Monday Memories: Across the Street

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My retirement years usually produce a smile

But some days sink my spirits deep, by miles

 

My childhood sweetheart and lovely bride

Now rests with God, absent from my side

 

I stay occupied with my yard each morn

Discovering pleasure from nature’s form

 

 

There is a fine lady across the street

She emerges looking nice and sweet

 

She stays active around her place

Her yard definitely fits her tastes

 

The grass is mowed and trimmed

I wonder how she stays so thin

 

 

There seems, between us

A subliminal connection

Inviting her for coffee

Is my dreamy confession

 

 

Her petunias appear superior to mine

       Perhaps I’ll ask for her secret, in time       

 

She smiles when my puppy is outside to play

I wonder what her plans will be for this day

 

I imagine what she might think about me

Watching me hang a bird feeder in a tree

 

 

There seems, between us

A subliminal connection

Inviting her for coffee

Is my dreamy confession

 

 

We both come from the same generation

Her beauty creates a wonderful sensation

 

I’m thinking of walking across the street

Meeting this fine lady would be a treat

 

She steps back inside from the dry, summer heat

Perhaps tomorrow morning, we can finally meet

 

My Grandfather lost his childhood sweetheart and bride, but believe it or not, he found love again . . . across the street!

Accepting His Way

From Romans 6:1-2:  “What then are we to say?  Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?  By no means!  How can we who died to sin go on living in it?”

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All have been baptized into Christ

God’s offer of Grace shall abound

Christ suffering death on the Cross

Accepting His way, God’s Word found

 

Living with God through our Savior

United with Jesus by His death

Walking in goodness of new life

Accepting His way, lasting breath

 

Escaping life of sin and death

Obedient to God’s commands

Following our righteous Father

Accepting His way, where we stand

 

Knowing God through His Holy Word

Rescued, no longer slaves to sin

Total devotion to Jesus

Accepting His way, love within

 

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From Romans 6:12-14:  “Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.  No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

God’s Creatures (Haiku Series #94)

Wake Up

Geese flying overhead

Echoing in morning dawn—

Nature’s alarm clock

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Tasty

Summer afternoon

Sweetest nectar from milkweed—

Butterflies frolic

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Under Surveillance

Walking the park trail

Sensing with each cautious step—

Who’s really watching?

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Educator’s Prayer

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Lord, my God, hear this prayer

Bless the students in my care

 

Together, we’ll face each day

Overcoming times of gray

 

Bring patience to this classroom

Allow these young minds to bloom

 

Create a safe learning zone

God with us, never alone

 

There may be days not at school

Find ways to make learning cool

 

Cover colleagues with your love

Devotion, to be proud of

 

Send families gifts of grace

May we all stand and embrace

 

Loving each child in my care

Walk together in prayer

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It seems there are nearly infinite challenges to educating our youth (both in schools and universities).  My own daily prayers include significant time for teachers, students, and families during these challenging times.  I especially reach out to my former colleagues who are still teaching as well as two of my daughters who teach.  I may be retired from the classroom, but my heart still misses all whom I served and worked with.

Praise and Glory

From Psalm 86:12:  “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.”

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Singing blessings to the Lord

Sovereign God from heaven

Filled with all praise and glory

Grace-filled salvation beckons

 

True author of Creation

God of love with healing touch

Destined for praise and glory

Always faithful in the clutch

 

From morning into the night

His mercy and compassion

Eternal praise and glory

Guiding, leading with passion

 

Always hearing our voices

Observing our helplessness

Love-inspired praise and glory

His goodness and righteousness

 

Confessing to our Father

Proclaiming His perfect power

Sharing His praise and glory

His faithful love never sours

 

Seeking God in our distress

Cast each idol in the fire

Grace-filling praise and glory

Holy Spirit never tires

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From Galatians 5:22-24:  “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against such things.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Cookies, Books, and Coffee (Haiku Series #93)

Ain’t Fun

Bag of Oreos

Milk missing in the ice box—

Now singing the blues!

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Say What?

I’ve read some good books

Me as well . . . a plethora—

Never read that one

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Oh No!

Need to hurry home

Checking out at the market—

Forgetting coffee!

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Spiritual Messengers

From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher, Oswald Chambers:  “We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers; the message must be part of ourselves.”

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Our time here on this earth

Limited and finite

Humble servants of God

Carry on the good fight

 

Called to spread the Good News

Find one person at a time

Urged to evangelize

Sharing God’s paradigm

 

Giving us strength in faith

Our Lord standing with us

Invite all to listen

Proclaim His truth, a plus

 

As our God’s messengers

Hearts broken by our flaws

Baptized by Holy Spirit

Drafted into His cause

 

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From 2 Timothy 4:2:  “Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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God wants us to remain steadfast in the face of affliction and temptation.  It’s important to remember that faith doesn’t rescue us from all this but will get us through it.

From Hebrews 11:39-40:  “Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.”

Headlines Share Goodness

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Comet Neowise visible in nighttime sky

Brightness adds wonder with this fly by

 

Book lover yearns for a single, big library room

Books scattered throughout a house consumed

 

War veteran’s birthday reaches milestone of five score

Celebrating with drive-by parade, lasting love adores

 

David Lee Roth allows his artwork to do all the talking

Van Halen singer creates vibrant drawings, all rocking

 

Backyard farming brings garden-variety experiment

Mix of triumphs and failures sparks life’s merriment

 

Michigan man creates million dollar treasure quest

Buried jewelry, precious metals, antiques—no jest!

 

Teachers making investment in beneficial skills

Determined to make remote learning fit the bill

 

Old hardware stockpile offers newest treasures

Ghosts of hardware past make lasting pleasures

 

Hosting backyard movies invites welcome distraction

Adding drive-in movies as summer’s main attraction

 

Family should earn a doctorate for raising four boys

Each becomes a surgeon, filled with talented poise

 

Pandemic increases customer demand for reading material

Shoppers buying books and paperbacks along with cereal

 

Probe, rover, and drone plan to scrutinize planet Mars

Called Hope, Perseverance, Ingenuity—heavenly stars

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Life Lessons (Elfchen Series #25)

Life Rewards

Character

Built slowly

Over one’s lifetime

Integrity becomes a habit

Precious

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Making It 

Life

Trekking uphill

Reaching its summit

Fulfilling journey never ends

Perseverance

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Starting Over

Discipline

Sometimes lacking

Daily excuses strike

Replace with fresh renewal

Determination

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The German-inspired poetry style of Elfchen (or Elevenie) contains five lines of poetic verse, usually without the use of rhyming verses.  A total of 11 words are used with a sequence of one, two, three, and four words before ending with a single word in the final verse.