buying this field looked ridiculous to others, but Jeremiah wasn’t really concerned with what other people thought of him.  Instead, his thoughts were dominated by the future God was creating. In his book “Running with the Horses,” Eugene Peterson says, “All acts of hope expose themselves to ridicule because they seem impractical. Hope determined actions participate in the future God is bringing into being.  It’s not easy to hope because the immediate evidence is often against it.”  Jeremiah’s present reality was bleak, but Jeremiah was willing to buy into the hope of a better future.  He was treating the future as if it already existed. 

In my experience, most people are content to claim to have hope but often not do anything about it.  They’re content to just be all talk, and in doing so they reduce hope to nothing more than wishful thinking.  But for Jeremiah, hope was not a mere abstract quality. It wasn’t good enough to just ‘talk a big game’. True Christian hope requires action.  It is robust. It is tangible.  Hope is a muscle.  

And Jeremiah was exercising his hope.  Not only was he claiming God would restore them, he was acting as if it were true. Jeremiah’s talk wasn’t cheap. He was not the kind of person that would just say to a tightrope walker, “Bet you can walk across pushing a wheelbarrow”, no he was the kind of person who would carry a wheelbarrow up to the tightrope walker, climb in, and quietly wait to be pushed. Jeremiah put his money where his mouth was and lived his convictions.  He hoped in God when things seemed darkest.  G.K. Chesterton wrote, “As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.”  Jeremiah did give into despair, but he connected his actions to what he believed about God.  For him, hope was more than empty words and a feeling.  He concretized his hope through action.   

So, what does it look like to express hope through action?  Does it mean next time there is a national crisis go and buy the first piece of property you find?  Most of the time these actions are not dramatic.  Often, they are small acts of faithfulness, kindness, and integrity.  Hope invites us to treat situations differently.  Sometimes when we treat a hopeless situation as it appears we make it worse, but when we treat a hopeless situation as if it already has hope we give it hope. Hope doesn’t just look for exceptions, it becomes and creates exceptions. Hope invites us to buy into a better future.  For the Christian, this means living as though Christ is coming back.  Christians can have hope because they believe Christ will one day return to right every wrong, bring justice to every injustice, and wipe away every tear.  While this future hope is available, it can only be authenticated in the present through action.

Author: Gabriel Hartfield

Gabriel Hartfield is a resident-care and young adults pastor at Crossroads Bible Church.  He also has been a campus minister for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Davenport University, served at Journey Church, and graduated from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity.  His desire is to help young people experience hope in Jesus, take ownership over their faith, and become all they were created to be. 

Psalm 106 - Merciful God

That the holy God of all creation seeks to show mercy to mankind is a bit mind boggling, but according to this Psalm that is exactly what He does for His people! In spite of our failures, He seeks to restore us. Let us look at this Psalm to see how His mercy was shown to His chosen people Israel.

This Psalm begins with a hallelujah statement of praise to the Lord because His love and mercy are steadfast and endure forever! It continues with a rhetorical question, “who can describe the utter deeds of the Lord?” Indeed, who would be able to do that? The psalmist goes on to admit that he and his forefathers sinned. The Bible teaches that all have sinned, that is, all have grieved the heart of holy God by our actions, words, or the attitudes of our heart (Romans 3:23). The writer of this psalm then begins to enumerate some of the times in the history of Israel when the nation sinned and rebelled against the Lord. We have read about those times in Israel's history in the Bible: 

Unthankfulness regarding deliverance from Egypt;

Wrong cravings in the wilderness instead of trusting God’s provision;

Jealousy of Moses and Aaron;

Making and worshipping the golden calf in Horeb; 

Worshipping the false god Baal of Peor;

Complaining about having no water at Meribah; 

Interweaving their lives the heathen nations to the point of serving their idols.

These are just some of the sins of Israel, and we do not want to focus on these rebellious acts. But we do need to acknowledge some verses which illuminate the problem in the hearts of the Israelites. Verses 12 and 13 tell us the people initially believed the words of the Lord and sang His praise, but they soon forgot His works. Verse 21 states they forgot God, their Savior. Verse 24 tells us they had no faith in His promise. In verse 39 they became unclean by their acts, and played the prostitute in their deeds by worshiping other gods. The Israelites forgot His works, they did not believe His promises to them, and the result showed in their actions. The downward spiral of a sinful heart is portrayed here. Let us take note and be careful to remember the past answers to prayer, His protection, and the ways He has provided. Forgetting can lead to not believing in His promises for the present, as well as the future. This can result in a sinful heart against the One who has done so much for us!

