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.”
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
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.”
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
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.”
Share Christ’s love with all
Replace our self-righteousness—
Make a difference!
Coming to our Lord
Trusted sower of our faith—
Accepting His grace
His love never wanes
God always walks beside us—
Sunrise never sets
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
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.”
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
From Psalm 8:1-2: “O 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.”
Drifting
Compass forsaken
Man’s stubbornness reigns
Hope’s light reaches out
Jesus
Facing
World’s infections
Physical, social, spiritual
Will Hope pursue Christ?
Faith
Community
Faithfully building
Using Hope’s hands
For God’s lasting goodness
Welcoming
Writing becomes treasured hobby
Writing ‘the’ book, will anyone read?
Writing each hour, quitting day job
Writing chapters with epic speed
Waiting for magic, keyboard sleeps
Waiting for inspiration’s nudge
Waiting for publisher to call
Waiting for something bold, oh fudge!
Overlooking advice from friends
Overlooking cover’s design
Overlooking shrinking cash flow
Overlooking final deadline
Spending phantom cash, much too fast
Spending less and less time writing
Spending more and more time dreaming
Spending months on nothing exciting
Pushing aside all of these thoughts
Focusing on fresh start at hand
Crafting poetry, something new
Writing ‘the’ book, no longer planned
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Holy, living water
Flowing from Father’s hand
Deliverance blesses
Saving from sinking sand
Comfort’s spring renewing
Proclaiming Father’s love
Selfless with compassion
Sending grace from above
Tragedy reaches out
Hearing each heartfelt cry
Spirit guiding prayer
Bringing forth hope from high
Actions follow His light
Sharing words of support
Father’s eternal spring
Returning ship to port
Oaks of righteousness call
Comforting life like rain
His mercy never ends
Trusting Father again
From Psalm 72:12-13: “For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.”
Gathering new strength
Recalling past challenges—
Tomorrow waiting
Difficult moments
Face-to-face conversation—
Needing loyal friends
Each tribe walks its path
Ignoring one another—
Everyone lost
