Tag: Christian Poetry

Merry Christmas 2025

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Below is the text of what you can hear me reading on the video —

Hey, Jimmie Kepler here. I want to tell you a quick story. I grew up a military brat. Christmas mornings found me jumping out of bed, hoping the gifts I wanted were under that tree.

But looking back, there’s something from those days that shines brighter than any present.

Before we opened a single gift, my family always opened God’s Word. Sleepy as we were, we’d read the story of that first Christmas and thank God for the greatest gift of all—Jesus.

These days, Christmas can get real crowded, and it’s easy to forget the season isn’t about what’s under the tree… but the One who came to hang on a cross. Jesus stepped outta heaven and into a manger to bridge the gap between us and God. That’s why the Christmas story is still the greatest ever told.

So this Christmas, friend, don’t just open gifts—open the Word. Why not, let the story pull you back into the wonder of what God has done.

Merry Christmas. May His hope, His joy, and His peace fill your home this season.

Silence is Golden

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The Breakfast Where My Mouth Was Frying Bacon Faster Than My Brain Could Flip It

I remember one particular morning on a trip sitting at breakfast with a female traveling companion. I have a long-term friendship with this beautiful woman, but we are not and have never been in a romantic relation.

We’re just part of this ragtag little fellowship of friends who collect museums, concerts, fine dining experiences, and long stories the way other folks collect stamps.

She’s good people. She is smart, funny, well-read, the sort who could make a grocery list sound interesting. And bless her heart, she tolerated me.

Now, I have this habit. It’s really an unholy one. I can hijack a conversation. Not meaning to, of course. It’s like my mouth starts running and forgets it’s supposed to be hooked up to my ears. I know she’s cringed once or twice, maybe thought about grabbing her coffee and making a break for it.

But that morning, as we sat at breakfast, I finally had to stop talking long enough to breathe. And she slipped in the softest little truth-telling you ever heard. She said, all grace and no malice, “I don’t need your full life story again or one of your cross-country rambles. You know what your problem is? You don’t know when not to talk. Just stay with the conversation. Don’t chase every rabbit that hops across your mind.”

Well. Yikes. Guilt as charged.

Certified Southern Champion of Talking When I Should Be Listening

I’ve always had this tendency. Someone shares something meaningful like a story, a hurt, some family drama, and instead of listening, really listening, I launch into a completely different tale about somebody else who once had something sort of similar happen. It’s rude. It’s selfish. It’s lonely, too, if I’m being honest. Mostly, it shows I hadn’t yet learned the sacred art of shutting up.

My late grandmother tried to warn me. I was barely old enough to shave when she said, “Jimmie Aaron, girls don’t much care about what you know, where you’ve been, or how many stories you can tell, unless you’re saying something sweet about them. That’s why they like the strong, silent types.”

If only I’d listened.

I talked myself off the honor roll once or twice. Not academically, but because I got dinged for “citizenship.” In school, in work, all through life, folks have said kindly but firmly, “Jimmie’s a bit too social.” Or, “Jimmie needs to tighten up his speech. He needs to talk like he writes: short, sharp, and without all the scenic detours.”

Lord Knows Grandma Tried, but My Mouth Was Louder Than Her Wisdom

And then, just recently, I stumbled across that line in Isaiah: “But they were silent and answered him not a word…” Hezekiah had told his people to keep their lips zipped while the Assyrian envoy was boasting threats at them. It wasn’t the moment for comebacks or explanations. It was a time for silence.

“But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, ‘Do not answer him.’”

Isaiah 36:21 (ESV)

And there have been so many times I should’ve done the same.

You see, many words tend to drag you straight into trouble. The whole proverb goes on to say something that basically amounts to: “Keep talking and you’ll make a fool of yourself.” Talk long enough and you’ll spill a secret you shouldn’t, drop a sharp word you didn’t mean, or wander into territory that never needed visiting. Lots of things in life are better left unsaid.

And when you won’t stop talking, you can’t hear anything. Not your friends. Not the people you love. Not even God.

Learning the Holy Gospel of Shush: When God Says ‘Hush Your Mouth’

I keep reminding myself God gave me two ears and one tongue on purpose, but you’d never guess it from the way I operate. The people on the wall in Hezekiah’s day listened. I wish I could say I always do.

Talking and listening can’t happen at the same time. One always elbows the other out of the way.

But there are moments, holy ones, healing ones, when silence is gold enough to buy back peace you’ve wasted. These days, I’m learning to ask God to show me those moments. When to hold my tongue. When to speak gently, if at all. When to honor someone not with a story of my own, but with my quiet attention.