It is important to consider how the Lord continued to show mercy to the nation in spite of their sin. Verse 23 relates that God would have destroyed them had not Moses stood in the breach to turn away His wrath. And in verse 30 we are told that Phinehas stood up and intervened to stop a plague, and it was counted to him for righteousness. The point here is that often an individual can be used to intercede on behalf of those who are grieving the Lord by their lives. It is clear that God uses people to influence and impact the lives of others. Each one of us can have a powerful impact on others who are in the realm of our influence in this world. Whether or not we want it or recognize it, the truth is we influence those whose paths we cross each day. By the way we live with integrity and the encouraging words we speak, we are able to impact lives for eternity. The Lord uses those who are submitted to Him and to His direction each moment of the day, and who are willing to intercede on behalf of others. We are to live lives surrendered to Him for our benefit as well as for the benefit of those needing His grace and mercy.

Lastly, we need to remember that God shows mercy because He is a merciful God. This psalm relates that many times God delivered His people but they continued to be rebellious. However, verse 45 records that He “heard their cries and remembered His covenant and relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love." The word relented means he rescinded their sentence. They deserved to be punished for their sin, but God chose to show mercy because of His covenant with them. If you are a person who has acknowledged and repented of sin in your life, and asked Jesus to cleanse it by His sacrificial blood, then you are a child of God. His Holy Spirit lives in you, and you are His by covenant. In the words of II Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” Even though we sin, He cannot deny Himself. We still need to recognize and confess sin to maintain proper fellowship with Him, but our relationship is secure through the covenant blood of Christ. Because of this covenant God is able to show us mercy and grace, and draw us gently back to fellowship with Him.

The takeaway thought is this: At times God uses an individual to intercede for a rebellious soul so God can show mercy. Other times He just shows up and shows mercy. He is a loving, faithful, merciful God.

Author: Clara NeSmith

Clara NeSmith has taught Bible study classes in her local church for over 40 years, and is currently working on her first book. She enjoys sharing from God’s Word the truths gleaned in her daily study, along with her hobbies of reading and sewing. Clara worked at her dream job of being a stay-at-home mom for many years. She then did Social Work in an elderly care setting for 20 years. She has four grown children and 9 grandchildren. She currently resides in Brandon, FL.

Come See The Light

There is a light of which they speak

Through space and time they’ve continued to seek

And unlike most of the world’s treasures

Man can never deplete its pleasures

There’s more than enough for all to share

Just waiting for you to see what’s there

Soft and gentle on your face

The light envelops like a warm embrace

Though some fear what the light may reveal

They come to realize that the light does heal

It shines into our dark places

And breathes new life into these spaces

Illuminating talents, gifts, and dreams

Mending hearts and repairing seams

So who, you ask, is this light

This remedy for human plight

With one experience you’ll never be the same

For the light is Jesus; that is his name

And all he encounters are forever changed

Their lives now beautifully rearranged

Such a brilliant light that none can compare

Pure, holy, exquisite, and rare

So with this light what are you to do

Here is its simple invitation to you

Let it shine into your heart

And you will feel the transformation start

Soon all those around will know

For in you they’ll now see this heavenly glow

With just a glimpse you’ll learn there’s more

This newfound light will give you wings to soar

Darkness hid what we were meant to be

But the light gives us new eyes to see

So come see the light that beckons so

And in its beams, your hope will grow

L.M.H.

Lauren Henry is a top-rated university professor of leadership and co-founder of Aretios, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and young professionals learn how to lead well and live the life they were designed for. Through her work as a success and influence strategist, Lauren helps people clarify their purpose and develop their influence so that they can live a life full of success, excitement, and meaning. Also an active community advocate, she has served alongside several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations raising near $1 million for charitable causes. Lauren is an artist, writer, traveler, and creative enthusiast.

Following The Red Bird

It’s not every day that God speaks through a bird.

Or, maybe it is … if we slow down enough to listen.

Not long ago I went on a retreat to the mountains, with the primary intention of listening to God. Each day of my retreat, I had a specific question planned to ask God. I figured that it couldn’t hurt to bring Him eight questions if I spread them over eight days. So, on the third day, I hit Him with a super simple one: “What path am I supposed to take for the next season?”

I knew I might not come back with the glowing light of clarity all over me … but I decided it couldn’t hurt to ask.

