Renewing Seasons

From Ecclesiastes 3:1:  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Central Ohio’s Walnut Woods Metro Park waits for spring under cover of snow.

Winter’s dormant, gray months

Nature taking her break

Gathering strength for spring

Life’s welcoming handshake

 

People face frozen times

Seeking spirit’s rebirth

Darkness returns to light

New season blesses earth

 

Summer’s shining moments

Nature’s blooming color

Autumn’s blessed pause waits

Hourglass sand grows smaller

 

Happiness seeks to shine

Hope filling eager hearts

Spirit nurtures man’s faith

Risen Lord, life restarts

 

Through nature’s creation

Breathing with perfect poise

Order to life itself

God’s divine plan deploys

 

Life’s transition wakens

Rising sun shares reasons

Joy, sorrow, gain, or loss

Renewing fresh seasons

  

Morning’s brilliant sunrise awakens in central Ohio.

From Genesis 8:22:  “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

We the People

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“We the People” drafted

Constitution crafted

 

Forefathers build nation

Democracy’s station

 

Living in common cause

Unity never pause

 

Choosing “We” over “Me”

Finding means to agree

 

America’s ship sails

“We the People” prevails

 

World War II fought and won

Nation working as “One”

 

Sacrifices show pride

Freedom’s devoted ride

 

Imperfect union lives

Unselfish people give

 

What’s happening today?

Are we losing our way?

 

Debating common sense

Rhetoric becomes tense

 

Choosing “Me” over “We”

Lady Liberty flees

 

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Follow Him (Haiku Series #150)

Daily

Seeking lasting peace

Reverent morning prayer—

Kinship with our Lord

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Any Moment

Take each perfect gift

Coming from our Creator—

Transformed by His grace

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Moved to Action

Respond to His call

Loving hearts serving neighbors—

God of Mercy leads

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Monday Memories: Carry Our Burdens

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Walking

With weariness

Life’s heavy burdens

Causing missteps and stumbles

 

Coming

With light

Our Lord shines

Trusting always in Him

 

Casting

Our burdens

Upon His shoulders

Jesus will sustain us

 

Gentle

In spirit

Humble in heart

He will deliver us

 

Righteous

Reigning above

Immovable spirit

Lessens our taxing burdens

 

Jesus

Sending protection

The Good Shepherd

Caring for His flock

 

Sin

Washed away

By Christ’s blood

Our burdens grow lighter

 

Accepting

His Salvation

Following Jesus Christ

Our Lord and Savior

 

Patiently

Jesus waits

We come forward

Bearing one another’s burdens

 

Praying

With devotion

For one another

Reborn again through Christ

 

Christ

We believe

Follow God’s Son

Victory over our sins

 

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Rest Assured

From Psalm 42:2-3:  “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and behold the face of God?  My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?'”

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Darkness comes upon

Evil drawing near

Thirsty and hungry

There’s nothing to fear

 

Discouraged feelings

From dark, fallen world

Approaching Father

His Spirit unfurled

 

Rest assured with God

Observing our tears

Hearing nightly cries

Boldly He shall steer

 

Facing life’s hardships

Never giving up

Faith shall overcome

Overflowing cup

 

Believing in God

Trusting divine walk

Casting away storms

Grace shall always talk

 

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From Psalm 42:11:  “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

Finding Goodness

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Finding life’s goodness

Whether great or small

Always filled with praise

Tasting its windfall

 

Finding lasting strength

Wherever it lies

Courage raining down

Silencing our cries

 

Finding peace and hope

Never stop sharing

Everyday people

Witnessing caring

 

Finding clear focus

Love shall overcome

With gentle actions

Blessing life’s outcome

 

Finding better ways

Around life’s gridlock

Perseverance wins

Changing up our walk

 

Finding new vision

With every song

Voices lifting up

Singing “come along”

 

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Inspiration for this poem comes from the words of American writer, Alex Haley:  “Find the good, and praise it.”

Grateful Reliance (Elfchen Series #73)

Kinship

Peace

Composes harmony

Grace fills joy

Binds us all together

Relationships

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Devotion

Grace

Divine presence

Love’s unselfish gift

Placing trust in God

Faithfulness

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Deliverance

Faith

Gospel feeds

Believing in Jesus

Gift of Eternal Life

Salvation

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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.

Distant Land

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Nation’s outstretched hand

Shaping distant land

 

Trade benefits both

Bringing steady growth

 

Prosperity’s health

Welcoming new wealth

 

Benevolence molds

Filling now with cold

 

This mighty power

Seeing its plans sour

 

Citizens lack voice

Having little choice

 

Uproar fuels action

Bringing reaction

 

Hostile clouds amass

Reaching dark impasse

 

Big brother nation

Facing frustration

 

Rebels gather ‘round

Fading common ground

 

More Redcoats arrive

Gathering beehive

 

Independence shouts

Calling freedom out

 

Colonists stand firm

Battling to affirm

 

Mother country’s heart

Tearing self apart

 

British might stands down

Watching its meltdown

 

America stands

Molding freedom’s hands

 

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Throughout history, many nations have attempted to mold and shape other lands into their own image.  Terms such as imperialism, colonization, and nation building sometimes come to mind.  It is worth noting that the British attempted to establish a foothold on the American continent starting in 1607.  By the mid-1770s, their plans for a continuing American empire were crumbling.  Few, if any other nations, have learned from this lesson in history . . . America included.

Brokenhearted

From Psalm 34:11-12:  “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good?”

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Souls crying out

Brokenhearted

Crushed in spirit

Turning to God

 

Seeking refuge

Comfort and hope

Righteous Father

Hearing our cries

 

Evil departs

Darkness transforms

Brightest light calls

Finding our Rock

 

Coming to God

He promises

Deliverance

Breathing goodwill

 

Lord calls us back

Humble and glad

Our troubles wane

Praising with joy

 

Faith surrounds hope

Love never fails

Unselfish grace

Redeeming us

 

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From Psalm 34:1-3:  “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Incompatible (Haiku Series #149)

Laundry Test

Blue jeans meet green grass

Young boys wrestling in backyard—

Washing grass-stained knees

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Antagonists

Incompatible

Dentists and manicurists—

Fighting tooth and nail

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Forgotten

Lifetime of knowledge

Encyclopedia facts—

Sidelined by Google

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