Because sometimes the most loving thing a person can do is simply hush.

During the sounds of silence is when you can hear God.

Here’s a few examples from God’s word:

Proverbs 10:19 directly connects a multitude of words with making a mistake.

“When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Proverbs 10:19

Ecclesiastes 10:12–14 contrasts the speech of the wise and the foolish.

“The words of a wise person are gracious and win favor, but the lips of a fool lead to their own ruin…”

Ecclesiastes 10:12–14 

Proverbs 17:28 reminds us that silence often prevents foolishness.

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise…”

Proverbs 17:28

Grace and Peace
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

Casting Cares

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You know, there’s a verse I’ve carried around in my back pocket for a long time.
It’s from First Peter, “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”
Simple words. But they hit deep when the world starts feeling too heavy to hold.

Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Life’s Tough

I’ll be honest with you, sometimes life just flat-out wears me down.
There are days when it feels like everything’s coming apart at the seams.
I’ve had those moments where I just wanted to shout, or throw my hands up and walk away from it all. Maybe you’ve been there too.

Last year about this time, I hit one of those rough patches.
First, the hot water heater gave up the ghost.
Then the car decided it wanted in on the fun and needed major repairs.
My little pile of emergency savings started looking more like pocket change.
And to top it off, my hand locked up with trigger finger. It needed surgery. And wouldn’t you know it, there were complications after that too.

Why Me Lord

I remember sitting there one night thinking, “Why me, Lord?”
Yeah, I actually said it out loud. Just me and the ceiling fan, having it out.
Ever had one of those nights? Yeah… me too.

Somewhere in the middle of that mess, I remembered that verse. “Cast all your cares on Him.”
So I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it all down. Every worry, every frustration, every bit of that “I can’t take it anymore” feeling.
Then I bowed my head and said, “God, here. These are Yours now. I’m done carrying ‘em.
You said You care for me, so I’m holding You to it. Help me feel that care. Help me stop thinking the world’s caving in. Help me trust You.”

A Quiet Peace

And I swear to you, something shifted. It wasn’t lightning bolts or angels singing. There was just this quiet peace, like somebody took the weight off my chest.
I realized how lucky I actually was . I had enough in savings to fix what needed fixing, had good doctors and insurance, and still had people around me who cared. That realization alone felt like a miracle.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Everything didn’t suddenly turn perfect.
But the panic disappeared. The peace of God filled that empty space where worry used to live.

After that night, I started thinking about how many times I’ve tried to play Superman. As if I could muscle through everything life threw at me just by gritting my teeth and “being tough.”
That’s a fool’s game, I’ve learned. Life’s got a way of humbling you real quick.

Funny thing, though, every time I hit that breaking point, it’s like God’s been sitting there, patient as can be, waiting for me to finally hand Him the wheel.
He doesn’t barge in, doesn’t holler, doesn’t demand. Just waits till I wear myself out, then whispers, “You done yet? Let Me take it from here.”

Peace Slips In

And when I finally do… when I finally let go of that white-knuckled grip on everything…
peace slips in quiet, like the dawn easing over a country field.
It’s not dramatic, not flashy. It’s just steady. Kind of like a hand on your shoulder saying, “You’re gonna be alright.”

Since then, I’ve tried to make a little habit of it. Not just when life falls apart, but in the small stuff too.
You’d be amazed how much time we spend worrying over things that don’t deserve a tenth of our energy.
The bills, the weather, what so-and-so said at work, what might happen next week.
I catch myself spinning on all that, then I hear that verse again, “Cast your cares.”
It’s not a suggestion; it’s an invitation.

God Cares for Us

See, God doesn’t just tolerate us when we’re a mess. He cares for us. Deeply.
The same way a good father cares for his kid when they come home busted up and teary-eyed.
He’s not rolling His eyes; He’s pulling us close, saying, “I’ve got you.”

I wish I could tell you I’ve got it all figured out, that I never worry anymore, that I’ve mastered this whole “faith” thing.
But I haven’t. Some days I still fall right back into the trap. I’m once more trying to fix everything myself, forgetting the One who actually can.
But when I finally come to my senses and let go, it’s like taking a deep breath after holding it for too long.

So yeah, maybe life’s still got its potholes and flat tires.
Maybe the water heater still leaks now and then.
But I’ve learned something in all of it. Peace doesn’t come from having everything fixed.
It comes from knowing Who’s walking beside you while it’s all getting fixed.