On the same day, I had also planned a visit to a local establishment called Gibbs Gardens. I’m not really the tourist type, and I couldn’t really explain the appeal of this place. I had seen a sign for it when our family traveled here once before, and it just called to me. All I knew was that it was a 300-acre garden, and I wanted to see it.

And so, I ventured forth.

I took my question with me in the back of my mind, planning to pray about it as I walked and then ponder it when I returned to the cabin.

As I approached the entrance of Gibbs Gardens, I was drawn in by the beauty. Flowers overflowed from planters all along the walkway. Trees lined the entrance in perfectly manicured rows, drawing my eye towards the lake ahead. I was incredibly excited for whatever was going to happen, for whatever divine appointment it was that had brought me here.

Before I entered, a man called to me, “Do you know where you’re going?”

“I have no idea!” I cheerfully replied.

“Ah, well let me show you!” He handed me a map that was quite impressive, a double layered brochure, folded out on both sides with multiple maps.

I almost laughed as I looked at it … the paths in the garden were nearly endless! They curved and split a hundred times over, winding in and around many gardens. It was a true labyrinth of trails, and it made me think about the question I was asking God about what path to take. The map felt a bit like my life – maze of connecting, conflicting, and concurring paths that led in circles.

The man pointed out that there was a “suggested route” marked by red arrows on the path. As I looked, I could see that the red arrows did indeed form a route that seemed mostly manageable.

“Awesome, thank you!” I said, ready to be off.

“Oh, one more thing!” he called after me. “If the map gets too confusing, you can follow the signs. Just stay with the big red arrows.”

I looked where he was pointing, and sure enough, there was a plastic sign with a big red arrow.

“Got it!” I said.

And so, I began. I started following the red arrow signs for a while, taking in all the beauty around me. The pond was covered in waterlilies, the beds were overflowing with flowers of multiple types, and the trees were each breathtaking. I felt like I was in paradise.

After a few minutes of walking, I hesitated. The red arrow sign wanted me to take a turn, but I could see something interesting on a different path ahead of me. I didn’t want to miss out! I decided to get out the map and see where some of the other trails led. I figured I could just loop back around to the red arrow path after I did some exploring.

And so, I did. I ended up in a forest of ferns, slightly lost and confused by the questionable map, but still enjoying the adventure. It was quite pretty in the fern forest, but not as remarkably so as the main gardens. I could understand why it hadn’t made the “suggested route”, but I was still glad I had taken the extra time to see it.

As I started thinking about paths, I heard a little something from the Lord. He reminded me that there are many paths that would bring me blessing and safety and provision, as long as I remain in His presence. There are many things I could do with my life that would bring joy and peace, and all would be pleasing to Him. The path is less important than the presence, He said. Stay with me, and beauty will surround you.

I love that. It felt like freedom. It felt like relief. It felt like truth.

I was grateful.

It was enough.

While I would have loved for Him to give me a concrete path for my life, I was thankful for the reminder that all journeys to the mysterious heart of God are beautiful.

I came across a few signs on the path that were clear boundaries:

“DANGER.”

“DO NOT ENTER.”

“DAFFODILS CLOSED.”

I was bummed about the daffodils, but it was September, after all.

I was reminded of my Dad always talking about staying within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. It felt like more confirmation. Some paths are dangerous. Some paths are destructive. Some paths are closed. Stay on the paths of beauty.

I felt like I had received my answer from God, and I decided to stop thinking about it and really focus on the hike.

Then I came to path marked “Hydrangeas and Azaleas”. It was NOT on the red arrow path. Again, I was curious.

I followed the path with the help of my map, but I was not surprised to find out that the hydrangeas and azaleas were not yet ready to bloom. They were SO CLOSE. There were HUNDREDS of them. All budding. None blooming. I could see why it was left off the recommended path. It wasn’t the right season just yet.

As I completed the loop and came back to the red arrow path, I made a decision. The map was getting irritating to hold, and nothing that had departed from the path of the red arrows had been particularly life-altering. I decided to stop thinking so much, put the map away, and just trust the red arrows after all. It seemed that they actually did lead me on the very best journey.

As I folded the map and put it in my pocket (okay, actually, it was a fanny pack, but I was hoping to avoid that detail), I heard a bird begin to sing in the tree above my head. It was surprisingly loud, and it caught my attention immediately.

I looked up, and I could hardly believe my eyes.

I was looking at a red bird.

Red birds have become significant to me, based mostly on my reading of Paula D’Arcy’s Gift of the Red Bird, and a subsequent experience of seeing one that led to me booking this VERY RETREAT.

