Called
By Christ
Servants to all
Graced as faithful witnesses
Christ-like
Waiting
For God
Resting with quietness
Lord’s refuge and strength
Patience
Goodness
Holy uprightness
Stands blessed Father
Steadfast love and faithfulness
Teaching
From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Winter’s snow, cannot hide
Cherished love, deep inside
During darkness of night
Her love shines, always bright
Spring’s blossoms, love shares
Life’s newness, always cares
Nature wakens, each land
Her splendor, in God’s hands
Summer’s glowing spirit
Longing to walk near it
Love growing, day by day
Her grandeur comes this way
Autumn’s colored venue
Love fills each day’s menu
Landscape treasures each thrill
Her warmth hides winter’s chill
Seasons, patient with time
Faith grows, ever in rhyme
Righteous gifts, sing as hymns
Father’s love, never dims
From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”
Nasty winter gale approaching
Forecast broadcasting storm warning
Heavy snow, high winds, Arctic cold
Village alarms sound by morning
Life transcends to total frenzy
Salt trucks loaded, very much ready
Snow plow crews set for night’s work
Village life scrambling, unsteady
Packed grocery stores in chaos
Hurried, panic-filled shopping carts
Shelves urgently growing empty
Village pace quickens beating hearts
Students anticipate closings
Looking forward, lazy “Snow Day”
No classes, no books, no lessons
Village hunkers down, people pray
Winter storm “Tabitha” churning
Pondering, bewitching blizzard
Overnight fury passes on
Village eluding storm’s wizard
The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms in America since 2012-2013. You may have picked up the connection between the “bewitching” blizzard and the name of the storm “Tabitha.” Tabitha is one of the available winter storm names for the 2020-2021 winter. Tabitha is also the daughter of Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) on the successful American sitcom “Bewitched” from 1964-1972.
As people of God
Graced to be Christ’s hands of change—
World’s transformation
Followers of God
Called as voices for justice—
Filled with Grace of Christ
Our Creator calls
Walking in Jesus’ footsteps—
Lives for renewal
From Isaiah 6:3: “And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.'”
Darkness, evil abound
Our Champion arrives
Freeing chained hearts with praise
Faith growing in our lives
Graced by shed blood of Christ
Facing every hour
Wisdom, courage unite
Strongest bonds of power
Standing as God’s people
Walking as peacemakers
Sowing seeds from His faith
Harvest Glory’s acres
Christ’s journey lights His way
Centered on His people
Calling us, step forward
Blessed Cross, our steeple
Jesus’ pierced hands of change
Steady feet meet life’s quest
Lasting voice for justice
Renewing lives, each test
Glory fills God’s Kingdom
From His Heaven above
Nothing stops living grace
Salvation’s gift, free love
You are invited to sing or follow the lyrics of this blessed hymn, “God of Grace and God of Glory.”
From Luke 1:27-27: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
When shall we ever meet?
Longing to meet my Lord
His lamp, lighting the way
Filled with love, now on board
Life’s laboring turmoil
Enchained by sin’s shackles
Christ offers lasting Grace
Freed from darkest jackals
Heaven’s gifts come to earth
Filled with unselfish love
Each dawn brings liberty
Embracing newfound love
Rejoice, again rejoice!
No more trembling in fear
Appearing like day’s sun
Safely home, Jesus steers
From Luke 24:50-53: “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Goodness
And uprightness
Stands the Lord
Steadfast love and faithfulness
Teaching
Called
By Christ
Servants to all
Graced as loving witnesses
Christ-like
Waiting
For God
Resting with quietness
Lord’s refuge and strength
Patience
I recently enjoyed my birthday, and my wife blessed me with the gift of this delightful and loving poem. She is an incredible writer in her own right. As I read this poem, I definitely feel 65 years young.
It was a very special day.
The family and the world were so blessed.
It’s still a very special day.
We need to celebrate it to the best!
The Father gave a precious boy,
to grow and learn, and become a young man.
He was meant to bring precious joy,
as God teaches us daily that we can!
This precious boy became that man.
From God, and parents, and his teachers too,
he learned and grew to have a plan,
showing young minds too, all that they could do!
A proud and successful career,
as a teacher, coach, and sports A D, too.
He served boldly then forty years,
guiding his students on as they pursued!
Not only did his work stand out,
but, he helped raise his three beautiful girls,
to ladies of faith, there’s no doubt.
His example shines out into the world!
He is a very special man,
son and brother, husband, dad and grandpa,
A teacher who loves Jesus, and
a man who worships our God with much awe!
It was a very special day,
when our precious Father gave him his birth.
We celebrate this special day.
God’s gift of life filled with His Holy worth!
From Psalm 111:1: “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”
Pessimistic and gloomy attitude
One negative brick follows another
Suffocating and negative self-talk
Sounding more like Eeyore’s little brother
Time for transforming callous attitude
With praise and thanksgiving, eyes upon God
His Grace offering truest Bread of Life
Believe, follow, accept His blessed rod
Breathing in our Lord’s trusted, living Word
Dropping negativity’s jagged sword
Accepting our Father’s mercy and love
Trading bitterness for His sweet accord
Learning from God’s Holy teachings and creeds
Feeling His just and faithful, love-filled works
Listening to each breath, His spoken Word
Maturing in faith’s righteous masterworks
Embracing God’s eternal covenant
Studying His Word, bearing full delight
Celebrating Him with salutations
Singing with attitude of praise, now right
From Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.”
Checking highway map
Will we ever find Waldo?
Waldo, Ohio
Shopping at Macy’s
Pat, may I buy a towel?
Wheel of “good” Fortune
Passing up on Mounds
Sometimes you feel like a nut—
Almond Joy “rescue”
