Daniel Patrick Moynihan

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Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

People who pierce the veil of money rarely return with their faculties altogether intact.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) was a dedicated public servant.  From his humble beginnings in Oklahoma, he would be destined to serve in a variety of positions.  These included:  staff assistant to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon; diplomatic service as ambassador to India and later to the United Nations; and serving as U.S. Senator from the state of New York for 24 years.

Spring’s Hiatus

Beautiful spring afternoon in central Ohio.

Delightful spring day

Soon approaching May

 

Open window’s view

Life’s freshness streams through

 

Everything alive

Nature’s best arrives

 

Birds fill nearby tree

Songs tweeting with glee

 

Virginia bluebells

Blooming, much to tell

 

Squirrels all about

Springtime’s early scout

 

Tree canopy swells

Leaves cast greenest spells

 

Geese gather in pairs

Nesting with love’s care

 

Smelling fresh-mown grass

Yards looking first-class

 

Sometimes nature blinks

At times, summer winks

 

Time to plant gardens

But, beg your pardon!

 

Overnight, snow calls

Spring’s waltz quickly stalls

 

Home furnace heats up

Winter stirs mix-up

 

Spring’s hiatus brings

Snowflakes’ final sting

Winter greets early spring morning.

Treasured Moments (Haiku Series #131)

Finally!

Morning awakens

Cloudless, sunny, biggest sky—

Spring brings refreshment

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Majestic

Calming, windless day

Journey skyward toward heavens—

Giant trees stand silent

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Adventure

Bubbling whitewater

Creeks and rivers, energized—

Mountain snow melt flows

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Monday Memories: Treasured Grace

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Life’s richest treasures, waiting just ahead

Following God’s true light to a new day

Unlike any of man’s earthly treasures

With God’s Spirit, angels leading the way

 

Our journey defined by something greater

Life can only be measured by God’s wealth

Allowing heart and soul to follow God

Our Father’s treasured Grace, restores our health

 

Rejoicing, now choosing God’s truthful way

Do you witness and see this path as well?

Join with Jesus, we’ll follow together

Following our Savior, our treasures swell

 

Courage, faith, and hope carry us along

Fueled by God’s love, we march to Jesus’ song

  

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Open Door

From Psalm 119:25:  “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.”

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Seeking to find

His open door

Sharing burdens

Freedom calling

 

Lost in darkness

Hungry, in fear

Welcoming all

Rest now with Him

 

Sinful spirit

Seeking His will

Living Water

From Heaven’s spring

 

No more hiding

Come into light

Safest haven

Sit at His feet

 

Feeling alone

Hearing Love’s voice

Filling us up

His Bread of Life

 

Now forgiven

Chains ripped away

Boldly go forth

Accepting grace

 

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From Matthew 7:7-8:  “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Quiet Love

From 1 Corinthians 13:12-13:  “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.  Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

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Cherishing quiet love

Humble and enduring

Admiring devotion

Always reassuring

 

Abiding sacred vows

Uniting and growing

Living as single one

True love overflowing

 

Sharing unbridled truth

Caring for love’s duet

Overcoming troubles

Joy shines at each sunset

 

Hearing love’s small whispers

Blessing each day and night

Confessing true feelings

Boundless and holding tight

 

Listening to God’s love

Nurturing lifetime’s stage

Embracing each moment

Unhurried as we age

 

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Expressing her unique songwriting and blessed voice about love’s feelings, Dolly Parton sings “I Will Always Love You.”

Boundless Gifts (Elfchen Series #54)

Transformed

Faith

Perishable, precious

Tested by fire

Rejoice with glorious joy

Indescribable

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Forgiven 

Love

Promises fulfilled

Born a Savior

Quenching world’s dry thirst

Salvation

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Enduring

Forever

Our Savior

Lights our way

His life, His truth

Jesus

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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.

Swing Away

Courtesy of medium.com.

Life’s game passing by

Parked on lonely bench

Watching each inning

From this dugout’s trench

 

Endless time marching

Week following week

Absent from big plays

Life looking more bleak

 

Dreaming great moments

Where are they hiding?

Just needing one chance

Few hopes backsliding

 

Opportunity!

Finally knocking

Time to really shine

Eagerness rocking

 

Now just swing away

Life’s batter’s box calls

Confidence beaming

Stepping in, “Play ball!” 

  

In the film, “The Natural,” starring Robert Redford, Roy Hobbs finally gets his big chance to step into the batter’s box.  Here is the scene from the film.  Indeed, life and baseball find ways to complement each other.

Do You Hear?

From Deuteronomy 6:4-5:  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

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Busy with daily lives

Pausing now, do you hear?

As God listens, we should

Opening minds and ears

 

As God’s chosen, come close

Father waits with patience

Intently, carefully

Despite our impatience

 

Read His Word with earnest

Focus on, meditate

God’s living stone, breathing

Do you hear Him, so great?

 

His mercy chooses us

With never-ending love

Calling us from darkness

Finding God’s grace above

 

Face each hour with new hope

Follow with faithful steps

Lives chosen and precious

God waits at our doorstep

 

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From 1 Peter 2:9-10:  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Power of Prayer (Haiku Series #130)

Taking Time

Our Lord is waiting

When did you last call to Him?

Reach out in prayer

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Stepping Forward

Praying to our Lord

Sharing truth and promises—

Our life’s foundation

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Growing Faith

He shall answer thee

There exists no greater hope—

Praying to Father

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