I had hoped very much to see one on this trip, or perhaps to see many, but I had surrendered the need of it. The bird had done its job to get me here, and certainly, God has other ways of speaking. I don’t expect Him to only show up in a red bird.

And yet, here I was, looking at a red bird, after having just said, “I’m going to stop thinking so much, put the map away, and just trust the signs after all.”

I stood there, waiting and watching, listening to the red bird sing and holding on to the moment of presence with God.

The message was undeniable, and the bird just stayed there and sang to me as if to make sure I didn’t miss it.

I wanted a path to follow, so badly.

I wanted a clear map, the guidance to get from precisely where I am to precisely where God wants me to be.

And first He gave me the grace to remind me of my freedom – to remind me of my blessing in His presence, regardless of the path I take.

And then He gave me the gift of His direction – to release this need to have every detail mapped out for my whole life and just trust Him one step at a time.

I didn’t get my path from God that day. But I sure did get my answer.

And so, I will follow the red arrows and the red birds and whatever other signs the Good Lord sends my way.

I am not sure which trails on the spiraling maze of life He will lead me down.

But I am confident that the journey will be beautiful.

Author: Melody Farrell

Melody Farrell is the co-founder and acquisitions editor of Lost Poet Press. She also serves as co-pastor of Element Church Tampa and operations manager of Echo Media Group. She is associate director of Circle A Ranch, a program which teaches teenagers principles of leadership. She serves on the board of Grow Into You Foundation, a non-profit that provides coaching, mentoring, and housing for teens aging out of the foster care system. She is a wife, podcaster, musician, and mother of two from Sarasota, Florida.

Free

There was an abolitionist in the 1850’s who was working hard to end slavery in America. She wished there was something more she could do to free slaves. So, she started to save money. 

Finally, she went to a slave auction. A young girl was standing on the auction block. The woman bid for the girl and won. As they were walking away, the woman said to the girl, “Young lady, you are now free.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, confounded. 

“It means you are free.”

“Free to do what?”

“Free to do anything you want, the woman said.”

“Does that mean I can say anything I want?“

“Yes, you can say anything you want.”

“Does that mean I can be anything I want?”

“Yes, you can be anything you want.”

“Does that mean I can go wherever I want to go?”

“Yes, you can go wherever you want to go.”

Then the girl declared, without hesitation, “I want to go with you.”

So the young girl, now free, joined the woman in her work, and together they freed many others from the bondage of slavery.

I love this powerful story. I love it because it is such a beautiful picture of the gospel. This little girl was freed from the cruel bonds of slavery and given a new life. But because of this, she knew that she wanted to be with the one who freed her. 

How beautiful. Even though she was free to do whatever she wanted, she knew that she had been saved to do much more than whatever she wanted. She was free to join the woman in her work of freeing others. She joined the woman in her work.

May we who have seen the light, tasted grace, and been rescued by mercy join the work of the One who is redeeming all things to wholeness.

Author: Benjamin NeSmith

Benjamin NeSmith has spent his life working with people. He put his social science education degree to use teaching students of all ages, including those with special needs, for over a decade. He spent years as a recording and performing musician and is now a Certified Professional Coach and Pastor at Element Church Tampa. Benjamin enjoys family time, hiking, interior design, and creating meaningful liturgical experiences for others.

A Stretch of Faith

A Stretch of Faith

“But why did God bring Covid?” my child asks—

Jumped straight into theology, age five.

Her mind wants what a quick “church” answer lacks.

We share the mystery, but start with facts:

Depressing data—many won’t survive.

Those first months almost no one could relax.

To go to shops again, we shop for masks;

Thank God our family, friends are still alive.

Soon Zoom screens compensate for what life lacks.

Our social groups and friendships face attacks,

As if the word “pandemic” brings divide.

Some Christians can’t face science and relax.

We pray for vaccines, wait, and eat some snacks;

Small things, great love still help our family thrive,

Find patient strength a quick “church” answer lacks.

Our ancestors faced doubt, we trace their tracks.

Our joy in daily living, still alive.

Time offers more than quick “church” answer lacks.

God still speaks—breathing peace—and we relax.

Author: Amy Ziegler

Amy Ziegler has a Ph.D. in English and taught composition and literature for 14 years. She also worked as an editor for a research center in Washington, DC. She has published academic articles and a dissertation on psychological abjection in 20th-century American literature. Amy currently lives with her husband and seven-year-old daughter in the suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She leads church groups and field trips, organizes play dates and closets, and makes as much time for reading and writing as this season of motherhood allows. She is passionate about encouraging others to accept their role in shaping God’s ongoing creativity in their lives.

