Morning breakfast time
Pancakes searching for sweetness—
Think maple syrup
Ordering three eggs
Scrambled or over easy?
Make it an omelet
Bacon, sausage, ham
Can’t decide, let’s go for it—
Eating the whole hog
It’s that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. Others matter more than you do, so “don’t fuss, dear; get on with it.”
Always be a first-rate version of yourself.
A trio of boys is always up to mischief at school.
Mrs. Hall is the very strict, no nonsense, typing teacher up on the second floor. She runs her classroom like a well-run military operation. She adores reading about General George S. Patton.
The typing classroom consists of the latest manual typewriter models. (Sorry lad, no electric ones yet.)
The delinquent boys intend to surprise and shock Mrs. Hall this morning. After all, there is nothing wrong with conducting a small science experiment from her classroom.
Have you ever seen a typewriter fly?
The boys sneak an old typewriter into Mrs. Hall’s classroom before the school day begins.
With a lookout posted near the classroom door, the other two boys open a window and place the typewriter on the ledge.
Just as Mrs. Hall walks into the room, her ever-alert eyes see the boys at the open window with the typewriter.
“Hey Mrs. Hall! Have you ever seen a typewriter fly?”
The typewriter is launched from the window ledge, precisely on schedule.
Thinking the boys are dropping one of her prized Olivetti typewriters from the window, brings a shocking look of surprise to Mrs. Hall’s face . . . Priceless!
We are not simply to feel or to read or to hear or to see, but to take into our bodies the taste of our Savior’s sacrifice.
From Psalm 34:8: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him.”
From Psalm 100:4-5: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Master of creation’s universe
Father’s love, boundless and enduring
Defying mankind’s understanding
Endless waterfall, reassuring
God’s lasting presence covers this earth
Filled with unending mercy and care
Sharing His love, bringing us gladness
Hearing concerns, answering prayers
Our world rotates between night and day
Yet, God never ceases His labors
Cherishing us, sheep in His pasture
Caring and loving us—as neighbors
God’s eternal and lasting love flows
Filling every second with love
His steadfast love shall always prevail
Sharing His love from heaven above
From the words of Christian writer, Corrie ten Boom: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.
Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I’m not going to make it, but you laugh inside–remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) is a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His prolific writing produced over 45 books of poetry and prose, and much of his writing spoke to the despairing urban conditions of the downtrodden.
From Psalm 88:1-2: “O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.”
Cold stillness greets early morning air
Dressed in armor’s extra warm layers
Pre-dawn speaks with inviting brightness
Heavenly Father answers prayers
Heart’s emptiness filled with sorrow’s grief
Walking life’s open road with brisk pace
Precious moments with Father’s goodness
He stands ready at this time and place
Frigid frost slaps rosy cheeks and nose
Step after step, life moving along
Chill penetrates through extra clothing
Heart needs comfort, love from Heaven’s song
Absent clouds replaced with brightest sun
God’s advent warms both body and soul
Speaking with loving mercy and grace
Father softens pain from rocky shoal
Walk’s intensity traded for peace
Warmness and hope, alive and feeding
Life’s burdens lightened with God’s blessings
Sharing much more, His presence leading
From Psalm 25:16-17: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.”
If we submit to whatever road the Lord has chosen for us, His Spirit will guide us and–slowly but surely–produce His fruit.
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Allow
God’s Wisdom
To speak aloud
Permeate souls and minds
Truth
Courage
Young David
Clinging to God
Lasting perseverance over his
Trials
Witness
Christ’s body
Wounds and scars
Transformed by our Risen
Savior
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.
The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God’s own heart.
From Acts 9:17: “So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'”
Big Sky Buckeye 