"From Sling to Scepter"

For royal crown is born in pasture lands,
Silently watching and building his flock,
Learning courage, vigilance, and trust to walk,
Through humble hands, now trained for scepter’s plans.

The giant roared, a towering force of dread,
Yet David stood in faith, unshaken, still;
The stone flew true, made strong by holy will,
And pride lay fallen where the fearless fled.

Then came the wilderness of shadowed years,
Where Saul gave chase, and David would not yield;
He would not seize the crown, though power appealed,
But waited in the dark through blood and tears.

Now throne and scepter honor the humble man,
The shepherd’s trust is crowned by God’s own plan.

Content based upon 1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7

AI description by NotebookLM

The provided source explores the personal growth and leadership evolution of the biblical figure David. It specifically examines how his transformation from a lowly shepherd to a powerful monarch can serve as a template for self-improvement. By analyzing his life story, the author seeks to extract practical lessons that readers can apply to their own characters. The text aims to bridge the gap between ancient scripture and modern ethics, offering guidance on becoming a more virtuous individual. This spiritual reflection encourages readers to find moral inspiration in the transition from humble beginnings to positions of great responsibility.

 Show Your Hidden Heart

I’m now fixed on Adonai Yahweh, alone,
No lesser lord shall draw my heart away;
I guard my soul in light through every day,
And bow to Him, my King upon His throne.

Through prophecy, His summons sounded clear,
He chose the ones to stand within His reign;
The servant hears and answers without strain,
To walk where heaven’s purpose draws him near.

To obey is better than all gold or true,
The Lord looks on the heart, not show or part;
No mask can make a heart that bears His part,
For God will judge what hearts to Him are due.

So let my life be wholly Thine alone,
Till heart and will are bent before Thy throne.

Content based upon 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16

AI summary of poem from NotebookLM

Audio discussion 

The poem "Show Your Hidden Heart" is explicitly based on the narrative and themes found in **1 Samuel 8–10, 13, and 15–16**. It connects to these biblical chapters through several core theological concepts:

### **God as the Ultimate King**

In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites demand a human king, which Samuel interprets as a rejection of God's direct rule over them. The poem reflects the ideal response to this by stating, "I’m now fixed on Adonai Yahweh, alone / No lesser lord shall draw my heart away" . It reaffirms that the believer's true allegiance is to the "King upon His throne" rather than earthly rulers.

### **The Priority of Obedience**

A major theme in 1 Samuel 15 is Saul’s failure to follow God’s instructions, leading Samuel to declare that "to obey is better than sacrifice". The poem directly adapts this sentiment, stating, "**To obey is better than all gold or true**". It describes a faithful servant as one who "hears and answers without strain" to fulfill "heaven’s purpose".

### **Inward Sincerity vs. Outward Appearance**

The poem draws heavily from 1 Samuel 16:7, where God tells Samuel that "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart". This is echoed in the lines:

* "The Lord looks on the heart, **not show or part**".

* "**No mask can make a heart** that bears His part".

* "For God will judge what hearts to Him are due".

These lines emphasize that divine judgment focuses on a person's hidden, internal state rather than their external performance or "mask".

### **Prophetic Selection and Summons**

The poem refers to how "through prophecy, His summons sounded clear" and how God "chose the ones to stand within His reign". This connects to the accounts of Samuel—acting as God's prophet—anointing first Saul and then David to be king. It portrays the call to serve God as a divine summons that draws the chosen person near to "heaven’s purpose".

Finally, the poem concludes with a plea for the individual's "heart and will" to be "bent before Thy throne," summarizing the transition from Saul’s prideful disobedience to the humble submission required of a true servant of God.

The Reckoning

You scroll through voices crowding every thought,

But one Lord asks you pause until it's clear,

Not passive consumption, but to truly hear,

A singular attention, dearly bought.

Not feeling's tide that rises, breaks, and leaves,

It claims your will, your strength, your very soul,

A loyalty that asks to pay the toll,

The sharpened word you press in those who cleave.

It cannot live in silence or a screen,

Bind it to your door and to your gate,

Your home, your public life, your whole estate,

Let what you love be everywhere be seen.

The word is near, not distant, not too far,

One Lord, one claim, on everything you are.