The Risk of Love

I was running through the Atlanta airport to catch a tight connecting flight. I rushed onto a crowded shuttle train to change terminals. A little boy sprinted ahead of his family and jumped onto the shuttle beside me. The doors closed behind him. The rest of his family were still on the platform.

His parent’s faces instantly dropped. I saw the desperation in his mother’s eyes. I shouted through the glass, “We will meet you at the next stop. I will take care of him.” They were too shocked to respond as the train sped off.

I took a knee next to him and introduced myself. Even through the mask, I could tell he was a special needs kid and anxiety was overwhelming him. I fully understood why his mom was in a panic.

We got off at the next stop, and a voice announced there was a problem that would delay train service. I was now certain I would miss my flight, and my schedule for the day was in big trouble. I could feel the chaos this would create for me.

I waited on the platform with him for a while. He never spoke, so I told him how much I liked his Ninja Turtles backpack and how brave he was for flying. I talked about how cool this airport was and how exciting it was going to be to see his parents in a few minutes.

Then the shuttles started moving again and his family appeared. They hugged him tight. His mom was crying. I blew them kisses, picked up my bag, and took giant leaps up the escalator. Maybe there was still a chance…

As I reached the gate, my heart sank. The boarding area was empty. But there was a single Delta employee at the desk. From 50 feet away, she called to me, “Mr Culp! I was supposed to release your seat, but I just knew you were going to make it. I took care of you.” I cheered and hustled down the jetway. She closed the door behind me.

As I sat in my seat - the last spot on a full flight - I felt so grateful. Sometimes it seems that there isn’t enough and all we can do is fight for ourselves. It feels like there isn’t room in our hearts to hold the stories of strangers.

But love calls us to risk. To sacrifice what is comfortable and simple.

Sometimes the cost is high and our generosity seems to fall short. But every so often, we catch a glimpse of what’s possible. Our hearts beat together in a rhythm of compassion, and we dance through life together.

May we choose to share more of this kindness with each other.

Author: Brett Culp

Brett Culp inspires audiences to engage in a passionate, meaningful mission that leaves a positive impact and ignites the heroic spirit. He is an acclaimed filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and keynote speaker whose work has inspired audiences around the world. His films have been featured on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Brett has been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Tonight, WIRED, The LA Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and many more. Brett is the co-founder of The Rising Heroes Project, a 501c3 that supports charitable organizations and empowers community leaders. You can learn more about his work at www.BrettCulp.com

Seeking The Light

It is a true joy to announce the formation of a new phase of Lost Poet Press: a blog! From the beginning, our dream was to give a voice and a platform to authors who want to bring light and life and truth and hope and beauty into the world.

We have always believed that poetry and parable and prayer are the language of insurrection against the darkness. It is no overstatement to say that our world is facing some dark days, and yet, light is always and ever waiting to be found.

With this inaugural post, I pen a blessing over the Lost Poets – both those who are already preparing submissions for this effort and those who may find us and join us along the way. May we gather an army of insurrectionists to wield the pens of light once again, to speak empathy and healing and mercy and grace to every human heart.

Perhaps the most beautiful days are ahead. 

Lost Poets, come gather your light.

As you have walked through your wilderness, you have found the light of self-awareness.

As you have labored over words of love and longing, you have found the light of inspiration.

As you have dared to hope in the face of despair, you have found the light of courage.

As you have broken under the weight of division, you have found the light of empathy.

As you have witnessed the beauty of sea and sky, you have found the light of joy.

As you have noticed the goodness in those around you, you have found the light of peace.

May the light from beyond you become the light within you.

May your stories become the flames that fuel your hope.

May your prayers become the flares that light your way.

May your musings reflect the brilliance of the Artist who created you.

May your words illuminate new perspectives and new possibilities for all who hear.

May you return from your wanderings and wonderings

To find yourselves found.

Author: Melody Farrell

Melody Farrell is the co-founder and acquisitions editor of Lost Poet Press. She also serves as co-pastor of Element Church Tampa and operations manager of Echo Media Group. She is associate director of Circle A Ranch, a program which teaches teenagers principles of leadership. She serves on the board of Grow Into You Foundation, a non-profit that provides coaching, mentoring, and housing for teens aging out of the foster care system. She is a wife, podcaster, musician, and mother of two from Sarasota, Florida.