A mother’s love endures through all.
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
American Washington Irving (1783-1859) ranks as one of his country’s most renowned authors. His amazing short stories of “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleeping Hollow” remain all-time classics. Ironically, his final resting place is at the Sleeping Hollow Cemetery in New York state.
Life’s puzzling game board
Patience offers solution—
Much improved focus
Trauma’s darkness reigns
Deepest burdens lock up life—
Love offers its key
Accepting life’s flaws
Turning to another page—
Conscience walking free
From Jeremiah 31:8: “See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.”
Filling life with darkness
Wandering, defeated
Residing in exile
Forfeiting, depleted
Hearing distant trumpet
Sending invitations
Proclaiming Good News
Gathering each nation
Calling to faithfulness
Extending Holy hand
Leading us with promise
Witnessing God’s command
Sustaining light ahead
Proclaiming Father’s might
Returning from exile
Forsaking former plight
Accepting Lord’s mercy
Praising His love and grace
Walking in step with God
Tasting life’s Holy place
From Jeremiah 31:7: “For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.'”
Waiting
Daily prayers
Searching for answers
Responding in His time
God
Hurting
Life’s pitfalls
Swirling, stormy seas
Anchored by His Word
God
Arriving
Precious day
Heavens open up
Come, walk with me
God
Calendar page turns to November
Autumn season filling with its peace
Colorful leaves have fallen away
Winds of winter begin to release
Temperatures cascading downward
Barren trees swaying and shivering
Farm fields ready for hibernation
Autumn’s harmony now quivering
Many say, beware of November
Her fading hues begin looking north
Arctic’s snowy cold now encroaching
Winter’s early surprise coming forth
Ranchers scurry to shelter cattle
Yards cheerfully display fall’s decor
Boldly hanging on to each strawman
Nothing postpones winter’s early chore
Harsh winds of November come and go
Sometimes with cold feints, or so much more
Chilling rain turns to ice, never nice
Winter’s snow, knocking at autumn’s door
During my first year of teaching at Plevna Schools, found in southeastern Montana, I was greeted with a winter that I will always remember. The first snowflakes and cold began arriving in early November, and they didn’t stop until late February. Finally the chinook winds began to warm up the countryside, and ranchers and farmers were rejoicing. After all, the winter one year earlier had included the famous blizzard of 1978.
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.”
During childhood years
Hearing about God
Stories filling ears
Joining with His squad
Years moving along
Learning about God
Life fills with His song
Accepting His rod
Adulthood arrives
Discovering God
His message now thrives
Walking on fresh sod
Maturity comes
Truly knowing God
Steady, beating drum
Crashing sin’s facade
Divine hands rebuild
Spirit calling out
Righteousness refilled
Taking Heaven’s route
From Philippians 3:15-16: “Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.”
Life crushed and shattered
Love’s undelivered intent—
Youthful innocence
Where walked once before
Narrative regains traction—
Now making new tracks
Confidence growing
Moments shared with life’s mentors—
Lessons never end
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
People pay more to be entertained than educated.
Sometimes life’s waters become turbulent
God’s seaworthy vessel carries the day
His Word quiets the daily storms we face
With His Spirit, angels leading the way
Jesus has walked on the water we sail
Inspiring many to always believe
Encountering rough “Titanic” struggles
Our journey will overcome, the storm leaves
Sailing off course, we have a champion
Jesus fathoms, walking ahead of us
Father, Son, Holy Ghost . . . never alone
Following our Savior, in whom we trust
God’s faithfulness, sets a perfect heading
Sailing away, His true compass leading
From Isaiah 3:8: “For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying His glorious presence.”
Searching for answers
World filled with darkness
Swirling anarchy
Life’s empty starkness
Finding false answers
Faith in God grows cold
Lost in wilderness
Sin captures foothold
Forsaking Father
Evil’s invitation
Follow sin’s idols
Life’s new fixation
Fearing discipline
Israel hiding
No place now to turn
God’s wrath deciding
Marching Israel
Away from its land
Generations wait
For Messiah’s hand
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.'”