I Remember

These days, when life starts feeling like it’s piling on again, when the phone rings with bad news, I get a text that stirs my emotions, or the bills seem taller than my paycheck;
I remember that night at the kitchen table.
The one with the piece of paper covered in worries and a coffee cup ring in the corner.
That wasn’t just me unloading my troubles. That was me learning how to live lighter.

See, faith ain’t about pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about knowing where to put the stuff that isn’t.
It’s learning that when your shoulders are tired, you don’t have to carry it all.
You can hand it over to Someone who doesn’t get tired.

I’ve come to see God not as some far-off figure, but as a friend who’s walked a lot of dusty roads with me or been with me as I’ve crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
He’s been there when I was singing high and when I was crawling low.
When I look back over the years at the heartbreaks, the passing of my spouse Miss Benita and my parents dying, the surgeries, the empty bank accounts, the quiet nights of wondering what now, I can see His fingerprints all over it. Not always changing the situation, but always changing me.

So when Peter says, “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you,”
I hear it like an old country song lyric. It’s simple, true, and worth humming through the hard times.
It’s not fancy theology; it’s just good living.

And maybe that’s what I’ve been trying to say this whole time, that peace isn’t about a perfect life. It’s about trust.
It’s about believing that the One who made the stars actually cares about your busted water heater and your broken heart.

He’s Never Failed Me Yet

So yeah, I still get anxious. I still have days when I want to holler, “Why me, Lord?”
But I don’t stay there long anymore. I’ve learned to write it down, pray it out, and hand it over.
Because He’s never failed me yet, not once.

And if you’re out there today or tonight feeling that same weight, just remember:
you don’t have to carry it alone. Cast it off, friend. Let it go.
He’s got big enough hands to hold it all.

Grace and Peace
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

Miss Benita and Psalm 31

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You ever stumble on a verse that just sticks to your soul?
For us, it was Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong, and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Now, I didn’t learn that from a preacher.
I learned it sittin’ beside my wife,
my sweet Miss Benita,
when the doctor looked us dead in the eyes
and said the word melanoma. 

Stage three, cancer, he said.
They’d done all they could,
but if it came back —
well, he didn’t have to finish that sentence.
We already knew.

And sure enough,
a few months later,
it came knockin’ again.
The oncologist told us to make her comfortable.
Said to focus on the quality of the time we had left.
That’s the kind of talk that empties a room of air.

We were scared.
We were broken.
But we did the only thing two folks who love Jesus could do,
we held hands and started prayin’.
We opened that old Bible,
and that Psalm became our heartbeat:
“Be strong, and take heart.”

We weren’t strong,
but somehow, God was.

Then came the people,
our friends from work,
our Prestonwood Baptist Church family,
the Bible fellowship crowd.
They came with casseroles,
and prayers that filled the silence
when words just wouldn’t come.
They sat with us through the storm,
and somehow, we weren’t alone anymore.

Now, Miss Benita…
she was somethin’ else.
Even when the cancer spread,
even when her body gave way,
her spirit never did.
She’d sit there in that hospital bed,
typing emails and writing cards
to folks on the church prayer list.
She’d tell them God loves you,
even when she was the one
starin’ at the valley ahead.

When the cancer reached her brain,
it took her words,
her reading, her writing,
but it never touched her faith.
She told me, plain as day,
“My hope’s not here, it’s in the Lord.”

And near the end…
there was this peace about her,
not the quiet kind,
but the deep kind,
the kind that hums under your ribs
like a steady song.

When she passed,
she did it with grace,
like she was just walkin’ home barefoot
through a field she already knew.

And I’ll tell you what,
she left more behind than sorrow.
She left faith that still burns.
She left love that still moves.
She left a verse that won’t let me go:

“Be strong, and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

It’s not just ink on paper anymore.
It’s a promise.
It’s her voice.
It’s my compass.

And I reckon that’s the legacy of Miss Benita —
not how long she lived,
but how she loved,
how she believed,
and how she taught the rest of us
to keep hopin’ in the dark.

Bible Verse:

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

Who Wrote Psalm 31:24 — and When?

Most folks agree that King David wrote Psalm 31:24. David penned a lot of the Psalms we still hold dear today. Songs and prayers straight from a heart that had seen both mountaintops and valleys.

We don’t know the exact date he wrote it. The Psalms came together over a long stretch of time. Probably across a few centuries. But David’s words were so honest and full of life that generations kept them alive, and by the time the Second Temple stood (somewhere between 500 BC and 70 AD) they were gathered and cherished much like we read them now.

