Monday Memories: Experiencing Contentment

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Encourage others as God encourages each of us

Be forgiving toward others, adding to life’s plus

 

Give thanks for all of Father’s grace

Be His prayer warrior at every place

 

Allow Christ to shine through in all we do

Be filled with the Spirit, faithful and true

 

Hold dear to our hearts, all that is good

Be thankful to God, as we always should

 

Fiery ordeals and daily trials will always challenge all

Be an eyewitness to Christ’s sufferings, never to fall

 

God is sovereign and forever in control of it all

Be aware, all things work together, forever tall

 

When God’s glory is finally revealed on that day

Be shouting with amazing grace, sing as we may

 

We bring nothing into this world we live

Be content with little, the rest God gives

 

The love of money brings evil times

Be taking nothing, not even a dime

 

Bring together godliness with contentment

Be willing to follow every Commandment

 

Despite our weaknesses, Christ dwells within thee

Be content with calamities and hardships we see

 

God’s Grace is sufficient for everyone

Be thankful for the sacrifice of His Son

 

Christ resides in our hearts, He yearns to save

Be strengthened with blood and body He gave

 

Always rely on God’s strength and mighty clout

Be content, following His Word, never in doubt

 

Love of Christ surpasses all that we ever see

Be grateful and shower blessings, take a knee

 

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Adrift

From James 4:1:  “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?  Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?”

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Walking their own path

Adrift and alone

Lost in time’s darkness

Hearing nightly groans

 

Ignoring each cry

All tribes go their way

Survival fading

Feeling life betray

 

Following nothing

Pride discolors trust

Tomorrow grows cold

Breathing tasteless dust

 

Speaking harshest words

Tattoo’s lasting sting

Evil for evil

Crashing without wings

 

Blaming each other

Lost in stormy seas

Tribes now divided

Dropping to their knees

 

Praying to Father

Seeking direction

Finding His compass

Making corrections

 

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From James 4:7-8:  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Single Voice (Elfchen Series #77)

Searching

Voices

Too many

Communing with Scripture

Listening to just one

God

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Arriving

Darkness

Surrounding thee

Sin’s guilt heckling

Now hearing mercy’s voice

God

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Blessing

Alone

Competing thoughts

Who truly cares?

One voice offers grace

God

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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.

Enchanted Walk

Walking Chestnut Ridge Metro Park shares the enchanted delights of one of central Ohio’s most precious gems.

Discovering these woods

Longing for morning walk

Sharing nature’s promise

Enchanted forest talks

 

Breathing nature’s freshness

Winding through woodland’s peace

Fascinating venture

Enchanted, sweet showpiece

 

Scaling every hill

Navigating each trail

Finding nature’s secrets

Enchanted story’s tale

 

Standing still, time shall wait

Looking around each bend

Treasuring nature’s prize

Enchanted spirit’s friend

 

Dreaming of tomorrow

Hiking this ridge again

Searching for nature’s gifts

Enchanted walk, Amen!

 

Another view from Chestnut Ridge Metro Park features its deep, summer green.

I frequently walk Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is located about ten minutes from my home.  I have used this setting for other poems, and here is a sample:

Among Saints

From Psalm  31:23-24:  “Love the Lord, all you his saints.  The Lord preserves the faithful,  but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

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Every life thirsts

For eternal love

Some find it, some won’t

Shared from God above

 

Life writes its story

Father values each

Treasured Book of Life

Gospel lessons teach

 

Chapter lengths vary

Some long and filling

Others short and brief

All earn top billing

 

No favorites here

Tranquility’s peace

Resting as equals

Memories won’t cease

 

Walking among saints

Honoring each one

Final resting place

Blessed setting sun

 

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From Psalm 23:6:  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Nature’s Deployment (Haiku Series #153)

Every Day

Sunrise sends greeting

Creator’s hand wakens day—

Glorious morning

Morning sunrise over the Choptank River along Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Echoing Cadence

Soul-filled percussion

Pulsating afternoon sky–

Thunder’s rhythmic beat

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Still Here

Hot days continue

Waiting for autumn colors—

Summer must insist

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Monday Memories: Nocturnal Beauty

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A magnificent oak tree stands center in a park

Waiting with quiet majesty in the solitary dark

 

The blackness of night only adds to the scene

Bringing tranquility and peace, free and clean

 

Trees with fruit blossoms, in full view even at night

Sending forth a fragrance, invigorating and right

 

Tiny green leaves are growing out on the tall trees

Waving from a gentle breath of the wind with ease

 

In the distance, glowing lights enhance a background

Providing a reverent atmosphere without any sound

 

A bit of shining moonlight fashions extra to see

Moving and playful shadows amongst the trees

 

Even at night, God’s creation sparkles all new

Painting for each evening, a breathtaking view

 

The eastern light rises to create the dawn

Crooning birds welcome a newborn fawn

 

The stillness begins to wake-up from its rest

Leaving its nocturnal beauty, always the best!

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Call to Worship

From Psalm 100:1-2:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing.”

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Call to worship

From near and far

House of the Lord

Sabbath’s bright star

 

Call to worship

Doors open wide

All are welcome

Spirit shall guide

 

Call to worship

Hearing God’s Word

With reverence

His love transferred

 

Call to worship

Praising through song

Lifting voices

Together strong

 

Call to worship

Praying as one

Communal time

Blessing God’s Son

 

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The inspiration for this poem grew from a morning devotional which featured the hymn, “All Are Welcome.”  If you wish to hear more hymns, look for MaryRuth72’s channel on YouTube.

Feeling Alone (Elfchen Series #76)

Relentless

Hospitals’

Distress signals

Caseloads now overwhelming

Crushing beleaguered, overworked staff

Burnout

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Overlooked

Crisis

Rural communities

Lacking hospital space

Where will patients go?

Forgotten

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Hope

Nation’s

Stark reality

Tomorrow’s prognosis cloudy

Rolling up sleeves today

Togetherness

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Patient Trust

From Psalm 40:1-2:  “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”

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Waiting with patience

Seeking truth’s outcomes

Challenging our faith

Hearing God, He comes

 

Deploying His plan

Responding with love

Seeing our weeping

Leading from above

 

Trusting our Father

Setting feet on rock

Making steps secure

Praising daily walk

 

Asking for patience

Molding our next move

Transmitting His grace

Filling life’s new groove

 

Proclaiming His love

Learning to trust God

Embracing patience

Accepting His rod

 

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From Psalm 40:16:  “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!'”