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We often find in attempting to teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves.
From Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.”
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Expressions of hope are written throughout the Old Testament. At times, the people of Israel lost hope, but God always found ways to restore their trust and hope to believe in Him.
From Psalm 65:5: “By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and the farthest seas.
Broken faith with God
Flicker of hope remains
Have hope, seek God
Hopeful in His deeds
Place our Living God
Above all other gods
Light turns into darkness
Hiding in the shadows
Yet, God remains close
Hope grows once again
Living tree of hope
Will live into eternity
New buds always sprout
Strength from the Father
There is always hope
Even in darkest times
Life’s trials uproot hope
Adversaries line up against
God hears our cries
Intervenes when hope’s weak
Ancestors of Jacob witness
Their hope in God
The God of Jacob
Always God of Hope
God keeps His decrees
Believe, look to God
God remains always faithful
Our Lord reigns forever
For God’s righteous believers
Hope ends in gladness
Way of the Lord
Offers refuge with wisdom
Follow God with hope
Always in our hearts
Tree of Life endures
Ready to sustain us
Hope shows the light
Steady on life’s course
When spirit is dried
Hope quenches our thirst
God opens hope’s door
Inviting us to enter
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The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation.
From 1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
Restaurant breakfast
Cheese omelet, fruit, and coffee—
Where is my rye toast?
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Winning touchdown scores
Crowd celebrates victory—
Oops . . . penalty flag!
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Jogging down the street
Young child sprints by me and waves—
Totally humbled!
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If my private world is in order, it will be because I absorb the Words of Christ into my attitudes and actions.
From Matthew 4:1-4: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards He was famished. The tempter came and said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But He answered, ‘It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Here is another poem from the past, published back in November, 2018. It recalls a time long ago of rich family memories.
Recalling an amazing moment many years ago
Looking forward to seeing Grandpa—let’s go!
Sitting on his front porch for endless times
Allowing a special grandson to feel so fine
Bouncing on Grandpa’s knee was such fun
Laughing and giggling until there was none
Seeing Grandpa’s old, rustic rocking chair
Bringing back memories of us being a pair
Enjoying another warm, yet peaceful summer night
Listening to Grandpa’s stories, full of fun and fright
Watching the fireflies dancing above the tall, green grass
Hearing through the screen door, radio shows long past
Observing neighbors walking down an endless sidewalk
Pausing to spend a magic moment with us while we talk
Tasting Grandma’s freshly baked, sweet treats
Arousing taste buds and sweet tooth to meet
Spending time together for an hour or maybe two
Witnessing life from a porch presents quite a view
Sitting in the proud and mature rocking chair once more
Observing the years have been generous and restored
Smiling now as the porch hasn’t changed too much
Adding a new floor with fresh paint as a final touch
Recalling Grandpa on this comforting porch
Carrying on for him, with a brightly lit torch
Passing on an ageless and honored family tradition
Listening again to Grandpa’s most favorite renditions
Filling childish lives with memories of nurturing love
Lifting thoughts upward to Grandpa in heaven above
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Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never to lie down at night without being able to say, “I have made at least one human being a little wiser, a little happier, or a little better this day.”
From Ephesians 4:29: “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.”
The text for this poem is based upon God’s Word as well as a recent sermon message given at New Life Church, Gahanna, Ohio.
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From Hebrews 12:1-3
Let us throw off everything
Hindering sin, which easily entangles
Running life’s race with perseverance
Fixing faith’s eyes on Christ
He endures Calvary’s Cross
Defeating sin’s darkness and shame
Now sitting at God’s side
Bringing hope to lost hearts
The Message
Life’s treadmill defines our race
Running with God’s steady faith
Life’s marathon, hard and long
Facing emotional ups and downs
God sends His encouraging words
Overcoming defeat, distress, and despair
Trusting in Jesus, keep running
With perseverance, to the end
Jesus endures His own journey
Running to “our” bloody Cross
Following always Jesus’ faithful example
Showing us perseverance and trust
Young David ignores Goliath’s size
Focusing on faith in God
Christ faces the impossible
Yet, His journey will succeed
Jesus surrenders to God’s plan
Faithfully carrying our burdens
We all suffer sin’s consequences
Christ comes, guarding our hearts
Withstanding life’s harsh body blows
In this fallen, broken world
Take Action
Trusting God, eyes on Jesus
Focusing on Christ, remain obedient
Replacing life’s empty, negative notions
Knowing Jesus as our Savior!
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Encouraging others means helping people, looking for the best in them, and trying to bring out their positive qualities.
From Romans 15:2-3: “Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me.'”
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Oh, Brother!
Sometimes people look at me in a sort of puzzlin’ way
They just don’t appreciate my approach to each day
Through their eyes, I must be an utter red-neck
They fail to understand my life, not one lil’ speck
Some say I have an accent when speakin’
Darn if I know, I’m just talkin’ and seekin’
Before I digress too much further, let’s see
I live in America, lookin’ always to be free
My Daddy taught me the major differences in life
Between right and wrong, always love one’s wife
My Mommy shared her love of nature’s delights
Her bountiful garden, with colors always bright
Growin’ up in an awfully small, yet welcome place
Life remain’ balanced and gentle, a relaxin’ pace
Joinin’ the U.S. Navy at the earliest possible age
Livin’ on an aircraft carrier, like workin’ in a cage
Comin’ ashore to meet a lady for a date
Becomin’ my lovely wife and first mate
Receivin’ a degree with honors from Silage Tech
Not regrettin’ my time there, never wantin’ to fret
My best friends live and labor on farms and ranches
We hook-up on Saturday nights for fun-filled dances
Livin’ in the countryside, but drivin’ to my job in town
People say I’ve been too busy, never makin’ a sound
Can’t they see who’s followin’ me down the walk
Two lil’ youngins, brothers lovin’ to play and talk
My two boys, Pete and Re-Pete, makin’ me proud
Even when their horseplay gets a tiny bit too loud
Oh, Brother!
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Big Sky Buckeye 