When you think about it, that’s something. A man’s prayer from thousands of years ago still reaching out across time to strengthen hearts today.

The Setting of Psalm 31:24

Psalm 31 is David crying out to God for help when the world seemed to be closing in.
Enemies on every side, fear in the air. Yet his trust never broke.

This verse, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord,” is how David closes his prayer. It’s like he’s saying, “I’ve been down in the pit, and I’ve seen the light of God’s faithfulness. Hang on, He’s still with you.”

The psalm starts with David begging for rescue and ends with him reminding himself and anyone who’ll listen to stand firm in faith. It’s that moment when you’ve been through the storm, and you can finally tell others, “God carried me through.”

The Meaning of Psalm 31:24

This verse is a call to courage in the middle of chaos.
David had his share of trouble. He faced betrayal, fear, loneliness. But even while running for his life, he could still look up and say, “The Lord is my strength.”

When he says “Be strong and take heart,” he’s not talking about gritting your teeth and muscling through. He’s talking about leaning into the kind of strength only God can give — the strength that shows up when your own runs out.

It’s David saying, “Keep trusting. Keep hoping. God hasn’t forgotten you.”

“Be of Good Courage” — What Does That Mean?

When David says, “Be of good courage,” he’s talking to people just like you and me. He talking to us folk who get tired, scared, or flat-out worn down.

He’s saying, “Don’t give up.” Not because you’ve got all the answers, but because you know Who holds them.

Courage, in David’s world, wasn’t about standing tall — it was about standing still and trusting God to move.

“He Shall Strengthen Your Heart” — What Does That Mean?

That’s David’s way of saying, “God’s gonna meet you right in the middle of your fear.”

When your heart’s heavy and your knees are weak, He’s the One who gives you what you need to keep going.

This isn’t physical strength. It’s heart strength. It’s that quiet confidence that says, “I can face what’s coming because I know Who’s beside me.”

“All You Who Hope in the Lord” — What Does That Mean?

This part reminds us we’re not walking alone.

There’s a whole family of believers out there. They’re all hoping, all hanging on to the same promise.

When you put your hope in God, you’re stepping into that community of faith. You’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a people through every generation who’ve trusted God to carry them through.

Different Bible Translations

Each translation gives this verse its own flavor, but the heart stays the same:

  • KJV: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”
  • NIV: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
  • ESV: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

No matter how you say it, the message holds, keep your courage, because God strengthens those who hope in Him.

How Psalm 31:24 Brings Encouragement

This verse has carried a lot of weary souls through long nights.

It’s a reminder that we don’t walk this road alone. It tells us that God’s strength is real and near.

When life gets hard, Psalm 31:24 whispers, “You’re not finished yet. God’s still working. Take heart.”

It doesn’t promise an easy road. It promises a faithful God.

How to Live Out Psalm 31:24

Here’s how I see it:

  • Find your strength in God. When life knocks you down, lean into Him. He’s got the strength you don’t.
  • Take heart. Keep your faith alive, even when you can’t see daylight yet.
  • Trust in the Lord. Believe that His plans are good, even when the path doesn’t make sense.
  • Encourage others. Share what you’ve learned. Tell somebody else, “You’re not alone. God’s not done yet.”

That’s how this verse becomes more than just words — it becomes a way to live.

A Psalm 31:24 Prayer

Dear Lord,

When my courage fades and my heart grows tired, remind me You are still my strength.

Help me face this day with faith and hope, knowing You walk with me through every step.

Strengthen my heart, Lord. Give me the courage to keep trusting, even when I don’t see the way ahead.

Let Your peace fill me, and let Your love flow through me to others who need it too.

Thank You for being my rock and my refuge, today and always.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Closing Thoughts

Psalm 31:24 is more than a verse. It’s a lifeline. It tells us to hold steady, to take courage, and to keep our hope anchored in the Lord.

Because no matter what comes our way, we’re never walking it alone.

And when our strength runs out — His never will.

Grace and Peace
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

Thoughts on Traveling

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Thoughts on Traveling

After a haircut at the Lotus Spa, I wrote this brief thought this morning. I’d read my Bible and was contemplating the day. I’ve named it “Thoughts on Traveling” for the nonreligious types and “The Lord Will Keep You” for those who share the Christian faith with me. It’s based on Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV),

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV)

The View from the Balcony

I’m leaning on the rail of my stateroom balcony, watching the waves roll and fold into one another like pages turning in a story only God could write. It’s a gray, overcast day aboard the brand-new Star Princess cruise ship. The temperature lingers in the low 60s. It’s cool enough that the sea air nips at my cheeks. I’m in the North Atlantic 2,500 nautical miles east of Fort Lauderdaie and 350 nautical miles west of the Azores Islands.

