Follow His Example

From John 13:14-15:  “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

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Jesus, our Lord and Savior, teaches us

Sharing the love from the Holy Father

Knowing God has given to Him all things

Sharing faithful witness, from the Father

 

Christ, the living God, guides our faithful steps

Presenting endless chances to serve God

Facing our lives, filled with countless hurdles

Serving one another, as blessed by God

 

Jesus, Son of David, shares acts of Grace

Washing apostles’ feet, blessing the Lord

Teaching through His loving act of service

Telling all, humbling serve our righteous Lord

 

Christ, Lamb of God, transforming life on earth

Faithfully following our Lord Jesus

Seeking, trusting, and praying in His name

Glorifying each day, serving through Jesus  

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From the words of American author, John Eldredge:  “Teach a man a rule and you help him solve a problem; teach a man to walk with God and you help him solve the rest of his life.”

Simple and Easy

Sometimes I just have to laugh at TV commercials.  Nutrisystem promotes its meals for men who wish to lose weight.  Order it and the box arrives at your door.  Then just heat the meal and eat.  What can more simple than this?  This poem’s theme is written as a parody of this whole process.  As for me, I sure won’t be ordering meals in a box.

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Endless diets make the rounds

Hoping to lose a few pounds

 

Subscribing to EasyMeals

Delicious and thrifty deals

 

Simple and easy promise

Please any doubting Thomas

 

Order the food while online

Shipping never takes much time

 

Box of meals ships to the door

Bypass the grocery store

 

Open the box, check it quick

No more cooking, that’s the trick

 

Picking a meal, heat it now

Such easy and yummy chow

 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks

Simple life comes in these packs

 

Feeling extra hungry now

Eating two meals, tasting “wow”

 

Going through this two-week box

In just a week, quite a shock

 

Stepping on the scale one day

Extra pounds plus some, shout “Hey!”

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Never Forsaken (Elfchen Series #27)

In the Wilderness

Temptations

All about

Crashing upon us

With God’s help, resist

Discipline

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Life’s Storms

Sailing

Among shipwrecks

Our Pilot navigates

Always bringing us home

Courage

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Always

Gracious

Blessing us

Making His face

To shine upon us

God

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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.

Abandon Your Ways

From John 3:5:  “Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

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Living a dark life of sin

Failing to follow God’s Word

Walking as slaves in the flesh

“Abandon your ways” . . . unheard

 

Falling, ignoring our Lord

Leaving Him for empty thoughts

Taking our path, darkness prowls

Sinful hunger calls the shots

 

Consumed by life in the flesh

There awaits a better way

God never abandons us

Offering His Grace each day

 

God gives Himself entirely

Spirit marches to our hearts

Delivers His greatest gift

God’s Son offers a fresh start

 

Christ becomes our foundation

Jesus walking where we walk

Exchanging His life for us

Shepherd gathering His flock

 

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From John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

America’s Movie Night

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Marveling at an American treasure

Outdoor movie screens offer nighttime pleasure

 

Drive-ins share their unique personality

Double features, hometown hospitality

 

Big screen stars on America’s movie night

Under the night sky, Hollywood’s best shine bright

 

Notable scenes from drive-ins come to the screen

Danny and Sandy from “Grease” making the scene

 

Winning combination fuels drive-ins’ success

Love of movies plus cars, who would ever guess?

 

Practicing social distancing, cars spread out

Another summer night, film-inspired blowout

 

Family piles into the station wagon

Good thing we traded that tiny Volkswagen

 

Mom and Dad, reservations in the front seat

Wearing pajamas, kids view from the back seat

 

Transporting all of us to a place of fun

Kids become quiet . . . fall asleep, one by one

 

Comfy family night under twilight’s stars

Slice of Americana, with movie stars

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Practicing social distance before anyone knew what it meant, America’s drive-ins have been a fixture since arriving in New Jersey in 1933.  Following World War II, the American landscape exploded with new drive-ins.  By 1952, outdoor movie attendance exceeded indoor theaters for the first time.  During the 1950s, the number of drive-ins peaked at 5,000 or so.  

Subtle Laughs (Haiku Series #96)

The Writer

Thinking Stephen King

Blood, sweat, tears filling each page—

Typing my novel

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Sharing Love

Bringing flowers home

Husband with best intentions—

Wilting with sadness

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Out of Luck

Golf is like taxes

Driving hard for the green, yet—

End up in the hole

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Monday Memories: Forever Proud

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His warrior image endures over the years

Witnessing a proud life, without any fears

 

His Native American culture continues to live on

Keeping rich and spiritual memories, never gone

 

Life’s simple ways will always shine bright

Displaying warrior bravery at every sight

 

Man and horse unite together as one

Riding his pony into the setting sun

 

Fierce in battle, defending his vast land

Adding to his legend, he does all he can

 

Younger men look up to him and follow in battle

Counting coup, his bravery becomes his mantel

 

This storied warrior transitions to an old man

Looking back proudly, honoring his last stand

 

His weathered face reveals a mighty, brave past

Lighting up eyes, with proud memories that last

 

The buffalo have disappeared for good

Ending a way of life, once proudly stood

 

Many of the old traditions are now gone

Reliving them through legend and song

 

The old warrior passes down past tribal history

Teaching a new generation, his ancient journey

 

The warrior no longer meets foes in battle today

Remembering his legacy, forever proud to say

 

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Trusting Him Alone

From Psalm 62:8:  “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

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Sometimes waiting in silence

Seeking refuge, filled with hope

Salvation comes from the Lord

Conquers life’s slippery slope

 

All power resides in God

Filled with sacred, steadfast love

Eternal rock and fortress

Deliverance from above

 

Learning to always trust Him

Faith in God, speaking twofold

Earthly affairs, trusting God

Heavenly business, behold

 

Enemy of darkness plots

Lives of idleness, He seeks

All times, rely on the Lord

Prudence, uprightness shall speak

 

Our ship defies windy storms

Dark impulses, pushed aside

Journey on God’s trusted path

Faithful steps, He’s alongside

 

Conscience never contradicts

Casting burdens, hear the Lord

Serve Him with integrity

Heart fixed, trusting His accord

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From the words of British pastor, Charles Spurgeon:  “There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God.”

Looking Back (Elfchen Series #26)

New Start

Temperance

Traveling Companions

Moderation accompanies wisdom

Harnessing appetites, desires, impulses

Rewarded

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Loving Duty

Parenting

Nurturing love

Grace filling legacy

Preparing children for life’s

Journey

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Play Ball

Baseball

Opening Day

President on sidelines

Scientist throws first pitch

Ironic

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Empty Pages

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Life begins much like an empty book

Pages waiting as a tranquil brook

 

How will daily life compose each page?

Breathtaking words at every age

 

Words starting with childlike, joyful prose

Sentences fill with love, head to toes

 

Paragraphs arrive, smiling each day

First page finishes, much like crochet

 

Chapters now gather, picking up speed

Transmission accepts each tender reed

 

Pages adding up, never afraid

Days, weeks, months, years gather . . . no charade

 

Life reaches the twilight of its time

Not pausing, not even for halftime

 

Who will ever read this manuscript?

There’s time to add a final postscript

 

With empty pages, life’s book began

Words maturing, always in God’s plan

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