Monday Memories: Pure in Heart

From Lamentations 3:25-26:  “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the Salvation of the Lord.”

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We are an impatient lot

We know what we want

We want it right now

 

God’s Word brings us wisdom

Try following a different path

 

Remain patient at all times

Allow God to be in charge

His faithful plans will unfold

 

Offer our prayers to God

Give thanks for our blessings

 

Remain ever hopeful each day

Wait faithfully with quiet reverence

For the Lord delivers Salvation

 

God allows us free will

How will we use it?

From Philippians 4:8:  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Infuse quality into our lives

In our attitudes and thoughts

Guard our actions and words

 

Influence our daily course

Adjust our tone of thoughts

 

Jesus taught us to believe

“Blessed are the pure in heart

For they will see God”

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From the words of evangelical pastor Henry Blackaby:  “God is concerned about your life in Eternity.  Allow Him to take all the time He needs to shape you for His purposes.”

 

Retelling His Story

From Lamentations 3:22-23:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

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Retelling His story

Filling with wonder’s peace

Becoming never old

Rekindling life’s new lease

 

Witnessing His message

Loving God with whole heart

Grasping forever’s grace

Walking with Lord’s fresh start

 

Retelling His story

Sitting near empty tomb

Sharing Salvation’s news

Lighting yesterday’s gloom

 

Tasting His Holy Word

Longing for heaven’s home

Hungering for much more

Breaking chains, free to roam

 

Retelling His story

Finding Jesus nearby

Seeking new mercy’s grace

Cherishing faith’s bullseye

 

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This inspiration for this poem comes from the beloved hymn, “I Love to Tell the Story.”  One of any believers most blessed tasks is to share and tell the story of Jesus Christ.  Country singer Alan Jackson is a renowned Gospel singer, and he sings this wonderful hymn.  Enjoy.

Gospel Breathes (Elfchen Series #107)

Assurance

Nothing

Comes between

God and ourselves

Walking in His faithfulness

Peace

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Harmony

Father’s

Steadfast love

Holy Spirit guides

Jesus dwells within us

Grace

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Mission

Daily

Blessed discipleship

Faith community unites

Diverse group of believers

Growing

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Summer’s Bliss

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Looking out from backyard deck

Nature’s bounty welcomes all

Noble trees shroud quiet creek

One more day, closer to fall

 

Summer pleasures, don’t leave yet

Early sunrise, high blue sky

Birds finding feast, velvet lawn

New moments, ready to fly

 

Taste tranquility-filled hours

Blissful life singing with praise

Path through woods, deer’s faithful sign

Midnight’s moon always ablaze

 

Gentle wind serenades now

Cooler evening air invites

Tree’s swinging to breezy song

Quiet peace, life’s hidden heights

 

Hour grows late, pausing to see

Promised arrival smiles back

Fireflies dancing above grass

Nature’s final, sweet snack

 

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Leading On

From Luke 9:59-60:  “To another He said, ‘Follow Me.’  But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'”

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Life’s journey calling thee

Expectations reach out

Chains of flesh holding tight

Darkness casting its doubt

 

Hundreds gather to hear

Christ willingly teaches

His actions empower

Endless spirit reaches

 

Christ commands, follow Me

Father’s Word sets life’s tone

Go, proclaim His kingdom

With God, never alone

 

Spirit’s transforming hand

Born again, faith renewed

Hope’s patience enduring

Evil’s choices subdued

 

Life’s labors, not in vain

Daily, Christ leading on

His steadfast support stands

Tomorrow’s lasting dawn

 

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From 1 Corinthians 15:58:  “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Time to Laugh (Haiku Series #184)

Disconnecting

Driving hidden roads

How did we ever get lost?

GPS offline

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Overwhelming

Back to the office

In-basket overflowing—

Is it Friday yet?

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Lacking

Boss tells teenager

Need to use more elbow grease—

What on earth is that?

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Monday Memories: Expressions of Hope

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Expressions of hope are written throughout the Old Testament.  At times, the people of Israel lost hope, but God always found ways to restore their trust and hope to believe in Him.  

From Psalm 65:5:  “By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and the farthest seas.

Broken faith with God

Flicker of hope remains

Have hope, seek God

Hopeful in His deeds

 

Place our Living God

Above all other gods

 

Light turns into darkness

Hiding in the shadows

Yet, God remains close

Hope grows once again

 

Living tree of hope

Will live into eternity

New buds always sprout

Strength from the Father

 

There is always hope

Even in darkest times

 

Life’s trials uproot hope

Adversaries line up against

God hears our cries

Intervenes when hope’s weak

 

Ancestors of Jacob witness

Their hope in God

The God of Jacob

Always God of Hope

 

God keeps His decrees

Believe, look to God

 

God remains always faithful

Our Lord reigns forever

For God’s righteous believers

Hope ends in gladness

 

Way of the Lord

Offers refuge with wisdom

Follow God with hope

Always in our hearts

 

Tree of Life endures

Ready to sustain us

 

Hope shows the light

Steady on life’s course

When spirit is dried

Hope quenches our thirst

 

God opens hope’s door

Inviting us to enter

 

 

Path of Life

From Psalm 16:1-2:  “Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'”

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Seeing foolishness

Walking darkest roads

Life’s journey of faith

Coming to crossroads

 

To whom shall we choose?

Evil’s empty book

Filled with deception

Flesh becomes his hook

 

Wilderness calls out

God’s refuge protects

Love filled with goodness

Earning our respect

 

Boundary lines set

Marching in God’s trust

Chosen path of life

Faith removes our lust

 

Always before us

God’s daily support

His right hand’s guidance

Grace never falls short

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From Psalm 16:11:  “You show me the path of life.  In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Summer’s Sweetness

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Life no longer singing wintertime blues

Summer’s sweetness rocks around timeless clock

Easy life, driving nature’s express lane

Planning fun times on each neighborhood block

 

Fresh-cut wood pile, next to backyard fire pit

Little granddaughter’s eyes, poised to light up

Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate

Making sweet S’mores, summer’s perfect line-up

 

Nighttime fun never really wants to end

New memories flicker around fire’s glow

Please, please . . . let us stay for another hour

Darkening fire gracefully ends night’s show

 

On my, another blessed summer night

Dreaming later, tomorrow taking flight

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Our Rock, Our Refuge (Elfchen Series #106)

Invincible

Searching

Life’s wilderness

Where’s stability found?

Nothing shall shake God’s

Cornerstone

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Proven

Faith

Deeply challenged

Whom to trust?

Christ’s love builds His

Cornerstone

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Everlasting

Waiting

No longer

Finding empty tomb

Jesus fulfills faith’s empowering

Cornerstone

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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.