Content based upon Deuteronomy chapters 6-8; 15; 18; 29-30; 34

Where the Ground Kept Giving and Walking Nowhere

 

Numbers 11 — the manna speaks

What the Ground Kept Giving

A sonnet in the voice of the manna

There was a morning once they held me near,

turned me in their hands and did not speak,

tasted me as something mild and meek,

and that small silence was all I would hear.

 

I watched that quiet thin to tired use,

to dull mouths, grumbling, then to open spite.

They cried for meat and garlic every night

and called me nothing worth their time to choose.

 

The quail came down. I fell beside the dead,

the ones who ate too much and did not wake.

I did not leave. I fell for their own sake

across the ground where they had dropped their bread.

 

I loved them past the point they wanted me.

That is the only way that love can be.

 

Numbers 14 — the sandals speak

Forty Years of Walking Nowhere

A sonnet in the voice of the sandals

I was made for a short walk, a few weeks,

the kind of road a man could count in days.

Instead I learned the desert's longer ways,

the same sand over and over as time speaks.

 

I held the feet of those who would not atone,

who stood at the edge and turned their faces back,

who chose the circle over the straight track

and wore the same worn path through dust and stone.

 

I felt them slow. I felt them cease to be.

I wore their weight until the weight was gone,

was passed to younger feet to carry on

and cross the river I had waited years to see.

 

The feet that crossed were not the feet that fled.

I carried both. I grieved the ones now dead.

Content based upon Numbers chapters 11-14; 20-24; 27

AI Summary 

Ten Words

 "The Ten Words"

He drew me out before he gave me law, 
No other god may stand before his face, 
No carved and hollow image fills his place, 
His Name the only word that holds my awe.

Remember, so the ancient word has said, 
The seventh silence calls me to be still, 
The stranger and the servant rest their fill, 
The world turns on by someone else's thread.

I give the weight of honor where it's due, 
No hand of mine shall take what is not mine, 
No borrowed love shall cross the covenant line, 
Yet in my wanting, every law breaks through.

Yet you who see the wanting, see me still,
Known to the bone, and held against my will.

Content based upon Exodus chapters 19-20; 24; 31-3

AI Summary by NotebookLM

Click for an awesome audio discussion

This poetic reflection explores the foundational commandments given to humanity, emphasizing a sacred relationship between a creator and the faithful. The verses reinterpret ancient laws as a guide for ethical living, focusing on exclusive devotion, the necessity of sabbath rest, and the integrity of human interactions. While the narrator strives to uphold these moral boundaries, the text acknowledges a deep internal struggle with personal desire and human frailty. Ultimately, the work portrays a deity who deeply understands the individual, offering a sense of being fully known despite one’s shortcomings. It transforms rigid legal codes into a meditative covenant defined by both divine authority and intimate grace.

Still

The sea stands cold before me, vast and deep.

The thunder of their chariots stands so clear.

My children clutch my robe and shake with fear.

The waves mock every hope I tried to keep.

Stand still, fear not, release your trembling hand.

The battle is not yours, so do not flee.

Trust what your eyes have not yet learned to see.

Be still and watch the Lord fight where you stand.

My knees go weak, my throat is tight with prayer,

Lift my eyes though everything seems undone,

And choose to stop when every nerve says run.

Something inside me breaks and gasps for air.

For in this stillness God begins to move.

The waters part and show what faith can prove.

Content based upon Exodus chapters 14-18

My wife Faby gave a talk today about this topic as well.  She shared this experience.   https://pachasfamilystories.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-sweet-promise-of-healings.html 

AI Summary of Poem   Listen to this AI audio discussion 

These sources explore the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites as they escaped Egyptian captivity and journeyed through the wilderness. Through scriptural commentary and poetry, the texts emphasize that relying on divine power can transform impossible obstacles, like the Red Sea, into paths of salvation. The materials provide practical applications for modern faith, suggesting that God offers daily spiritual sustenance and support during "bitter" life experiences. Readers are encouraged to find strength in Jesus Christ, who is symbolized as a protective rock and a source of living water. Ultimately, the collection highlights the importance of standing still in moments of fear to witness the Lord’s intervention in personal trials.

 "By His Hand Alone"

The river bled and Egypt's thirst went dry.
Cattle fell, yet in Goshen not a sound.
Brought in and sheltered from the stone-cold ground.
Framed by unseen hand beneath an angry sky.

