Navigating
Uncharted waters
Embrace change ahead
Steadfast in trusting God
Faithfulness
Sin
Life’s misdeeds
Missing God’s target
Grace finds its mark
Forgiveness
Come
Gather today
Community of believers
House of the Lord
Worship
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors.
From Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Under the infinite Big Sky, many bloggers have found their way into my midst. As writers, artists, people of faith, lovers of life, and a nearly unlimited collection, these amazing people share themselves, their craft, and their positive outlook.
Today, I feel grateful in sharing three WordPress bloggers whom I regularly visit. Each is worthy of a large box of Buckeyes (peanut butter balls covered in chocolate) for adding delicious sweetness to others’ lives.
Mary shares a regularly published blog, and she uses a simple and effective formula as she shares quotations, poetry, artwork, and photography.
Renee shares her Christian faith with frequent testaments, filled with personal reflections and timely Scripture verses. She unflinchingly shares her faith, hope, and love. Be on the lookout for “hearts.”
Kathy shares a variety of posts. Through her posts, she eloquently and honestly expresses her love of God and country, with a bit of humor thrown in. She also features the inspiring artwork of her husband, Paul.
Life consumes ups and downs
Warm smiles give way to frowns
One moment pours with joy
Another will annoy
Mountaintop songs swell hearts
Dark valleys tear apart
Tonight’s thunderstorms boom
Tomorrow catches gloom
Miles bridge life’s paradox
Some shine, others break glass
Life’s cycle never halts
Dancing to steady waltz
Time takes different road
Living by rhythmic code
Expectations grin back
Days no longer look black
Morning rain shares rainbow
Outlook blossoms and glows
Love filling empty hearts
Today brings fresh restart
Hourglass never drains out
Happiness transforms drought
Life consumes ups and downs
Now sowing fertile grounds
Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you.
When you clench your fist, no one can put anything in your hand.
From James 3:5-6: “How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Children sometimes hearing these words
Sticks and stones may break someone’s bones
But, cruel words shall not hurt thee
Sadly, words can harm like thrown stones
Taming his rough tongue, mankind fails
Harsh words lash out, crushing others
Steers life toward ominous clouds
Disrespecting earthly brothers
Mothers teaching, “Now bite your tongue”
How often must we all forget?
Allowing words to run amuck
Their cold misdeeds, sin’s rising debt
Practice daily, Christ’s “Golden Rule”
Taming tongue, words chosen rightly
No longer curse, but life’s blessing
Words count, so use them politely
From James 3:10-12: “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.”
What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His–completely.
From 2 Chronicles 16:9: “ For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to Him.”
Dreaming of fresh dough
To grocery store for yeast—
Bread shall rise again
Eighty-two years young
Earning high school diploma—
Ageless dreams blossom
Golden harvest waits
Farmer’s efforts rewarded—
Blessed field of dreams
When in doubt, stand still.
Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for you having been there.
I am a solitary man traveling on an empty road
My life journey’s been an awfully heavy load
I yearn to walk a few more miles by the end of this day
My battered and worn shoes have so very much to say
I survive by myself after all of these long years
My past is filled with disappointments and tears
I have met few along this road who even say “hello”
My disheveled appearance keeps eyes looking low
I look ahead to what this day will offer to me
My weakened eyes make it challenging to see
I would welcome a hot meal and a warm shower
My bag of jerky will need to nourish for hours
I feel my energy running low on fuel just the same
My mind tries to stay alert as if playing a new game
I wish to stop by this large sycamore tree
My eyes can rest under its shade for free
I will rest and relax in peace along this quiet road
My journey will soon be finished, yet I never slowed
I will continue my peaceful trek down a lonesome route
My days are numbered, but I remain strong and stout
I am ready to meet my Lord on His righteous terms
His everlasting spirit brings much for me to affirm
Big Sky Buckeye 