Old Man Trouble

From the words of British pastor and theologian, Charles Spurgeon:  “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.”

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Encountering another of life’s setbacks

Visitor from the darkness shouts, “I am back”

 

Old Man Trouble comes knocking at my front door

Relentless, he desires to even the score

 

How will I choose to deal with adversity?

His darkness masks the sky over this city

 

Tackle straight forward what Old Man Trouble brings

Or . . . wait timidly for his continued sting

 

God’s Word teaches us and brings us hope:

We all live preciously in God’s perfect sight

He gathers us in His loving, Holy might

 

Past—present—future . . . from the Great I Am

Making it through turbulent seas for each lamb

 

Through desolate wilderness, God shares a way

Bringing rivers of hope to this life’s gateway

 

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Looking Old Man Trouble in his doom-filled eyes

With faithful courage, my hope begins to rise

 

Life waits to see . . . who will finally blink first?

With God’s living water, quenching my parched thirst

 

Listening, following God’s steadfast handbook

His love will save me with a whole new outlook

 

Bringing Godly fortitude, when needed most

Old Man Trouble defeated, nothing to boast

 

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From Isaiah 43:2-3:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Sunrise to Sunset

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Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie

Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery

 

Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early

Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly

 

This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay

Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day

 

With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales

Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails

 

Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite

Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights

 

Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now

Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows

 

Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then

Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben

 

About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home

Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam

 

Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now

Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow

 

Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun

Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done

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Life Laughs Back (Haiku Series #90)

Not for Me

Obedience school

Violates my canine rights—

Dog walks away free

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Try, Try Again

Car attempts to park

Seven times without success—

Miffed student driver

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Cold Reception

Social media post

Only three likes arrive from—

Me, myself, and I

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Monday Memories: Little Treasures

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My life matures with treasured blessings to enjoy

Being with grandchildren brings rich love and joy

 

God blesses us with these matchless wonders

Hearing their playfulness louder than thunder

 

The Lord has blessed my role as a grandfather

Bringing love opportunities without any bother

 

Morning arrives with my coffee cup filled

Thinking of grandchildren spawns a thrill

 

Some live close, others reside farther away

Praying for each one helps to start my day

 

Their parents feeling blessed with each child

Allowing me to call each one my grandchild

 

These children march through remarkable lives

Offering vivid moments which continue to thrive

 

Photographs authenticate each child’s life story

Filling my appetite with incredible love and glory

 

God has glorified me with these little tikes

Reminding of humble times, forever to like

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Healing Our Divisions

This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer.  God’s peace!

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Lives pretending to follow a Holy God

Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit

Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ

Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it

 

Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times

Behaving outside of our Father’s design

Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right

Only walking with Jesus, should lives align

 

Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest

Thirsty for true living water and care

This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace

Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers

 

Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation

Unifying voices throughout this nation

 

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From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23:  “So let no one boast about human leaders.  For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”

Seeking Us (Elfchen Series #24)

Never Alone

Lost

Darkness abounds

Taking wayward path

Our Good Shepherd searches

Found

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Leading Us

Hope

Radiates forever

Cross stands alone

Leading us to light

Salvation

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Grace

Abundant

God sends

His unending love

Eternal, unselfish, and gracious

Gifts

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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.

From Her Window

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Peering out from her window

Times changing much, much too fast

Being alone many years

Husband and friends having passed

 

Small home meets her meager needs

But, the neighborhood has changed

Folks come and go, few she knows

Life blurs by, as if arranged

 

Sheltered from the outside world

Homebound most days by herself

Family in distant states

Ignored like books on a shelf

 

Watching some television

Staying away from the news

Remembering old classics

Dreaming of Julie Andrews

 

Reading occupies her time

Local newspaper connects

Crossword puzzle smiling back

Novels thrill with their suspects

 

Peering out from her window

Another sunset draws near

Unfamiliar car drives up

Grandchildren bring happy tears

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His Glory Brings Peace

From Matthew 5:9:  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

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Holy Spirit tracks every life

Jesus leaves us with eternal peace

Unlike anything else done by man

Praying to our Lord, life’s centerpiece

 

Peace emerges with fullness and joy

Holy blessing from Christ, filled with love

Feeling gladness and newness in life

God’s gift of Grace offered from above

 

Rejoicing in our Holy Father

Feeling the gentleness from His hand

Bringing daily worries to the Lord

Guarding hearts and minds, from where He stands

 

Salvation comes through our Savior

Encourage each sister and brother

Reaching to us, God’s peace never ends

Heart, mind, soul—transformed like none other

 

Complete and perfect in His goodness

Yesterday, today, and forever

Jesus will always love each of us

His glory brings peace, best gift ever

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From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley:  To be a peacemaker is to reflect the image of our heavenly Father–using our breath, energy, and creativity to sow peace wherever the Spirit takes us.

Moments with Nature (Haiku Series #89)

Turf Fight

Eagle’s invasion

Trespassing and threatening—

Tiny bird attacks

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Still Safe

Dark clouds approaching

When thunderstorm moves away—

Tree limbs wave goodbye

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Forever Gone

Footprints on the beach

Nature brings its eraser—

Surf cleans them away

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Monday Memories: A Hole in the Middle

This sweet poem was originally published in April, 2019, and it remains one of Big Sky Buckeye’s most viewed and liked posts.  While I now refrain from enjoying doughnuts (because I need to watch my sugars and carbs), there was a day when I could never turn down a delicious treat.  Enjoy!

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Simple, yet decadent pleasures they are

Being quite easy to locate from your car

 

Driving down the road each day

Now you wonder what it is, I say

 

The coffee’s on and ready to go

Include a doughnut for the road

 

Missing doughnuts for so many weeks

Passing them up is never for the meek

 

Call them “donuts”, many Americans say

For me, I prefer “doughnuts” to this day

 

My doctor instructs me, “No sugar for you!”

Now my doughnut days are sadly through

 

However, doughnut temptation sings a song

If I reach for one, there is a deafening gong!

 

Sorry mister, there will never be doughnuts for you

So I continue down the road, singin’ the sad blues

 

Who made the doughnut hole in the middle?

Now that has always been quite the riddle

 

Waking up in the middle of a lonesome night

Dreaming of doughnuts makes a sugary sight

 

While some folks are addicted to Krispy Kreme

My doughnut tastes envision a different theme

 

Boston Cream, Long John, and Jelly

All sound delicious to my hungry belly

 

Old-fashioned, Sour Cream, and Glazed

Why can’t I enjoy a simple one today?

 

Now in my car and hungrily driving at midnight

The Jolly Pirate Donut shop stays open all night

 

I pull into the empty parking lot with sad surprise

The sign reads, “Closed tonight”— alas no prize!

 

This poem could continue on and on and on for sure

Does anyone have a doughnut to share with this sir?

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Here’s a final footnote:

In the classic film “It Happened One Night”

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert are a fright

Gable, the newspaper man, enlightens

Colbert, the heiress, never frightens

As they travel the back roads and stop

For a cup of hot coffee at a tiny shop

. . . with doughnuts for dunkin’