Darkness touched and pressed Egypt to the floor.
The river turned to blood along its track.
Pharaoh's heart like stone would not give Israel back.
At night a nation's pride breaks even more.

Doors marked by blood so death may pass you by.
The angel trampled over Egypt's ground.
Israel's doors passed over without sound.
A pillar rose to guide beneath the sky.

So Israel rose and left their chains behind.
Led out by God, the promised land to find.

Content based upon Exodus chapters 7-13

Breakdown done by AI NotebookLM.  audio discussion of poem 

"The Dreamer's God"

Joseph wore power with a stranger's face,
Behind the veil of rank and foreign tongue,
He wept in secret for what time had wrung,
Then watched them bow within that hidden space.

The cup was never silver, it was fire,
Now Judah kneels and trades his freedom whole;
The pit they dug for Joseph healed his soul.
Test to see if love had climbed up higher.

What looked like ruin was a road prepared;
It meant to harm, but God meant it for good:
His word outlasts the worst that malice could.
From pit to prison; each a grace declared.

So Joseph held his tears and learned to trust 
That God turns every broken bone to dust.

Content based upon Genesis chapters 42-50

AI Summary generated by NotebookLM link to audio discussion

This poetic exploration reinterprets the biblical narrative of Joseph as a transformative journey from betrayal to divine purpose. The text emphasizes that the hardships Joseph endured, including his time in the pit and prison, were actually essential preparations for his eventual rise to power. Through the imagery of secret tears and testing his brothers' loyalty, the poem highlights how suffering can heal the soul and refine one's character. Ultimately, the work asserts that even the most malicious intentions of others are repurposed by a higher power to achieve a greater good. This perspective transforms a story of ruin into a testament of faith and restoration.

 "Path of the Dreamer"

Messages are divinely sent from above.
Ne'er coincidence but a firm decree.
For this's God's chosen medium for me.
Interpreted by His love like a dove.

Predict or produce with dramatic change.
As son or slave or prisoner in chains.
Joseph shown the grandeur of God's domains.
And give guidance on all that's godly range. 

All visions passed, fulfilled in every way, 
For none of God's designs can be thwarted.
Through these chains of false claims, though distorted,
Three days or seven years; done in each own day.

What God has shown He'll surely bring to day, 
No word He speaks has ever passed away.

Content based upon Genesis chapters 37-41

AI summary by NotebookLM.   Link to Audio Discussion

The provided text presents a poetic reflection on the unfailing nature of divine providence as illustrated through the life of the biblical figure Joseph. It emphasizes that dreams serve as a celestial medium used by God to communicate His sovereign plans and offer guidance to humanity. Despite facing trials as a servant or a captive, the protagonist witnesses every vision reach its ultimate completion because heavenly decrees cannot be obstructed. The poem suggests that whether a transformation takes minutes or years, divine promises are absolute and will always manifest in reality. Ultimately, the work portrays a universe where coincidence does not exist, as every event is an intentional step toward fulfilling a preordained destiny.

"Kept"

Jacob left Beersheba with nothing but,
With his father's blessing and the dirt road,
No temple, no altar, alone he strode,
To take stones 'neath his head, his eyes did shut.

From atop the ladder He spoke downhill,
The Covenant Keeper promised the same,
Mid-flight, mid-fear, mid-sleep he did exclaim,
Not I may, not if worthy, but I will.

To keep is not merely to recollect.
It is to guard, to carry, to return.
God keeps covenants so that we can learn.
The way a father keeps watch, double checked.

Every covenant we make with the One,
Written in our hearts with a spiritual pen.
Is our God saying again and again:

I will not leave thee.

I will not leave thee.

I will not leave thee.

'Til every word I have spoken is done. 

Then wake, like Jacob, trembling, unafraid,
Pour oil on stone; the covenant was made.

I am with thee, and will keep thee
in all places whither thou goest,
and will bring thee again into this land;
for I will not leave thee,
until I have done that which I have spoken.
Genesis 28:15

Content based upon Genesis chapters 24-33

AI Summary by NotebookLM

This poetic piece examines the unwavering faithfulness of God through the lens of the biblical story of Jacob. While Jacob travels in isolation with nothing but a stone for a pillow, he receives a divine assurance that covenants are maintained by God’s will rather than human merit. The text redefines "keeping" a promise as an active, protective guardianship similar to a father watching over his child. This spiritual commitment is depicted as a permanent internal inscription that guarantees God will never abandon his followers. Ultimately, the poem suggests that recognizing this divine presence transforms a person's fear into a state of worshipful confidence. Through this narrative, the author illustrates that every promise made by the Creator is destined for total fulfillment.