There’s a certain hush that comes with a cloudy day at sea. The ship hums beneath my feet, steady and sure, while the mist softens the horizon until sky and water blur into one long stretch of gray-blue calm.

And right there, somewhere between the sound of the wind and the rhythm of the waves, I sense Him. The quiet presence of God. Not loud or showy, but constant. Keeping me.

Kept in the Going and the Coming

I’m reminded I’m kept in my going and the coming. Psalm 121 reminds me that the Lord “will keep your going out and your coming in.” That’s not just pretty poetry. It’s a promise. Whether I’m stepping onto a new cruise ship, driving my Mercedes down the Dallas North Tollway, or starting another season of life, God is in the motion.

He doesn’t just guard the journey. He guards the traveler. From the first step leaving North Texas, to traveling to London, to Copenhagen, the Baltic, and North Seas, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, France, crossing the English Channel, getting back to London, Barcelona, Mediterranean Islands, Gibraltar, the Azores, Fort Lauderdale and back to the landing at DFW and returning home, His watch never wavers. And that truth settles in my heart like an anchor in deep water.

The Keeper of Every Moment

The keeper of every moment travels with me. Out here, far from shore (it’s eight days until I see my next land), I’m reminded how small I am in the grand sweep of creation. I’m also reminded of yet how seen I am by the One who made it all. The same God who commands the tides watches over my life with infinite care.

Even under gray skies, His light finds its way through. I feel it in the peace that drapes around me, in the stillness that whispers: You’re not alone out here. I’m keeping you.

Breathing in the cool, salty air, I whisper a soft thank you to God, and rest my hands on the rail longer. Because I know this truth to my core;

Closing Prayer

Wherever I go, the Lord goes with me. And I say this prayer. “Lord, thank You for being the Keeper of my journey. When the skies turn gray and the horizon fades, remind me that Your presence never does. Guard my steps, quell my fears, and let me rest in the promise that You are with me in the going out, the coming in, and every mile in between. Amen.”

 

Seeking First, Trusting Always

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I’ll be honest with you—sometimes I get ahead of myself. I’ll be sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, and instead of enjoying the quiet morning, my mind is already two weeks down the road. I’m worrying about bills, appointments, the weather for an upcoming trip, or what-ifs that haven’t even happened yet. Before I know it, I’m living in tomorrow’s storm instead of today’s sunlight.

Jesus knew this about us. That’s why His words in Matthew 6:33–34 feel like a gentle hand on the shoulder:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

It’s almost like He’s saying, “Friend, take a deep breath. You’ve got enough on your plate today. Let Me handle tomorrow.”

Chores, Blessings, and Bumps

Each day brings its own mix, doesn’t it? Some days are full of simple chores—laundry, phone calls, errands. Other days bring blessings we didn’t expect—a kind word, a meal with family, or the smell of fresh-cut grass drifting in through the window. And then there are the bumps—the flat tire, the doctor’s report, the misunderstanding with a friend.

Jesus doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life. He says plainly, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” But tucked right before that is the invitation: seek Him first.

What It Means to Seek First

Seeking first the kingdom of God isn’t about ignoring our responsibilities or floating through life without a care. It’s about priorities. It’s about waking up and saying, “Lord, before I chase my to-do list, I want to chase You. Before I scroll the headlines or worry about next week, I want to sit in Your presence.”

When we start there, it changes the way we carry today’s burdens. It doesn’t erase them, but it puts them in their proper place.

Trusting Him with Tomorrow

I think about the old farmers I grew up around. They’d get up at sunrise, put on their boots, and tackle what the day brought. If it rained, they worked in the rain. If the tractor broke, they fixed it or found a way around it. They weren’t worrying about whether next Tuesday’s forecast might ruin the hay crop. They trusted that God would give them the strength for the day they were in.

That’s a good picture for us. We don’t ignore tomorrow—we just don’t let it rob today.

A Gentle Reminder

So here’s my encouragement: Seek His kingdom first. Give Him your today. Trust Him with your tomorrow. Because when Jesus is at the center, the rest has a way of finding its place.

Friend, today’s got its chores, its blessings, and its bumps. Walk through them with Him, and let tomorrow worry about itself.

Grace and Peace
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

What Makes Poetry Christian?

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1. Root of Christian Poetry

Christian poetry is defined less by its form and more by its orientation. 

