Whispers from the Word was written as a poetic devotion of salt and light, with the distinct purpose of edifying the body of Christ and pointing others to Him. Although not exhaustive, the variety of poems are meant to cause us to reflect and meditate on some of the issues and challenges we face in everyday life. It's my hope and prayer that every reader will be blessed and strengthened from the poems written. As it is in life, we continually grow and mature as we age. We experience the ebbs and flows, as well as the hills and valleys at various times and seasons. No one is exempt, and we certainly can all benefit from the prayers and support of others along the way. Our walk with Christ is no different. We experience the issues of life like anyone and need encouragement, comfort, redirection, guidance, affirmation, love, etc. God has given us all spiritual gifts and talents with the purpose of using them to strengthen the church as well as give hope to a hurting world. Ultimately, we know it is His will that we be transformed into the image of His Son and that others see his reflection in us. Several years ago, I began praying and asking God to reveal the gifts He has given me and to help me use and perfect them for His glory and honor. One day, during times of heartache and uncertainty, I began to write a poem to a friend. I soon stopped thinking it was silly and went and checked my e-mail. The first article I read was from WebMD, and it spoke directly of writing poetry. I sensed the Lord compelling me to finish the poem, so I did. Little did I know, it was the beginning of many poems to follow. From there, I would write when feeling compelled about topics that came up as I went about my daily work. I began sharing them with coworkers, friends, and strangers as I felt led by the Holy Spirit. Several people suggested that I publish them. The Lord blessed me with the privilege to write and thus has delivered this as the first harvest of His gifts. I pray you will be abundantly blessed. In the King's service, Patrick Michael Coogan