
You are already the awakeness that you seek.
You don’t have to join a monastery, or practice in a cave to discover the well-being, clarity, and open hearted awareness that is already within you.

You are already the awakeness that you seek.
You don’t have to join a monastery, or practice in a cave to discover the well-being, clarity, and open hearted awareness that is already within you.
From Psalm 31:23-24: “Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

Every life thirsts
For eternal love
Some find it, some won’t
Shared from God above
Life writes its story
Father values each
Treasured Book of Life
Gospel lessons teach
Chapter lengths vary
Some long and filling
Others short and brief
All earn top billing
No favorites here
Tranquility’s peace
Resting as equals
Memories won’t cease
Walking among saints
Honoring each one
Final resting place
Blessed setting sun

From Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Never work just for money or for power. They won’t save your soul or help you sleep at night.
From 2 Chronicles 31:20-21: “Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah; he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God, and in accordance with the law and the commandments, to seek his God, he did with all his heart; and he prospered.”
Sunrise sends greeting
Creator’s hand wakens day—
Glorious morning

Soul-filled percussion
Pulsating afternoon sky–
Thunder’s rhythmic beat

Hot days continue
Waiting for autumn colors—
Summer must insist


By perseverance the snail reached the ark.
From 1 Corinthians 15:57-58: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

A magnificent oak tree stands center in a park
Waiting with quiet majesty in the solitary dark
The blackness of night only adds to the scene
Bringing tranquility and peace, free and clean
Trees with fruit blossoms, in full view even at night
Sending forth a fragrance, invigorating and right
Tiny green leaves are growing out on the tall trees
Waving from a gentle breath of the wind with ease
In the distance, glowing lights enhance a background
Providing a reverent atmosphere without any sound
A bit of shining moonlight fashions extra to see
Moving and playful shadows amongst the trees
Even at night, God’s creation sparkles all new
Painting for each evening, a breathtaking view
The eastern light rises to create the dawn
Crooning birds welcome a newborn fawn
The stillness begins to wake-up from its rest
Leaving its nocturnal beauty, always the best!


Tomorrow, smile at a perfect stranger and mean it.
The only dreams that matter are the ones you have when you’re awake.
From Psalm 100:1-2: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”

Call to worship
From near and far
House of the Lord
Sabbath’s bright star
Call to worship
Doors open wide
All are welcome
Spirit shall guide
Call to worship
Hearing God’s Word
With reverence
His love transferred
Call to worship
Praising through song
Lifting voices
Together strong
Call to worship
Praying as one
Communal time
Blessing God’s Son

The inspiration for this poem grew from a morning devotional which featured the hymn, “All Are Welcome.” If you wish to hear more hymns, look for MaryRuth72’s channel on YouTube.

To be humble in heart . . . is to be submissive to the core. It involves being more interested in serving the needs of others than in having one’s own needs met.
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”

A late autumn afternoon coaxes Fred and Milt, two of golfing’s diehards, to make one final trip to the golf course before storing their clubs for another season. The forecast looks a bit ominous, but the hardy duo figure they can handle anything Mother Nature throws at them.
By the time they reach the first tee, a miserable windy, rainy cold front is quickly approaching. Fred tells Milt, “Maybe the weather will clear.”
The twosome manages to finish the first hole with a pair of pars, and they both feel confident to play the second hole. Meanwhile, the cold, wind, and rain have arrived.
Moving along a bit more quickly, Fred and Milt finish the second hole with a pair of bogeys. Obviously, their thoughts are more concerned with the weather than their golf score.
Hesitating just a bit, Milt asks Fred, “Should we continue to the next hole?”
With the wind beginning to roar, Fred shouts back, “Sure, let’s go for it.”
Milt hits a near-perfect tee shot, but he can barely see the ball in the driving rain. Before Fred can tee up his ball, the rain is beginning to turn to snow.
Undeterred, Fred slams into his tee shot with a towering, magnificent drive. One problem!
Tiny snowflakes are growing exponentially bigger as Fred’s ball takes off. Quickly, the ball disappears into a cloud of white. Milt calls out, “Looks like we can finish this hole next spring. Let’s get out of here!”
Fred shoots back, “Sounds like a great plan. Let’s head to my place and see if Marge has any coffee and pie left.”
Reaching the warm and dry kitchen, the haggard golfers are greeted by the aroma of Marge’s fresh baked Dutch apple pie, topped with her mother’s secret recipe of streusel. As the golfing buddies sit down around the kitchen table with Marge and her sweet pie, Fred remarks, “We both took a ‘snowman’ on our third hole, but Margie’s pie wins out for sure!”