At its heart, it is poetry written from a Christian worldview—pointing to God, Christ, Scripture, or the life of faith. It doesn’t always have to be a direct retelling of Bible passages, though it can be.

2. Scripture-Based Christian Poetry

Some Christian poetry directly restates or paraphrases Scripture. Think of it like a psalm in modern verse, or a meditation on John 3:16. 

This type of poetry is devotional and often aims at reinforcing biblical truths in lyrical form.

Example:

“The Lord is my Shepherd—
I walk a path of still waters,
where shadows stretch, but fear dissolves.”

This is clearly tied to Psalm 23.

3. Theme-Based Christian Poetry

Other Christian poetry takes Christian themes—love, grace, forgiveness, hope, redemption, suffering, eternity—and weaves them into verse without quoting a single line of Scripture. It’s Christian because the imagery, message, or worldview reflects the Gospel.

Example:

“At the edge of my weakness
grace builds a bridge—
stronger than fear,
wide enough for me.”

No direct Scripture, but undeniably Christian in theme.

4. The Litmus Test

  • Does it align with the Christian story? (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration)
  • Does it reflect a biblical worldview? (God-centered, grace-filled, Christ-honoring)
  • Does it speak hope, truth, or spiritual reflection consistent with faith?

     

If yes, then it’s Christian poetry, whether it cites a verse or not.

5. Freedom of Style

Christian poetry doesn’t have to sound like a sermon or hymn. It can be contemplative, narrative, even experimental in style—as long as the voice behind it is shaped by Christian faith.

In short: Christian poetry doesn’t have to be Scripture restated. It can simply be poetry that springs from Christian faith, themes, and worldview.

The Purpose of Poetry

1. To Distill Experience

Poetry takes the big, messy fullness of life and condenses it into concentrated language—like espresso for the soul.

A few words can hold a lifetime’s worth of grief, joy, or wonder.

2. To Give Voice to the Unspeakable

There are moments—grief, awe, love—when ordinary prose falters. Poetry helps us express what we feel but can’t easily say.

3. To Bear Witness

Poets often write to record truth: personal, communal, or divine. It preserves memory, culture, and faith for generations.

4. To Connect the Human and the Divine

Especially in Christian poetry, verse becomes prayer, worship, or meditation bridging Earth and heaven.

The Value of Poetry

1. Emotional Healing

Reading or writing poetry can bring comfort, release, or catharsis. (Think of the Psalms—ancient poems that still soothe hearts today.)

2. Clarity and Insight

Poetry can help us see old truths in new ways. A single metaphor can crack open a fresh perspective on God, life, or self.

3. Beauty and Delight

Sometimes the value is simply aesthetic: the rhythm of words, the dance of images, the pleasure of sound.

4. Community and Shared Language

Poems can unite people—whether in worship, in song, or around a kitchen table. They give us words to say together.

5. Legacy

A poem outlives the poet. It’s a way of leaving behind a sliver of one’s soul for future readers, much like how David’s psalms still speak across millennia.

In Conclusion

The purpose of poetry is to name the unnamable and make the invisible visible.

Its value lies in how it shapes hearts, deepens faith, preserves stories, and brings beauty into our everyday lives.

Some of the Most Influential Christian Poets of the Last 500 Years

1. John Donne (1572–1631)

  • Anglican priest, later Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
  • Early works explored love and wit, but later works (Holy Sonnets) wrestled with mortality, sin, and redemption.
  • Famous poems: Death Be Not Proud, Batter My Heart, Three-Person’d God.

2. George Herbert (1593–1633)

  • Anglican priest who viewed poetry as part of his ministry.
  • The Temple (1633) is entirely devotional, with poems about prayer, obedience, and grace.
  • Famous poems: The Collar, Love (III).

3. John Milton (1608–1674)

  • Deeply religious Puritan who believed his poetry was service to God.
  • Paradise Lost retells the Fall of humanity; Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes also carry strong biblical themes.
  • Famous for combining epic poetry with Christian theology.

4. Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672)

  • Puritan living in New England, considered the first published American poet.
  • Poems often reflect on mortality, God’s providence, and eternal hope, alongside domestic themes.
  • Famous poems: Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, Contemplations.

5. John Bunyan (1628–1688)

  • A Christian, and a Puritan preacher in 17th-century England.
  • His most famous book, The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), is an allegory of the Christian journey of salvation. It has sold over 250 million copies. He is the all-time best selling Christian author.
  • Bunyan also wrote poems with strong devotional themes. His allegorical verse and prose have sold millions worldwide and have been translated into over 200 languages.
  • His writings consistently point to his deep personal faith in Christ, his commitment to Scripture, and his desire to encourage believers to persevere through trials.

6. Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

  • Jesuit priest, deeply influenced by Catholic sacramental theology.
  • Developed “sprung rhythm” and wrote poems celebrating God’s grandeur in nature.
  • Famous poems: God’s Grandeur, The Windhover, Pied Beauty.

7. Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)

  • Devout Anglican, wrote devotional and hymn-like verse.
  • Her faith permeates even non-explicit works, with strong undercurrents of sin, redemption, and grace.
  • Famous works: Goblin Market, A Christmas Carol (“In the Bleak Midwinter”).

8. T.S. Eliot (1888–1965)

  • A Christian poet (after conversion). Converted to Anglicanism in 1927.
  • Early works (The Waste Land) are bleak and fragmented, but later poetry (Ash Wednesday, Four Quartets) reflects deep Christian meditation.
  • Famous poem: Four Quartets (a Christian exploration of time, eternity, and salvation).

9. C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)

  • A Christian poet, apologist and novelist.
  • Early poetry collection Spirits in Bondage (1919) shows a pre-Christian struggle, but later verse reflects Christian imagination and theology.
  • His poetry complements his prose works. Lewis wrote four long poems: Dymer, Launcelot, The Queen of Drum, The Nameless Isle. His more lyrical and shorter poems: After Prayers Lie Cold, An Expostulation, As the Ruin Falls, On a Vulgar Error, On Being Human, and Prelude to Space.
  • Best known for The Chronicles of Narnia (over 120 million copies sold). Also wrote Christian classics like Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce.
  • Between his fiction, poetry, and apologetics, Lewis is widely considered the best-selling Christian author of the 20th century.

9. Calvin Miller (1936–2012)

  • A Christian poet. Southern Baptist pastor, seminary professor, and writer.
  • Famous for The Singer Trilogy (1970s), an allegorical retelling of the gospel in epic poetry, which sold over one million copies. Very impactful and influential during the revival that swept across the United States in the late 1960s and 1970s that is most widely and officially known as the Jesus Movement (or sometimes the Jesus People Movement).
  • His works aimed at making faith imaginative and lyrical. Other books of Miller’s poetry include: Apples, Snakes, and Bellyaches and When the Aardvark Parked on the Ark

10. Madeleine L’Engle (1918–2007)

  • A Christian writer, poet, though better known for her fiction. Her poetry infused with her Christian faith.
  • Her crossover appeal in both secular and faith markets boosted her poetry sales.
  • Her poetry collections include: The Ordering of Love, Lines Scribbled on an Envelope and Other Poems, A Cry Like a Bell, The Weather of the Heart, and Penguins and Golden Calves.

11. Luci Shaw (1928– )

  • A Christian poet. Contemporary contemplative poet whose work integrates faith, nature, and creativity. Known for meditative, faith-filled verse still being written today.
  • Frequent collaborator with Madeleine L’Engle.
  • Books include Harvesting Fog and Eye of the Beholder.
  • Famous Poems are:  Made Flesh, Mary’s Song, Breath, Landscape With Dunes, God Speaks in Whispers, and Ghostly.
  • Her Notable Poetry Collections are: Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation, Polishing the Petoskey Stone, Eye of the Beholder, and The Generosity.
  • Her poems embody her gift for blending theology with tactile, natural imagery.

 

Starting High School

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Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane 1967
Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane 1967

 

Starting High School

In San Francisco, it’s the summer of love,
Long-haired hippies, peace signs, and doves.
In Vietnam, the soldiers are dying,
Back home their families are crying,
And Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.

Jim wants to “Light My Fire,”
While Grace’s rabbit only flies higher.
The evening news shows the war isn’t cool,
This week I started high school,
And “All You Need Is Love” is what The Beatles say.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler
Schertz, Texas, August 1967

Grace Slick today at age 79

The photos are of Grace Slick. She is an alumna of Finch College where she majored in art. She is an accomplished artist. The artwork is hers.

Note: This is the oldest poem I have written by me. It was in notebooks and papers my mother gave me a few months before she passed away in 2014. Aren’t parents great about keeping things and then later in life returning them?

I wrote this poem as a freshman at Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas. Samuel Clemens High School was two miles outside the main gate at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Impressing, my English teacher was challenging. The assignment was to write a paper on “What I did on my summer vacation.” Instead, I wrote about what was happening in popular culture. Instead of prose, I wrote a poem. I failed to follow the rules. She called me a “beatnik hippy poet weirdo.” I viewed her insult as a compliment! I gave in, complied with her orders, and wrote five pages of drivel avoiding a grade of “F” on the assignment. I wrote about hitchhiking to the San Francisco, California and the “Summer of Love.”.

