Monday Memories: Perfection

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Perfection Defined:

The condition of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.

 

Striving for absolute perfection proves to be elusive

Life provides few examples that are always conclusive

 

Perfection in bowling

Rolling 12 strikes in a row

 

Perfect school attendance

No absences during an entire school year

 

Perfect gymnastics performance

Scoring an “improbable” 10.0

 

Perfect school exam score

All questions answered correctly

 

Perfect completion of a crossword puzzle

Every square correctly filled in

 

Perfect game in baseball

Pitcher retires all batters—no one reaches first base

 

Perfect grades in school

All A’s . . .  4.0 GPA

 

Standards have been made to measure perfection

Challenging all to achieve for greater satisfaction

 

Individual actions and results to be told

Defining a level of perfection to behold

 

A “perfect” vacation

What makes it the best ever?

 

A “perfect” photograph

What makes this image so brilliant?

 

A “perfect” job

What provides the greatest satisfaction at work?

 

A “perfect” health report

What makes these results outstanding?

 

A “perfect” marriage

What moments are forever beautiful?

 

Subjective perfection is short-lived for a good reason

Definitions and expectations change with each season

 

When we think that our best efforts fall short

Allow Christ to bring us back to our home port

 

His unblemished life is perfection for sure

We follow His example for lives more pure

 

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Divine Favor

From Ephesians 2:8:  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

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Dead from our trespasses

Sin ruling over man

Living outside God’s law

Called to accept His plan

 

God opens grace-filled door

Cooling desires of flesh

Sharing His mercy’s love

Today begins afresh

 

Salvation accepted

Lord’s spring of grace will flow

Tasting divine favor

Mistakes washed white as snow

 

Life christened with God’s joy

Made alive in Jesus

Overcoming weakness

Lord’s divine grace frees us

 

Eternal age to come

Lord’s love shall see us through

Saving us from darkness

Grace through faith comes in view

 

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From 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:  “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’  So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

Lifetime Journey (Elfchen Series #79)

Our Navigator

Adrift

Alone, separated

Lost in darkness

God shares His compass

Found

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Our Teacher

Believe

Follow Jesus

Learn from understanding

Scripture with greater fluency

Lifetime

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Our Lord

Spirit

Fills hearts

Hymns sing praises

Our mighty, awesome God

Love

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C. S. Lewis Quote

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Joy is the serious business of heaven.

From Philippians 4:4-7:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Tomorrow

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Baby lives each moment

Life revolves around “now”

Without concept of time

Crying for mealtime’s chow

 

Months gather, move along

Sunrise into sunset

Child understands today

Playing, life’s fun outlet

 

Seasons bring transitions

Into another year

Life’s pace steps more quickly

Walking without much fear

 

Adulthood brings worry

Life’s major burdens rise

Innocence vanishes

Searching promising skies

 

Before morning arrives

Leftover tasks will keep

Today’s curtain descends

Resting, tomorrow sleeps

 

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Young at Heart

From Psalm 92:12-13:  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.”

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Passing years adding up

Remaining young at heart

Positive outlook leads

God’s love fulfills its part

 

Morning fills with Scripture

Pursuing and learning

Father’s Word feeds spirit

Faithfulness keeps burning

 

With each passing moment

Shaping this fragile soul

Father’s handiwork molds

Thankfully in control

 

God bestows precious love

Sharing His deepest thoughts

Youthful outlook thriving

Grace unties worries’ knots

 

Righteousness flourishing

Reaping Creator’s love

Always our steady rock

God leads, Heaven above

 

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From 1 Peter 2:1-3:  “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Faith and Love (Haiku Series #155)

Harmony

Share Christ’s love with all

Replace our self-righteousness—

Make a difference!

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Humbleness

Coming to our Lord

Trusted sower of our faith—

Accepting His grace

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Peace

His love never wanes

God always walks beside us—

Sunrise never sets

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Monday Memories: Midnight Walk

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Stirring from my deep sleep at midnight

Seeing someone moving in the dim light

 

Hearing a gentle voice whispering my name

Calling out, “Missing you has been a shame”

 

Recognizing that her gentle voice is familiar, not new

Appearing now, my beloved Grandma comes into view

 

Walking towards me, she carries no fear

Listening to a voice so true and very dear

 

Saying again that I’ve been deeply missed

Bowing down, my forehead receives a kiss

 

Remembering previous days with her brings a smile

Telling me kindly, let’s walk together now for awhile

 

Asking her a question, “Is it now my time?”

Replying back, “No, but you must climb”

 

Facing a wall that records each of my sins

Condemning me, comes Darkness again

 

Reaching down comes a firm, strong hand

Grabbing hold, my feet flee sinking sand

 

Gazing upward, my Grandma has departed and left

Taking her place arrives Christ, raised from death

 

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God’s Perspective

From Psalm 8:4-6:  “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?  Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet.”

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People judging people each day

Empty, hurtful words hunting prey

 

Frozen in polarizing world

Harshest, cruelest comments unfurled

 

Selfish thoughts swarm to harm and crush

Discolor with darkest paintbrush

 

Critique our words and appearance

One voice moves their disappearance

 

Self-esteem sinks in stormy seas

Rising up with God’s gentle breeze

 

God’s perspective always matters

His truly counts, others scatter

 

Listen to Father in Heaven

Divine thoughts arrive to leaven

 

Life’s identity rests with God

Truest actions, never be flawed

 

Hear marvelous news from above

God values us, unselfish love

 

Always, always remember this

God’s perception, never amiss

 

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From Psalm 8:1-2:  “Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.”

Hope Calling (Elfchen Series #78)

Rudderless

Drifting

Compass forsaken

Man’s stubbornness reigns

Hope’s light reaches out

Jesus

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Engagement

Facing

World’s infections

Physical, social, spiritual

Will Hope pursue Christ?

Faith

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Solidarity

Community

Faithfully building

Using Hope’s hands

For God’s lasting goodness

Welcoming

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