Audio discussion about the poem:  Link to NotebookLM

 "The Promise-Bearer's Way"

Three strangers cloaked in dust approach the door, 

While laughter breaks from one who dares to doubt; 
One man lifts his voice and cries aloud 
To ask the Judge of earth what mercy's for.

The blade hangs still, a thicket holds the lamb, 
While fire falls on cities turned to salt; 
Old fears and half-truths crack the promise-vault, 
Yet grace flows on through every faithless sham.

The outcast weeps; God counts the orphan's tears; 
Two sons must part for one seed to remain; 
A pagan dreams, and heaven speaks again 
When God's own voice cuts through the faithless years.

Four hundred silver pieces buy the ground, 
Where faith begins, the promise-bearers' mound.

Content based upon Genesis chapters 18-23

AI Summary created by NotebookLM

Check out the audio breakdown of the poem (listen when you have about 20 min)

This poetic text summarizes the biblical narrative found in Genesis chapters 18 through 23, focusing on the dramatic life of the patriarch Abraham. The verses highlight pivotal moments such as the divine visitation announcing a miracle birth and the desperate intercession for Sodom before its destruction. Through vivid imagery, the author explores the tension between human doubt and divine faithfulness, specifically referencing the harrowing near-sacrifice of Isaac. The poem also touches upon the family conflicts involving Hagar and Ishmael, illustrating the painful divisions required to preserve a specific lineage. Ultimately, the work concludes with the purchase of a burial plot, symbolizing a permanent, earthly stake in the land promised by God. This overview reflects a journey where heavenly grace consistently overcomes mortal failure to establish a lasting legacy.

The God Who Speaks

A voice calls out across generations,

Demand faith, walk forward, unmapped, alone.

Fear whispers low and makes us trade the known

For schemes that shield us from our own foundations.

Yet grace moves through the dark between the flesh,

Signing the contract no hand could deserve

Stars beyond counting, mathematics of the swerve

From barren womb to covenant made fresh.

The God who finds us fleeing desert springs

Speaks names aloud: You-Are-the-One-Who-See

Renaming what we were, rewriting these

Old selves into the shape of future things.

For all to wait for one man's faithfulness:

Blessed to bless, and chosen to all bless.

Content based upon Genesis chapters 12-17 and Abraham chapters 1-2

AI summary of poem provided by NotebookLM

The provided text and image describe a poetic interpretation of the biblical and scriptural accounts found in Genesis and the Book of Abraham. The narrative focuses on the divine call to journey into the unknown, highlighting the tension between human fear and the requirement of unwavering faith. Through the imagery of a barren womb and a starry sky, the poem illustrates the establishment of a sacred covenant between a creator and a solitary follower. This transition signifies a spiritual transformation, where individuals are given new identities and a purpose to serve as a source of blessing for others. Ultimately, the work depicts a pivotal historical moment where one man's devotion paves the way for future generations.

Go to this link for an AI conversation as it dives deep into my poem.  

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/f94c6cd9-13d0-4bf4-83bf-aa0a31787d61?artifactId=a60cb545-0186-40d8-a50e-d6c0b2ca2bf2

 "A Second Morning"

Waters rising where wickedness reigned.
A chapel afloat held tomorrow's seed.
The dove returned with an olive reed.
Rainbow arches over a promise gained.

From ark to altar, blessings flow again.
Blood cries out, for now justice must reply.
All creatures shelter beneath the oath's eye.
Wine reveals what floodwaters had not slain.

From three branches, seventy rivers flow.
Bricks and mortar reach for forbidden heights.
Their tongue turns stranger to all in their sights.
An incomplete tower, all left the show.

Echoed a preacher's voice through the deaf years.
Hearts turned stone as heaven's door stands to give.
Sacred bonds profaned never to forgive.
Mercy measures time different than yours.

Content based upon Genesis chapters 6-11 and Moses chapters 8