“Starting High School” is from the forthcoming book “Jimmie Aaron Kepler: Selected Poems” from Poetry and Prayer Press.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” based on the poem “Christmas Bells”

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Blog, Christian Living, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poem, Poems, Poet, Poet's Life, Poetry, Poets, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow. Longfellow is pictured as a younger man without his famous long, white beard. He grew the beard because the facial injuries from the fire that killed Fanny prevented him from shaving. Photo source: https://civilwarbookofdays.org/2011/07/08/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-and-the-civil-war/

Christmas Bells
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said:
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Written Christmas Morning 1863

“Christmas Bells” is a minor, yet well known, poem written by a very melancholy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas morning in 1863 during the midst of the Civil War. It is an anti-slavery poem as well as a seasonal favorite.

Mourning the Death of His Wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow

The poem was written six months after the battle of Gettysburg where 40,000 soldiers lost their lives. In addition to despairing over the bloody war, Henry was also mourning the death of his beloved wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow. Fanny died in a tragic fire the same year that the Civil War broke out. In November of 1862, another personal tragedy added to his pain. His son, Union Lieutenant Charles Appleton, was wounded in the Army of the Potomac.

Written at Craigie House in Cambridge, Massachusetts

On Christmas morning in 1863, while sitting at his desk at the Craigie House in Cambridge, MA, Henry was inspired to write a poem as he listened to the church bells pealing. Their constancy and joyous ringing inspired him to write “Christmas Bells.” In spite of his sadness, Longfellow expresses his belief in God and innate optimism that indeed:

God is not dead; nor doth he sleep
The Wrong shall fail;
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!

Adapted into a Christmas Carol by John B. Caulkin

Sometime after 1872, Longfellow’s poem was adapted into a Christmas Carol. John B. Caulkin (1827-1905) was a famous English composer who set the lyrics to a gentle, melodic tune that is reminiscent of bells ringing. The carol is entitled “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Alternative tunes have been written for the lyrics but Caulkin’s melody remains predominant.

I lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire from February 1966 – the last day of April 1967. I was in the seventh and eighth grades. My father was in the United States Air Force at the time. As a student at Portsmouth Junior High School, I took field trips to both Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Longfellow was a Bowdoin College graduate and was a faculty member before moving to Cambridge to teach at Harvard.

Classical Education with Understanding and Appreciation of the Arts

We placed great emphasis when I was in junior high school on classical education with understanding and appreciation of the arts including poetry. Only my university and seminary education had a greater impact on me than my short two years in New England public schools.

What If There Were No C’s?

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What If There Were No C’s?

What if there were no “C’s” to say with our A’s and B’s?
What if all the C’s went out on strike?
Tired of being seen by you and me as just average unlike the letters A and B.
Now here is how your life might be if out on strike went the letter C.

You begin your day with a ‘up of hot ‘offee while in your lap is your ‘urled up ‘at.
Then later you ‘ould take your dog for a walk
While wearing your favorite ball ‘ap to keep the sun out of your eyes
Unless of ‘ourse, dark stormy ‘louds filled the sky.

On to the park where the ‘hildren and ‘anines go to play
Where you li’k an i’e ‘ream ‘one bought from a man pushing a ‘art.
While sitting in the park table’s ‘hair you ‘arefully observe the ‘ars
Driving down the street wondering about the driver’s worries or ‘ares.

A gust of wind makes you need to retrieve your ‘ap that just blew off your head.
Your hair now a mess needs ‘ombed but instead of ‘ombing it the ‘ap you wear
The favorite team’s ‘ap does its job of hiding your unkempt hair.
And you let your dog lead you ba’k to the house.

Ba’k inside your ‘ondominium a box of ‘andy ‘alls your name.
The temptation is too hard to resist so you pi’k a ‘ho’olate that’s ‘herry filled
Get a ‘up of hot ‘appu’’ino and sit on the ‘ou’h.
Then into your lap jumps the ‘at and she quickly ‘urls up.

Finally, resting in his home he re’alls his manners,
And remembers to remove his ‘ap, and loves on his ‘urled up ‘at.
Now you know how it would be if there were no “C’s” to say with our A’s and B’s
Because you’ve seen how your life might be if out on strike went the letter C.

Jimmie Aaron Kepler
Written for my granddaughter Aurora
Written during November – December 2017

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay