Monday Memories: God’s Team

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Jesus gathers up His apostles from humble ground

Making up God’s team, their witness shall abound

 

God’s Word oversees the performance of this team

Standing as chief executive, seeing holiest theme

 

The Holy Spirit earmarks the hearts and brains

Serving as the binding glue, better than chains

 

Returning to the beginning of God’s creative time

Transforming a land, His Word continues to climb

 

The Creator conceives of a perfect place for man

Placing Adam and Eve in Eden, always His plan

 

But, Adam and Eve journey on a sin-filled path

Leaving the ample garden, under God’s wrath

 

From this moment, God’s team stumbles and wanders

Facing estrangement from God, His people squander

 

Jesus comes to bridge what separates us from God

Sitting at the right hand, coaching a humbled squad

 

God establishes His expectations, perfectly high

Faltering and imperfect mortals, will never satisfy

 

The team continues to collapse over and over again

Forgetting God’s Commandments, sin seems to win

 

Many teams measure success by the flashy show

Works by themselves, will never add much glow

 

But, Jesus shepherds His team on a brand new track

Following by faith alone, Jesus always has their back

 

He reminds us to always love our God in Heaven’s seat

Loving each other as you have loved Me, always repeat

 

A bloody, criminal’s Cross summons all to take a knee

Accepting Jesus as Savior, teammates look up to see

 

Our Father orchestrates, with infinite patience and love

Creating and molding, the Great I Am looks from above

 

Jesus remains alert at the Creator’s side

Carrying keys to eternal life, all bona fide

 

As team members, we must trust, follow, and abide

Playing for Jesus, His coaching is forever our guide

 

 

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Originally published January, 2020.

Greatest Love Story

From Genesis 1:1-5:  “When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.  And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

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Scripture’s Holy verses

Breathing with His sacred love

Even before Creation acts

Father’s grace looks down from above

 

Planet’s vast emptiness

Moving from darkness to light

Eternity wakens with love

Father’s mercy always in flight

 

Favored, luscious garden

Inviting twosome to walk

Sinfulness spreading life’s darkness

Yet, Father’s love becomes faith’s rock

 

Harsh wilderness called home

Searching for His promised land

Israel waiting in exile

Father’s love forges plan so grand

 

Divine patience shares gift

Choosing Bethlehem stable

Greatest love story now proclaimed

Father’s peace sets Heaven’s table

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From 1 John 4:9-12:  “God’s love was revealed among us in this way:  God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

“Real” Winter Arrives

December, 2022 will be one to remember for most of the United States.  A poet’s reflections fill these verses while looking out a kitchen window.  Always glad to be inside and staying warm when the wind chill plunges to -30 degrees.

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Weather predictions hold true

More winter, never seems through

 

Cold, Arctic air sets up camp

Long-forgotten, frigid scamp

 

“Real” winter arrives in strength

Transmitting on all wavelengths

 

Morning light arrives, dark gray

Sunshine hiding this Friday

 

Landscape shivers under white

Every creature taking flight

 

Freezing wind never lets up

Wintertime’s polar holdup

 

Wind gust rocks home’s foundation

Turning on weather station

 

Snowy drifts growing deeper

Frosty, trusty doorkeeper

 

Barren trees bend against squall

No longer standing so tall

 

Life scatters, seeking shelter

Winter storm’s helter-skelter

 

Visibility nearly gone

Snow heavier than chiffon

 

Quiet roads, traffic withdrawn

No orders from Amazon

 

Keeping each home’s fire burning

Warming hearts, day keeps churning

 

Cup of cocoa, not enough

Snowing outside, rough and tough

 

Grabbing pair of heavy socks

Thawing frozen toes’ icebox

 

Sitting at writing table

Poet ready and able

 

Candle’s light dances like wind

Framing this coldest weekend

  

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Perhaps this cup of hot cocoa will do the trick . . . along with extra marshmallows!

Forever’s Light (Elfchen Series #132)

Emmanuel

Hallelujah!

Wonderful, Counselor

God with us

Hallowed Prince of Peace

Everlasting

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Greatest Love

Hallelujah!

Blessed Savior

Eternal life’s gift

Journey away from darkness

Inexhaustible

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Resurrection Lives

Hallelujah!

God’s goodness

Peace and grace

Kneeling at one cross

Undefeated

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Coming King

From Isaiah 9:2:  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

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World stumbling in darkness

God’s promises breathe truth

Shining cosmos bright light

Love’s descendant of Ruth

 

Heavy, burdensome tasks

Father sees mankind’s plight

Living life without joy

Heavens glow with His light

 

Son of God, born to us

Wonderful, Prince of Peace

Coming King, righteous reign

Never shall His light cease

 

Heavenly host praises

Angelic chorus sings

Kneeling shepherds humbled

From Bethlehem, light brings

 

Emmanuel’s new hope

God with us evermore

Turning darkness away

Light upon mercy’s door

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From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

A Special Gift

Today’s poem is a very special guest post and gift from Mrs. Buckeye.  My talented wife, Colleen, adds her voice to this Advent season as we both await the birth of our Savior.

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A special gift arrived for us!

 It came so quietly . . .

 . . . perhaps you did not know.

 There was no fancy wrapping,

 not even a pretty bow,

 no ornate frills or glitter,

 no festive party mood . . .

  . . . Just a tiny, baby boy

 born in a stable crude.

 He was our Savior King.

 He came to earth to bring

 God’s gift of love.

      

 God’s greatest gift was giv’n to us.

 It was His only Son . . .

 . . . perhaps you did not know.

 He left a throne in heaven

 to come to our world below.

 His birth was without grandeur;

 a star His only crown;

 Just a precious little babe;

 our God, to earth came down.

 He is our Savior King

 To Him all Praises sing

 God’s gift, great love.

 

     So, turn your eyes from glittering scenes

 with Santa’s presents bright . . .

 . . . perhaps you need to know.

 Just turn from worldly glitter,

 and gaze on that glorious night.

 Look there upon the baby

 in God’s own Holy light.

 Now, look past the party crowds

 past shopping to be done.

 Look past all worldly things.

 Look at the baby king,

 God’s Gift has come!

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From 2 Corinthians 9:15:  “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Spring’s Anticipation (Haiku Series #209)

Hurry Back

Every . . . falling leaf

Reminder . . . winter’s coming—

Dreaming . . . spring’s rebirth

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Holding Back

Winter’s silence speaks

Quiet trees withhold their joy—

Waiting for spring’s call

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Returning Back

Tender seedling sprouts

Nature transitions again—

Life reawakens

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Monday Memories: Waiting for a Call

woman wearing gray topcoat during snow season

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Waiting for its urgent call

Winter’s snow waiting to strike

Where is winter hosting fun?

Playing games in the Klondike

 

School children watch outside

Dreaming of a snow day soon

School’s steady beat marches on

Soon, everyone sings a new tune

 

Weather forecast predicts snow

Snowplows prepare for battle

But, this storm slides to the north

Hmm, snow dumps on Seattle!

 

Outside, waiting for a call

Snow shovel dreams of snowfall

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Originally published January, 2020.

Love’s Promised Peace (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

From Isaiah 7:13-14:  “Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David!  Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also?  Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name Him Immanuel.'”

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Seeing life’s uncertainty

Searching heavens far beyond

God’s love offers gift of peace

Sending to earth, Savior’s bond

 

Tracing roots of future Prince

Sensing blessed hope through time

Bethlehem stable breathes love

Transforming man’s paradigm

 

Bearing His Son, born this day

Filling Mary with God’s love

Angelic voices praising

Singing with joy high above

 

Lasting, grace-filled love shall save

Bringing wayward sheep back home

Good Shepherd walking this land

Gifting peace to always roam

 

Declaring new covenant

Shining with love’s promised peace

Joyous light born in manger

Blessing hope’s faithful, new lease

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A contemporary Christian song, “When Love Crossed Over,” shares powerful and inspiring images during this Advent season.  

Advent’s Journey (Elfchen Series #131)

Prophetic

Trust

God’s promises

His actions awaken

Life’s wilderness shall blossom

Hope

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Witness

Hope

For Savior

God’s desires fulfilled

Bethlehem stable’s Holy ground

Peace

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Receive

Peace

Father’s gift

Lying in manger

Emmanuel, God with us

Joy

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Illuminating

Joy

Angels proclaim

Humble shepherds attest

Christ comes to save

Love

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