For the creation of a masterwork of literature two powers must concur, the power of the man and the power of the moment, and the man is not enough without the moment.
Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things.
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Salvation is an unfathomable treasure for which we will spend eternity praising, thanking, and worshipping God.
From 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
From James 5:11: “Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Totally unexpected, overwhelming
Lingering cracks appearing along life’s road
Tripping, stumbling, and finally crashing down
Shattering confidence, from life’s heavy load
Floundering, drowning . . . caught in river’s rapids
Endlessly swimming, lost at pool’s deepest end
Feet never finding firm ground, dour fear arrives
Replacing life’s daylight with night at each bend
Life’s turbulence teaches us lasting patience
With the Lord, with ourselves, and with life’s curve balls
Fumbling life’s slippery game ball once again
God’s love sends patience after every fall
Endurance of Job, life’s journey shall require
Living with patience, frees us from each briar
From Galatians 5:22-25: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
Discipline is one of the most hated terms in our times. If you want to put a stop to mediocrity, replace excuses with fresh determination . . . you need discipline.
From Colossians 1:10-12: So that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.”
Daily walk of faith
One step after another—
Following Jesus
Love be genuine
Feed enemy with goodness—
Overcome with good
Lost in wilderness
God’s GPS brings us home—
Walk never alone
Don’t you try and go through lie worried if someone had liked you or not. You best make sure that they are doing right by you.
One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter. [James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering in his youth.]
Sitting in darkness
Feeling so lonesome
Dealing with sadness
Silence still fearsome
Waking at night
Harsh dreams exist
Silent images in sight
Dark visions persist
Feeling infinitely restless
Nearly every day
This mind will confess
Nothing but gray
What voices speak
To a lonely heart
No one to greet
Needing a restart
This world filled
With eerie muteness
No longer a thrill
Never a kindness
Who hears at all?
Silence sadly grows
Landing with a fall
No embers glow
Forget this life
So long ago
No more strife
Waiting to go
Too much “stuff”
To deal with
Darkness is enough
This life drifts
Special love lost
Many years ago
A ring is tossed
Away it goes
Empty, shattered heart
Now freezing cold
Alone in the dark
No longer bold
My Lord, my God
Bring light to bear
Be an awesome God
Help one to care
In total blackness
Of a lost night
Words of brightness
Feeling so right
God’s truthful voice
Speaks loud and clear
Brings a perfect choice
No longer in fear
Cutting the quietness
Like a warm knife
God brings sunniness
Saves another life
Falling to knees
Now in prayer
Sad emotions flee
This soul cares
Kneeling at the Cross
Laying down sins
Repentance, now costs
Accept Christ within
Beholding Christ’s Salvation
Help to break out
Heart fills with elation
Lighting a shout
The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me. The Bible is not antique or modern. It is eternal.
From Matthew 4:4: “But He [Jesus] answered, ‘It is written, One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
From Proverbs 2:2: “Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding.”
Pursuing God’s Holy truth
His hand keeps life’s fires burning
Fear and respect the Father
His desires always churning
Guarding life’s path of justice
His knowledge opens our minds
Preserve lasting faith and hope
God’s persistence always binds
Seeking God’s honest insight
His love preserving our hope
Witness both past and future
His view from stars’ telescope
Offering life a fresh look
His mercy brings a new day
Hear God’s blessed instructions
His dominion lights our way
Accepting God’s sacred Word
His wisdom enriching lives
Treasure Holy commandments
His teaching forever thrives
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “The thing we have to do in our walk with God is to listen carefully from day to day.”
Big Sky Buckeye 