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If you want to make an impact on the world around you, this rugged society that is moving in the wrong direction more rapidly every year, Christ said, “love one another.” Your love will speak with stunning eloquence to a lost world.
From John 13:35: “[Jesus said] By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
From November, 2018, here is an updated poem inspired from my reading of The Wind and the Willows, authored by Kenneth Grahame. The novel can be enjoyed by both older children and adults.
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Meandering endlessly and aimlessly it seems
Infinitely pursuing each horizon downstream
The river faces its journey, to the ocean out to the west
Bringing much attention to itself, without taking a rest
Being fed from above, by mountain run-off far away
Roaming bank full and quickly, with not much to say
A friendly, gentle breeze offers cool, refreshing air
Bubbles rising up from a muskrat that doesn’t care
At times, the journey is surrounded by a background of trees
Arriving softly, the whispering wind says, “Please let me be”
Green, lush meadows encroach upon its rocky shore
While early spring flowers burst with color and more
Young willows grow along the river’s flank
Tree roots hidden, invisible below the bank
A large, brown trout rises gracefully above the bubbling water
Meanwhile downstream, mischief abounds with a pair of otters
An isolated cottonwood tree stands as a lone lookout
While a hungry grizzly bear wades in to pull a fish out
Sparkles of dancing light, reflecting by way of a bright sun
Providing opportunities for fishermen, casting for their fun
The vibration of splashes from a pair of wooden oars
Announces the arrival of a canoe, searching for more
A small island appears on the bend ahead—quiet and barren
There is always fascination with what nature will be wearing
Pushing ahead, an overloaded creek discharges its rampant load
The water’s own noises sometimes sound like a chorus of toads
Continuing to drive ahead toward the setting sun
The ageless river welcomes the end of its long run
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The greatest charity one can do to another is to lead him to the truth.
From John 8:31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
From John 8:31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
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Born of a Holy, benevolent God
Spiritual victory, comes to us
Our Lord Jesus boldly desires
Witnessing our enduring trust
Accepting Jesus as our Savior
Entering victorious ranks at last
Under Heaven, a time to be reborn
Across every season, full and vast
Our Prince of Peace, worthy Messiah
From the city of David, angels proclaim
God, as His Holy Son, comes to earth
Jesus lights the way, His eternal flame
Gathering truth, living by truth
Jesus continues to be the way
Knowing the truth, always believe
Truth through Christ, carries the day
In spirit and truth, worship our God
Speaking lasting truth, with eternal love
God’s gift of Grace, delivers Salvation
Coming with praise, from Heaven above
Standing firmly in one’s steady faith
By sustaining faith, the righteous live
Hold fast, praise the Lord’s Holy name
Remaining faithful, God always gives
One Lord, one faith, one baptism
Through God, justified by our faith
Nothing, in God’s eyes, seems impossible
Moving majestic mountains, on any date
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Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.
From Romans 5:21: “So that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Sacred marriage vows
Man and woman become one—
Following God’s Word
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Read God’s Word often
Planting seeds in fertile ground—
Rich harvest awaits
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Prepared for battle
The Enemy hides and flees—
Wearing God’s armor
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Prior to the arrival of Thanksgiving, a nearby church sign reminds all of us with a provocative message, but it can certainly be applied to any given day.
Will you be thankful . . . or just full?
From Psalm 136:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His steadfast love endures forever.”
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The other day, grandpa had a conversation with his very confident (and all knowing) six-year old grandson. Let’s drop in on the conversation for a moment or two.
Grandpa states, “Does your television wake up each morning at 6:00 with a color bar display on the screen?”
His grandson replies, “Nope. Remember Grandpa, I am not as old as you. Besides, didn’t you only watch shows on black and white TVs?”
Grandpa proudly recalls the American space program and tells his young protégé, “I was there in 1969 watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.”
His eager grandson answers back, “I really don’t think you were on the moon with Neil Armstrong because Buzz Aldrin was there instead. You know, landing on the moon isn’t such a big deal. I plan to visit Mars.”
Grandpa pauses for a moment, thinking to himself . . . This young fella has an answer for everything!
Grandpa wanders over to his desk and pulls out a miniature plastic card. He holds up the 3.5-inch floppy disk and tells his grandson, “We used to save our computer data on disks such as this. Pretty amazing, don’t you think?”
His grandson eagerly says, “Wow Grandpa! Now we store information on a cloud.”
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His grandson pipes up and asks, “Grandpa, do you have anything else you want to share with me before I go?”
“Why sure!” Grandpa says with a grin. “I remember when the Ford Mustang came out in 1964. It was the hottest and fastest ride.”
“Sounds amazing, but I am looking forward to owning and driving a Corvette when I am a whole lot older. It leaves the Mustang in the dust.” His smiling grandson adds with a cute, little smile (with two missing front teeth).
Grandpa scratches his head, and then he laments with a heavy heart, “I’ve been a Cleveland Browns football fan for all of my life. You should have seen them play back in the 60s.”
His football prognosticator grandson quickly answers back, “Yup, and you’re still waiting for them to play in their first Super Bowl. Go Steelers!”
“I have an old bicycle sitting in the garage. Perhaps we can go for a bike ride this weekend.” Grandpa sighs (he is nearly exhausted).
“Why sure Grandpa. But, do you think your old three-speed bike can keep up with my brand new 15-speed?” The first-grader replies, with a wink.
Later in the day, Grandpa is sitting in his reliable, comfortable rocking chair in the living room. He ponders a thought . . . I don’t know what I am going to do when my grandson becomes a fifth grader. I’ll never be as smart as a fifth grader!
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Never support experience which does not have God as its source, and faith in God as its result.
From James 2:14-17: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
From Psalm 28:8: “The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.”
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Jesus, our true Savior and rock
You repay us many times over
For our sinfulness brings pain
Always, His witness is sought
Thankful, for Jesus stands here
He blesses us, our cup overflows
Jesus, our strength and shield
He calms hearts, never to fear
Writing a new song for our Lord
Words praising Him far and wide
Glorifying Jesus, God’s Holy Son
Accepting Jesus, climb aboard
Jesus alone, is our lasting Salvation
He gathers us, never to be shaken
Our patient Lord waits in silence
He knows when to save His nation
Trust in Christ, accept His goodness
Believe in Him, with heart and soul
The Messiah reigns forever and ever
His Words speak love and forgiveness
Jesus sits at the center of this day
Filling each Thanksgiving blessing
Covering all families with His love
Looking to Him, a delicious buffet
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