Hope is nothing else than the expectation of those things which faith has believed to have been truly promised by God.
From Romans 8:24-25: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Running on this daily treadmill, filling life’s gloomy story
Falling behind in life’s endless race, without much glory
Working Nine to Five, five long days each week
Stumbling through every month, looking bleak
Forgetting when life last paused for any vacation
Punching in, punching out . . . time clock fixation
Heating up life’s pressure cooker, deadlines loom ahead
Hoping the lid doesn’t blow off, propelled into tiny shreds
Watching everyone trying to row in the same boat
Rowing in separate directions, now barely afloat
Refueling the tank, this coffee break no longer helps
Scurrying on empty, might just as well holler a yelp
Taking the elevator to another miserable meeting
Ending up on the wrong floor, no warm greeting
Driving home each night, worn down to a blown-out frazzle
Stopping at the same red traffic light, it no longer dazzles
Racing every day, life delivering this hour’s final, saving grace
Looking left, then right . . . who’s even winning this rat race?
I have found that the closer I am to the godly people around me, the easier it is for me to live a righteous life because they hold me accountable.
From Psalm 1:1-3: “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread,or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.”
Boring afternoon
But, ice cream eating races—
Chilling excitement
Where does Spam come from?
Checking the ingredients—
Close your eyes, eat it!
Preschool art classes
Creative finger painting—
Budding Picasso’s
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
A nation that fails to honor its heroes, soon will have no heroes to honor.
Bill runs into his neighbor Fred at the local feed store. In conversation, Bill tells Fred, “I noticed that there back tire on yer truck is a mite bit low on tread.”
Fred replies back, “Ah, dat there tire has quite a few miles left da go.”
The men depart and finish up their business in town before heading back home. As Bill drives down the road, he comes upon Fred’s truck, rolled over on its side, off of the road.
Bills stops and surveys the situation. Fred appears okay, much of his cattle feed is scattered on the ground, and the suspected tire has blown nearly clean off of the rim.
Bill calmly asks Fred what has happened. With eyes growing bigger by the second, Fred excitedly tells him, “A vig jack rabbit nearly ran me self off this here road. Look vat he did to ma perfectly good tire.”
From John 13:14-15: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, teaches us
Sharing the love from the Holy Father
Knowing God has given to Him all things
Sharing faithful witness, from the Father
Christ, the living God, guides our faithful steps
Presenting endless chances to serve God
Facing our lives, filled with countless hurdles
Serving one another, as blessed by God
Jesus, Son of David, shares acts of Grace
Washing apostles’ feet, blessing the Lord
Teaching through His loving act of service
Telling all, humbling serve our righteous Lord
Christ, Lamb of God, transforming life on earth
Faithfully following our Lord Jesus
Seeking, trusting, and praying in His name
Glorifying each day, serving through Jesus
From the words of American author, John Eldredge: “Teach a man a rule and you help him solve a problem; teach a man to walk with God and you help him solve the rest of his life.”
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
Jesus Christ met people where they were . . . not as they “ought to” be. His enemies misunderstood Him, but they couldn’t ignore Him. They hated Him, but were never bored around Him. Jesus was the epitome of relevance. Still is.
From Hebrews 8:10: “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
By sanctification the Son of God is formed in me, then I have to transform my natural life into a spiritual life by obedience to Him.
From 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.”
Sometimes I just have to laugh at TV commercials. Nutrisystem promotes its meals for men who wish to lose weight. Order it and the box arrives at your door. Then just heat the meal and eat. What can more simple than this? This poem’s theme is written as a parody of this whole process. As for me, I sure won’t be ordering meals in a box.
Endless diets make the rounds
Hoping to lose a few pounds
Subscribing to EasyMeals
Delicious and thrifty deals
Simple and easy promise
Please any doubting Thomas
Order the food while online
Shipping never takes much time
Box of meals ships to the door
Bypass the grocery store
Open the box, check it quick
No more cooking, that’s the trick
Picking a meal, heat it now
Such easy and yummy chow
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Simple life comes in these packs
Feeling extra hungry now
Eating two meals, tasting “wow”
Going through this two-week box
In just a week, quite a shock
Stepping on the scale one day
Extra pounds plus some, shout “Hey!”
Big Sky Buckeye 