Finding New Life

From 2 Corinthians 11:13-14:  “For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder!  Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

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Facing life’s harshest trials

Walking uphill in shadows

Keeping on the proper trail

Coveting greener meadows

 

Suffering darkest ordeals

Praying for divine advice

Listening for God’s response

Willing to pay any price

 

Hiding off the path, waiting

Offering cunning, false hope

Sliding into Satan’s net

Reaching up for rescue’s rope

 

Clutching God’s forgiving hand

Leaving the enemy’s grip

Finding new life with the Lord

Walking in His fellowship

 

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From Romans 6:22-23:  “But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification.  The end is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Love Triumphs

From 1 Corinthians 13:13:  “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

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Living hollow life without love

Nothing but emptiness, thereof

 

Disconnected faith fills our veins

Minus love, tall mountains remain

 

Mankind’s meaningless possessions

Forgotten in life’s recessions

 

Worldly knowledge, means so little

Love gently binds, never brittle

 

Love arrives with Holy kindness

Patience without any blindness

 

Never arrogant or hateful

Without envy, always grateful

 

Jesus teaches, love each other

Sincere love, sisters and brothers

 

Caring God so loved this dark world

Christ’s own unselfish love unfurled

 

From a blood-stained Cross comes His Grace

Love speaks out, sin falls on its face

 

Our Lord offers His Holy gift

Faith, hope, love . . . no longer adrift

 

God’s Word delivers life’s new lease

Love triumphs, building lasting peace

 

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From the words of Christian theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr:  “The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as a historic truth.  Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.”

Keep Smilin’ (Haiku Series #98)

Yes . . . Really!

Early morning view

Magic mirror never lies—

Seeing perfection

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Oops!

Car slides into lake

GPS wet with errors–

Where did my map go?

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Chilling Taste

Sweetest tooth talking

Escaping the day’s heat wave—

Hi Baskin-Robbins

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Monday Memories: God’s Compass

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Lost soul in the wickedest valleys of life

Needing directions, take away this strife

 

Life’s transgressions mount, God knows them all

Living a life of denial, witnessing an arrogant fall

 

Every day takes one deeper and deeper into sin

Losing awareness, asking where have we been?

 

When born, God knows our sinful ways

Needing Him to teach wisdom each day

 

Life continues to carry us on the very same road

Walking and falling, becomes frustrating and cold

 

God delivers His judgement, He feels justified

Viewing our sin-filled cravings, never satisfied

 

Life’s journey demands we find a different route

Using God’s compass, His directions carry clout

 

God brings deliverance, a better means to live

Declaring praise to our Lord, offerings to give

 

Another wayward life takes a detour from the Pit

Cleansing of sin, God’s road creates a better fit

 

God teaches an upright way, follow and trust

Purging all evil, washing white our sinful lust

 

God’s steadfast love delivers a redeeming route

Hearing God’s joy, His compass brings us about

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Daily Praise

From Psalm 145:21:  “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.”

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Receiving God’s eternal glory

Filling us with His mercy and love

Declaring salvation through His Grace

Singing with praise, like a morning dove

 

Blessing His name, our most awesome Lord

Stepping forward, showing gratitude

Honoring His Holy righteousness

Extolling His patient fortitude

 

Sending forth His Word, filled with goodness

Guiding lives from high Heaven above

Creating breathtaking tranquility

Abounding with lasting, steadfast love

 

Proclaiming His infinite greatness

Praying to the Father, praise His name

Lauding His glorious, wondrous works

Declaring our Lord’s mighty acclaim

 

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Peace is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank.  (author unknown)

Incessant

This poem takes a different route from much of my usual poetry.  It begins with the word “incessant” and carries this meaning throughout the poem with various synonyms.  Using free verse, the number of syllables remains consistent with seven in the odd-numbered lines and ten in the even-numbered ones.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

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Early in the morning’s peace

Welcoming the incessant quietness

 

Predawn light creates shadows

Enjoying their unending playfulness

 

Cool, crisp air signals autumn

Witnessing the season’s ceaseless nature

 

Solitary doe walks nearby

Looking for tender grass, endless craving

 

Neighbor walking her collie

Moving with an uninterrupted pace

 

Front porch provides morning roost

Dreaming now of countless, unbroken thoughts

 

Past memories parade on by

Watching an ongoing video show

 

Former students fill the room

Flourishing with unflagging attention

 

Grandchildren always gather

Hearing constant laughter, bringing a smile

 

North wind gusts with icy chill

Feeling winter biting with nonstop bliss

 

Frigid cold invades the porch

Warming now, by persistent fireplace flames

 

Life has been kind, a blessing

Spending everlasting time with our Lord

 

From the front porch, one can sit and watch the entire day unfold.

For the People (Elfchen Series #28)

Hear Their Words 

Listening

Founding Fathers

Sharing our cause

Now speaking to us

America

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Unity in Voice

Sunrise

Another day

Freedom for all

A nation stands as

One

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A Dream for All

People

Seeking equality

Hand in hand

All races and creeds

Togetherness

Courtesy of Pinterest.

This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) joins in a theme of “For the People.”  This phrase was used by American President Abraham Lincoln near the end of his famous Gettysburg Address (follow the link to read the entire speech).

24/7 Refuge

From Psalm 31:24:  “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

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Facing life’s trials and critics

Soul and body wasting away

Discouraged, hurting, and distressed

Broken down, strength failing . . . decay

 

Needing encouragement with love

Safe from others, place for healing

Looking for refuge, where to turn

Life under siege, tired and reeling

 

Seeking lasting grace and mercy

Delivering us from dark gloom

Rescue arrives, stand and rejoice

His steadfast love, fully in bloom

 

Staffed by a special redeemer

Our strength, comrade, fortress, and rock

Holding us up with steadfast love

Follow Him, our living bedrock

 

Called by another name  . . . Jesus

 

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From Psalm 31:1-2:  “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.  Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

Endless Race

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Running on this daily treadmill, filling life’s gloomy story

Falling behind in life’s endless race, without much glory

 

Working Nine to Five, five long days each week

Stumbling through every month, looking bleak

 

Forgetting when life last paused for any vacation

Punching in, punching out . . . time clock fixation

 

Heating up life’s pressure cooker, deadlines loom ahead

Hoping the lid doesn’t blow off, propelled into tiny shreds

 

Watching everyone trying to row in the same boat

Rowing in separate directions, now barely afloat

 

Refueling the tank, this coffee break no longer helps

Scurrying on empty, might just as well holler a yelp

 

Taking the elevator to another miserable meeting

Ending up on the wrong floor, no warm greeting

 

Driving home each night, worn down to a blown-out frazzle

Stopping at the same red traffic light, it no longer dazzles

 

Racing every day, life delivering this hour’s final, saving grace

Looking left, then right . . . who’s even winning this rat race?

 

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Life’s Window (Haiku Series #97)

Adventure

Boring afternoon

But, ice cream eating races—

Chilling excitement

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Curious

Where does Spam come from?

Checking the ingredients—

Close your eyes, eat it!

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Playtime

Preschool art classes

Creative finger painting—

Budding Picasso’s

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