Where the Heart Turns Home
Finding Grace and Hope One Day at a Time
Sometimes life becomes so busy that we lose sight of the quiet places where God gently meets us.
Where the Heart Turns Home is a collection of 99 faith-filled poems created to help you slow down, reflect, and rediscover the peace, purpose, and living hope found in Jesus Christ.
Inspired by the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one, each poem is a gentle invitation to return to the One who has been calling your heart home all along.
The Story Behind the 99 🐑
Why are there 99 poems instead of 100?
That question has been asked more than once.
The answer is found in one of Jesus' most beautiful parables.
In Luke 15:1–7, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that wandered away. At first glance, it seems like a story about a lost sheep. But at its heart, it's a story about a Shepherd whose love refuses to stop searching.
As I wrote this collection, I realized it wasn't meant to contain one hundred poems.
It was meant to stop at ninety-nine.
Not because something was missing, but because the story was already complete.
The ninety-nine remind us of God's faithfulness.
The one reminds us of His relentless love.
Whether you've walked closely with Christ for years or feel like you've wandered farther than you ever imagined, His invitation remains the same.
He still seeks.
He still calls.
He still rejoices when one heart turns home.
My prayer is that somewhere within these ninety-nine poems, you'll discover the quiet reminder that you have never been forgotten.
Perhaps, as you journey through these pages, you'll recognize that all along...
you were the one He came looking for.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
Luke 15:4 (NIV)
Why Poetry?
People often ask me,
"Why poetry?"
For me, poetry has never been about writing beautiful words.
It's about noticing the quiet moments where God reveals Himself.
Sometimes a single image, a walk through nature, a verse of Scripture, or a whispered prayer says more than paragraphs ever could. Poetry allows those moments to breathe. It slows me down enough to hear God's voice more clearly and reminds me that His presence is often found in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
My hope is that these poems will do the same for you—creating space to pause, reflect, and encounter the Shepherd who is always calling us closer to Himself.
Four Paths That Lead Home
Every journey begins with a single step.
The 99 poems in Where the Heart Turns Home are thoughtfully arranged into four sections that reflect the Shepherd's invitation to draw closer to Him. Each path offers a unique place to pause, reflect, and discover His presence in the ordinary moments of life.
Grace
Receive the gift you could never earn.
Grace reminds us that God meets us with mercy, not condemnation. These poems reflect His unfailing love, His forgiveness, and the quiet assurance that we are never beyond His reach.
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Focus
Fix your eyes on the One who never loses sight of you.
In a world filled with distractions, these poems gently redirect our hearts toward Christ, inviting us to seek His Kingdom first and trust His leading one step at a time.
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Heart
Return to Him with your whole heart.
True transformation begins within. These poems invite you to surrender, listen, and rediscover the peace that comes from drawing near to God with honesty, humility, and faith.
"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Joel 2:12 (NIV)
Hope
Live each day in the hope only Christ can give.
Living hope isn't wishful thinking; it's the confident assurance found in the risen Savior. These poems celebrate the promise of new life, renewed strength, and the faithful God who always keeps His promises.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Your Journey Begins Anywhere
There is no right place to begin.
Some books are meant to be read from the first page to the last. Where the Heart Turns Home was written to be experienced differently.
Whether you begin with the first poem or open to a page that simply catches your attention, each poem offers its own invitation to pause, reflect, and draw closer to God.
Read one poem with your morning coffee.
Return to another before you end your day.
Carry this collection with you through seasons of joy, waiting, celebration, or uncertainty.
There is no schedule to follow and no finish line to reach.
Simply begin where your heart is today...
and trust that God will meet you there.
The poem you need most may be the one you never planned to read.
A Moment to Pause
Before you turn the first page, I'd love to share one poem with you.
My prayer is that these words remind you of a simple but life-changing truth...
you were created for more.
Made for More
In Christ alone my my anchor true
My identity a steadfast hue.
"Made for More" a purpose grand,
Rooted in Him I firmly stand.
The cross, a start, a love untold,
Salvation's price a debt of old.
Freely forgiven my soul is cleansed,
Transformed within new life begins.
From inside out a radiant glow,
A future bright where blessings flow.
No longer lost a life reclaimed,
Chosen, beloved, and called by name.
"Made for More a whispered call,
His grace sustains through rise and fall.
In every step His love I see,
My heart renewed my soul set free.
If these words spoke to your heart, imagine spending time with ninety-eight more, each inviting you to slow down, reflect, and draw closer to the Shepherd who lovingly leads His children home.
Begin your journey today.
Meet Anne
After a 50-year career in accounting, Anne Wooten answered God's call to a new journey as a Kingdom Christian Life Coach, author, blogger, musician, and contributing writer for The Sisterhood Magazine. Through writing, coaching, and creative expression, she encourages others to embrace their identity in Christ and discover the peace, purpose, and freedom found in walking closely with Him.
Anne is the author of Where Faith Takes Flight: One Day at a Time, The Red-Letter Code: A 31-Day Journey: Unlocking the Blueprint to Your Identity in Christ, and The Red-Letter Code: Leader's Bible Study Guide. Her books, blog, and coaching ministry all share the same heartbeat: pointing people to Jesus and reminding them that no one is ever beyond the reach of the Good Shepherd.
Wherever your heart finds itself today...
...whether you're walking through a season of joy, waiting, uncertainty, or new beginnings, my prayer is that these poems remind you of one unchanging truth:
The Shepherd still seeks.
He still calls.
He still restores.
And He still leads His children home.
Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you.
I pray that Where the Heart Turns Home becomes more than a collection of poems resting on your shelf. May it become a quiet companion that gently points your heart back to Jesus—again and again—one poem, one prayer, and one day at a time.
Ready to welcome these poems into your quiet moments?