Rain Quenches Thirst

close up photo of wet green leaves

Photo by Valeriia Miller on Pexels.com

From Mark 9:41:  “For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”

Our faithfulness calls God at night

Please send renewing rain, so bright

 

Rain clouds congregate over the woods

Moisture joyously arrives, as God could

 

Bringing life to Eden’s vast garden

God creates rain, no longer starving

 

Tiny drops journey towards the ground

Lightly splashing leaves, barely a sound

 

God refreshes His creation, starting new

Raining days and nights, never through

 

Elevate all acclamation in God’s sight

Restore His heritage and Holy might

 

God’s rain yields a harvest, bountiful

Blessing our empty lives, how beautiful

 

Nature receives food from God’s hand

Adding greener foliage, across the land

 

From the Heavens, flow God’s blessings

Bring sustaining rains to life’s settings

 

Dry, thirsty landscape welcomes the rain

Renews life’s spirit, while conquering pain

 

Ask God, to forgive sinful ways

He restores lives with rain today

 

Faithfully, God quietly satisfies nature’s thirst

Christ rises, paying our transgressions first

 

Though our shortcomings are always present

Quench our thirst Lord, Heavenly pleasant

 

Drink heartedly from the rushing rain

Experience God’s love, easing our pain

 

With His blessings, our cup overflows

God identifies our needs, here below

From Psalm 23:5:  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

pexels-photo-1231251.jpeg

Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.com

 

 

 

Phillip Yancey Quote

bible blur christ christianity

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The Bible is a Christian’s guidebook, and I believe the knowledge it sheds on pain and suffering is the great antidote to fear for suffering people.  Knowledge can dissolve fear as light destroys darkness.

From 2 Timothy 3:16-17:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Haiku Series #20 (With God)

Lost

Lost in the darkness

God, please be with me always—

He lights a new way

yellow lantern near body of water during night

Photo by Burak K on Pexels.com

 

Me

Long before I was born

God already knew about me—

He made me His own

pexels-photo-1973270.jpeg

Photo by kelvin octa on Pexels.com

 

Love

 A life shattered, lost

Feeling refreshing waters—

Transformed by God’s love

timelapse photography off water fountain

Photo by Gabriel Peter on Pexels.com

Rick Warren Quote

 

pexels-photo-273936.jpeg

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com

During my days of deepest grief, in all of my shock, sorrow, and struggle, I sat at the feet of God.  I literally spent hours each day reading God’s Word, meditating on Scripture, and praying.  I intentionally spent a significant amount of time being still before God.

From Psalm 23:1-4:  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.  He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff–they comfort me.”

Mister Sycamore

woods-sycamore.jpg

Far older than every one of the neighboring trees

Standing taller than many, all take notice and see

 

The prized King of Walnut Woods reigns today

Calling him Mister Sycamore, his subjects say

 

With branches elevating up towards the sky

Measuring his girth, takes many hands to try

2019 June 7 Walnut Woods & Addison 017.JPG

Visitors pause to salute nature’s monarch

Standing in reverence as park’s landmark

 

The Woods change from season to season

Watching over all, is the King’s main reason

 

He holds on to his leaves longer in fall

Guarding the land in winter, always tall

 

His leaves take some time to fill out in spring

Providing ample shade in summer is his thing

 

His expansive canopy of branches spreads wide

Peeling off sections of bark, creates whitish sides

 

His heir, the Prince, waiting in the wings

Rising lean and tall by a creek, he sings

2019-june-7-walnut-woods-addison-015.jpg 

Farther away, a thick grove of younger ones wait

Dreaming who will grow to be the tallest, so great

 

Mister Sycamore loves many Bible stories

Lifting Jesus up in total and brilliant glory

 

The story of Zacchaeus climbing a Sycamore tree

Being much too short for Jesus to find, there he be

Ohio’s biggest recorded tree is an American Sycamore found in Ashland County near Jeromesville.  The tree is at least 200 years old, stands 88 feet tall, and measures 326 inches around its circumference. 

Maya Angelou Quote

newtestament book

Photo by Christiane on Pexels.com

I love the melodies in the Old Testament, how preachers highlight them when they read from the Scripture.  But I was influenced forever by the New Testament.  I love the Beatitudes, informing us that the meek shall inherit the earth.

From Matthew 5:1-12:  “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  Then He began to speak, and taught them, saying:”

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
  • Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
  • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
  • Blessed for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 
  • Blessed are those who are persecuted  for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
  • Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. 
  • Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Monday Memories: Cat with a Fiddle

Here is another edition of Monday Memories, where Big Sky Buckeye brings back a previous post from months ago.  Today’s poem was written back in October, 2018, and the content has been updated just a bit.  Enjoy some fun with this short, yet humorous poem.

brown and black abstract painting

Photo by Darwis Alwan on Pexels.com

Down the road skips the cat with the fiddle

Singing and playing, but ready with a riddle

 

Feeling happy and joyous on a sunny morn

Always looking at his life without any scorn

 

Passing by, a child asks the friendly cat

Why don’t you trade that fiddle for a bat

 

Replying back, a bat was used many years in the past

Playing as a member of a regretfully bad baseball cast

 

Leaving a life on the ball diamond without a smile

Skipping to an exciting destiny to walk many a mile

 

Now days are filled with music and merry vibes

Feel free to join me on my journey and be alive

 

Oswald Chambers Quote

pexels-photo-2832028.jpeg

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

The Rock of Ages is the great sheltering encirclement.

From 2 Samuel 22:2-3:  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation; my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.

Thirsty for Living Water

pexels-photo-2881260.jpeg

Photo by Kévin Dorg on Pexels.com

Like deer at a flowing stream

I wake thirsty from a dream

Tears feed me, night and day

“Where is your God?” people say

 

My spirit is cast down low

God’s faithful, trusty love, He shows

Nightly, Psalms sing to my heart

Praying for my life to restart

 

My flesh cries out in thirst

God’s love will always arrive first

In the middle of dry land

His love extends from His hand

 

Sometimes life brings bitterness to drink

Thirsty like parched land, I think

The Gospel brings forward good news

Living water quenches, like morning dew

 

The Enemy taunts me once more

“Where is your God?” he implores

He has left and forsaken you

Your tiny life should be through

 

Glory of God fills the streams

Desert sands become pools, no dream

Grass thickens across the vast plains

Springs arise, thirst never to wane

 

Jesus, the Lamb, shepherds me now

Providing living water, kneel and bow

Come, take this water of life

Receiving God’s grace, without any strife

 

Waking in the darkness of night

Thirsty for God’s message of might

Making water flow from a stone

Split open by God’s blessed tone

 

The Enemy’s spirit no longer swarms

Thirst for righteousness, defeats any storms

All who thirst, seek God’s altar

Holy Spirit’s living water, never falters

pexels-photo-2877066.jpeg

Photo by Ali Hassan on Pexels.com

 

Vance Havner Quote

person wearing rainbow socks while walking upstairs

Photo by Thoni Huang on Pexels.com

Faith in God will not get for you everything you want, but it will get for you what God wants you to have.  The unbeliever does not need what he wants; the Christian should want only what he needs.

From Proverbs 16:9:  “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”